What's Your Motive In Giving To God?

Rush hour commutes, soccer practice for the kids, extra work from the office and the everyday demands of live in a culture awash in activities and time demands is posing a serious dilemma for churches across the country. People are so busy that they simply don't have time to serve on church committees or work in church service projects. How much do you care about the church? About God's people? How much of your time is spent helping, giving,praying for your church? A lot of people give money to the church but much less give themselves. There are a lot of reasons that move people to give to the church. I know that some people give as a write-off so that they will get a break on the taxes they pay to the government. If that is your only motive for giving, it is not a proper one. A tax write-off is just not enough. That is not going to help you any with God. Some people give to the church to gain a reputation for giving.
The Bible truth of the matter is that God really isn't interested in our money. Oh, don't get me wrong. The Bible says we are supposed to give. But it's our heart condition that God is most interested in. In fact, even more than money, he wants us to give our time, our prayers and our service to the institution he's created to be his hands and feet on this earth: The church. There are Bible stories galore about the consequences of not supporting the church. It is striking that the very first death recorded in the church occurred when a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, decided they would gain a reputation for giving that they did not really deserve. In the fifth chapter of Acts we read that other people were giving property. This couple thought they would get in on the honor and prestige that was being heaped on those who generously gave, so they gave some of the proceeds from tome land they sold. But they pretended that they gave all of it when they really did not. When the Holy Spirit dealt with that hypocritical kind of giving he dealt very severely with it. Some people give because they were afraid of dying and they want to make Brownie points with God. There have been people who give hundreds of thousands of dollars because they felt it would help them in their standing before God at the judgment seat. But they were not giving to help the cause of God or the church. They gave because they thought they could buy God's favor. All these are wrong motives. When it comes to giving, motive is more important than the amount. God is not so interested in how much you give the church, but why you give.
Do you love the church? That's the example we have from Christ. More than 24 million seniors collectively volunteer 6 billion hours each year in the United States. Researchers at the University of Michigan recently discovered that the survival rate of seniors who volunteered 40 or more hours a year for a single cause was 40 percent greater than that of non-volunteers. "Seniors who volunteer say it improves their health, life satisfaction, and social well-being," says Donna Thurmond, director of Senior Services for Volunteers of America. So helping others and serving as Jesus commands us to do is not only a good thing to do, it's good for us. In fact, we were all created with a desire to serve. That's why it feels so good when we do so, because it's what we were made to do. But the real reason we serve is because that is what Jesus did. that's the example he lefty us in the Bible. We know it as the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you'd have them do to you. (http://www/onlinechristianshopper.com) Christian clothing and jewelry Web site

Are The Souls of the Dead Alive?

It is our belief that the souls of the dead can still talk to us and can even made themselves appear in front of us especially when they have messages to tell us. Two of those who experienced amazing experience is my aunt and my mom. My aunt, told me that she once had an illness which was caused or given by her aunt who was already dead for a long time. This illness was not cured through the medicine she took according to the prescription given by her doctor. However, when she did the instructions of the "tambalan" (local healer) to pay for a Mass for her dead loveones, her illness eventually cured. My mother had different experience related to the souls of the dead. When my father was still alive but bedridden, she used to cast wandering souls away from my father by hitting all corners of our house with the broom. She did it when dogs outside of our house were crying. Those souls according to my mother were waiting for my father to die. There are actually many stories I heard about souls wandering here in earth. Those are all amazing, and that even if we are not sure how true are they, we ended up in believing them. However, as Christian we should examine them by using the Holy Bible whether they are in accordance with the truth recorded in the Bible or not for we all know that only the Bible can tell us what's true or not regarding spiritual matter. To start with, let us ask the Bible: Is it true that the dead can still communicate to the living? And this is the answer of the Bible: 5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, NKJV) According to the Bible, the dead know nothing for the memory of them is forgotten.
In other words, they can't even recognize us as one of their loveones and they can't even remember the things they've done when they're still living. Do they still feel their love, hatred and envy? The Bible again answered: 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:6, ibid.) It is said that the love, hatred and envy of the dead have perished already. And it is also clear according to the Bible, that "nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun". So, they can't even participate us in everything we do here in earth. By why? Why is it that the dead can no longer deal with the living? Isn't it true that the souls of the dead are still alive? Well. The teaching of the Holy Bible is clear. When man dies, he lies down in the dust: 21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, And You will seek me diligently, But I will no longer be. (Job 7:21, ibid) And the souls of the dead bowed down to the dust: 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground. (Psalms 44:25, ibid) So, it is not true that the souls of the dead is still alive.
The Holy Bible even made clear that the souls who sin will die: 4 " Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4, ibid) The Bible also tells us that the dead will not rise until now, while the heavens still exist because according the the Bible: 10 But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? 11 As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, 12 So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. (Job 14:10-12, ibid) We should not forget this: The dead will rise only when the heavens disappear. But when will it be? Apostle Peter said: 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[a] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (II Peter 3:10-12, ibid) The time when the heavens disappear is on the day of the Lord which is the judgment day.
In other words, the dead remains in grave and on the day of judgment they will rise up from the dead. Therefore, the belief and stories about the souls of the dead that said to be wandering in earth are not true and are only products of man's imagination and misconception. It is the Bible who taught us the truth that the souls of the dead are still on the dust, and that the dead coudn't partcipate in all activities of the living for the dead are still lying in the dust and will rise only on the day of the Lord.

Can Christians Bear the Weight of the Wait

To some believers the second coming of Christ seems delayed perhaps even late. The worldwide turbulence among nations and the insanity of today's fast paced world is enough to cause even the strongest person to doubt. How can we deal with this? In a recent online conference meeting I was asked to speak to a group of Christian women. I chose as my subject the four reasons we don't study the doctrine of the second coming of Christ very seriously or extensively. The reasons are rather simple and have a great deal to do with human nature. The same reasons can apply to both the lack of study in the believer and the lack belief found among people in general. Briefly stated they are as follows.
 1. It seems too complicated and hard to comprehend. It can be difficult and that being so the answer is to get a little help. It behooves the serious student to stay close to the certified and qualified teachers on the subject. That does not always mean you will agree with them in every detail and they will not agree with each other in all aspects of this powerful portion of Gods word. That is not anything to worry about because some things on this subject require patience and timing. Remember some of the 167 Messianic prophecies (first coming of Christ) were still being debated in part even as Christ walked on the streets of Israel. For example, the scribes and Pharisees could not reconcile the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem when the scripture clearly said Messiah would hail from Nazareth. Jesus family home was in Nazareth and he had to be born in Bethlehem because of an edict concerning taxation. The only irreconcilability in the matter was the refusal of people to give up a mindset. Terms like Biblical scholar and eschatology make people nervous and although they may at times be quite helpful remember the real teacher (the Holy Spirit) abides within the believer. Trust the God who gave the prophecy to give you its meaning as well. If you are going to study others views be careful. The internet is filled with the ranting of dozens of second coming kooks, buffs and wannabes. Stick close to the certifiable ministers like Hal Lindsey, John Hagee and Jack Van Impe just to name a few. They may not agree in every point so just remember that we all know how to spit out the bones when we are eating a good piece of fish.
2. The second reason that some believers shy away from serious study of the last days is because they are hiding. I have trouble being gentle here because it is often the scripture itself that they are hiding behind. They quote Mark 13:32,But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.This is their excuse to leave off the study of second coming even though it comprises almost one quarter of the entire Bible. Christ admonished believers to be ready for the second coming. Mt 24:44 He also warned that we could know the season and the generation even if we can not know the exact hour or the day. In the plainest language possible, no part of scripture is telling you not to study another part of scripture.
3. A third and powerful reason Christians ignore the important study of Christ's second coming is the common fear of embarrassment. We all know that there have been some who have named dates for the second coming. When those dates came and went everyone is a bit shaken. We try to distance ourselves from those who make this mistake and this is easy to understand. The remedy for this is not to associate with those who name dates. No association with them means you will never have to go through the messy business of disassociating with them. We get flushed and embarrassed when we see a guy down on the streets with a placard or sign strapped to his body that says the end of the world is at hand. Remember it isn't how we get the message out that needs to be questioned but that we get it out at all. Tread lightly before judging the methods used by anyone. Think of John the Baptist, a man who Jesus exclaimed was Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.Mt 11:11 John the Baptist was a man who wandered the wilderness clothed in camel hair like a common cave dweller. He ate bugs and wild honey for his subsistence and undoubtedly was often found unwashed and disheveled. He called for people to cut out their sinning and he proclaimed the coming of the Savior of the world. The guy down on the streets of Cleveland or Los Angeles probably looks good by comparison.
4. The fourth reason Christians shrug off a serious study of last days is similar to the excuse unbelievers use not to believe in God at all. The lack of close proximity to the events of Christ's first coming and the promise of his second coming makes people doubt that it will happen anytime soon or at all. That attitude is one of the very signs that it is near. Check it out. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2Peter 3:3-4 Don't worry he will get here. If you were well versed on second coming doctrine you would be far surer of that. In fact if you couldn't see that we are approaching the last generation it would testify to the fact that either you are asleep or you have studied no part of this wonderful doctrine at all. In summary it must be noted that almost all unbelief and ignorance of the second coming doctrine is due to common and trivial matters of everyday life. Jesus said, But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mt 24:37-39 The world is to busy too believe and the Christian is too busy to see the signs of the times but the event is too sure to be disregarded. We install elaborate intrusion and burglar detection devices on our homes because we know that when we least expect it someone can break in and wreak havoc. We arrange for our children's college funds when their still in grammar school. We insure our aged so we can be ready to give them dignified burials.
We buy health insurance to be ready for some catastrophic health problem. But alas, we do little or nothing to prepare ourselves and warn others of an event that will change our world and everything in it forever. We would rather take a chance that makes not wearing a safety belt look like forgetting to buy a stick of butter. It is little wonder that when Christ described the general condition of the world at the time of his second coming he said simply,And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.Luke 12:39 visit http://www.americanprophet.org.

Christ, the Invisible God?

Meeting with a devout Catholic cousin who knew that I abandoned my Catholic faith for the Church of Christ sometimes ended up into an argument which also lead him to realize a truth recorded in the Bible. He knew that the Church of Christ upholds the teaching that Christ is not the God but He's only the Son of God. And because of this, he called me a Christian who has no God. He's actually insulting me with that way of persecution. But I didn't mind his insults. Instead I asked him a question: "What do you think? Is God invisible or not?" "Of course God is invisible," he immediately answered. "Well, that's true, " I said. "If God is invisible, then Christ would be invisible too, isn't it? So, here's the point of asking him something like that... He agreed that God is invisible. And that is true because Apostle Paul said this: 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,[a]be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17, NKJV) It is because God is spirit; 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24, ibid) And the Spirit according to Christ has no flesh and bones: 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Luke 24:39, ibid) And since he believe that Christ is God, so I asked him if Christ is also invisible because God is invisible. But He answered no or that Christ is not invisible.
Actually, he is again right, that Christ is not invisible because according to the Gospel written by Apostle John, the Apostles saw Christ and even touched Him. And then Christ even said that He is not spirit but someone who has flesh and bones. 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Luke 24:39, ibid) From here, we can already tell the difference between Christ and God. God is invisible while Christ is not. God is spirit while Christ has flesh and bones. And one thing that we should know, that no one has seen God at any time, just like what Apostle John said: 12 No one has seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (I John 4:12, ibid) If Christ is really the God then Apostle John wouldn't say that, because he was with Christ even before Christ ascended to heavens. We all know that saying that "no one has seen God at anytime" means from the very beginning until the time the Apostle John wrote that part of the Bible, no one has ever seen God physically. So, accusing me as Christian without God just because I believe that Christ is not the God, is something that should be refrained, because it is only based on his own belief not on the truth recorded on the Bible.
My belief on the true God that Christ taught me remains in me and will not be moved by such persecution because this belief means the eternal life through Christ: 1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:1,3, ibid)

Speaking Prophesy

Those gathered for worship with the Corinthians were a diverse bunch. Corinth was one of the largest and most corrupt cities in the Roman Empire. Five times as large as Athens at the time, Corinth was also a port city full of international travelers. If too many languages were spoken during a worship service, people would loose track of what was going on. So, Paul suggested a limit of two, possibly three different languages -- and the translations should be given sequentially, not all at the same time. In addition, each message (prophecy or explanation) should be translated so that all present would be able to understand what was said. And if someone came with a message in a tongue that was not common, and there was no one to interpret what he said, he should keep it to himself. There was no point in saying something that couldn't be understood. So, if there was no interpreter present for a particular language, that language should not be used.
Greek was the international language and most people spoke enough Greek to get along. Most of the international travelers were probably bilingual. And as is common, when a bilingual person is speaking in his inferior language and comes to a more complex thing to say, he will revert to his native tongue simply because he doesn't know how to say it in his inferior language -- hoping that someone in the crowd would be able to interpret. So, said Paul, if there was no one to interpret, such a person should hold his tongue. There was no sense trying to share something that couldn't be understood correctly. He should just think it through to himself and share it with the ! Lord -- save it for a time when he was with others who spoke his language. Paul not only limited the languages spoken to two, possibly three, but he limited the points that prophets should make in whatever language as well.
As we know, the job of prophets was the clarification, explanation and application of Scripture. Here Paul suggested that too many explanations in any one worship service would leave people confused. The Corinthians leaders were probably overwhelming people by saying too much. Paul sought an optimum communication level. It was an error to speak in a language that people didn't understand. But it was also a mistake to say too much in a language that they could understand. We should understand this problem today because in our contemporary world the Word of God is all but lost in a flood of Godless words that demand and distract our attention.
Again, the point of speaking, especially in worship, is communication. So, not more than two or three points should be made during any particular worship service. And those points could then be considered and weighed by any other prophets/preachers who were there. Two things can be noted. First, that various people participated in worship leadership. Paul's point was that the leaders should cooperate. Perhaps one person would make a particular point, and another person would further clarify it. And secondly, the worship leaders should be cautious about bringing up too much, about making too many different points in any one worship service. Communication fails when the language spoken is not understood, but it also fails when people are overwhelmed with too much information -- even if the information is good. 1 Corinthians 14:30 is about making biblical applications.
Suppose one of the leaders is clarifying and explaining a particular point, and in the midst of that explanation he makes an application of the point that involves someone present. Something is revealed about someone. The fact that something is revealed suggested that whatever it was had been previously hidden, maybe intentionally, maybe not. Usually, biblical application involves some spiritual growth and reveals some sin or failure and the application involves some way to avoid or overcome that sin or failure through better reliance on God. So, said Paul, when such an application is in the process of being made, it should not be interrupted or derailed by someone who wants to say something else. When a biblical point is being made, stay with it. Clarify it. Explain it fully. And if an application is made, particularly if it involves someone who is present, let it take its course.
Don't interrupt it by changing the topic. Let it play out because biblical application is one of the central elements of Christian worship. 1 Corinthians 14:31 makes the important point that all Christians, all those whom Paul addressed in this letter, could (and should) prophesy (clarify and explain Scripture), some translations use "may." "For you can (or may) all prophesy one by one" (v. 31). Both ability and permission are given. The Greek is interesting. The word translated as could or may (dunamai) literally means to be able, to have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or because of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
It means being able to do something, being capable, being strong and powerful, having the ability. It is related at the root to the word dunamis, which is often translated as miracle or power. Paul was saying that all Christians have the power to prophesy, to clarify and explain Scripture, because that power resides in the Holy Spirit who has regenerated them. It is on this basis that I find prophecy to be an ordinary Christian gift, not an extraordinary gift. Indeed, the explanation of Scripture is common among Christians, at least it should be. And the purpose of this gift, said Paul, is learning and encouragement in faithfulness.
All should learn, all should be encouraged, and all should encourage others, all should clarify and explain what they know to be true about Scripture. The only thing unusual about this gift is that so few people who call themselves Christians can do it. And even fewer can do it well! This, however, does not mean that the gift of prophecy is rare among Christians. Rather, it suggests that faithful Christians may be more uncommon than people think. To say that "the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:32) suggests that biblical explanation should not contribute to contention or division as if my explanation is better than yours so it is your obligation to agree with me. But rather, those who explain Scripture should be in submission to others who explain Scripture.
In other words, different explanations are not necessarily in conflict, and the prophets/preachers need to make every effort to reconcile the differences according to Scripture. Faithful adherence to this dictum will go a long way to encourage Christian unity. This does not mean that the majority rules regarding biblical interpretation, or that the commonly held view is always without error. Rather, it means that those who interpret Scripture, those who preach and teach, must have submissive, teachable spirits themselves. Biblical interpretation must be understood and practiced as a team effort. There would surely be fewer denominations if more people actually practiced this. http://www.pilgrim-platform.org

Following God Or The Advertisers?

We live in a society which is today increasingly dominated by economic considerations. At national level, political factors, aims and objectives are frequently determined, or at least are severely modified by domestic or international economic forces. What applies to an individual country applies, probably with even greater force, to individual corporations and firms. The latter have always been, but today are even more locked in fierce battles with rivals. In the end those battles are for victory over YOUR mind. You are the ultimate objective of all their wheelings and dealings. Why ? Because you are the one who BUYS. And whether you buy from them or not is what determines their economic viability. (An extended discussion of this and related topics can be found in "The Path To Freedom" at http://www.christianword.co.uk) Mammon Or Messiah? None of this would really matter were it not that manufacturers, services providers and the like who hire and pay advertisers are propagators of Mammon (using that term as Jesus would have used it).
In other words, they have scant concern for Jesus as Messiah. Rather, theirs are values of the world. As John 15. 18, 19f tells us, God and the world are at enmity. The reason? Worldly values are almost always not on God's list of things that will benefit us. Rather, they are on his list of values that will take us from him. Enticement At the extremes, advertising can be completely informative or entirely persuasive. There are decreasing examples of the former and increasing examples of the latter. Moreover, the content of persuasive advertising is more and more characterised by by two outstanding features. The first is sex; the second is that, especially on TV, the actual content is increasingly irrelevant to the product acually being sold. Indeed, the relationship between the two becomes more and more obtuse. This, in fact, seems to emphasise that advertisers and advertising agencies have only one real objective: to sell the product regardless of any other principles.
This is the reason for the observed higher role of sex in advertising. Advertising professionals have found that sex can be used to promote almost anything. The Language Advertisers Understand. Every time we, as consumers, respond to adverts by buying the product, we are in fact rewarding advertising agencies and the manufacturers who pay them and keep them in (very often) a highly lucrative business. These people understand only one language. that language is the corrolation between advertising expenditure and sales. This is the ONLY thing they understand. It is the only relationship which speaks to them. The Implications For Christians Whenever we buy a product or service (such as insurance, a holiday, travel or credit card) through advertising we are doing two things.
First, we are voting for more of the same advertising. It does not matter whether we wanted to or intended to. the inescapable fact is that this is what we have done. Secondly, regardless of how immoral or objectionsable the advewrtising, we have supported it with the only kind of support it can appreciate: our money. it does not matter whether we wanted to or intended to. the inescapable fact is that this is what we have done. The Consequences For Christians The consequences are clear and obvious. No Christian can in conscience buy products or services which are being marketed through objectionable and morally questionable methods. No Christian can justify the purchase of goods and services which, however good in themselves,are subject to marketing techniques which offend against and undermine the values and principles which Jesus, the Bible and the Christian Church have set for us. Each of us has the unavoidable responsibility of first examining the pattern of our purchases in the light of the methods by which they are marketed. lollipops or cars, it makes no difference; and secondly, to write to the producers and tell them that we are refusing to buy and why.
Where retailers are concerned, the implication relative to one product may result in a boycott of that retailer. qwertyuiopqwertyuiopqwertyuiopqwertyuiopqwertyuiop For example, in the UK Boots the Chemists have chosen to sell "French Connection" products which all carry their offensive set of initials. The language in which we speak to stores like this has to be not only clear but also carry the kind of weight and consequence which will communicate our objections. In a society increasingly dominated by sex, secularism and the destruction of Christian values, these are the only effective responses available to us. If, that is, we are to follow Jesus rather than the advertisers. Web Site: http://www.christianword.co.uk

Three Kinds of Love

In the New Testament, Christ says to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" There are, of course, many kinds of love. There is the love between parents and children, there is the love between neighbors, friends, and lovers, and of course the love between a human being and God, to name but a few. Here, Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the love between people, which he says ought to be modeled on the way God loves us -- God loves the righteous and the unrighteous alike. He will later say that this commandment, to love our neighbor, coupled with the commandment to love God, is the entire essence of the law. Christ begins by telling his disciples that they must love their enemies and pray for their persecutors. The concept of our 'enemy', of course, is by no means limited to those people who wish to literally kill or maim or ruin us. Our 'enemy' can also include that person who, at the moment, happens to be aggravating us. As Jesus goes on to point out, there is nothing especially admirable or praiseworthy about loving someone who we know loves us - this is so simple that even tax collectors can do it! The disciples are told that their love has to be much more than this. They will have to love their neighbor even when their love is not returned, even when the neighbor is annoying or cruel and loving is difficult.
We all like to wax sentimental about loving, yet a little authentic self-observation makes it abundantly clear that we rarely if ever can do it. Our lack of success is evident everywhere we look -- from wars between nations, to violence in the streets, to broken homes and families, to all hatred that we hide within our hearts. Real loving is an arduous task. It requires a great deal of effort, a great deal of patience, and a great deal of Grace. Yet, for the most part, we are stunningly misled into believing that we have nothing more to learn about love than what we already figured out by about the age of fourteen. To the contrary, however, the subject of love ought to be the subject of a lifetime of contemplation. A human being is composed of a Body, Heart, and Mind, and each of these components has its own special kind of 'love'.
 (1) The love that has to do with the Body is all about chemical attraction. This is that desperate and dazzling sensation of sexual need and hunger that overtakes us in the presence of certain people, that focuses all our attention on the desire for union with their body and the release of overwhelming physical tension. Pure physical love can be profoundly enjoyable, and as such it is good for the soul and good for a relationship. Human beings have the right to enjoy their sexuality. (Jewish tradition even requires married couples to have sexual relations on the Sabbath). Once the union of bodies and the release of tension have been achieved, however, the 'hunger' disappears, at least temporarily and perhaps forever. So by itself, this kind of love does not sustain a meaningful relationship for very long. And, tragically, the vulgarity that pervades so much of modern culture tends to associate the sex act with filth, while relentlessly insisting that this is all the love we should ever expect or aspire to achieve. Sadly, then, this kind of love is all that some people will ever know.
(2) But most of us will eventually go on to seek the kind of love that has to do with the Heart. This is the kind of love in which we feel a burning need to be utterly fulfilled by the Beloved after our heart has been struck by Cupid's Arrow and we find ourselves hopelessly 'in love'. This is the kind of love that is venerated in much of our literature and art, the exquisite experience of passion, desire, and romance, that we all hope we will find and remain immersed in forever. But unless great care is taken, the erotic force of these wonderful emotions will also eventually begin to dissipate, and ultimately degenerate into something negative. If we focus our attention inward and look honestly at these swirling emotions, we see that they are passive emotions. Rather than actually actively loving the Beloved, we find a desperate emotional need for the Beloved to love us. That is, after the initial exhilaration of falling 'in love', the situation soon deteriorates into a passive/aggressive demand to be loved. This, of course, eventually evokes resentment on the part of the Beloved, and we see this over and over again in the romantic tragedies of our lives, as couples get together, break up, get together in new pairs, break these up too, finally pair up in marriage, and then spend years tied together in misery and loneliness, or get divorced and continue the same old process all over again. This hopeless floundering between ecstasy and despair is all that most of us will ever know of love.
 (3) But there is a third kind of love which has to do with the Mind. This is the love that Jesus is talking about with his disciples, a conscious love that requires the Mind to be active - and this requires genuine maturity, so that we are no longer at the mercy of vulgar fashion trends or emotional selfishness. The disciples must learn to consciously and actively love, regardless of whether they receive love in return. They must love the enemies who hate them, they must love the persecutors who torture them, they must love the righteous and the unrighteous alike. This will require a Herculean effort of Will. Considering how filled with rage and malice we become when someone merely cuts us off in traffic, we really must see that, as we are, we would in no way be capable of loving an enemy who was literally trying to kill us. But if we recall that the term 'enemy' can symbolically refer to the friend or husband or wife who at the moment happens to be annoying us, we can bring this idea down to a level where we might be able to make use of it. Even tax collectors can feel lovingly toward people when all is going well and people are behaving lovingly toward them. When things are not going well, when life is difficult, when our 'Beloved' is being moody and exasperating - this is when real effort is required to give love, and this is when love really means something. When we can honestly wish for the happiness and well-being of another human soul, regardless of their behavior, with no thought to any results for ourselves, this is when love really means something. In the case of a deep and nourishing friendship, the efforts of conscious love are necessary to sustain the relationship throughout the years.
A marriage, however, requires even more. A marriage requires all three kinds of love. But it is only the Mind's conscious effort to steadfastly love even our 'enemies', to will ourselves to love the Beloved even in the most trying of moments, that can fan the fires of our physical hunger and emotional passion and keep them burning year after year. Our ancestors, at least in theory, understood this idea far better than we do. They arranged the marriages of their children, and then taught them (or perhaps just forced them by trial and error to learn for themselves) how to create an active and long lasting love. It did not always succeed, but many of these marriages were filled with contentment and joy as two strangers learned how to love one another.
Today, we base our marriages on emotionally 'falling in love', which certainly seems more fair and more romantic. But no one ever teaches us how to love our partners actively and consciously so that love can continue to blossom and to grow, rather than to passively deteriorate. Without this knowledge and ability, most marriages are doomed to fail, since a solely emotional 'love' (which is really just a demand to be loved) eventually evokes its opposite: that is, it evokes resentment in return. As Christ realized, it is only conscious love, a selfless love that does not demand anything in return, that paradoxically evokes love in return.

Questions That Most People Ask about the Second Coming of Christ

In this article and the next few following, I will offer a general compilation of the most often asked questions asked of me over the years, and hopefully some sensible answers. Some answers will have solid scriptural support while others my just appeal to reason and good sense. You could get some answers by punching up your questions on the internet, perhaps on Ask Jeeves. You might want to confer with a Harvard University theological professor if you thought you would be getting a more valid answer.
You may also just take a more casual approach, by just waiting for the next TV special on the subject and listen to the whole heavily opinionated body of experts. They might range from scoffers and doubters to liberals and conservatives and maybe a few crackpots and fanatics to spice the pot. You may, or may not learn anything, and you may escape sinking further into the swirling pool of confusion and uncertainty you already feel is prevailing, more likely than not you will be no more prepared than you were before.
The answers offered here are not infallible but they have a backing of over thirty five years of study, examination, revelation and hopefully a good smattering of common sense. The only other thing I can offer is my assurance that God has given me this particular calling and ministry. Whether any reader accepts the weight of these things is a matter of choice for them alone. My choice has already been decided. First I would not dare to call God a liar. Secondly I have nothing to prove and last, but not least, it has clearly been required of me, and I must do this as sure as I must take my next breath.
I hear ever so clearly these words every time I approach this subject. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48 Question What is the single worst belief or false doctrine of all, concerning the second coming of Christ? Answer The single worst thing that works against sound second coming doctrine isn't a doctrine at all. It is indifference. The business as usual lifestyle will be the chief reason millions are not fully prepared for His return, not some controversial doctrine.
No one has made that clearer than Jesus. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coining of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking. marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man he. Matthew 24: 37-39 In America the idea of preparedness is being replaced with the idea of prosperity. Those in the continued hot pursuit of more material goods, securities and life as usual will be shocked and surprised at the sudden return of the Lord. Those who are students of the second coming message and who are prayerfully watching, will he surprised by nothing. www.americanprophet.org. ampro@americanprophet.org

The Obedience of Faith

Romans 16:25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began 26. but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith 27. to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. The New American Standard says it like this. 26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; The Simple English says... 26. This secret has now been made clear through the prophetic writings. The eternal God ordered this, so that when it becomes known, all nations will believe it and obey. God has given us what He calls the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. It must be of great importance if God had to keep it secret, but now it has been revealed. It has been revealed for a purpose and that purpose is so that we might receive the revelation of this mystery, and in receiving believe. But thats not all that He wants. He wants us to act upon what we have believed. He wants us to obey.
I would like to ask a question. What good is faith if not acted upon? You can see throughout the Bible where ordinary people did extraordinary things. The one major difference between them and everybody else is that they did something with what they had received from the Lord. They heard, faith came, they acted, and out of their obedience to faith, God's divine will was manifested upon the earth. The promise of salvation comes this way. Romans 10:13-14 For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? You have to believe before you call. You have to hear before you believe. What do you hear that causes you to believe? God's Word. Faith always comes, but faith not acted upon is faith wasted.
The promise of salvation comes when we have acted upon what we have believed. James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. In other words there will be no manifestation of God's will in our lives because we did not act upon what we came to believe, we didn't use the faith that He went to such great lengths to get into us. He wants us to use it or He wouldn't have given it to us in the first place, would He? I would like to point out that faith used, is faith acted upon, and faith acted upon will always produce. If you will not use the faith you have received, you can get to the point where you get a calloused heart. You get so hard hearted that you can't receive anymore.
A willingness to act in obedience to the faith produced will keep your heart supple and open for more faith to be given. Remember it comes from hearing and if your hearing isn't working your faith isn't working as well. This may seem like an obvious thing, but many Christians miss it right here.
They ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit that will lead to faith, that will give the opportunity to act and fulfill the will of God, and because of this get to the point where they are so hard hearted that nothing can help them. Christians must be open to the truth of God's Word, by the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have to be willing to believe the truth, or we will not be able to act on it. John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' In other words we will never act on the truth simply because we don't believe it to begin with. This is not God's fault, it is ours and ours alone, and we will be held accountable for our actions. Bad teaching can as well dilute the truth or negate the faith that comes from hearing the truth.
You have to accept the truth as the truth before you can act on it, right? Sometimes people get desperate enough to throw away their stinking thinking and just do it! God's Word will not fail, it is only our fear of failure that many times holds us back from stepping out into God's provision. Be a doer of the Word of God, and act on what you know! Take the truth and just do it. He has never failed, and He never will. As James says in 1:25. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. I like that.
I want to be blessed in what I do, don't you? Lets look at a few examples in the Word that describe both sides of this. These were put there for our benefit and we should learn from them. Lets start in Mark 6:1-6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?'' And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.'' Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Look at what is going on here, Jesus actually marveled at their unbelief. They were so caught up in their religious dogma that they would not open their minds up to the truth.
They refused to hear, and because they refused to hear they would not believe, and because they would not believe, they could not act on the truth that would have healed them and made them whole. I know that's a mouthful but it's the truth just the same. Because of their unbelief, the Bible tells us that Jesus could not do any mighty works there. It did not say He would not, it said He could not. Wow!!! Do we have a part to play in this? You bet we do. If it were just up to Him they could have all been healed, yet we can see that it was not just up to Him. The works that God called Jesus to do in that area were not done. I've heard people say, well, if God wanted me healed I would have gotten healed. Really? God wanted those people healed as well, and they didn't get healed did they? If Jesus Himself could not get the faithless healed, would it be any different with us. It wasn't Jesus fault it was theirs. We should never blame God He's never wrong, so lets look to where the true problem lies and make the proper correction if necessary.
It's no different in modern times. Many are offended at the message of the Gospel and will not act on what they have heard. What a shame. It's not God's will, and it certainly doesn't have to be this way, yet God can not override our unbelief. Lord open our eyes that we may receive your truth and believe, let us not be stuck in our preconceived ideas of what the truth is, but be fully open to You so that we may be obedient to it. I heard a minister say one time that peoples minds are often like concrete, thoroughly mixed and well set.
Let that not be said of us. Let us be a generation that is open to the truth, and willing to receive and act on what we know. There are many scripture in the Gospels where the persons faith was the reason for the answer being manifested or in some cases not manifested.
I will share a few, but study this out for yourself and see that it is mentioned many times in the Bible. Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.'' And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you.'' Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well.'' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. Luke 8:25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?'' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!'' Matthew 15: starting in vs. 21 if you would like to go back and read the entire passage. 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.'' And her daughter was healed from that very hour. This woman was not even Jewish or a child of the covenant, yet she persisted and continued to act on what she knew to be the truth. She knew Jesus would heal her daughter, and she would not take no for an answer! Would to God that we were all like that. Jesus honored her faith and His response was recorded for all eternity for us to see. "O woman, great is your faith! Jesus only made this statement twice, and both of these people were not the ones He was sent to. They were not children of the covenant, yet they acted on what they knew, and because of this received the promise by faith.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ? If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (Jn.6:37), So I know You won't cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said,that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. (Ro.10:9,10). I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says,with the heart one believes to righteousness and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21), And I am saved! Thank You, Lord! I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God! Glory to God!!!! Amen.

Lead Us Into Triumph

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. A victorious spirit affects every part of who we are. A victorious spirit effects everything related to us. A defeated spirit affects every part of who we are. A defeated spirit effects everything related to us. Let's see what the word of God says about leading us into triumph. In order for us to receive from God in a personal way so He can guide us; we need to be born again.
Being born again opens our life to receive love, forgiveness, wisdom from above and all the triumph that God has for us. 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. We were born with an old sinful nature, but when born again we have access to our new nature in Christ. 2 Peter 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Understanding that we have a new overcoming nature in Christ is a tremendous step toward being a victorious person, but we still have to know how to handle our old nature when it raises its ugly head. Through Christ we have been equipped to overcome our old sinful ways. Our old sinful nature is not gone though; it can tempt us, overwhelm us and influence our thinking and behavior. We need to know what to do when that happens. Romans 6:6 says: We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Reading all of Romans chapter 6 will help you to grasp the life changing principle of how to overcome you (your sinful nature). In Romans 6 it explains what Christ has done for us. Who we are and what we possess now as Christians gives us everything we need to be over comers. Get to know and get to believing these truths. When you sin don't stew in condemnation, guilt, self pity or a myriad of other counter productive emotions. When you sin agree with God that you have sinned, you are wrong and you are out of step with your new nature in Christ. Then believe and receive the power to choose the forgiveness of God. God knows you cannot live the Christian life yourself. You need Christ and all He's done for you. 1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." God wants you to no longer be wagged this way and that way; to be controlled by your old sinful nature. He wants you to be the head not the tail. He wants you, through Christ, to bring everything under the control of your new nature. He wants you to know how to handle it when you sin. He wants you to enjoy the overcoming life He has made available to you. Pray for, ask for, seek and go after it! God honors a hungry heart, a heart that truly wants what God can give. Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Another aspect of victory is overcoming the enemy that would try to prevent any spiritual progress in discovering God in a personal way. The enemy we have that tries to hinder and thwart us from being a part of revealing the kingdom of God on earth. Ephesians 2:1-6 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus This passage explains how satan (the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience) has control over us until we submit to the transforming power of Christ and take our position with Him in the heavenly places far far above the devil and his devices.
Satan is called the god (with a small g) of this world in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus said in John 12:31-32 that satan is the ruler of this world. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." Hebrews 2:14-15 says: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
This passage explains how Christ came, identified with man, became the pure sinless sacrifice and destroyed the devil's ability to control us through sin anymore. These truths are amazing and perhaps even hard to comprehend, that's why as stated earlier in 1 Corinthians 2:14 without 1st accepting Christ and receiving the Spirit of God in your life by being born again we are incapable of grasping the things of God in a real, personal and life changing way. Colossians 2:12-15: having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Yes in Christ our enemy has been disarmed, defeated. He now can only overwhelm us when we don't put on all that Christ has done for us. When we don't stand against satan by faith in these things Jesus Christ has already accomplished for us, we will fall. Ephesians 6:10-18 is a very powerful passage; get to know it. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints Let's add 1 Peter 5:8-11: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. The two above passages contain a similar truth. 1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith Ephesians 6:16 - In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one Just because you're a Christian and perhaps even more so, the devil will not stop trying to get you entangled in sin.
The fiery darts satan throws at you have your name on them. The devil knows your weaknesses, he knows your vulnerable areas and he knows which of your buttons to push to get you outside the divine protection of Christ. He knows if you give in to him or try to fight him without the armor of God on you'll lose. The word of God gives us light and insight about the schemes the devil has against us. 2 Corinthians 2:11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. A couple of his tricks are as follows:
 1. The devil will magnify an issue in your mind. He'll weave his destructive perspective into your thinking and try to get you to wrap your head around his ways, ways of anger, irritation, confusion, hate, bitterness, unforgiveness, self hurting and lots of other demonic goodies.
 2. The devil will plant the thought this stuff works for others, but not for me. This thought is usually planted in the negative rich soil of unworthiness brought on by people speaking into your life in a harmful hurtful way or by things that you have done that are really bad. Because of this soil and the devil constantly watering it, this feeling about yourself is very strong and has held you in bondage for so long you think this is who you are; you don't know how to be any other way.
You can escape this snare and you can experience life changing truth of God. Its not easy. It takes faith in what we've been talking about above. It will take effect, it will take time and it will take you constantly choosing truth instead of lies about you. Here are a couple of truths to start you off. You didn't do anything God can't forgive you for. Ask for it Go get it Its yours Don't let the devil steal it from you. You are not anything that God's love can't reach, lift you up and build you up into what He has for you. Ask for it Go get it Its yours Don't let the devil keep it from you. Below is a picture to illustrate this. Look up all the verses.
The devil has held many of us in many things in many ways, but Christ has come to set us free. The devil is strong, but Christ is stronger by far! In Luke 11:21-22 the strong man Jesus is referring to is the devil and the stronger one is Christ Himself, our Savior. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. So when you get blind sided by an enemy arrow and when thoughts are stinging you like bees remember Christ is with you. Cry out to Him; rely on what His truths say about you. Know your position with Him. Don't yield to the garbage of the enemy; eat what God has set before you. Psalm 118:12-14: They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 23:5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Ok now let's look at 1 John 5:4-5. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. You see we overcome the world (remember the world here is referring to the ungodly ways of this world under the influence of the devil; Ephesians 2:2-3) by that that is born of God. So how does something like Godly strength get born in me? Whatever is born first needs a seed. God's truths are the seeds. By me believing and receiving God's truth that seed is deposited in my spirit. It takes faith for me to receive it and it takes my faith to water that seed so that the life of that truth is born within me. For example let's say for a long time I've struggled to believe that I could be forgiven for some sin I committed. This has caused me to feel less of me and made me think others also think less of me. This has caused me to feel unworthy, guilty and condemned. But now I've heard God really does love me and has forgiven me for all my sins.
I put my faith in this fact of God's forgiveness and indeed receive this truth in my spirit. Its a bit shaky and I find myself once again being overwhelmed with my old way of thinking about myself. The devil is trying to steal this seed of truth from me just like Jesus said he would in Luke 8:4-15. In the midst of this spiritual warfare I make a decision that God is real, God is right, I am forgiven and I can enjoy a new life in Christ. This decision of mine to choose this truth about God's loving forgiveness and Him wanting to bless me instead of choosing the lie of the enemy that says you are crazy, God doesn't really care about you, you are ugly, you are no good, you won't ever amount to anything and just forget this nonsense is my faith watering the seed of truth. {Please read that long sentence again. Thank You.} Right There in the thick of it when you make good Godly decisions to follow what God says about you, instead of the bondage the devil wants to keep you in, that's when you develop strength. By the way, once satan realizes something isn't working against you after a while he'll back off.
He will come back a bit later though and try to throw the same fiery dart at you to see if it works. Every time you hold up your shield of faith and quench his fiery dart you are birthing God's truths, God's strength and God's ways of thinking in you! Good for you! Hurray for you! Keep it up. No more are you being wagged around helter skelter by the schemes of the enemy. Instead you are under God's control, the control of the Holy Spirit in you. That's good. That's very very good. 1 John 3:8-10: Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Jesus Christ has done everything we need and has given to us every thing we need to stop continuing in a life of sin and start in a life of righteousness (living right in God). Revelation 12: 9-11: And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. the blood of the Lamb Satan has been thrown down, crushed, defeated and made to be powerless against us through Christ's death on the cross for me and you. by the word of their testimony.
As we testify or line up with the gospel truths in our words and conduct, which we can because the Holy Spirit now lives in our spirit , then we to can partake of the overcoming triumphant life. for they loved not their lives even unto death - Back when this was written someone professing to be a Christian was put to death. Today this still happens in some parts of the world but not as much, but we still have to be willing to die to our old ways, our old unregenerate, unborn again sinful nature. We must choose the new way of life through Christ, a life that can lead us into victory. This is what Mark meant when he wrote Mark 8:34-38. And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." When we hunger for God to work in our lives and when we allow Him to connect us to His purpose for us we will walk in His goodness. Psalm 37:23-24: The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. As we walk in the goodness God has prepared for us we will overcome evil. Romans 12:21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I'll close now with two passages. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 2 Corinthians 2:14: But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

The Rite of Water Baptisim

As Christians, one of the first rites I believe every born-again believer should observe, either at the moment of being saved in the Lord or sometime shortly thereafter, is to be baptized with water. You can either be baptized with water at the moment you are receiving your gift of eternal salvation from the Lord or you can be baptized with water at a later date. Jesus is definitely telling us that He wants water baptism to be included as a part of the salvation experience with Him. However, I do not believe that water baptism is an actual "essential" for a true salvation experience to occur with the Lord. In other words, it is not an actual requirement for salvation.
 If you are saved at a Billy Graham crusade, but do not go through an actual water baptism at the crusade, you will still go straight to heaven if you should die on the way home before you could have gone through an actual water baptism at a later date. As you will see in one of the verses listed below, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus - not by any type of water baptism. Water baptism is still a rite of "works," and the verse I will give you below will definitely tell us that we are not saved by any type of works, but only by grace through our faith in Jesus.
There are some who believe in what is called "baptismal regeneration." This is a belief that we cannot be saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit unless we go through an actual water baptism. However, when you look very closely at the verses I will list below, and exactly what water baptism is really signifying and symbolizing with the Lord, I believe these verses are telling us that water baptism should be included as an actual "part" of the salvation experience with the Lord, but that it is not an actual "essential" or necessary requirement of it.
As you all know, people can receive the Lord's free gift of salvation anywhere and at anytime. If you can be baptized with water at the time you are receiving your salvation in the Lord, that is great and you should always do that if at all possible. However, there will be other times that there will be no water or any means to actually baptize someone with water when someone is being saved in the Lord.
If that should happen, then the person who has just been saved should be baptized with water as soon as he reasonably can at a later date. But if by chance he would die before he could have been baptized with water, he would still go straight to heaven. The fact that he could not be baptized with water will have no bearing or influence on him being able to enter into heaven if he should die before he could have been baptized with water. If we are only saved by grace through our personal faith in Jesus and not by any type of works we can do, which will include any type of water baptism, then why is Jesus telling us that He still wants us to include water baptism as part of the actual salvation experience with Him? I believe there are five main reasons as to why Jesus wants us to include water baptism as part of our salvation experience with Him.
1. To Symbolize the Washing Away of Our Sins When you are being saved through your faith in Jesus, all of your past, present and future sins are now being fully forgiven. As you will see in the verses below, all of your sins are actually "washed away" by the blood of Jesus. When you are being fully immersed during the rite of water baptism, you are going through a symbolic act of having all of your personal sins completely washed away by the blood of Jesus. The rite of water baptism perfectly symbolizes the purification and cleansing that we are receiving from the Lord during the salvation experience with Him.
 2. To Identify With the Death and Resurrection of Jesus As you will see in the verses below, water baptism is also identifying and testifying to the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we are being fully immersed into the water, we are identifying with Jesus' physical death on the cross and His body going fully into the grave. When the pastor raises us up out of the full immersion, this is identifying with the full resurrection of Jesus from that grave. The rite of water baptism by way of a full immersion is thus a perfect outward symbol act of both the death and resurrection of Jesus.
3. To Symbolize the Death of Our Old Life and Old Man, the Inward Regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and the Resurrection Into a New Life The Bible tells us that once we are saved, that we have now become new creations in Christ, that our human spirits have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and that our old life and our old man have now died and been done away with. Being fully immersed in water symbolizes the death of our old life and old man and the inward regeneration of the Holy Spirit - and the pastor raising us up out of the water represents the resurrecting into a brand new life in the Lord.
4. Signifying Our New Inner Union With the Lord When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we immediately receive the Holy Spirit on the inside of our human spirits. As a result of receiving the Holy Spirit on the inside of us, we now have a new direct spiritual union with both God and Jesus on the inside of our beings since the Holy Spirit is the One who divinely connects us to both God and Jesus in heaven. As you will see in one of the verses below, the Bible tells us that we have been "united together" with the Lord when we accept Him as our personal Savior. This uniting together with the Lord now forms an actual spiritual union with Him. We are now all part of the same one Spirit, and that one Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself. Being fully immersed into the water during the rite of water baptism perfectly symbolizes our new inner union with the Lord since water is one of the main symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible.
5. Initiation Into the Body of Christ I believe that going through a proper water baptism is also an actual initiation rite with the Lord. Not only are we being directly joined to the Lord through the Holy Spirit as a result of being saved, but we now also get to become an actual member of the Body of Christ, which is the Church itself.
 Definitions The word "baptism" means "to dip, to immerse." Here are some of the basic definitions from some of the different Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries on what the rite of water baptism is all about and why the Lord wants us to include this as a part our personal salvation experience with Him: To dip, to immerse, to submerge Signifying union with Christ Initiation into the Christian community Ritual commanded by Christ to be practiced in the church Identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ A rite signifying one's cleansing from sin through Christ's sacrifice Outward sign of inward regeneration by the Holy Spirit The immersion or dipping of a believer in water symbolizing the complete renewal and change in the believer's life and testifying to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation Though we do not need the rite of water baptism to actually receive the gift of eternal salvation from the Lord, this rite is still very powerful before the Lord and before the world in general, as we are making a public profession of our faith to the Lord by being willing to be fully submerged in a pool of water. As such, every Christian should make it their top priority to be baptized with water as soon as they can after receiving their salvation from the Lord.

Is God Good?

Why do Christians say, "God is good"? Because He is. Why do people believe God is a bad God? Due to famines, wars, shootings and violence that take place every day in this world, many assume that God must be bad. They think He is allowing these events as punishment. They believe we anger Him so He sends down tornadoes, hurricanes and every bad thing to strike us. People have gotten this impression from the Old Testament. There we see God sending a flood to wipe out the evil people of Noah's time. Though He did save those who He deemed righteous (Genesis 7). Let's see why this took place: In the Garden of Eden, God made a man, Adam, and woman, Eve (Genesis 1-2). He told Adam not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent (Satan in disguise) beguiled Eve into eating of the fruit, then she gave it to Adam, who could have refused the fruit but didn't. That day they sinned. Through that act of disobedience, sin entered into this world (Genesis 3). God is a God of justice. Just as a judge has to prosecute a criminal act, God has to prosecute sin.. However, He, also being Love, hated to see His creations suffer, so He sent His only Begotten Son, Jesus, to Earth to be born of a virgin. Mary gave birth to Jesus (Genesis 2:1).
While on Earth, He grew up and went to the Cross for us(Matthew 27). Only a sinless person could die for the sins of every human being--past, present and future. After being beaten and bruised, the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. God judged Jesus, who had never sinned, for our transgressions. He put every curse of the law and all the effects of the curse, including poverty, every kind of sickness and disease, infidelity, strife and so much more on Jesus. Jesus paid the price we should have paid. He died for us (Matthew 27). God didn't leave Him dead (Matthew 28. No, God raised Jesus from the dead, so that we might enjoy our lives to the full, until they overflow. That is how much God loves us. He did this for you, me and everyone else in this world, yet people still call Him a bad God. Why is that? People feel that God causes people to starve in Africa, that He causes car crashes that take children's parents, that He causes tsunamis.
However sin entered this world through the act of disobedience on one man's part. When Adam sinned, he essentially handed the earth over to Satan and said, "It's yours now. Do with it as you please." At that point, Satan became the ruler of the earth and the air. It wasn't until Jesus died that Jesus took back that authority and gave it to us (Luke 10:19). Most of us do not know that we have that authority. We allow Satan to reek havoc on this earth even though he has no legal right to do so. It's like a person being left an inheritance of one million dollars and then living poor, struggling in life, because he didn't know what he had inherited. Most Christians are like that. We know Jesus died for us, but we think that's all in which we are entitled.
When we accept Christ, we are entitled to so much more than merely being saved from going to hell. We have authority over this world because of Jesus' death and resurrection. We have authority to do greater works than Jesus (John 14:12), but we don't. We do the same works as Jesus. Most of the time, we do less. Jesus raised the dead (John 11:43-44). He healed the sick (Luke 4:40). He opened blind eyes (Matthew 9:27-30) and deaf ears (Mark 9:25-27). Why don't we? We don't know that we can speak to the weather patterns, like Jesus did, and command them to stop. We don't speak to those mountains in our lives (Mark 11:23), and the lives of others, because we believe those problems will laugh at us. However we have the authority over them.
We need to start acting like who we are--children of the Most High God--endued with the power to cast out demons, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick and see them recover and raise the dead (Mark 16:17-18). We blame God for what we have authority to control. The only thing God is guilty of is giving us the authority on this Earth. When we read the Bible, we learn what it is that we have authority over and how to take that authority. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are the only weapons we need against this world and the devil. Even though things look bad, our circumstances are subject to change to the Truth, the Word of God. Adam and Eve sinned, and God still blessed them with children (Genesis 4:1-2, 25).
Abraham slept with a woman besides his wife to make a baby (Genesis 16:11). Still God gave Abraham and his wife, Sarah, their promised son, Isaac (Genesis 17:19). The children of Israel turned away from God so many times by worshipping false gods, yet God delivered them every time. God is faithful even when we are not. He is good to us when we don't deserve it. He is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:2-3) when we die, if we accept Jesus. He is a good God. Its the humans who He gave authority of this world to that messed it up. We blame God for being a bad God when we are the ones in charge of this earth. The devil is defeated, so instead of fighting for the victory, we need to fight from the victory ground. We are not trying to get healed. We are healed by Jesus stripes (I Peter 2:24). We are not trying to get rich. We are rich in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9). Stand up and take your authority today.

Does Jesus' Baptism Condemn You?

Does baptism matter? Most Americans have come to the conclusion that it does not, a person can be saved and go to heaven baptized or not. It is such a settled conviction with most that they are not willing to give the study of the topic the time of day. It is ridiculous to even consider it as they see it. Only the spiritually blinded, only the cult faction, could think otherwise from their point of view. It seems to me this is taking the same attitude the Pharisees took back in the first century.
They had their settled law and there was no point in thinking there was any possibility that they might be in error. When Jesus came along and started questioning some of their beliefs and practices there was nothing to do but crucify him for there was no possibility in their mind that they could be wrong in their religion. What he had to say had to be heresy. A man ought to be cautious in reaching conclusions in spiritual matters for once this life is over and the next one has begun there is no going back a second time and getting it right. There are no second chances and eternity is a long, long time.
I would like to look at baptism and want to start with an account that is often overlooked - the baptism of Jesus when John baptized him. It is certainly true that the baptism of John differs from that which the Lord commanded in the great commission as given in Matthew 28 and Mark 16. If I was to be baptized with the baptism of John today it would not do me an ounce of good for its time has long since come and gone. Nevertheless, that was not the case when Jesus came to John to be baptized approximately 2,000 years ago. Mark tells us (Mark 1:4 NKJV), John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.We know that Jesus never sinned and when Jesus comes to John to be baptized John is hesitant.
In Matthew 3:14 we are told that, John tried to prevent Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? Now note carefully how Jesus responds.But Jesus answered and said to him, Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.(Matt. 3:15 NKJV) Why was Jesus baptized? To fulfill all righteousness for that is what he says. What did he mean by that? The answer is found in Psalms 119:172,My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. Jesus was baptized because it was the righteous thing to do for God had commanded it and all of God's commandments are righteousness.
In Matt. 21 Jesus is being confronted by the chief priests and the elders who want to know by what authority he is doing the things he is doing. The Bible says, (Matt. 21:24-26 NKJV), Jesus answered and said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying,If we say, From heaven, He will say to us Why then did you not believe him? But if we say,From men, we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.
Jesus is saying John's baptism has to be either from God or from man, which was it? Jesus believed (knew) it was from God and was baptized. The Pharisees did not believe it was from God and thus were not baptized. In Jesus case belief led to obedience, in the Pharisee's case disbelief led to disobedience. In Luke 7 Jesus has been talking about John the Baptist and the Bible says, beginning in verse 29,And when all the people heard Him (Jesus DS), even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.(NKJV) This provides further proof that John's baptism was from or of God. The counsel of God was that men receive John's message and be baptized. John's message was that men repent and be baptized, a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. The Good News Bible translates Mark 1:4 as follows: So John appeared in the desert, baptizing and preaching.Turn away from your sins and be baptized, he told the people, and God will forgive your sins." This was the message of God for the people that was rejected by the Pharisees, lawyers, chief priests, and elders.
But, the Bible says even the tax collectors justified God, have been baptized with the baptism of John. (Luke 7:29 NKJV) What does it mean justified God, how is that done? The New American Standard translation of this verse clarifies it a lot. It reads,And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. Part of John's message was that there was to be wrath to come and the way of escape was to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. When men obeyed John's preaching they were in affect saying by their actions that God was just in bringing this wrath upon them unless they did repent and obey and that it was just of him to demand their repentance and baptism.
Now what does all of this have to do with you and me today, with men and women in general? There is a direct application and an argument I think no one can reject save at their own peril. Jesus asked the question where did John's baptism come from, from God or man. Here is the question for you and me today, where did the baptism Jesus commanded come from, from God or man? Why would it be wrong to reject John's baptism in its time but right to reject Jesus baptism in our time? Jesus made it clear that to reject John's baptism in its time was to reject the counsel of God against themselves. Are we not doing the same thing today, rejecting God's counsel against ourselves, when we refuse to be baptized with Jesus baptism, the baptism of the great commission.
If not why not? One cannot reason his way out of this dilemma but it gets even worse for those who want to reject baptism. Please note it was a salvation issue with Jesus concerning John's baptism. Are you going to say it is not a salvation issue today with Jesus baptism? How much difference is there in the meaning of the words, a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4 NKJV) spoken concerning John's baptism and the words repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins(Acts 2:38 NKJV) spoken concerning the baptism Jesus requires in our own time? The words sound very similar to me.
 Am I saying that both baptisms were identical? No, but the difference lay not in the end to be achieved. John's baptism ultimately would have done no good had Jesus not died on the cross. In that sense it looked forward and was a promise. We have this in our everyday lives all of the time. If I do this then I am promised that even though that may be down the road a ways. Paychecks are like that. We work trusting by faith the promise that we will be paid. This was John's baptism. Does this mean their actual forgiveness lay down the road somewhere in the future and was not immediate? No, for it was a certainty, not just a promise, that Jesus would die on the cross. The deed was as good as done the day it was first prophesied.
When Moses and Elijah met Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus had not yet died on the cross. Was their salvation hanging in the balance until he did die? To ask is to answer. So it was with those who obeyed John's teaching. Their sins were forgiven then and there or else John misled them for he said it was for the forgiveness of sins. The baptism Jesus gave man by way of the great commission was based on the fact that Jesus had already died and shed his blood for the remission of sins and the salvation of man. Man has to believe the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
In short, for a man to receive the baptism of Jesus he must believe in the historical Jesus, the Savior of the world. If a man today refuses to obey the command to be baptized he refuses to do what Jesus said he was doing when he said,it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. (Matt. 3:15 NKJV) It has already been pointed out that all God's commands are righteousness (Psalms 119:172). If we have a command to be baptized today, as far as I know all agree we do, should we not obey it and fulfill all righteousness? Why is it wrong to follow Jesus example? Does Jesus' baptism condemn you? It well could for when all is said and done you will either make camp with the Pharisees and other unbelievers who could not take God's word at face value, believe and obey it, or you will camp with those who did believe and did obey. You will either reject the counsel of God against yourself refusing to be baptized or else you will accept it, believe and obey it. Make no mistake about it, for there are way too many passages that teach it, God has commanded baptism for you and me today thus it becomes a matter of either we will or we won't. We will either accept his counsel or we will reject it.
I am sometimes taken aback by how people can just blow off baptism as being an insignificant thing unworthy of time or trouble. It is a reflection on God. Really is that not what Jesus was saying way back when you don't believe God? So many want to be saved by faith today apart from baptism and cannot see, as though blinded, that baptism is a part of faith, a part of the faith that saves.
You are either going to believe God or you are not going to believe him when he speaks of baptism in his word. Why is it we can see this when Jesus addresses the subject of John's baptism but cannot see the direct application to our own response in our time to Jesus baptism? I doubt any of us can fully grasp the power that tradition exerts on us when it comes to how we see things and how we think. Add to that the influence of friends and family and the desire for it to be the way we want it to be often because of family. All that be as it may God's word stands and so what are we going to do about it becomes the question. Many have answered I am not going to believe it as did the Pharisees. They did not believe it because they did not want to believe it. We pretty much end up believing what we want to believe instead of what we ought to believe. I close this now just adding one final thought. The decision is yours.