Truly For Jesus

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 504-524

2012-02-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

504. The Sure Mercies of David. Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:34
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

505. A Surety of a Better Testament. Hebrews 7:22
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

506. A Sweet Smelling Savour. Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

507. A Tabernacle for a Shadow. Isaiah 4:6
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

508. The Tabernacle of God. Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

509. A Teacher Come from God. John 3:2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

510. The Temple. John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

511. A Tender Plant. Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

512. The Tender Mercy of God. Luke 1:78
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.

513. The Testator. Hebrews 9:16
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Hebrews 9:17
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

514. The Testimony of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

515. This Treasure. 2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

516. A Tried Stone. Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

517. The True Bread from Heaven. John 6:32
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

518. The True Light. John 1:9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

519. The True Vine. John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

520. The True Witness. Proverbs 14:25
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

521. The Truth. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

522. Undefiled. Hebrews 7:26
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

523. Understanding. Proverbs 3:19
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

524. The Unspeakable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Does God send people to hell?

2012-02-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few questions and answers I participated in at Yahoo Answers. Q & A on the topic of hell.

Q: If I don't believe in God but I do my best deed to help people, I still go to hell, correct? So hell is filled with good people, correct?

Hell is filled with people who died in their sin, sinners. The Bible says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23).

We are all sinners and the payment for sinning is death and hell. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save sinners. Jesus shed His blood, died on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later so that your sins could be forgiven. Good works cannot save you, you have to believe in Jesus.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Q: What would you think of a father who stuck his children in a furnace because they don't love him?

You are not looking at the full story. What about God who became a man, suffered at the hands of men that He created, and was killed by them, all so that His death could be the payment for your sins? That is extremely loving. Remember that the same God, Jesus Christ, who 'sends' people to hell also died for them. God gives us a choice, we can either believe on him and escape going to hell or we can reject him and suffer the consequences.

Q: Does anyone really deserve eternal torment?

Hell was created for the devil and his angles. Man chose to sin so now he will go to hell as well. Unless man chooses God's get out of hell free card. You see, God become a man, Jesus Christ, suffered at the hands of the men he created, and was killed by them, all so his death could be the payment for mankind's sins. The same God that sends people to hell also died for them so they would not have to go hell.

God gives us a choice we can either believe on him, Jesus Christ, and escape going to hell or we can reject him and suffer eternal damnation in the lake of fire. What could be more fair?

Simply believe on Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and pray to God, confess with your mouth that you want Jesus to save you and to be your Lord. And you will escape spending an eternity in hell; you'll be saved.

Song of the Week: Let You Live

2012-02-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

A song about pro life and anti abortion. Let You Live by Take No Glory.

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." (Psalms 139:13-14)

The Real Roots of the Emergent Church

2012-02-18T18:18:00.000-08:00

You have got to see this. The Real Roots of the Emergent Church takes an honest look at the leaders of the Emerging Church movement such as Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones, Rob Bell, Tony Campolo, Steve Chalke, Peter Rollins, Dan Kimball, Richard Rohr, Phyllis Tickle, Spencer Burke and others. Who they are and what they are teaching.

Become familiar with the postmodern Emergent Church and its popular tactic of literary deconstruction applied to the Bible. This film takes an in-depth look at what the Emerging Church believes concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, absolute truth, hell, homosexuality, mysticism, contemplative prayer, other religions, and eschatology in comparison to the Bible. Much more than candles and couches!

This is a great documentary by Elliott Nesch.

The Bible and the Value of Pi

2012-02-17T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Bible and the Value of π
By Dr. Kent Hovind

1 Kings 7:23-26

23) And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
24) And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
25) It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
26) And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

Does the Bible contain a mathematical error?

I Kings 7:23–26 and II Chronicles 4:2–5 describe a huge brass bowl (sea) built by King Solomon. If the diameter of this bowl was 10 cubits, then the circumference should have been 31.415926...cubits, not just 30 cubits! Any math student will tell you that the circumference of a circle is found by taking the diameter times Pi (π). This apparent mathematical error caused me, as a new Christian, to doubt the accuracy of the Bible.

The answer is so simple!

The diameter of 10 cubits is from outer rim to outer rim, the way anyone would measure a circular object. The circumference of 30 cubits, however, was of the inner circle, after subtracting the thickness of the brass (two handbreadths—one for each side) from which the bowl was made. This would be the number needed to calculate the volume of water.

Check for yourself.

Substitute the length of your cubit (elbow to longest fingertip) for the letter C in the following formula, and solve for H.

30C ÷ π + 2H = 10C

The width of your handbreadth will be the result. For example, my cubit is 20 inches long. If I had built the brass bowl, the inner diameter would have a circumference of 600 inches (30 x 20 inches) and a diameter of 190.986 inches (600 inches ÷ 3.14159). The difference between the two diameters is 9.014 inches (two of my handbreadths).

Rest assured.

God makes no mistakes, mathematical or otherwise. The Scriptures do not contain error. By the way, Solomon built this sea in 1000 B.C., long before the Greeks rediscovered Pi (π). We may not understand some things at first glance, but the problem is with us, not with the Bible. Please be sure you are on the solid foundation of God’s Word, saved by the blood of Christ.

Follow Up on "King" Eddie Long

2012-02-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

After Eddie Long's previous spectacle at New Birth church where he was made king, Long's performance attracted a lot of criticism and rightly so. The whole ceremony had no foundation in Scripture. And Long did apologize. But here's the thing, Long only apologized to the Jewish community if the ceremony had offended them, which it did.

Yet Long has yet to apologize to New Birth or yet to come out and say that the ceremony was unbiblical and never should have been performed in the first place. Instead Long and Rabbi Messer are blaming one another for the performance. You can see the video footage for yourself.

This is very sad in addition to Eddie Long's past prosperity gospel preaching, his male sex abuse scandal that he settled out of court for and now this issue of a king's ceremony. Very sad indeed.

The Prophecies of Joseph Smith, by James Walker

2012-02-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

A talk given on the false prophecies of Joseph Smith.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22

20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Beware of Heresy

2012-02-16T13:34:00.001-08:00

While listening to an episode of Fighting for the Faith, I heard a sermon by this man, Pastor Gervase Charmley. His sermon on Galatians 5 and the subject of bewaring heresy is very good.

Galatians 5:1-13

1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10) I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11) And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12) I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Sermon Details:

The Galatians were running the Christian race when the Judaizing heretics cut in and tried to stop them from reaching the finishing line. In our text Paul tells the Galatians his confidence concerning them, confronts the false doctrine of the Judaizers, and condemns the heretics.

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 483-503

2012-02-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

483. My Stay. Psalms 18:18
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

484. A Stone Cut out of the Mountain. Daniel 2:45
Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

485. A Stone Cut without Hands. Daniel 2:34
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

486. The Stone of Israel. Genesis 49:24
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel).

487. A Stone of Stumbling. 1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

488. The Stone which the Builders Refused. Psalms 118:22
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

489. The Stone which the Builders Rejected. Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

490. The Stone which was set at Nought. Acts 4:11
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

491. A Stranger. Matthew 25:35
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in.

492. My Strength. Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

493. The Strength of Israel. 1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

494. The Strength of My Life. Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

495. A Strength to the Needy in Distress. Isaiah 25:4
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

496. A Strength to the Poor. Isaiah 25:4
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

497. A Strong Consolation. Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.

498. A Stronghold in the Day of Trouble. Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

499. A Strong Tower. Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

500. A Strong Tower from the Enemy. Psalms 61:3
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

501. A Stumbling Block. 1 Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.

502. The Sun of Righteousness. Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

503. A Sure Foundation. Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Jesus Paid It All

2012-02-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

- Hymn written by Elvina M. Hall in 1865.

Was the Elephant Room 2 an Ecumenical Church Council?

2012-02-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

As a follow up to my post titled Hypocrites? here's a podcast from Pirate Christian Radio's Fighting For The Faith program. The podcast is titled Was the Elephant Room 2 an Ecumenical Church Council? and this show deals with:

Patricia King and Encounters of the Heavenly Realm
Canons of the Elephant Room 2
ER2 Supporter plays the Race Card.
T.D. Jakes' Prosperity Heresy Wasn't Addressed in ER2
Sermon Review: Live in the Moment by Byron Bledsoe, C3, Orlando, FL

More on Joseph Smith and Mormonism

2012-02-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

The founder of the LDS Church, Joseph Smith, claimed an angel named Moroni visited him in September of 1823. This heavenly messenger is reported to have told him about gold plates that contained a record of "former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang." The plates were said to contain "the fulness of the everlasting Gospel" as it was "delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants." In order to translate the language contained on the plates (a language called "Reformed Egyptian"), two stones in silver bows, called the Urim and Thummim, were included with the plates (Joseph Smith History 1:34,35). According to Smith's testimony, four more years went by before the angel allowed him to retrieve the gold plates.

Joseph Smith said, "each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed" (History of the Church 4:537).

The question at hand, then, is whether or not Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon plates is true. If Smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language which were said to contain the story of Jesus' appearance in the Americas, then this man should be revered and his translation of this ancient work heralded as God's word to mankind. On the other hand, if the translation has no basis in fact, but instead is based on fraud, then it should be exposed and the man's teachings about God and faith should be debunked. This is the difference between the way Mormons and critics of the LDS Church view Mormonism's first prophet. What is the evidence?

According to the Documentary History of the Church (DHC) 2:235, it was on July 3, 1835 when Michael Chandler "came to Kirtland (OH) to exhibit some Egyptian mummies." According to the record, "There were four human figures, together with some two or more rolls of papyrus covered with hieroglyphic figures and devices." Chandler's display so intrigued the Mormons living in Kirtland that they told the traveling showman how their prophet, Joseph Smith, had the ability to translate the papyri...

We do know that gold weighs about 1200 pounds per cubic foot. Given the dimensions by Smith, some have concluded that the plates could have weighed as much as 234 pounds to as little as 100 pounds. The heavier weight is based on what would probably be the total weight of a solid block of gold measuring the size of Smith's plates. This weight would tend to be unlikely given the fact that engravings on a thin plate of soft metal such as gold would probably not lay perfectly flat. If such indentions did tend to cause the plate to "bulge," it would also seem likely that the engravings would have been difficult to read.

Mormon metallurgist Reed Putnam estimates that if the plates were made of pure gold, they would have probably weighed around 100 pounds. In perspective, that would be like carrying a bag of Portland cement under one's arm.

Joseph Smith changed his mind.

One thing worth noting: Since the talk, the Mormon Church has changed the title page to the Book of Mormon:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695226049,00.html

Clarification: Mormon revisionists today believe that Moroni went from one Hill Cumorah to the next to bury the plates. Hence, Moroni had to carry the plates from Central America to New York.

The Untold Story of the Death of Joseph Smith

2012-02-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

Did Joseph Smith die an innocent martyr as Mormonism declares? Not hardly. Bill McKeever speaks on the untold story of the death of Joseph Smith.

See the article: Final Moments at Carthage Jail and the Death of Joseph Smith

Hypocrites?

2012-02-15T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hmm... this is interesting. Some of the folks from the Elephant Room 2 are featured in this video saying some very interesting things. Take a look as Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald condemn the prosperity gospel, such as T.D. Jakes and other false teachers preach, and yet these men attended the Elephant Room 2 conference without any real issue with one another.

From Wretched Radio: Driscoll, Jakes, MacDonald and an Elephant

At the conference they never talked about the prosperity gospel or the real elephant in the room, heresy from men like modalist T.D. Jakes, narcissistic eisegetical expert Steven Furtick and others. The Elephant Room 2 ended with Driscoll and Jakes and the rest holding hands, so to speak.

Tithes or Filthy Lucre

2012-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

So many men out in pulpits are pushing the false doctrine of the prosperity gospel or give and you'll get and tithe and God will pour out His blessing from heaven. It's a crying shame. I'm not saying don't give to help the brethren but the tithing practice or give 10% or God will curse you taught currently in many "churches" is in error.

Where's the Bible for that?

You don't give God money in order to receive something, money, back from God. That idea is ludicrous. The whole notion of the first fruits tithe giving and curse teaching is a perversion of Malachi chapter 3. I'm sure you have heard this passage of the Bible many times before.

Malachi 3:1-18

1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7) Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12) And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
13) Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14) Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
15) And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17) And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18) Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Malachi 3 tells of the children of Israel not giving their offerings and tithes to the temple of God. God's literal temple where the priests received the offerings. Israel gave of their crops and cattle to the house of God because God commanded them to do so under Old Testament Law. Their tithes and offerings were provision for the Levitical priests of which a tenth was offered up or burned before God in the temple. I wish some men would preach on the fact that the tithes were usually eaten or burned up.

But wait, doesn't the Bible say we must give 10% of our income? No! In Numbers 18 God tells Moses that the Levites are to take of the tithes of the children of Israel and offer up a tenth part of those tithes to God. The tithe are crops and livestock and for the redeemed unclean cattle a payment is made. Sounds like a connection to how Jesus paid with His sacrifice to redeem mankind.

Of the tithes, the Levites get the heave offering and of the portion they get to keep, they eat. Of the tenth part given to God, the portion is burned before God as offerings for the sins of the people. The commandment to give a tenth of tithes is strictly given to the people of Israel in the Old Testament and is not given to the New Testament as Christians are not under the Law but under grace.

Numbers 18:1-32

1) And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
2) And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
3) And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
4) And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
5) And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
6) And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
7) Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
8) And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
9) This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
10) In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
11) And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
12) All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
13) And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.
14) Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.
15) Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
16) And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
17) But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
18) And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.
19) All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
20) And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
21) And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22) Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
23) But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
24) But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
25) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
26) Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
27) And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
28) Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
29) Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
30) Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
31) And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
32) And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.

But what about Abraham? Abraham gave a tenth of all his spoils, from war, to Melchizedek. But Abraham was not commanded to give a tenth.

Genesis 14:18-20

18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Abraham gave tithes of all to Melchizedek the priest of the most high God. Melchizedek is the preincarnate Word, Jesus Christ the King of Righteousness who came to Abraham with bread and wine.

Hebrews 7:1-4

1) For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4) Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Hebrews 7:9-19

9) And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10) For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11) If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12) For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13) For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15) And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18) For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

And what about Jacob? Jacob promised to give a tenth of all he is given from God to God. Yet most churches don't teach on this passage of the Bible. I wonder why? Could it be because Jacob made the vow to give a tenth only IF God does the things he asks and then of all that God gives him, he will give a tenth to God.

Genesis 28:18-22

18) And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19) And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21) So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22) And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Jacob's passage is not taught in modern day tithing churches because it wrecks the scam. Corrupt men behind the pulpits wouldn't be able to rip people off if they taught on Jacob's example. Jacob makes it clear IF God does these things then out of what God has given him he will give back a tenth. The IF would ruin mega churches around the globe.

Besides tithes in nearly all of the Old Testament being crops and cattle given directly to God or to the literal storehouse, the temple that Solomon built, for the priesthood and as offerings heaved or burned before the LORD once more the tithe is not commanded in the New Testament. There is no longer a Levitical priesthood to give the tithes and offerings to. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins by shedding His blood and dieing on the cross then rising from the dead three days later so there is no longer need for sin offerings or heave offerings, etc.

Do you see the bigger picture here? Tithes and offerings in the sense of modern church practices are a gross error. Not only is it taking money from God's people to make rich the man behind the pulpit but it is also twisting God's word to manipulate the gospel. There's no need for tithes and offerings or first fruits because Jesus Christ paid it all for our sins.

Another passage of Scripture you may hear very often to support the pressured giving of tithes is 2 Corinthians 9. And yes I say pressured because I've been to churches where a pastor will turn to 2 Corinthians 9 before taking the tithes and offerings and read the passage. Then he'll say that you don't have to give BUT God loves a cheerful giver and he that sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. However, 2 Corinthians 9 is directed to the ministering of the saints meaning giving money to help the brethren in Christ as Paul received collections from the churches and as the brethren gave to one another providing relief. God loves a cheerful giver because we are to give not grudgingly but of necessity to help the brethren.

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

1) For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2) For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3) Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4) Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5) Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9) (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10) Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12) For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13) Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14) And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

In closing, tithing is not a New Testament practice or command and do not be tricked into believing it is. However, giving for the ministering of the saints should be done to help the brethren. Do give to help the brethren and give to help the church with its bills. But don't give to those fakes on stage begging for your wallets and 10%+. And don't give to expect God to give money to you. And don't give because you are afraid God will curse you if you don't tithe. Beware, the wolves out there are not after your interest of giving to house of God, they're after filthy lucre. And their God is their own bellies.

1 Peter 5:1-4

1) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Churches Using Carnal Means to Attract Carnal People - Paul Washer

2012-02-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Is he serious?

2012-02-14T11:18:00.000-08:00

This video of Pastor "Hireling" Perry Noble using skittles to demonstrate why his church members should pay their tithes, give him their money, left me speechless. Does this man have no shame? How far can he twist the word of God to fleece the flock before someone speaks up? Well, FBCJax speaks quite loudly and made this insightful video about Perry's skittles gimmick.

Perry Noble's "Parable of the Greedy Christian and His Disappearing Skittles"

Just as Jesus used parables and word pictures to help people understand his teachings, so did Perry Noble to help people clearly see how nutty his First Fruits tithing doctrine really is.

In the parable of the "Greedy Christian and His Disappearing Skittles", Perry shows how the key to getting God to give you overflowing Skittles (money) is to be sure and give the first 10% of your Skittles (money) to your nearest 501c(3) church.

Perry Noble is the same man that tells church members: "You Officially Suck as a Human Being" if you don't like his church's music. He also played and preached a sermon on the song Highway to Hell at an Easter service. Perry tells parent's they can't bring their young children into the church service because they will disturb the entertainment, I mean the preaching. And Pastor Perry calls people a "jack-ass," his words not mine, if the Church wants deeper teaching; meaning they want him to actually preach the word of God.

This is very disturbing and sad, coming from a man who is supposed to be a pastor. Since when did Perry meet the requirements of a bishop or a pastor?

1 Timothy 3:1-13
1) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8) Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11) Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13) For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1:4-11
4) To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6) If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7) For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8) But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God

2012-02-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

(1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

Song of the Week: My Eyes Are Dry

2012-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

My Eyes Are Dry by Keith Green.

My eyes are dry, my faith is old
My heart is hard, my prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

I'll Give My Life / The Unfinished Task

2012-02-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

I found this Christian movie on Archive.org some time ago. The film is called I'll Give My Life but it also goes by the title of the Unfinished Task. It's a movie about a family or mainly a father and son who don't quite see eye to eye. The father is an engineer and expects his son to follow in his footsteps.

But after finishing college the son tells his father that he wants to go into ministry instead of being an engineer at his father's firm. His dad blows his stack and the two get into a heated argument. The dad can't understand why his son would "waste" his time and talents as a missionary when he could simply stay at home, work as an engineer and pay to send someone else to go and be a missionary. Yet his son knows that's not the point.

Jesus said:

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)

I won't spoil the rest of the film. I think it's a good movie that's worth watching.

Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

Half Devil, Half Child - Chrislam in the church of Asia

2012-02-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just saw these videos yesterday and while I know the new Islam friendly Bible is bad, I didn't know how bad the Islamization is in parts of the world. And even its affect on the Christians living there.

For instance, there's a documentary coming out called Half Devil, Half Child. The documentary deals with the church in Asia and how they are facing deception and pressure for Christians to comprise to Islam, producing Muslim "Christians."

As one of the men in the video states, the people who comprise are praying to Jesus at night but during the day these same people are attending Mosque. And the Missionaries toting Muslim Friendly Bible perversions are adding to the problem and encouraging further comprise.

Western missionaries are removing "Son of God" from Bible translations produced for Insider Movements. Hear Asians talk about the impact, in their own words.

Just as the Muslim Friendly "Bible" from Wycliffe is distorting and changing the words of God, the missionaries preaching from such counterfeit Bible texts are twisting and comprising the faith by telling people they can believe in Jesus and be a Christian but still live their lives as Muslims. I had no idea that there's even a classification of contextualization for religious backgrounds, such as in the Muslim community there are labels of C5 and C6, etc.

Here's a site that posts a chart breaking down the classifications:

Contextualization: Building Bridges to the Muslim Community
by Jim Leffel

INTRODUCTION
This paper seeks to unite sending church, mission organization and field team on the nature and extent of contextualization among Muslims. We believe that the strongly held consensus of these three parties is essential to long-term effectiveness. We consider models of contextualization as it relates to Islam, critical problems with these models, and strategic application of the model we advocate.

THE CENTRAL PROBLEM OF CONTEXTUALIZATION
Missiologist Darrell Whiteman defines contextualization as a process that involves,

"[A]ttempts to communicate the Gospel in word and deed and to establish the church in ways that make sense to people within their local cultural context, presenting Christianity in such a way that it meets people's deepest needs and penetrates their worldview, thus allowing them to follow Christ and remain within their own culture."

MODELS OF CONTEXTUALIZATION
We begin by describing six contextualization models. After a brief summary of C1-C3 and C6 models, we will focus attention on the C4 and C5 models, considering theological issues relating to them, and how they might be incorporated into a church planting strategy in the present Muslim context.

C1 and C2 models represent little accommodation to Muslim culture, other than the C2 use of indigenous language. These models import much of traditional Western culture into the Muslim context, including Western-style buildings, denominational affiliation, and worship. While we must respect the courage of the few Muslim converts to these churches, we consider the models inadequate for two reasons. First, imposing unnecessary cultural forms to the non-Western context inhibits long term efforts to found a truly indigenous people movement from taking root. The church will always be seen as a cultural outsider. Second, the distance from Islamic culture to these churches is an unbiblical constraint on conversion and Christian discipleship. In effect, it erects extra-biblical cultural roadblocks to the Gospel.

C3 contextualization accommodates non-religious aspects of the indigenous culture. At the same time, there is a conscious attempt to break from all visible elements of Islam-such as observing Ramadan, dietary laws, association with the mosque and so forth. This moderately contextualized model assumes that Islamic cultural forms can not be purged of their religious meaning, and should be abandoned to avoid fostering syncretism. C3 is a form of contextualization that most Westerners are comfortable supporting because it sharply contrasts Islam and Christianity. Conversion means parting from Islamic identity and coming into a new one. However, the problem is that to the eyes of the Muslim world, there is little real difference between C3 and C2, with the consequence that C3 amounts to an "extraction" strategy. In some contexts C3 strategy may directly subvert the goal of birthing an indigenous people movement because,

"[e]ach convert extracted from his own cultural situation reinforces in the minds of Hindus and Muslims the misunderstanding that Christians are opposed to their cultural traditions. In this sense, one could defend the thesis that each convert won from these faiths at present actually represents a setback to winning large numbers from these communities."

C6 is more of a survival strategy than a contextualization model. These believers are forced to choose between rejection from the community or martyrdom and complete anonymity. While it may be best in the short term for a convert to remain in a C6 position, it is certainly no long term plan. Building an indigenous church or igniting an indigenous people movement is virtually impossible under these conditions. This strategy may be necessary in some countries where conversion to biblical faith is illegal and an underground church is still in the making.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF C5 CONTEXTUALIZATION
Because C3 contextualization in the Muslim context has been only marginally successful, missionaries have been experimenting with "injection" forms of contextualization, and examining the scripture with these concerns in mind. In this section, we will discuss C4 and C5 models, assessing the theological assumptions they make and their possible application to long term church planting strategy.

C4/5 contextualization is not merely a quantitative step down the C3 continuum. The qualitative leap from C3 to C4/5 models involves incorporating traditional Islamic religious forms into biblical faith and Christian community. However, significant qualitative differences also exist between C4 and C5 models. For this reason, and because C5 is really at the heart of the current controversy in Muslim missions, we will focus our attention on the strategic and biblical case for C5 contextualization.

C5 communities are, by all accounts, experimental and of rather recent origin. The paucity of information about these works makes assessment difficult, but there is at least one study that has generated some helpful discussion. A C5 community was formed in Muslim Central Asia in1983. Converts from Islam are encouraged to express their new faith almost completely within the Muslim social and religious fold. They do not view themselves as Christians, since in context, that refers to traitors against the community, Western materialism and other counterproductive baggage. Converts are encouraged to see themselves as "Muslim followers of Isa," or "completed Muslims," or "messianic Muslims."

These believers usually attend the mosque, commonly pray traditional Muslim prayers, fast, and do all the things their Islamic neighbors do. Yet there are two key differences between Muslims and Muslim followers of Isa. First, some Islamic teaching is reinterpreted along biblical lines, while some Islamic doctrines are rejected completely. Second, a community of biblical believers meet regularly for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. This provides a venue for Bible teaching and instruction, discipleship, and community building.

The C5 work in Central Asia appears to be an example of successful contextualization. Convert estimates vary by a factor of 10 (from 4,500 to 45,000), but even on the conservative end, it is a startling accomplishment. Clearly, this community shows that something has taken hold among one of the most unevangelized, spiritually hostile people groups in the world. As a method of infiltrating this heavily resistant field, the C5 model seems to hold promise. It avoids the problem of converts being rejected by their families and communities, keeping them both safe (at least so far) and able to carry on an evangelistic witness.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Now, I can understand a person wanting to stay in their culture, there's nothing wrong with that. Arab Christians live in an Arab culture, but they are not in the religion of Islam. Islam is not a culture, it's a religion. And a Christian cannot fit into the religion of Islam or vice versa. There's no comprising the two. So why is this method trying to be pushed in Muslim centered countries?

It's like if I lived in a Roman Catholic dominated country and as a Christian I went to Mass, celebrated the festivals, rites, etc. and even prayed the rosary. I would be trying to fit into the religion not the culture and that "fit" would be impossible. The same could be said about Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. As a Christian, when you get saved you are to come out of the false religion or belief system you were in. And not stay in it because you don't want to be persecuted or have problems because you're a Christian.

The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 9
16) For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17) For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18) What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19) For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20) And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21) To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22) To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23) And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

The Apostle Paul became all things to all men but he never once compromised the gospel of Jesus Christ. He stood up bold and preached the gospel. And he was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, etc. for his faith in Jesus Christ but Paul still proclaimed the truth until he was martyred. But sadly the stance for the truth is not like it should be in other parts of the globe right now.

Here is one last video, the trailer for the documentary.

Christian leaders in Bangladesh minister to a poverty-stricken nation dominated by Islam. No small or simple task, they now face growing opposition no one expected from Western Christian missionaries that instead support "insiders" -- 'born-again Muslims' who continue to live and worship as Muslims while claiming to inwardly follow Jesus. As 'insiders' siphon off support from the West, the pressure increases upon the faithful men who refuse to minister in secret and to hide the light of the world behind a mask of darkness.

I don't know when the documentary Half Devil, Half Child is coming out but you can visit their site for more info. http://halfdevilhalfchild.com

My goodness, in America we don't face any of this. Most Christians in this country at worst get laughed on their jobs and made fun of by coworkers, etc. but do Christians in America face persecution and problems like others do around the world? Not even close. There's something seriously wrong here with our complacent Christianity.

And we can't just sit back as our brethren in Asia and elsewhere are being given corrupt Bibles and some are falling to comprise with Islam and we do nothing to help. Pray for our brothers and sisters abroad and we have to get involved in any way we can. Help send Bibles to other countries, give your time and effort to do something to bring people to know the true Jesus Christ.

This video footage and the false Bible being put out by Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Summer Institute of Linguistics and Frontiers truly saddens me. But it's also sad that some Christians will look on and not even try to help the situation. This is a serious matter.

The Lord Jesus Christ said:

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Most Perfect Is the Law of God

2012-02-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Most perfect is the law of God,
Restoring those that stray;
His testimony is most sure,
Proclaiming wisdom’s way.

O how I love Thy law!
O how I love Thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
O how I love Thy law!
O how I love Thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.

The precepts of the Lord are right;
With joy they fill the heart;
The Lord’s commandments all are pure,
And clearest light impart.

The fear of God is undefiled
And ever shall endure;
The statutes of the Lord are truth
And righteousness most pure.

They warn from ways of wickedness
Displeasing to the Lord,
And in the keeping of His Word
There is a great reward.

— The Psalter (Pittsburgh, PA: The United Prsebyterian Board of Publications, 1912), no. 41.

Who's Missing?

2012-02-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

A little humor :)

The 10 Commandments

2012-02-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Do you know the 10 Commandments? The 10 Commandments is the Law of God and by the Law we are shown our sin.

Deuteronomy 5:7-21 tells us God's Law:

1. Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

4. Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

8. Neither shalt thou steal.

9. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

By the Law, God's 10 Commandments we have the knowledge of sin.

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19-20)

Have you ever lied? Have you ever stole? Have you cursed God and used His name in vain? Are you an idolator and not just idol statues but idols set up in your life that you give more attention, hold higher and reverence more than God? Do you and have you always loved God with all your heart, mind, body? Etc.

The answer to these questions is simple, we have all broken God's law and disobeyed His commandments. We have all sinned and the wages of sin is death and hell.

"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:22)

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." (1 John 3:4-5)

Jesus Christ came to save sinners and His shed blood, death on the cross, burial and resurrection takes away our sins, saves us from hell and give us eternal life.

Romans 5

6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

What glorious good news!

Free Kent Hovind Seminars

2012-02-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

A page from the seminar notebook

Dr. Kent Hovind's creation seminar series is available for free download at the following websites.

The complete series includes 7 videos.

Seminar 1 The Age of the Earth
Giving scientific evidence to prove a literal six-day creation, Dr. Kent Hovind refutes evolution's proposition that the earth has evolved over billions of years. The first of seven in the seminar series, The Age of the Earth, uncovers the follies of the Big Bang theory as well as exposing the religious beliefs of evolution.

Seminar 2 The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden, part two of the seminar series, describes the earth as it was before the worldwide flood. Dr. Hovind explains in detail how it was possible for man to live over 900 years, for plants and animals to grow much larger than today, and for dinosaurs to thrive along with man.

Seminar 3 Dinosaurs and the Bible
For many years, some thought the existence of dinosaurs discredited the Biblical account of creation. In part three of the seminar series, Dinosaurs and the Bible, Dr. Hovind traces the Biblical and historical references to dinosaurs and interviews people who claim they have seen living dinosaurs.

Seminar 4 Lies in the Textbooks
In part four of the seminar series, Dr. Hovind shows how public school textbooks are permeated with fraudulent information in order to convince students that evolution is true. Lies in the Textbooks is a must-see for every public school student, teacher, parent and school board member.

Seminar 5 The Dangers of Evolution
In The Dangers of Evolution, Dr. Hovind reveals the terrible effects that evolutionary beliefs have had on societies throughout history. Giving examples of evolution-based philosophies being used to rationalize the brutal acts of rulers, he exposes evolutionary propaganda in its effort toward the "New World Order."

Seminar 6 The Hovind Theory
The Hovind Theory blends scientific observations with Scripture in a fascinating explanation of what caused Noah's Flood, the ice age, the formation of coal, mountain ranges, and the Grand Canyon. Dr. Hovind gives logical answers to the physical anomalies that geologists cannot explain with the evolutionary theory.

Seminar 7 Questions and Answers
The last in the seminar series, Questions and Answers, covers a variety of topics including radiometric dating and the speed of light in relation to star distance. In addition to "primitive man" and race origins, Dr. Hovind discusses the mark of the beast and supposed contradiction's in the Bible.

There's free charts and seminar workbooks at the sites listed above as well. And the slideshows used in the presentations can be downloaded at 3Bible.com. ArrivalOfTheFittest.com has the seminars in different languages.

The seminars are also on Youtube, all you have to do is type in Kent Hovind seminar in the Youtube search and you find a ton of videos. I've also stumbled upon the seminars at Archive.org so you can download them from there, if you like.

Jesus: The Hated One

2012-02-07T13:53:00.000-08:00

This message takes a look at the Pharisees' and the world's hate for Jesus Christ.

John 15:17-21
17) These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 462-482

2012-02-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

462. A Snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 8:14
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

463. The Son. Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

464. His Son from Heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

465. A Son Given. Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

466. The Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

467. The Son of David. Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

468. The Son of God. John 1:49
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

469. The Son of Man. John 1:51
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

470. The Son of Mary. Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

471. The Son of the Blessed. Mark 14:61
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

472. The Son of the Father. 2 John 1:3
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

473. The Son of the Free Woman. Galatians 4:30
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

474. The Son of the Highest. Luke 1:32
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

475. The Son of the Living God. Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

476. The Son of the Most High God. Mark 5:7
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

477. A Son over His own House. Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

478. The Son who is Consecrated for Evermore. Hebrews 7:28
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

479. My Song. Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

480. A Sower. Matthew 13:4
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

Matthew 13:37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.

481. That Spiritual Rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

482. A Star out of Jacob. Numbers 24:1
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

What's the Big Deal About the KJV?

2012-02-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

What's the big deal about the King James Bible, can't I read the NIV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, etc? Of course you can, you can do whatever you want. If you like a Bible that claims Lucifer is God then go ahead and read the NIV. If you like a Bible that removes verses then read a modern version.

But if you want God's pure, perfect, preserved words right here and now and in English then you need to read the King James Bible. Not because the KJV is your preferred version and not because you think it has less errors in it. But because you believe the Bible you hold in your hands is the perfect preserved word of God.

Here's a great video about the subject of the King James Bible or what some people like to call King James Onlyism. But it's not King James Onlyism, it is which Bible is the pure word of God. What it comes down to is this, is the Bible we have today perfect or does it contain error?

"I don't want you to accept the King James Bible is the perfect word of God because I say so. I just don't want you to say it has mistakes in it because somebody else says so." - Sam Gipp

Good point. The Bible is our final authority, not man. Don't take my word for it and don't take this video's word for it. You go to God's word and search out the truth.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalms 12:6-7)

This video was made by: http://bigdealkjv.com

Song of the Week: Deeper Than The Stain Has Gone

2012-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

"Deeper Than The Stain Has Gone" by Lester Roloff.

Lies of the SDA Cult

2012-02-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Seventh Day Adventist or SDA is a cult you should be wary of. Here is one of their false doctrines, a teaching that Jesus is Michael the archangel. If you think only the Jehovah Witnesses teach this lie, guess again so do SDA.

From AmazingFacts.org:

In conclusion, we see this majestic and mysterious being, sometimes called Michael, sometimes the angel of the Lord, sometimes the commander of the Lord’s army, veiling His divinity and appearing in the form of a humble angel. Yet this same enigmatic being has the power, authority and attributes that belong only to God. He evicts the devil from heaven; He resurrects the dead; He intercedes for the saints; He judges and then stands, launching the great time of trouble. He redeems the saints and receives their worship. He offers us a new name.

Now you may know who Michael is, but the devil knows too, and it won't save him. The big question is: Do you know Him as Jesus your personal Lord and savior?

You can now if you ask Him.

-DOUG BATCHELOR

(Source: Who Is Michael The Archangel?)

Also check out SDANet.org they have a full article on why they believe Jesus is Michael the archangel in their questions on doctrine section.

Here's a quote from their article:

We believe that the term "Michael" is but one of the many titles applied to the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead. But such a view does not in any way conflict with our belief in His full deity and eternal pre-existence, nor does it in the least disparage His person and work.

Michael is referred to in the book of Jude as the archangel. And were it not for other Scripture references, which present Him in another relationship, one might at first conclude that He was a created being, as are the angels in general. We believe, however, that those other relationships indicate His real status, and that, in addition, He serves as supreme leader of the angelic hosts. But His serving in that capacity does not make Him a created angel. A number of important factors must be considered in a study of this question.

(Source: Christ, and Michael and Archangel)

I have the most important factor that must be considered, it's the Bible in its entirety that says the Lord Jesus Christ is God the Word manifest in the flesh and not an angel. In fact Michael in Hebrew means "Who is like God?" it does not mean a statement of "Who is like God.", the meaning of the name has a question mark and the answer to the question is no one is like God. To believe Jesus is the archangel Michael is to have another, false, Jesus. And the Bible warns us about another Jesus and another gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:2-4 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

Galatians 1:8-9 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Seventh Day Adventists need to come out of the cult and seek the right Jesus and His gospel of salvation by grace through faith. SDA teaches salvation through works. You may get upset with me for saying that but it's the truth.

Galatians 4:16 "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"

More info on the SDA cult:

Oh no you're not!

2012-02-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

You're not God, you’re not like God and you can never be God.

CARM.org's The Warning Tract

2012-02-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

WARNING

There are two cults going door-to-door: Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. They claim to be Christian religions, but they are not.

Mormonism teaches:
- God used to be a man on another planet and Mormon members may become gods of their own worlds.1
- There are many many gods.2
- The Trinity is three separate Gods.3
- Entrance into celestial heaven is by the consent of God and the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith.4
- God has a body of flesh and bones.5
- God is married and produces spirit babies by having physical relations with his goddess wife.6
- Jesus, Satan, and all of us are spirit brothers and sisters procreated in a pre-existent spirit life.7
- God had relations with Mary to make Jesus’ body.8
- You must shed your own blood for the forgiveness of some sins.9
- Good works are necessary for the forgiveness of sins.10

Be careful. Rarely will they mention these 'higher' doctrines. Therefore, you really don't know what they are teaching until long after you have joined. Be warned.

The Jehovah's Witnesses teach:
- Their church organization is the prophet of God.11
- Jesus returned invisibly in 1914.12
- Blood transfusions are sinful.13
- The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force.14
- Only their church members will be saved.15
- Jesus was an angel who became a man.16
- Jesus did not rise from the dead physically.17
- There is no Trinity.18
- Good works are necessary for the forgiveness of sins.19

Be careful. Jehovah's Witnesses will want to begin a home 'Bible study' with you. What they really want is for you to join their religion.

These groups are non-Christian cults because they deny the true biblical doctrines of Jesus and salvation. First, Mormonism says Jesus is the brother of the Devil.7 J.W.'s teach that he is an angel who became a man.16 These teachings are not biblical.

Second, both these cults erroneously say that in order to be saved you must cooperate with God by doing good works. The Bible says that salvation is a free gift from God.21 The Bible condemns the addition of our works to the finished sacrifice of Jesus.22 Galatians 2:21 says that if salvation comes by works ("if righteousness comes through the Law"), then Jesus died needlessly. Salvation comes by God's grace through faith alone, not by our works21 which are impure.29 Simply put, they each preach a false message of salvation.

The Bible teaches: there is only one God;23 God is spirit;24 Jesus' sacrifice cleanses from all sin;25 Jesus is the only way to God;26 all who receive Jesus as Savior will be saved;27 and Jesus is God in flesh20 who rose from the dead in the same body He died in.28

These are some of the things the Christian church has always believed. These two cults distort them and thus lead many into eternal damnation. Why? Because...

Only the Jesus of the Bible saves, not the brother of Satan (Mormonism), not an angel made into a man (Jehovah's Witnesses). Faith works only when you trust someone who is true.

The Mormons and J.W.'s are good people and we love them; but, they are misled.30 They do not know that the true gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins and that we receive His forgiveness by faith alone (faith in the true Jesus). Satan has blinded them.30 Jesus said that if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit.31 That is why this Christian ministry is exposing these cults, so you won't be deceived.

If you want to be assured of the forgiveness of your sins and have peace with God, then you must realize that you have sinned against God,32 and are separated from Him.33 Then, ask Jesus into your life; ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and save you. He will.27 He is Savior and Lord and He is as close as the call of your heart. Then read your Bible and go to church. At least now you know which two not to join. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.

______________________________________________

DOCUMENTATION FROM MORMON WRITINGS

1)Mormon Doctrine by Bruce McConkie, p. 321. 2)Ibid., p. 163.

3)Ibid., p. 319. 4)Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7,

P.289. 5)Doctrine and Covenants 130:22. 6)McConkie, p. 516.

7)Ibid., pp. 192;589. 8)Ibid., pp.741-742; The Seer, p. 158.

9)Doctrines of Salvation by Joseph Smith, Vol. I p. 135. 10)Articles

of Faith, p. 79.

DOCUMENTATION FROM J. W. WRITINGS

11)The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, pp.197, 200. 12)You Can Live

Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 147. 13)Reasoning from the

Scriptures, pp 70-76. 14)Holy Spirit, 1976, p. 11. 15)Ibid., Feb. 15,

1979, p. 30. 16)Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 1152; New Heavens

and New Earth, p. 30. 17)You Can Live Forever...pp. 143, 144,

172. 18)Let God be True, p. 101. 19)Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. I

pp. 150,152.

DOCUMENTATION FROM THE BIBLE (GOD)

20)John 1:1,14, 8:58, 10:30; Col. 2:9. 21)Rom. 6:23;3:28;4:5. Eph.

2:8-9. 22)Gal. 3:1-2;5:1-4. 23)Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8. 24)John 4:24.

25)1 John 1:7,2:2. 26)John 14:6. 27)John 1:12; Rom. 10:9-10.

28)Luke 24:39; John 2:19-21. 29)Isaiah 64:6 30)2 Cor. 4:3-4.

31)Luke 6:39. 32)Rom. 3:23, 5:12. 33)Isaiah 59:2.

This tract is free to reprint and distribute. You can print this tract and pass it out around your town and to the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses that come to your door.

You can get this tract for free as a PDF download at www.carm.org where you can find the tract in other languages as well.

The Fear of the Lord

2012-02-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Right after I became a Christian I asked God to reveal everything that I needed to learn about the truth. Soon after I began doing further research about different subjects and one day I came across a video talking about the fear of the Lord.

The Fear of God

I had never heard about the fear of God in all my life. I thought God was our friend, you know the song ‘I am a friend of God’ I had that song and other notions fed to me during my life before I became a Christian. So, hearing that we are to fear God made me immediately run to get my Bible and see if what this man was saying in the video was in fact true.

The guy quoted Proverbs 1:7 and I turned to read “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And he read Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

And Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” By this time, my jaw had dropped wide opened. From this point on I did not view or think of God as the image of the “friendly guy in the sky” as I had been taught in the past.

Fear

I now knew to fear the Lord which is not a fear in the sense of anxiety and worry but a profound reverence, respect and awe of God. When you fear God, your outlook and behavior will change knowing that God is so great and holy and we are but dust. We are supposed to respect and fear God, yes God is our Father but He is also the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Almighty.

Jesus "being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)

Awe

Have you noticed whenever God talked with men in the Bible, those men would fall down as being dead before God? At Mount Sinai when Moses was to go up to receive the tables of stone, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord descended on the mount in fire with great smoke, Moses feared exceedingly. We read in Hebrews 12:21 “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:”

The Apostle John when he saw Jesus, fell down as a dead man before God. “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:17-18. This verse also shows a difference between the fear of man or being afraid out of anxiety and the difference of the fear of the Lord.

Not the fear of man

We are also told by Jesus Christ, to fear God and not man in Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” C. H. Spurgeon put it nicely when he said: “He who fears God has nothing else to fear” which is totally true.

Verses About the Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and without this fear men are ignorant. Repeatedly in Proverbs we are told:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27)

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16)

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33)

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)

The fear of God is instructed in many passages of the New Testament:

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29)

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1 Peter 2:17)

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6-7)

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:4-7)

Reverence the Lord

When you fear God you are not going to do things He commands you not to do, although you will mess up many times, you will want and try to live godly. That is why Proverbs and other passages keep telling us to fear God. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) To know you need to fear God is very important yet is mostly ignored and not spoken of in churches or sermons is a sign of the times were are in. To love God means you should also fear Him in reverence.

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:6-9)

New Islam-Friendly Bible PerVersion

2012-02-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

From World Net Daily News:

That’s right: Muslim-friendly Bibles.

Included in the controversial development is the removal of any references to God as “Father,” to Jesus as the “Son” or “the Son of God.” One example of such a change can be seen in an Arabic version of the Gospel of Matthew produced and promoted by Frontiers and SIL. It changes Matthew 28:19 from this:

“baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”

to this:

“cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit.”

A large number of such Muslim-sensitive translations already are published and well-circulated in several Muslim-majority nations such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.

(Full article here)

My eyes are bleeding. Wow folks, Chrislam gets its own bible. What's next a gay-affirming bible? These people need to repent.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

The pope's blood is worshipped

2012-02-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Late Pope John Paul II's blood is carried
through the streets of Bogota, Colombia

Here's another unusual post, although not that unusual for the Catholic "church." On January 20th, 2012 the late Pope John Paul II's blood arrived in Bogota, Colombia and was carried through the city streets in a glass case for all to worship and adore. In the case is small vile of the pope's blood that was extracted by medical officials before his death in 2005.

A Catholic priest said of the pope's blood:

“His blood is the symbol of life, life given for God and for others and its presence reminds us of the Christian vocation to spend one’s life loving God and neighbor,” said Father Slawomir Oder, postulator of John Paul II’s cause for canonization and custodian of the relic.

The silver reliquary contains drops of the pope's blood.

Here's a closer view.

How sick and twisted is this? This relic, meaning his blood, was:

On Jan. 19, the relic will be venerated at a Marian prayer service in Bogota, where Fr. Oder will speak on the meaning of John Paul II’s suffering. The event will be followed by a Mass at the Cathedral of Bogota celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, Archbishop Aldo Cavali.

On Jan. 21 the relic will be venerated during a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota at the parish of Mary Queen of Heaven. On Jan. 22 the relic will travel to the city of Cartago.

Back in 2001, Pope Benedict XVI was seen kissing the glass reliquary containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II during his beatification mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict kisses a glass reliquary
containing the blood of Pope John Paul II

Sick, would be a good description of this warped procession. I mean, why would anyone give adoration, worship, to the blood of a fallen infallible and wicked man? We are saved and given life by the blood of Jesus Christ not some sinful man. This is utter blasphemy.

Sources:

News that matters - “Holy blood” of John Paul II arrives in Colombia
Catholic News Agency - Relics of John Paul II arrive in Colombia
IBTimes - Massive crowds celebrate beatification of Pope John Paul II

I wasn't going to post this but hey...

2012-02-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Eddie Long is proclaimed a king at his church... um yeah, you read right, a king. The whole process was carried out in front of Long's congregation as the people clapped and hollered and then sung prepare ye the way of the king! Seriously, take a look.

This video is from January 29th 2012, Eddie Long who is Bishop at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church invited Ralph Messer who claims to be a Rabbi bringing torah truth to Christians.

I guess this ceremony is supposed to "reinstate" Long as a "man of God" since his sex abuse scandal. This is some weird, unbiblical cultish stuff going on at "New Birth."

Who is lucifer / the devil / satan?

2012-02-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

Not this guy

I've heard some people say some strange things about who and what the devil is. Some say satan's the evil half of God, or a subconscious thought of God, or a king of Tyrus in reference to Ezekiel 28. But regardless of what is said, I've noticed the people saying all this stuff don't actually read the Bible.

If they did they would know the Devil is not a subconscious thought of God. Satan is a created being, a fallen angel who was created by God and is in no way equal to God. Satan was created as an anointed cherub called Lucifer who served as a covering for God’s throne. However, he became filled with pride and wanted to be God.

Isaiah 14:12-17 says “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?”

We read that God threw Lucifer out of heaven because iniquity was found in him. Lucifer lost his title and his name was changed to Satan / the Devil.

Ezekiel 28:14-15,17 says "Thou art the anointed cherub that covered; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."

So, the Devil is not the evil subconscious thought of God, the Devil is Satan who was once called Lucifer a fallen angel who will one day be thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:1-3 says "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

Satan does not have rule over hell as some popular media depicts. The Bible says the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone for eternal punishment for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:1-10
1) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Recompense to no man evil for evil

2012-01-31T12:45:00.000-08:00

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:16-21)

Irrefutable Evidence that Catholics don't read the Bible - Priest/Nun can't marry

2012-01-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

Firstly, nuns are not found in the Bible nor is the command for celibacy and priests are an entirely different matter all together. But the Catholic teaching that its clergy (Pope, Priest, etc) can not take a wife and the Nuns can't take a husband is not Biblical, it is made up heresy by the Vatican and it only leads to fornication or pedophilia, which has always been a rampant problem with the Catholic Church.

Video made by GodGunsGutsGlory4KJV

The office of a Bishop

As far as guidelines for a preacher, the office of a Bishop leaves no doubt to the serious errors of Roman Catholicism's teachings about its clergy.

1 Timothy 3:2-5
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Note that God makes the comparison to a GOOD preacher with a man who can take care of his own wife and kids. A man who properly raises his own household (wife and kids) is key to a good church preacher.

The title or status of nuns are nowhere in the Bible

There are widows and virgins who chose to keep their virgin and dedicate their lives to serving the Lord. But this is not a commandment, it's a choice a woman can chose to make, she can get married in the Lord or she can stay single serving the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9
1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3) Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4) The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6) But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8) I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9) But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

The Vatican's command for celibacy contradicts the Bible

Nowhere in the Bible does God command that priests, etc., be celibate. That command from the Vatican strictly contradicts God's word. The Bible says that he that is married does well and he that keepth his virgin does better because the unmarried can devote their lives to pleasing the Lord when the married think of how their can please their spouse. But this is not a sin, either case is still a good state before God.

1 Corinthians 7:24-40
24) Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
25) Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26) I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27) Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28) But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29) But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30) And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31) And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32) But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33) But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34) There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35) And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36) But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37) Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38) So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39) The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40) But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Christians are kings and priests unto God

The Levitical priesthood was fulfilled by Jesus Christ our great high Priest and His once and final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. With Christ's precious shed blood, death on the cross, burial and resurrection believers in Jesus Christ are made kings and priests unto God.

Revelation 1:4-7
4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 5:5-12
5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Flee the Roman Catholic Cult

God also warned us about heresy such as what the Catholic Cult created:

1 Timothy 4:1-3
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Timothy 4: 1-4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If Catholics read the Bible they would learn the truth that celibacy in not a commandment for anyone. The office of a nun is unbiblical and we no longer need priests because Jesus is the great high Priest. Catholics need Jesus Christ alone for their salvation and not the Roman Catholic "Church" or its heresies.

My thoughts on the meaning of Catholic

2012-01-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what the title Roman Catholic means? No surprise, the word catholic is not found anywhere in the Bible but it is defined in the Encarta World English Dictionary as:

1. all-inclusive: including or concerned with all people
2. useful to all: useful or interesting to a wide range of people
3. all-embracing: interested in or sympathetic to a wide range of things

All inclusive, useful to all and all embracing are interesting descriptions but what's the Roman Catholic Church's own definition? A look at the Catholic Catechism reveals the "church's" own definition of the word catholic.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

What does "catholic" mean?

830 The word "catholic" means "universal," in the sense of "according to the totality" or "in keeping with the whole." the Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. "Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church."307 In her subsists the fullness of Christ's body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him "the fullness of the means of salvation"308 which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. the Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost309 and will always be so until the day of the Parousia.

831 Secondly, the Church is catholic because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race:310

All men are called to belong to the new People of God. This People, therefore, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God's will may be fulfilled: he made human nature one in the beginning and has decreed that all his children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one.... the character of universality which adorns the People of God is a gift from the Lord himself whereby the Catholic Church ceaselessly and efficaciously seeks for the return of all humanity and all its goods, under Christ the Head in the unity of his Spirit.311

Each particular Church is "catholic"

832 "The Church of Christ is really present in all legitimately organized local groups of the faithful, which, in so far as they are united to their pastors, are also quite appropriately called Churches in the New Testament.... In them the faithful are gathered together through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and the mystery of the Lord's Supper is celebrated.... In these communities, though they may often be small and poor, or existing in the diaspora, Christ is present, through whose power and influence the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is constituted."312

Who belongs to the Catholic Church?

836 "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God.... and to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God's grace to salvation."320

What? The catechism says Catholic means universal, each particular church is catholic and all men are called to catholic unity. There's a lot here but I'm only focusing on the word catholic, for this post. Well, if I only use the definition for the word "catholic" from the catechism, it is shown that catholic means universal and so the title of the Roman Catholic Church in essence means the Roman Universal Church...

I believe when the catechism says "catholic church" it is really talking about a universal church and not in the sense of a world wide body of Christians but a universal all inclusive church of ecumenicism, as Roman Catholic doctrine already teaches. Such a universal church would fit conveniently into the frame of a one world religion, would it not?

Considering the last few posts I added about Roman Catholicism's false doctrines that directly oppose the word of God including meriting grace and works salvation, the pope, eucharist and mass, various religious rites, catholic priesthood, prayers to the dead, worship of Mary, idolatry, etc., etc. With all this in mind, it's interesting that the catechism defines the word catholic as universal.

One day, maybe sooner than we think, the world will be universal and come together in one religion to worship the Antichrist. Revelation 13 says of the false prophet:

Revelation 13:11-17
11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14) And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15) And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

I'm not saying the Roman Catholic church is the false prophet but you never know. It is clear that Roman Catholicism has a goal of bringing the world's religions together under mother church's wings. A matter of fact, I might look at Catholicism's other title of "mother church." She is no mother of mine and I surely hope she's not yours either.

Catholic Cardinals wear red
and Bishops wear purple,
a coincidence?

There is a woman in the Bible who is a mother arrayed in scarlet and purple...

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Revelation 17:4-5)

Jury finds Afghan (Muslim) family guilty in honor killings

2012-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post news articles but in this case, I will. Honor killing is a practice in Islam where a family kills their family member or relative for leaving Islam. Basically if a Muslim leaves Islam, a Muslim family can and many times will kill their family member as an "honor" to Allah. In this case, the Muslim Afghan family killed their three teenage daughters in Canada...

KINGSTON, Ontario (AP) — A jury on Sunday found three members of an Afghan family guilty of killing three teenage sisters and another woman in what the judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honor," ending a case that shocked and riveted Canadians.

Prosecutors said the defendants allegedly killed the three teenage sisters because they dishonored the family by defying its disciplinarian rules on dress, dating, socializing and using the Internet.

The jury took 15 hours to find Mohammad Shafia, 58; his wife Tooba Yahya, 42; and their son Hamed, 21, each guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

After the verdict was read, the three defendants again declared their innocence in the killings of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, Shafia's childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.

Their bodies were found June 30, 2009, in a car submerged in a canal in Kingston, Ontario, where the family had stopped for the night on their way home to Montreal from Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The prosecution alleged it was a case of premeditated murder, staged to look like an accident after it was carried out. Prosecutors said the defendants drowned their victims elsewhere on the site, placed their bodies in the car and pushed it into the canal.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Maranger said the evidence clearly supported the conviction.

"It is difficult to conceive of a more heinous, more despicable, more honorless crime," Maranger said. "The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honor ... that has absolutely no place in any civilized society."

In a statement following the verdict, Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson called honor killings a practice that is "barbaric and unacceptable in Canada."

Defense lawyers said the deaths were accidental. They said the Nissan car accidentally plunged into the canal after the eldest daughter, Zainab, took it for a joy ride with her sisters and her father's first wife. Hamed said he watched the accident, although he didn't call police from the scene.

After the jury returned the verdicts, Mohammad Shafia, speaking through a translator, said, "We are not criminal, we are not murderer, we didn't commit the murder and this is unjust."

His weeping wife, Tooba, also declared the verdict unjust, saying, "I am not a murderer, and I am a mother, a mother."

Their son, Hamed, speaking in English said, "I did not drown my sisters anywhere."

Hamed's lawyer, Patrick McCann, said he was disappointed with the verdict, but said his client will appeal and he believes the other two defendants will as well.

But prosecutor Gerard Laarhuis welcomed the verdict.

"This jury found that four strong, vivacious and freedom-loving women were murdered by their own family in the most troubling of circumstances," Laarhuis said outside court.

"This verdict sends a very clear message about our Canadian values and the core principles in a free and democratic society that all Canadians enjoy and even visitors to Canada enjoy," he said to cheers of approval from onlookers.

The family had left Afghanistan in 1992 and lived in Pakistan, Australia and Dubai before settling in Canada in 2007. Shafia, a wealthy businessman, married Yahya because his first wife could not have children.

Shafia's first wife was living with him and his second wife. The polygamous relationship, if revealed, could have resulted in their deportation.

The prosecution painted a picture of a household controlled by a domineering Shafia, with Hamed keeping his sisters in line and doling out discipline when his father was away on frequent business trips to Dubai.

The months leading up to the deaths were not happy ones in the Shafia household, according to evidence presented at trial. Zainab, the oldest daughter, was forbidden to attend school for a year because she had a young Pakistani-Canadian boyfriend, and she fled to a shelter, terrified of her father, the court was told.

The prosecution said her parents found condoms in Sahar's room as well as photos of her wearing short skirts and hugging her Christian boyfriend, a relationship she had kept secret. Geeti was becoming almost impossible to control: skipping school, failing classes, being sent home for wearing revealing clothes and stealing, while declaring to authority figures that she wanted to be placed in foster care, according to the prosecution.

Shafia's first wife wrote in a diary that her husband beat her and "made life a torture," while his second wife called her a servant.

The prosecution presented wire taps and mobile phone records from the Shafia family in court to support their honor killing allegation. The wiretaps, which capture Shafia spewing vitriol about his dead daughters, calling them treacherous and whores and invoking the devil to defecate on their graves, were a focal point of the trial.

"There can be no betrayal, no treachery, no violation more than this," Shafia said on one recording. "Even if they hoist me up onto the gallows ... nothing is more dear to me than my honor."

Defense lawyers argued that at no point in the intercepts do the accused say they drowned the victims.

Shafia's lawyer, Peter Kemp, said after the verdicts that he believes the comments his client made on the wiretaps may have weighed more heavily on the jury's minds than the physical evidence in the case.

"He wasn't convicted for what he did," Kemp said. "He was convicted for what he said."
(Source)

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 441-461

2012-01-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

441. The Saviour of the World. John 4:42
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

442. The Scepter of Israel. Numbers 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

443. The Scepter of Thy Kingdom. Psalms 45:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

444. Secret. Judges 13:18
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

445. The Seed of Abraham. Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

446. The Seed of David. Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.

2 Timothy 2:8
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.

447. The Seed of the Woman. Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

448. The Sent One. John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

449. Separate from His Brethern. Genesis 49:26
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

450. Separate from Sinners. Hebrews 7:26
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

451. The Serpent in the Wilderness. John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

452. My Servant. Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

453. A Servant of Rulers. Isaiah 49:7
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

454. My Servant the Branch. Zechariah 3:8
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forthmy servant the BRANCH.

455. A Shelter. Psalms 61:3
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

456. My Shepherd. Psalms 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

457. The Shepherd of Israel. Psalms 80:1
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

458. Our Shield. Psalms 84:9
Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

459. Shiloh. Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

460. A Sign of the Lord. Isaiah 7:11
Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

461. Made sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Song of the Week: Make Us Ready

2012-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Make Us Ready by Harvest Bashta.

Sola Scriptura is Heresy?

2012-01-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Scripture Alone

When talking to a Catholic I was told: “Your belief is Bible only. This is a heresy!” But what is wrong with simply trusting in God’s word alone? How is that heresy?

The Bible says God’s Holy Spirit not any man is the infallible teacher of all who believe in Christ Jesus. Jesus said “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

The Bible says that scripture is not of any private interpretation which is exactly what the Roman Catholic Church claims to do, the Magisterium only has the correct interpretation or the Jehovah Witness only have the correct interpretation or the Latter Day Saints, Mormons, only have the correct interpretation, etc. Yet each one of these religions claims the other is in error. So what’s the standard? Is it the Catholic Church? Of course not! God makes it clear that His word is the standard.

“Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:15-21)

In His word we have a more sure word of prophecy then even the scene Peter and other apostles witnessed Jesus majesty at the mount of transfiguration. God’s word alone is all that is needed for a Christian. Not spiritual experiences, nor a system, “church,” watch tower or any other religious texts.

Because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Through God’s Word we come to know the glorious gospel Jesus Christ and on our Christian walk we a thought more about the Lord by the Holy Spirit.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

No matter how holy, pious or how much of a form of godliness someone can put forth, when a person denies the Word of God as the only standard there is a serious problem.

How can someone claim that Catholicism gives all glory and honor to the Lord when its teachings are contrary to the very word of God? Catholicism upholds its traditions even when they are in opposition to scripture. e.g. meriting grace (#2010 compared to Romans 11:6), salvation obtained through partaking in the sacraments/works (#1367 compared to John 3:14-21;28-36, Romans 10:9-10), purchasing of indulgences (#1471, 1498 compared to Acts 10:43, Hebrews 9:22), etc. All of which are unscriptural teachings.

The Bible says that God’s word is magnified above all of His name, it is perfect, pure and it is truth. Psalm 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” God’s word can be trusted without a shadow of a doubt. So, is a Christian supposed to follow teachings which are contrary to scripture? “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” (Romans 3:4).

I pray that Catholics and others lost in false religions and dead in sins will get saved and not trust in works or additions to the word of God but that they will believe in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Meriting Grace: The Oxymoron of Earning Salvation

2012-01-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Can we merit God's grace? Is not such a phrase considered and oxymoron? To merit means to earn something and God's grace cannot be earned it is freely given, so the concept of meriting God's grace makes no sense at all yet the Roman Catholic Church teaches that God's grace can be merited.

Let's read #2010 and #2027 in the Catholic Catechism:

#2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life. Even temporal goods like health and friendship can be merited in accordance with God's wisdom. These graces and goods are the object of Christian prayer. Prayer attends to the grace we need for meritorious actions.

#2027 No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.

Now, I read the above very closely and even though it says "Moved by the Holy Spirit" in #2010 it continues to read "we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods." But the Bible says no such thing and declares the exact opposite that grace cannot be merited "otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6). Such a notion of earning or meriting grace is unscriptural. Therefore man cannot be moved by the Holy Spirit to merit any grace for his self or others.

Romans 16:17-18 says “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Romans 5:12-16
12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

The Catholic Church teaches a false gospel where grace can be earned and meriting from God unlike the gospel according to the Scriptures which says grace is a gift of God freely given without any work from man. We don't even deserve God's grace! We deserve hell because we're sinners and to think that you can earn your own salvation by doing good works, the sacraments or anything else is heresy. God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ can never be merited.

This video is a response to Catholic Answers - can non-catholics receive grace before receiving the sacraments. And the fact that Roman Catholicism teaches that grace comes through certain ceremonious acts. Is that the true message of the Lord Jesus Christ? Nope.

Catholic Mass: John 6 is not literal flesh and blood

2012-01-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

I posted awhile back about a day I was watching tv, flipping through the cable guide and happened to see the words "Pope Benedict XVI Visits Germany" so I turned to it. They were showing the mass with people coming up to the pope to eat the host in a long line starting with children to adults to the elderly to the handicapped and lastly the mentally ill.

And I was sitting there thinking, this is sad. I mean beside the fact that Catholicism is a false religion and the mass attendees were treated with partiality, the handicapped and ill thrown to the back of the line, there is also the fact that the host/eucharist is not the literal body and the wine the literal blood of Jesus Christ. And to think it is, is flat out wrong.

When watching that program, and I watch the Catholic cable channel EWTN sometimes to see what's going on like with TBN, I decided I will write a post on "Do we eat the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ?" A simple question that has a simple answer, but it's one that has had countless brethren murdered and martyred by the hand of Rome for sticking to Biblical truth that communion is an act of symbolism in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Not a literal and continual death of Jesus in some cookie as taught in the mass. There's no if ands or buts about it, the Bible makes it clear.

In John chapter 6 Jesus spoke symbolically of His disciples eating His flesh in blood, which I'll get to in a moment. In contrast, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Catholic Mass and its Eucharist is the act of partaking of the literal flesh, in the form of the Eucharist, and the literal blood, in the form of the wine, of Jesus Christ. The Catholic priest literally calls down Jesus from heaven to repeat His sacrifice for man's sin again and every time the mass is performed.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

1088 “To accomplish so great a work” - the dispensation or communication of his work of salvation - “Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of his minister, 'the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,' but especially in the Eucharistic species. By his power he is present in the sacraments so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself who baptizes. He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. Lastly, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised 'where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.”' [11]

1330 The memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection. The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church's offering. the terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, “sacrifice of praise,” spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice are also used, [148] since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant. The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the Sacrament of sacraments. the Eucharistic species reserved in the tabernacle are designated by this same name.

1332 Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives.

1367 The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: “The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.” “In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.” [188]

1373 “Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us,” is present in many ways to his Church: [195] in his word, in his Church's prayer, “where two or three are gathered in my name,” [196] in the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, [197] in the sacraments of which he is the author, in the sacrifice of the Mass, and in the person of the minister. But “he is present . . . most especially in the Eucharistic species.” [198]

1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. “The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.” [206]

1382 The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood. But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion. To receive communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us.

1566 “It is in the Eucharistic cult or in the Eucharistic assembly of the faithful (synaxis) that they exercise in a supreme degree their sacred office; there, acting in the person of Christ and proclaiming his mystery, they unite the votive offerings of the faithful to the sacrifice of Christ their head, and in the sacrifice of the Mass they make present again and apply, until the coming of the Lord, the unique sacrifice of the New Testament, that namely of Christ offering himself once for all a spotless victim to the Father.” [49] From this unique sacrifice their whole priestly ministry draws its strength. [50]

Mass: Is it Biblical?

The Bible says that the Lord’s Supper is symbolic to be done in remembrance not as a continual sacrificing of Christ. Jesus said “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him (John 6:56). But is Jesus talking about literally eating His flesh and drinking His blood?

Lets look at John 6 in context:

John 6:26-69

26) Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27) Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30) They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31) Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34) Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36) But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41) The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42) And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43) Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46) Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48) I am that bread of life.

49) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52) The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56) He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59) These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61) When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62) What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67) Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69) And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

In context the Lord’s Supper is indeed symbolic. “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

The sacrifice of Christ was once and for all. Christ’s sacrifice was/is sufficient and does not need to be repeated. The Mass instills that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient in that it needs to be continually repeated not as a memorial but as the actual flesh of Christ contained in the eucharist and offered in an "unbloody manner" (#1367). The catechism states in #1367 that the sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice. But according to the Bible this is not so.

If you take all of scripture into context and believe its entirety then why would anyone believe that salvation is not by believing solely in Christ? Meaning you have to be in the Catholic Church and doing the rituals and taking the sacraments including the Mass to get out of purgatory and maybe on day make it to heaven. The Bible says that faith in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation (e.g. John chapter 3).

The mass is blasphemy and constantly makes the claim that Jesus’ death was not enough, works must be done to earn heaven and Jesus’ death on the cross must be repeated again and again at every mass. The Catholic Mass is not Biblical and out right violates the word of God and the precious sacrifice of Jesus Christ made once for the sins of mankind and mocks the symbolic communion believers keep until the coming of our Lord.

For more on Catholicism click on the Topics drop-down menu on the right and scroll down to Roman Catholicism or click here.

Islam and the Three Stages of Jihad

2012-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

What's Jihad? Jihad is defined as "a holy war undertaken as a sacred duty by Muslims." (Dictionary.com) So, Jihad is a "holy war" but who is this war fought against? The non-believers of course, those who reject Allah and his mouth piece Muhammad.

Qur’an 5:51 - O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.

Qur’an 8:55 - For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him: They will not believe.

Qur’an 9:29 - Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Qur’an 9:123 - O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.

Qur’an 48:29 - Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6924 — Muhammad said: “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and whoever said La ilaha illallah, Allah will save his property and his life from me.”

Sahih Muslim 30 — Muhammad said: “I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah.”

That doesn't sound very nice or peaceful from the so called religion of peace, does it? In fact, stealth and deception are one of the stages of Jihad. In this video, David Wood explains how Jihad proceeds in stages. Stage One: Stealth Jihad. Stage Two: Defensive Jihad. Stage Three: Offensive Jihad.

Free pamphlet: http://www.answeringmuslims.com/p/jihad.html
Be sure to share this information with your family, friends and Muslim pals :)

The Rainbow

2012-01-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

Although wrongfully used as the symbol for "gay pride," the rainbow is really the symbol of a covenant between God and man. After the global flood, and God saved Noah and his family alive, God made a covenant with man and placed a bow in the clouds to signify His promise to never flood the earth to kill all flesh again.

Genesis 9:8-17

8) And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
9) And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
10) And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
11) And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12) And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13) I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14) And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
15) And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16) And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17) And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

The rainbow is a symbol of God's covenant with man at the time of Noah that still stands today. However, Satan has tried to warp man’s view of the rainbow by tying it to a symbol for homosexuality in an effort to tarnish God’s beautiful covenant with man. That beautiful bow in the clouds and the colors of the rainbow should not bring people's mind to sin but in many cases today, when someone wears rainbow colored clothing or has an item with a rainbow on it, most people connect the colors with sodomy, lesbianism, and other sinful perversion. How very sad that God's token of a covenant has been so twisted. The next time it rains, and you see a bow in the clouds, remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

What’s the Issue with Islam and Ezekiel 23?

2012-01-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

What is with some Muslims and the Book of Ezekiel, especially chapter 23? I really don’t get it. I’ve even heard some Muslims say that Ezekiel 23 is a pornographic chapter of the Bible. Seriously, they aren’t joking and yet I can’t help but laugh til my sides hurt. Calling the Bible perverse is like calling the Koran holy, the phrase is an oxymoron.

Let’s read Ezekiel 23:

1) The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2) Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
3) And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
4) And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
5) And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
6) Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
7) Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
8) Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.
9) Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
10) These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.
11) And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.
12) She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.
13) Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
14) And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,
15) Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:
16) And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
17) And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.
18) So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.
19) Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20) For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
21) Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
22) Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;
23) The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.
24) And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.
25) And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
26) They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.
27) Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
28) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:
29) And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
30) I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
31) Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.
32) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.
33) Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
34) Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
35) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
36) The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
37) That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
38) Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.
39) For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
40) And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,
41) And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.
42) And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
43) Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
44) Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
45) And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
46) For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
47) And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
48) Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
49) And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

So, what is Ezekiel chapter 23 about? This chapter speaks of the lewdness and whoredoms of Aholah and Aholibah. Who are Aholah and Aholibah? From this very chapter of God’s word we read that Aholah is Samaria and Aholibah is Jerusalem. And because of their evil ways, these two countries are compared to two adulteresses. And their people have turned their back on the Lord to work iniquity, worship other gods and put their trust in man to deliver them from their enemies.

Whenever God’s people and even other nations turn to follow other gods the Lord views this act as spiritual adultery. Samaria and Jerusalem went after other nations and idols and therefore their lewdness and whoredoms with other lands is why God says, “Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness. And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

What I find most interesting is that this chapter of the Bible is speaking figuratively about two countries and not two literal women and even if it were, God is clearly saying that the acts of these women are evil and therefore will be punished. In no way is Ezekiel chapter 23 a perverse text, no matter which way you look at it. And so, I will laugh once more and shake my head at the ignorance that is Islam.

What’s not funny is the prophet of Islam who married a six year old girl, named Aisha, and “consummated” the marriage when she was nine years old (Bukhari vol. V, no. 234, 236). Yet how do Muslims see nothing wrong with this? Is not this a wickedly perverted act from their supposed prophet of god? I shutter to think such perversion is readily accepted and excused in Islam and at the same time its proponents turn on the Bible claiming that the Bible is immoral.

This type of hypocrisy reminds me of Isaiah 5:20-21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

Muslims try to call the Bible perverse but it is Islam that is wicked beyond measure. As Titus 1 says:

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:15-16

Jesus Christ is not created, He is the Creator

2012-01-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ is not a creation He is the Creator.

The Bible says of Jesus in Colossians 1:14-18

14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn of every creature from the dead. But this does not mean that Jesus is created, quite the opposite as we read that by Jesus all things were created.

John 1:1-3, 14-17

1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2) The same was in the beginning with God.

3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15) John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Zeitgeist - The spirit of antichrist

2012-01-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Zeitgeist the spirit of the age is in fact the spirit of Antichrist. The film by Peter Joseph denies the existence of Jesus Christ and promotes the unfounded claims of the Christ myth. The myth alleges that Jesus is simply a copy of pagan deities from antiquity and that Christianity is nothing more than a religion of sun worship.

And I'm not talking about Roman Catholicism when I speak of Christianity, that's an entirely different subject altogether. However, such claims that Christianity is pagan and Jesus Christ never existed are unfounded. What I found especially disturbing about the film’s claims, besides the fact that many of the references used in the film are from secondary sources many of which are from luciferian writers, is that believers in the Christ myth deny that Jesus has come in the flesh.

The Bible gives a warning about such people:

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:18-23)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)

Isn’t it interesting that Zeitgeist is defined as the spirit of the age or spirit of the times when the film outright denies the existence of Jesus Christ? The very lies of the spirit of antichrist that God warned us to look out for. In essence zeitgeist's spirit of the age is actually that spirit of Antichrist. Do not be deceived but watch and pray as our Lord's return grows closer with each passing day.

More info on Zeitgeist:

Mike Hoggard: The Emerging Church

2012-01-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

Discover the hidden agenda behind the modern "church-growth" movement. Pastor Mike gives his testimony on how upon becoming Pastor of his church under very strange circumstances, that God immediately began to apply the rod of chastening. God chose to give Pastor Mike grace in spite of his life, disobedience and rebellion up until that point. There was a lot of work to be done in Pastor Mike. At that point, he accepted just about any Bible translation, especially in Sunday school. From observing everything that was going on around him, he felt he needed to perform and succeed and treated it like a business in order to show everyone how well he could do - to prove himself.

Proving himself meant to increase Sunday school membership, increase church enrollment and to to bring people in. He thought it was his job to do all that - it was a mindset that was popular then and even more popular now... that you do whatever it takes, no matter what. And they could no longer use old ways because they don't work. They had to use the new methods and new ways to guarantee success, church growth and to appeal to lost people. Learning the new lingo to "lure" people into your church.

The popular way to implement this strategy was based on the book that Rick Warren with New Age author and Church growth specialist Leonard Sweet published, "The Tides of Change, Riding the Next Wave in Ministry." Find out how God dealt with Pastor Mike to repent and to give him grace to understand that he was pastoring God's Church and that as long as Pastor Mike did what God told him to do, that God would determine who would come into His Church and who would go out of His Church. God did not so much chastize as to set Pastor Mike free from the bondage of having to perform every Sunday and put on a show to appeal to the fickle nature of saved and lost people alike.

Also see:

Unmasking the Da Vinci Code by Pastor Mike Hoggard

I'm Concerned

2012-01-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

About John Piper, I meant it, please pray for him so that he's not lead astray into the false teaching of the emergent church and by the likes of Rick Warren. It kind of looks like ever since Piper became "friends" with Warren that strange things began seeping in to Piper's teaching.

See: John Piper at Passion 2012

John Piper - What do you think about contemplative prayer?

John Piper - Rick Warren and the Desiring God National Conference

John Piper Interviews Rick Warren on the Sovereignty of God

There is more of the interview between Piper and Warren but I think Rick Warren's part of the conversation is more than enough to show he is way off Biblical base. Again, I ask that you please pray for John Piper and if you can message or speak with him, please do so.

Also take a listen to Fighting For The Faith's:

Abraham Said God Will Provide Himself a Lamb

2012-01-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

I was reading in Genesis recently and when I got to chapter 22, I remembered reading before about Abraham being told by God to offer up, sacrifice, his son; his only son. And this time when I read the chapter I noticed a bit more.

Genesis 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
15) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16) And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
19) So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

I knew this chapter is a prophecy and foreshadowing of Jesus Christ and God offering His only begotten Son for a sacrifice. Jesus was a sacrifice for sinners but when Abraham did not withhold his only son and God stopped him from killing Isaac, God blesses Abraham and says “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” I thought this was interesting because this chapter seems to show two important points about the gospel.

One being:

Abraham rose up early in the morning, Jesus rose early on the first day of the week.
Abraham saddled his ass, Jesus went into Jerusalem “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zec 9:9 ).
Abraham had two men come with him, Jesus was crucified between two men who were thieves.
Abraham carried the wood for the burnt offering, Jesus carried His cross.
Abraham went up to the mountain on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
Abraham did not withhold his only son Issac from God, God spared not His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

And Abraham even said unto his young men before ascending to the mountain that “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”

The second being:

Abraham was stopped from sacrificing Isaac and instead God provided a ram for Abraham to slay in his place, and thus sparing Isaac. So, in a sense God makes it clear that Abraham, man, can’t save himself even with sacrifices. I think that is why God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac and instead provided Himself a lamb for the sacrifice in Genesis verse 8 and 9: “Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

In the Book of Leviticus a burnt offering was sacrificed as an atonement for man.

Leviticus 1:1-13
1) And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3) If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
4) And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5) And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
6) And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
7) And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8) And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
9) But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
10) And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
11) And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
12) And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13) But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

In Genesis chapter 22 we read that God did not provide a lamb for them on that mountain, but they were given a ram stuck in the thicket by his horns, that Abraham sacrificed. But did Abraham and Isaac lie when they said God would provide a lamb? Of course they did not lie because they were moved by the Holy Spirit when they spoke of the lamb. They said God would provide Himself a lamb for the sacrifice and God did, He sent the lamb of God Jesus Christ to take away the sins of the world, as we read in the Book of John:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

“Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35-36)

I thought this was very interesting and just wanted to share :)

The Blood of Jesus

2012-01-23T12:54:00.000-08:00

The importance of the blood of Jesus is vital to the gospel and although some leave out the blood of God’s precious Son, it is His blood that washes us from all sins. Believing in Jesus and yet without believing His blood cleanses us from all sins is like believing the Bible to be the word of God, but not believing the New or Old Testament.

The blood of Jesus is precious of the New Testament, shed for many for the remission of sins.

Matthew 26:26-28
26) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The blood of Jesus is a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.

Romans 3:21-26
21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The blood of Jesus justified us and we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:6-21
6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The blood of Jesus made peace through the blood of his cross, to reconcile all things unto himself to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

Colossians 1:19-29
19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

The blood of Jesus has obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:2-26
2) For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3) And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4) Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5) And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7) But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8) The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18) Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The blood of Jesus Christ is precious, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot redeems us.

1 Peter 1:17-21
17) And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-10
5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The blood of Jesus washed us from our sins.

Revelation 1:5
5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

The blood of Jesus made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:14
14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

You must believe in Jesus Christ and His precious blood shed on the cross for you, to wash away your sins because “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” Hebrews 9:22.

Song of the Week: To The One

2012-01-22T21:35:00.000-08:00

To The One by Harvest Bashta. I've been singing this all day ♥

"To the One who sits upon the throne be blessing and honour and glory and power for ever!
Jesus you’re the sign, Jesus you’re the wonder. You’re the miracle, there is no other!"

Free album download from NoiseTrade!
http://www.noisetrade.com/harvestbashta

Judgment Seat of Christ

2012-01-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

A powerful sermon given by Leonard Ravenhill. "The Judgment Seat of Christ" is not a paltry call to mediocrity but a heart-piercing roar for complete and total abandonment to Jesus. May eternity be stamped upon your eyeballs as you listen.

Free eBooks: Smashing Bible Contradictions

2012-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

I complied a couple lists of alleged Bible contradictions, I've been working on at Neocrisis.com, into two eBooks you can download for free at Scribd. Perhaps the books will help someone to silence the Bible naysayers and help strengthen others faith in the perfect word of God as it did for me.

Smashing Bible Contradictions Volume 1

Smashing Bible Contradictions Volume 2

You're free to copy and share the PDFs for free. I don't have any copyright on the books and I don't think the sources I used do either. And if you find typos or something please let me know.

is where my documents live!

Confusion at Passion 2012

2012-01-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

I don't know what else to call what occurred at Passion 2012, but confusion... take a look and listen for yourself.

I found the above videos from the website Apprising Ministries. As you can see from the videos, from left to right there is LaCrae, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, Louis Giglio and John Piper on stage and they appear to be engaging in some form of lectio divina. Or what some are now calling lectio divina lite because it's not full fledged lectio divina but more of a lighter form... in any case this is disturbing.

Wretched Radio's Take on John Piper, Beth Moore, and Lectio Divina at Passion 2012

Todd Friel discusses the "lectio-lite" at Passion 2012 and Desiring God's endorsement of the practice.

I call the Passion 2012 "lectio-lite" prayer ceremony confusion and it's clear from the Bible that God is not the author of confusion in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:29-40
29) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30) If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31) For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32) And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34) Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35) And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36) What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37) If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38) But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39) Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40) Let all things be done decently and in order.

Also see:

What is Biblical Meditation?

What is Biblical Meditation?

2012-01-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

This post is really a follow up to my previous post of Psalm 1, which speaks of meditating in the law of God daily.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1)

Biblical Meditation

What is Biblical meditation? Biblical meditation is:

Reading the word of God
Thinking about the word of God
Studying the word of God

Biblical meditation is to think and study about something. And in the Bible the word "meditate" is used more often in reference to thinking and studying about the word of God. It does not involve emptying your mind, repeating a mantra, phrase or word over and over, or cause you to be still and quietly listen for a small voice; such practices as these are purely pagan and new age. However, studying the Bible and taking deep thought about God’s word is what the Bible describes as meditating.

(Genesis 24:63) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

(Joshua 1:8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

(Psalms 1:2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

(Psalms 5:1) To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

(Psalms 49:3) My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

(Psalms 63:6) When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

(Psalms 77:12) I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

(Psalms 104:34) My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

(Psalms 119:15) I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

(Psalms 119:23) Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

(Psalms 119:48) My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

(Psalms 119:78) Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

(Psalms 119:97) MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

(Psalms 119:99) I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

(Psalms 119:148) Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

(Psalms 143:5) I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

(Isaiah 33:18) Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?

(Mark 13:11) But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

(Luke 21:14) Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

(1 Timothy 4:15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

In everyone of these verses and passages, to meditate means to think on and study about something, such as Isaiah 33:18 "Thine heart shall meditate terror" and Luke 21:14 "Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer". And mainly, to meditate means to study and think about the word of God such as in Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night" and Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day". The Bible gives a clear understanding of what meditation is and it also lets us know what meditation is not.

Unbiblical Meditation

What is unbiblical meditation? Unbiblical meditation is:

Emptying your mind
Being quiet, emptying your mind, and listening for "God's voice"
Repeating words or phrases over and over

Meditating means to take thought not to empty your mind. Emptying your mind of thoughts and listening for the "voice of God" or for "God to speak to you" is done in the non-Biblical practices of centering prayer, breath prayer, lectio divina and other mysticism and new age practices. These practices include:

Contemplative Prayer
Centering Prayer
Breath Prayer
Soaking Prayer
Lectio Divina
Other Mystical "arts"

What exactly are these mystical practices? Let's go down the line.

Contemplative Prayer - "In Christian mysticism, contemplative prayer or contemplation, for which the Greek term theoria (θεωρία) is also used, is a form of prayer distinct from vocal prayer (recitation of words) and from meditation in the strict sense (a form of mental prayer, also called methodical prayer, based on discursive reflection on various considerations).

In discursive meditation, mind and imagination and other faculties are actively employed in an effort to understand our relationship with God. In contemplative prayer, this activity is curtailed, so that contemplation has been described as "a gaze of faith", "a silent love".

Infused or higher contemplation, also called intuitive, passive or extraordinary, is a supernatural gift by which a person's mind and will become totally centered on God. It is a form of mystical union with God, a union characterized by the fact that it is God, and God only, who manifests himself. Under this influence of God, which assumes the free cooperation of the human will, the intellect receives special insights into things of the spirit, and the affections are extraordinarily animated with divine love. This union that it entails may be linked with manifestations of a created object, as, for example, visions of the humanity of Christ or an angel or revelations of a future event, etc. They include miraculous bodily phenomena sometimes observed in ecstatics.

Saint Teresa of Avila described four degrees or stages of mystical union:

incomplete mystical union, or the prayer of quiet or supernatural recollection, when the action of God is not strong enough to prevent distractions, and the imagination still retains a certain liberty;
full or semi-ecstatic union, when the strength of the divine action keeps the person fully occupied but the senses continue to act, so that by making an effort, the person can cease from prayer;
ecstatic union, or ecstasy, when communications with the external world are severed or nearly so, and one can no longer at will move from that state; and
transforming or deifying union, or spiritual marriage (properly) of the soul with God."

[Source: Wikipedia]

Centering Prayer - "Centering prayer is a popular method of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation, placing a strong emphasis on interior silence.

Though most authors trace its roots to the contemplative prayer of the Desert Fathers of early Christian monasticism, to the Lectio Divina tradition of Benedictine monasticism, and to works like The Cloud of Unknowing and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, its origins as part of the "Centering Prayer" movement in modern Catholicism and Christianity can be traced to several books published by three Trappist monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts in the 1970s: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington and Abbot Thomas Keating.

The actual practice of centering prayer is not entirely alien to Catholics, who are advised to meditate in some form daily — such as on the rosary, or on Scripture through the practice of lectio divina. However, although the practice makes use of a 'sacred word,' Thomas Keating emphasizes that Centering Prayer is not an exercise in concentrating, or focusing one's attention on something (such as a mantra), but rather is concerned with intention. The participant's sole occupation is to establish and maintain the will (intention) to "consent to God's presence and action during the time of prayer." The above methods, in contrast, have some contemplative goal in mind: with the rosary, the Mysteries of the Rosary are contemplated; with lectio divina, the practitioner thinks about the Scripture reading, sometimes even visualizing it. Centering Prayer is more akin to the very ancient practice of hesychasm as understood in the Eastern Orthodox Church, in which the participant seeks the presence of God directly (aided by the Jesus Prayer, perhaps) and explicitly rejects discursive thoughts and imagined scenes. (The height of hesychast prayer is spoken of as the vision of the "uncreated light," but this very rare experience is understood as a gift of God, and must not be sought or imagined.)" [Source: Wikipedia]

Lectio Divina - "Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading) is a traditional Catholic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.

Traditionally Lectio Divina has 4 separate steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God.

The roots of Scriptural reflection and interpretation go back to Origen in the 3rd century, after whom St. Ambrose taught them to St. Augustine. The monastic practice of Lectio Divina was first established in the 6th century by Saint Benedict. It was then formalized as a 4 step process by the Carthusian monk, Guigo II in the 12th century. In the 20th century, the constitution Dei Verbum of Pope Paul VI recommended Lectio Divina for the general public. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the importance of Lectio Divina in the 21st century." [Source: Wikipedia]

Breath Prayer -"Breath prayer is a short petition, repeated in the space of one inhalation-exhalation cycle, that acknowledges the natures of both the Lord and the petitioner." [Source: TenWaysToPray - note: this website endorses mysticism]

"Breath prayers are short prayers said in one breath. Simple, repetitive and surprisingly ancient. The breath prayer generally involves quietly repeating a chosen phrase for several minutes, allowing the prayer to take on the shape of one's breathing so that the words accompany every breath." [Source: HealthySpirituality - endorses mysticism]

Soaking Prayer - "This essentially is what “soaking” is. When we soak in God's presence, we are in a place of rest where we wait upon Him. The old timers spoke of tarrying. This is where they would spend long hours waiting on the Lord. Many times however they were waiting to be filled with the Holy Spirit and their waiting was more a form of pleading and trying to get to the place where they felt ready to receive the Holy Spirit. Fortunately we have gained more understanding of the Word and the heart of God and know that the Lord desires to pour out His Spirit upon us. Soaking in the Lord therefore, while similar to tarrying, has an emphasis on rest and receiving by faith, as opposed to striving and crying out to God." [Source: SecretPlaceMinistries - endorses mysticism]

Other Mystical Arts - "Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. The attributes and means by which Christian mysticism is studied and practiced are varied and range from ecstatic visions of the soul's mystical union with God to simple prayerful contemplation of Holy Scripture (i.e., Lectio Divina). This article addresses the practice of the inner, spiritual life within the Christian tradition." [Source: Wikipedia]

While these mystical arts are presented with a Christian facade and often in an attempt to twist Scripture to fit mystical teaching, there is no Scriptural foundation for such practices. These mystical arts are all unbiblical practices. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us to avoid vain repetitious prayers in Matthew 6 where the Lord Jesus Christ says:

Matthew 6:6-13
6) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11) Give us this day our daily bread.
12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Study God's Word And Pray For Understanding

If you want to be “enlightened” then meditate, think and study, in the word of God daily. If you want to hear God speak to you, then read His word. If you want wisdom from the Lord then pray and ask God to give you understanding. It is different if you read Scripture and then ask God to give you the understanding of what you just read, that is asking God for knowledge and understanding. God tells us in His word to ask for wisdom if you lack understanding.

(James 1:5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Asking God for wisdom to help you understand the Scriptures is not to be compared with contemplative, centering, breath prayers or lectio divina practices which come from the false religions of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy being established by men of mysticism like the Desert Fathers, Origen, and Ignatius Loyola. And yet these false and unbiblical practices are trying to invade the church.

In closing, we need to shun vain repetitions, avoid unbiblical meditation, and run from prayer practices of "desert fathers" and Jesuits. Flee these mystical and false arts and instead follow what God says about meditation, to think and study about the word of God daily.

(2 Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Resources

Recommended reading:

The Holy Bible

More articles on why you shouldn't touch mystical arts with a 10 foot pole:

Some people who endorse these mystical practices:

Adele Alhberg Calhoun
Agnes Sanford
Alan Jones
Anne Lamott
Anthony de Mello
Basil Pennington
Beatrice Bruteau
Bernard of Clairvaux
Beth Moore
Brennan Manning
Brian McLaren
Brother Lawrence
Calvin Miller
Carl McColman
Chuck Smith, Jr.
Dallas Willard
Daniel Goleman
Dan Kimball
David Benner
David Crowder
David Steindl-Rast
Desert Fathers
Doug Pagitt
Emilie Griffin
Eugene Peterson
Evelyn Underhill
Gary Thomas
Gerald May
Gerald Sittser
Henri Nouwen
Hildegard of Bingen
Ignatius of Loyola (Jesuits aka "Society of Jesus")
James Goll
Jan Johnson
Jean-Nicholas Gru
John Michael Talbot
John of the Cross
John Ortberg
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
J.P. Moreland
Julian of Norwich
Karl Rahner
Keith Drury
Ken Blanchard
Ken Boa
Keri Wyatt Kent
Kurt Bjorklund
Kyle Strobel
Larry Crabb
Laurie Beth Jones
Leighton Ford
Leonard Sweet
Liz Babbs
Madame Guyon
Maggie & Duffy Robbins
Marcus Borg
Marjorie Thompson
Mark Driscoll
Mark Virkler
Mark Yaconelli
Max Lucado
Meister Eckhart
Michael Card
Mike Bickle
Mindy Caliguire
Morton Kelsey
Pete Greig
Pete Scazzero
Peter Senge
Philip St. Romain
Phillip Yancey
Phyllis Tickle
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pope Benedict XVI (Pope tells youth to practice lectio divina)
Richard Foster
Richard Peace
Richard Rohr
Richard Rolle
Rick Warren
Rob Bell
Robert Webber
Ruth Haley Barton
St Anthony
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Ignatius Loyola (same as Ignatius of Loyola, wicked founder of the Jesuit Order)
St. John of the Cross
St. Teresa of Avila
Sue Monk Kidd
The Cloud of Unknowing by an Anonymous Monk
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Keating
Thomas Merton
Tilden Edwards
Todd Bentley
Tony Campolo
Tony Jones
Tricia Rhodes
William Paul Young
William Shannon
Willow Creek Association

The source of this list and more information on these contemplative proponents can be found at Lighthouse Trails topical index.

In His law doth he meditate day and night

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(Psalms 1:1-6)

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 420-440

2012-01-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

420. The Rod. Micah 6:9
The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

421. A Rod out of the Stem of Jesse. Isaiah 11:1
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

422. The Root of David. Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

423. A Root of Jesse. Romans 15:12
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Isaiah 11:10
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

424. A Root out of Dry Ground. Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

425. The Root and Offspring of David. Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

426. The Rose of Sharon. Song of Solomon 2:1
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

427. A Ruler. Micah 5:2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

428. The Sacrifice for Sins. Hebrews 10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.

429. A Sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

430. My Salvation. Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

431. The Salvation of God. Luke 3:6
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

432. The Salvation of Israel. Jeremiah 3:23
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

433. A Samaritan. John 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

434. The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

435. A Sanctuary. Isaiah 8:14
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

436. A Sardine Stone. Revelation 4:3
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

437. The Saving Strength of His Anointed. Psalms 28:8
The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

438. Saviour. Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

439. The Saviour of All Men. 1 Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

440. The Saviour of the Body. Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.

Song of the Week: He'll Take Care Of The Rest

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

He'll Take Care Of The Rest performed live in Estes Park '78 by Keith Green.

Resources Refuting Bible “Contradictions”

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

A list of some useful resources for refuting so called Bible contradictions that may be posed to you from Atheists, Muslims, Wiccans, etc. While I may not agree with every answer from these resources I’ve found these sites and books of great use to me and I hope you will too.

Websites:

Cleared-up Bible Contradictions
http://www.thebereans.net/contra-main.shtml

The Charge of Contradiction
http://www.godrules.net/bibledoc/contra1.html

Richard Packham's "Bible Problems": Answer Key
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/packham02.html

Countering Bible Contradictions
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm

Countering Biblical Contradictions
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/143contrad.html

Reformed Answers
http://reformedanswers.org/topics.asp

Smashing Bible Contradictions
http://www.neocrisis.com/faith-a-politics/264-smashing-bible-contradictions

Books:

So Called Contradictions in The Bible - by Kent Hovind
http://www.scribd.com/doc/68009012/So-Called-Contradictions-in-The-Bible-by-Kent-Hovind

Are There Contradictions In The Bible?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/137006/Are-There-Contradictions-In-The-Bible

Smashing Bible Contradictions Volume 1
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/78982445?access_key=key-2opidx0xyql1jx4kpal9

Smashing Bible Contradictions Volume 2
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/78996084?access_key=key-2dl8d0slg5lusucsd3nu

The King James Bible is not Perfect?

2012-01-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

I was going through some stuff I had on my computer and lo and behold I see I still have some Open Doors USA promotional material. I was about to hit the delete button but then I decided to take a look at this stuff since I should at least know what I’m about to delete. And oh boy, why did I bother!

I opened a free ebook called The Privilege of Persecution by Dr. Carl A Moeller and David W. Hegg with Craig Hodgkins. Glancing through the pdf I noticed something. One thing of note is that the book has a lot of scripture quotes from modern versions. Then I read chapter 1, page 8, of the book titled God and His Word.

In this chapter there is a quote from A.W. Tozer, the book says:

“Perhaps, as A.W. Tozer wrote forty years ago, we have lost a grip on the “high view” of God and His word:

The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men. . . . With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. . . . This loss of the concept of majesty has come just when the forces of religion are making dramatic gains and the churches are more prosperous than at any time within the past several hundred years. But the alarming thing is that our gains are mostly external and our losses wholly internal; and since it is the quality of our religion that is affected by internal conditions, it may be that our supposed gains are but losses spread over a wider field." (Emphasis mine)

That is the exact quote and I thought it sounded a little odd especially considering what they wrote directly below this quote, on page 9 of their book:

"Today, we can choose from more than thirty English translations of the Bible. For nearly three centuries in the English-speaking world, the King James Bible was all anyone had. Although there has never been a shortage of opinions about Bible scholarship, it is generally agreed that the KJV is not a perfect translation. It contains sections that aren’t found in any manuscript, and the book of Revelation had to be translated from the Latin to the Greek to English. But did God use the King James Bible to speak to generation after generation of His children? Absolutely.

He also used a donkey to get His message across to the reluctant prophet Balaam. With God, it’s not about the messenger; it’s about the message." (Emphasis mine)

What?? Scholarship says that the King James Version is not perfect? Why didn’t someone tell me this? How could I be so deceived by believing the Bible is perfect, in English! I should have known there is no perfect Bible translation! Woe is me!!!

Alright enough sarcasm. This is a serious matter.

If someone would have told me when I was a new Christian that the Bible is not perfect and there is no perfect translation, I would have been crushed. I mean why on earth would anyone knowingly read a flawed and less than perfect "Bible" in any language? Honestly where did this “there’s no perfect translation” stuff come from? It is certainly not from God. And I know there are some well meaning brethren who say these things, that the Bible is not perfect in any language, all translations have errors and need correction. But this is an erroneous teaching that contradicts God's very own words.

God says over and over that His word is perfect:

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalms 18:30)

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalms 19:7-8)

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

God says over and over that His word is truth and is pure:

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (Psalms 119:160)

“A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalms 138:1-2)

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6)

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:15-17)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

God says over and over that His word is preserved forever:

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6-7)

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:7-8)

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:34-35)

“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” (Luke 16:16-17)

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:24-25)

Who exactly wants us to doubt God’s perfect word?

Does God want us to doubt His word is perfect and preserved or does satan? The answer should be obvious. Satan has tried to make man doubt the accuracy of the word of God since the garden of Eden. "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)

God is the final authority and when His own words say that His book is perfect then I don’t argue with or try to correct Him. I am talking about GOD, the Creator of the universe who made language and He is more than able by His Holy Spirit to write and preserve His own words. Not only is God’s word perfect when it was written but it is still perfect today because God has preserved His perfect word for every generation.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

By the way, I deleted the Open Doors material.

The KJV Is Not Difficult To Read

2012-01-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

The King James Bible is not difficult to read but God’s word is spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Not to sound harsh but if you are seriously struggling to read and understand the KJV then maybe you need to examine yourself because the problem is certainly not with God’s word. If you are capable of reading at a 5th grade level then you should not have a problem reading the King James Bible. If you think you are having problems with the thee's and thou's, the solution is simple.

Thee and Thou are classical English, these are personal pronouns that many other languages around the world use, such as in Spanish. Likewise in classical English personal pronouns are listed in singular and plural forms:

Thou means You and is used when You is the subject of the sentence.

"And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9)

Thee means You and is used when You is the object of the sentence.

"And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" (Genesis 3:11)

Thy or Thine means Your or Yours and is the possessive form of You.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)

Ye means You (plural) and is used when addressing multiple people.

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)

D.A. Waite simply explains the use of these personal pronouns in his book Defending the King James Bible:

The King James Bible, in their use of the pronouns, thee, thy, thyself, thou, thine, ye, you, your, and yourselves, have rendered accuracy a great service. All the pronouns beginning with the letter "T" are singular. All the pronouns beginning with the letter "Y" are plural.

In this way, the English reader can pick up his KING JAMES BIBLE, and, unlike any of the other modern versions, he can tell immediately whether the second person pronoun is singular or plural. For example, look at John 3:7: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." If you look at the modern versions, they have the personal pronoun, "you," for both the "thee" and the "ye," thus confusing the meaning.

The Lord is using the SINGULAR ("thee") and then the PLURAL ("ye") in the same sentence, and in the same verse, one word right after the other. There are many other instances where the modern versions obscure the true meaning of the English "you." Is it singular or plural? With your KING JAMES BIBLE in hand, you are NEVER left in doubt. And you don't need to know Greek or Hebrew to find out the answer!

The Thee's and Thou's are not in error and do not need to be changed in the King James Bible. We actually need these pronouns for a very specific reason. I will quote a section from David W. Daniels' The King James Bible Companion explaining why we need Thee and Thou:

In almost every language but Modern English, people knew whether the speaker was addressing one person or many. In Classical English, this is preserved. If the speaker is talking to one person, he uses "thee" or "thou." If he is talking to many people, he says "you" or "your." The King James preserves this distinction.

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again" (John 3:7). What He said in effect was, "Marvel not that I said unto thee (Nicodemus), ye (all of you people) must be born again." Jesus did not tell this only to Nicodemus.

He spoke to all people of all times, from those who stood around that night, even to us today: Ye must be born again!

Honestly, the King James Bible is not difficult to read even with Thee's and Thou's. I'm not trying to be funny but if I can read and understand some of the KJV then anyone can. I know of small children who have their parents read to them from the King James Bible and they are able to understand. So, if you think you can't understand the KJV or have an issue understanding certain words, look the words up in the dictionary that's what I do. And pray for God to give you understanding. The King James Bible is not difficult to read.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

References:

Thee, Thou, and Ye by Av1611.com
Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine & Ye: Shakespearean English by Unenlightenedenglish.com
Who Needs Thee and Thou?, Defending the King James Bible by D. A. Waite
The King James Bible Companion by David W. Daniels

Archaic Words in the King James Bible

2012-01-16T15:16:00.000-08:00

Are there archaic words in the King James Bible? Yes there are and there are archaic words in every one of the so called modern versions. So, why are archaic words in the KJV considered to be an issue? Dr. Sam Gipp speaks on this very topic.

Humble Yourselves

2012-01-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(1 Peter 5:6-11)

A Good Answer

2012-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, I am a rotten person. Honestly I am. Why did God save me? He surely did not have to and I certainly don’t deserve it. A podcast got me to thinking about this very subject. I was listening to CARM Radio and a caller came on the show who said he was a new Christian. This new Christian asked the show host a question about what does it mean to do everything to the glory of God, or something along those lines.

The host gave him an answer and then, this is what hit me like a ton of bricks, the host next asked him some basic doctrinal questions like: Do you believe in the trinity? The caller said yes. Do you know you’re a sinner and deserving of hell? He said definitely. Then the host said, so then why did God save you? There was a pause and the caller said he didn’t know why. The host's responded by saying, good answer. Afterwards the caller said he was saved because of God’s grace.

And you know what, that’s a great answer. Not one of us deserves God’s gift of salvation. Not a single one of us, no matter how good of a person you think you are. This thought brought me to my knees. God died to save you and me, shedding His blood on the cross even though we’ve cursed Him, mocked Him and do all manner of sin. We can’t forget that before we knew the Lord we were just like everyone else, in sin. Yet even when we hated God, He still loved us and sent His Son Jesus to save us. How precious this thought should be to the believer.

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:8-10)

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Song of the Week: He Didn't Die In Vain

2012-01-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

He Didn't Die In Vain by Take No Glory.

A December To Remember

2012-01-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back after going without power, without heat, being evicted from my house, moving into a hotel, barely eating and then moving again only to get terribly sick twice. This past month has taught me a thing or two about what's really important in life which is even through my fatigue, uncomfortableness and sickness God kept me going.

I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, who endured far worse, when he said:

Philippians 4:6-13

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I thought about this passage a lot. I wish I would have been more content with the state I was in instead of complaining most of the time. I asked the Lord to forgive me from my ungratefulness and complaining because even though I complained about different things the Lord clothed me, feed me, gave me a roof over my head the entire time and even gave me have His word to read.

I'm now in an apartment and I have internet once again. I'm happy to have my internet back on and all those nice things but I must admit I feel mighty low, not because of what happened but because of what I learned. The Lord certainly broke me down and I should hope from now on that I don't cling to personal possessions and instead draw closer to the Lord that bought me.

I thank God for giving us His precious Son Jesus Christ and filling us with His Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ’s Names, Titles, and Descriptions 399-419

2011-12-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

399. A Reward for the Righteous. Psalms 58:11
So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

400. Rich. Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

401. The Riches of His Glory. Romans 9:23
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

402. The Riddle. Judges 14:14
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

403. Right. Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

404. The Righteous. 1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

405. A Righteous Branch. Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

406. My Righteous Servant. Isaiah 53:11
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

407. The Righteous Judge. 2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

408. A Righteous Man. Luke 23:47
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

409. Righteousness. 1 Corinthians 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

410. The Righteousness of God. Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

411. A River of Water in a Dry Place. Isaiah 32:2
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

412. The Rock. Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

413. The Rock that is Higher than I. Psalms 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

414. The Rock of Israel. 2 Samuel 23:3
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

415. A Rock of Offence. Romans 9:33
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

416. The Rock of My Refuge. Psalms 94:22
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

417. The Rock of His Salvation. Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

418. The Rock of Our Salvation. Psalms 95:1
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

419. The Rock of Thy Strength. Isaiah 17:10
Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips.

Heretics of the Emerging Church

2011-12-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

The Emerging Church is a movement permeating modern Evangelical circles in the USA, Europe and developing world. Few people seem to understand its essential technique. Careful analysis shows it to be a theory that repudiates any single defining source for truth and reality beyond the individual. It is blatantly mystical and apostate. This documented DVD gives an overview of the roots of the movement and some of its main leaders.

Some quotes from emergent church author Erwin McManus:

"My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ,"

"The greatest enemy to the movement of Jesus Christ is Christianity."

"Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I'm anti-Christian. I think they might be right." (Source)

For more information about the heretics of the emerging church, read:

Faith in the Word of God

2011-12-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

God says whosoever believes on His Son,
Has pardon obtained and a new life begun;
His sins blotted out, not by aught he has done,
But thro’ faith in the Word of God!

His Word is a strong eternal rock,
Unshaken it stands thro’ fiercest shock;
Though Satan and all his hosts may mock,
I have faith in the Word of God!

And God will make righteous and cleanse from all sin
The one who the chiefest of sinners has been;
He sanctifies wholly and justifies him
Who has faith in the Word of God!

O soul without God, without hope, without peace,
Just now come to Him, let your doubtings all cease;
He says He’ll receive you, your joys will increase,
O have faith in the Word of God.

— Mabel J. Camp

Song of the Week: There Is A Redeemer

2011-12-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

There Is A Redeemer by Keith Green.

Disturbing News...

2011-12-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

Recently I was checking my emails and noticed a message from Open Doors USA that shared some disturbing news about the non-profit "Christian" organization.

The message was an update about a pledge for religious freedom for "persecuted Christians worldwide." But within the first paragraph it clearly states that Open Doors has partnered with Jesuit Professor Tomas Farr of Georgetown University. Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States.

Professor Farr according to his profile information at georgetown.edu is "a former American diplomat, is Visiting Associate Professor of Religion and World Affairs in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also Senior Fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs where he directs the program on Religion and U.S. Foreign Policy and the Project on Religious Freedom."

I will post the email from Open Doors here:

Dear _____,
The upcoming Primaries for the Presidential election provide us with an incredible opportunity to advocate for persecuted Christians worldwide. Open Doors USA has partnered with Professor Tom Farr of Georgetown University, an esteemed International Religious Freedom expert, to produce and promote the Presidential Pledge for Religious Freedom.

We will present this pledge to all of the primary presidential candidates and ask each of them to sign it. A candidate's signature indicates that he or she commits to upholding religious freedom for people of all faiths in America, nominating U.S. federal judges who are committed to upholding religious freedom as defined in the pledge, and prioritizing religious freedom concerns in U.S. foreign policy.
Read pledge here>>

You can help us by signing a petition that urges presidential candidates to sign our pledge. Please take a moment to sign this important petition now! We will inform candidates of the number of American signatures on this petition to help them understand that we all care about religious freedom and want our President to protect and promote it.

It will also help you, American voters, to know which candidates truly care about religious freedom. It is easy for them to say they care about an issue, but words mean little without action. We hope that this pledge will demonstrate which candidates are serious about protecting religious freedom at home and abroad.

Lastly, it will help provide accountability for signers of the pledge. If one of the signers wins the presidential election, we will have a public agreement from the President of the United States to protect and promote religious freedom. This is incredibly important as politicians often make promises that they fail to keep.

Please sign our petition today, and be sure to forward this campaign to as many of your friends and family members as possible. Together, we can bring religious freedom into the national spotlight!

Sincerely,
Lindsay Vessey
Advocacy Director
Open Doors USA

I have to admit that when I first read this email I was in denial. I thought that maybe they are speaking of a different Georgetown University, they must be talking about some other college! But no, I did an online search for Tom Farr and sure enough it is the Jesuit college.

This is a sad day for me, I really liked Open Doors and the DVD movies they put out but with their organization promoting Catholicism as Christian in their persecution news updates on their site:

And now openly advocating for Christians to sign a petition being pushed forward by a Jesuit professor. I can't just look the other way. Everywhere I look there is something disturbingly wrong... like the Open Doors founder President and CEO Dr. Carl Moeller's press page states:

...Moeller has appeared on media such as NBC Los Angeles, ABC's Good Morning America, Hannity & Colmes, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), and CNN Radio. He is also a columnist for Crosswalk.com. He attended the third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in October 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Moeller lives in Southern California with his wife Kim and their four children.

"Carl Moeller has one of the sharpest missions minds I know. Open Doors is blessed to have a man of such integrity and vision leading that strategic organization. The whole Kingdom will be blessed!"
—Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA and author of The Purpose Driven Life

I think this is a very serious matter because if an alleged Christian organization were to send out emails and post prayer requests on their website for, lets say, Mormons there would be most undoubtedly an outcry among Christians. And the prayer requests are not asking for prayers that these people be saved but asking for you to pray for them as you brethren in Christ!

This is very serious indeed because the salvation or eternal punishment of these lost Catholic people is at stake here. Whether it is Catholics, Mormons or whatever other false religion they need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and not be falsely assured they are fine in their sins and a religion that is taking them to hell! I don't take a matter like this lightly and I sincerely hope Open Doors will get off the road to ecumenical Rome and proclaim the gospel without comprising. Until then I will no longer support Open Doors USA or their International organization.

Note: I also took down the blog post I had about the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church hosted by Open Doors.

O' Christmas Tree

2011-12-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging...

Oh wait a second, I remember reading somewhere about getting a tree out of the forest and decking it with gold and silver being a pagan custom... where did I read that before?

Oh yeah, in the BIBLE.

Jeremiah 10:1-10

1) Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3) For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

6) Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

7) Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

8) But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

9) Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

10) But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

I wonder if people ever stop and think about why they do the things they do during the holidays?

Also see:

The Pagan Origins of Christmas

The Church is the body of Christ - Part 2

2011-12-07T13:11:00.001-08:00

If you haven't read part 1, please read the previous post The Church is the body of Christ - Part 1. The church is not the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Mormon Church and Jehovah Witnesses and etc. because these false religions teach different gospels and works based salvation contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that the church is the Body of Christ made up of those who believe in Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 12

1) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2) Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14) For the body is not one member, but many.

15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19) And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20) But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22) Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23) And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24) For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

It is also important to attend a church, assembly, to hear and learn God's word and to edify and exhort one another on our Christian walk.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25)

The Church is the body of Christ - Part 1

2011-12-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12:27)

There are churches or buildings where Bible believing Christians gather to study God's word and to be edified. But when the Bible speaks of the church as Jesus did in Matthew 16:18, and many other passages, Jesus' church is His body, the body of Christ made up of Bible believing Christians. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

(Romans 12:4-9) "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

On whom is the church founded? The answer is Christ.

Colossians 1:14-18 Jesus “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

The Church is not the Roman Catholic "Church." The RCC teaches that Mary, instead of Jesus Christ, is the mediator between God and men. This is heresy, it is the exact opposite of what the Bible says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5). The Bible says concerning Jesus, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Catholicism teaches another gospel and does not believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation but rather that its adherents must do works and suffer in purgatory and then might be given entrance to heaven. But the Bible says no such thing. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:1-10)

Please also see The Church is the body of Christ - Part 2.

Creation Science Evangelism - Kent Hovind - Seminar 7: Questions and Answers

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

The last in the seminar series, Questions and Answers, covers a variety of topics including radiometric dating and the speed of light in relation to star distance. In addition to "primitive man" and race origins, Dr. Hovind discusses the mark of the beast and supposed contradiction's in the Bible.

Copyright © 2007 CSE MINISTRY
Permission is granted to duplicate as is (unedited) for free distribution only.

Creation Science Evangelism - Kent Hovind - Seminar 6: The Hovind Theory

2011-11-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

The Hovind Theory blends scientific observations with Scripture in a fascinating explanation of what caused Noah's Flood, the ice age, the formation of coal, mountain ranges, and the Grand Canyon. Dr. Hovind gives logical answers to the physical anomalies that geologists cannot explain with the evolutionary theory.

Copyright © 2007 CSE MINISTRY
Permission is granted to duplicate as is (unedited) for free distribution only.

Song of the Week: Colossians 3

2011-11-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

Colossians 3 by Calvary Chapel Saving Grace.