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Mattie's spaceAugust 25 Scriptures About Being Deceived..God BLess SIster MattieSome Scriptures about Deceived...
April 17 Praise the Lord...Praise the Lord...Praise the Lord...
April 09 An Empty Tomb
An Empty Tomb
Matthew 28:6
In my dreams I wandered back to Calv'ry, As my tho'ts then wandered to the garden, As I stooped and looked into the tomb there,
April 07 Mind Control - Male & FemaleMind Control - Male and Female"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:52. Before we can even discuss the subject of this book, it is essential that we first understand and acknowledge how the church and her institutions function. We must understand the power structures and centers of influence in the church. Without understanding and acknowledging these, we cannot appreciate the difficulties of accepting, even exploring, an expansion of women's role in the church. It takes courage to set out on a course to find truth and practice the truth found. The leadership of churches will gladly do our thinking for us and set the perimeters of truth for us, if we allow it. Too few are open and courageous enough to break new ground. But, honest inquiry leads men and women to do so. Most Bible students start out with the purest motives and the highest intentions in their search for truth. Often, along that path of learning, political - rather than religious - considerations tend to cloud our thinking and lead us off the straight and narrow. Truth can be found, believed and practiced, but scholars of the highest ranks in the same religious fellowships often reach different conclusions on important religious issues. Ordinary Christians tend to let the scholars of their choice do their study and thinking for them. The individual search for truth gets swallowed up in loyalty to our preferred scholar, preacher, teacher or party. Since scholars, preachers and teachers usually enjoy the praises of their followers, it is easy for them to encourage the party or denominational spirit where their positions on issues will be accepted and followed. No matter how pure we believe our motives are, we are still subject to the same political pressures to conform, once we become a part of a particular religious community or fellowship. If we deny this, we have already violated truth. Dominant personalities tend to move into positions of leadership and influence in any organization - religious, social, political or business. They can perpetuate error as easily as they foster truth. They rise up and take over pulpits, elderships, institutions of learning and benevolence, and editorships and writers' positions of journals. They serve on boards of trustees. They publish class materials for churches. They speak on lectureships and hold meetings and revivals. Some dominant personalities are not spiritually or academically qualified to lead. However, money, position, power and circumstances open the door for them to control and direct the affairs of churches, institutions and even individual lives. Once in positions of power in the church, dominant personalities tend to exert much of their influence and energy in maintaining the status quo and making sure no one "rocks their boat." The quest for truth and understanding is gradually subordinated to staying on course and keeping peace, as they view the course and peace. The average Christian, in fact, most Christians (in my experience), accept the Biblical positions of these dominant personalities because they have neither the interest, scholarship ability, spirit of inquiry, nor the courage to challenge dominant leaders. Most will not even question those in positions of power, even when doubts surface. Most churches spend much of their time promoting the doctrines which separate them from their religious neighbors. They put out so much effort in making sure the faithful remain faithful to their peculiar doctrinal positions and long-held traditions, that they spend little time asking the questions which lead to a new and broader understanding of truth. Their time is devoted to building walls around their special doctrines and communions. Because of their need to be accepted, feel secure, maintain positions of power and influence, keep funds flowing, maintain cooperation in mission efforts, support institutions, and keep subscriptions coming, dominant personalities in the church are inclined to cease asking questions and searching for truth. And, if new truths are discovered or questioning arises, they are often not allowed to be expressed, due to the political consideration involved in the motives listed above. Sadly, in Christian institutions of higher learning, where open and honest inquiry should dominate the intellectual process, maintenance of traditional beliefs and practices is usually the rule. If one reads college catalogs and pamphlets and listens to the speeches of their administrators, fund raisers and student recruiters, one quickly understands that maintaining the doctrinal status quo is what they are committed to. "Support us, send your children to us, and we'll protect them from error and the world." There is nothing wrong with protecting young students from the world and from error, unless we really mean protecting them from ideas, honest inquiry, and true intellectual freedom and growth. The voices of most of our institutions cry with one loud dominant sound: "We are building and maintaining an institution where our concepts of truth and purity will be passed on to future generations. Furthermore, no administrator, faculty member, or even a student shall veer far off the accepted path, no matter how compelling their argument for change might be." This "fortress" mentality is too often designed to control our youth, rather than to allow both teachers and students to enjoy a true university atmosphere, where truth is sought, controversy permitted, and honest differences tolerated. On one university campus, the president told his faculty and staff at the opening meeting of the school year that he wanted them to emphasize six things in the educational process; one of them was openness. While he was making this statement, his board and his administration were engaged in the long-standing process of threatening and making attempts at and even firing employees who dared to exercise openness. Faculty members who know better cower before the dominant personalities of the administration. And administrators cower before those above them in the hierarchy. Why? These men and women have mortgages to pay off, children to feed, and cars to run. They know their future is in the hands of those dominant personalities who decide promotions, tenure, faculty rank, chairmanships, and administrative positions. I have known some faculty members who have been brought up through and protected by the parochial system but have not even learned that there are questions to be asked or that there are religious issues yet to be resolved. They join their alma mater to protect and promote the "fortress." They have been assured that the board of trustees, the administration and Bible faculty have the truth on all subjects and that they are fully capable of protecting the institution, its students, and the brotherhood from religious error. One faculty member of one of our institutions of higher learning was asked by his president to speak on a particular subject at the university's annual Lectureship. The president told him to make it interesting, but "not too interesting." In other words, "Don't challenge the brotherhood to think; keep them satisfied as if what they know and do in worship were God's final and absolute plan. Please don't scare any supporters or prospective donors off and, especially, parents of prospective students." This faculty member knew what he was to say and what he was not to say, regardless of how much new truth and insight he could have imparted. I bought the tape and listened to the lecture. He had heeded his president's warning. Why? He needed to curry the favor of the dominant personality on campus. He needed his job. He wanted the chance to speak again on future lectureships. Experience has taught faculty members and administrators that "real" or "would be" dominant personalities on the boards, administration above them, or in the broader brotherhood can leverage their influence in such ways as to make life most miserable if they exercise their academic and intellectual freedom. It would mean misery at best, the loss of a job next, and being blackballed at worst. If any of these "real" or "would be" dominant personalities have deep pockets (full of money), the road to exercising academic freedom by faculty members is a very dangerous course to pursue. Thus, the traditional doctrines and religious practices are perpetuated on the campus. At the same time, honest inquiry and open dialogue are stifled by these dominant personalities. They get their power and way by contributing funds or withholding funds and by exerting or not exerting influence. The usurpers and "would be" dominant personalities get their way by raising loud and long objections to people and policies. I have seen them make administrators and board members jump and "heel to", even though the cause was but a "mouse that roared." Whether on the campus or in the local church, the pressure is always on for the rank and file to submit to the dominant personalities and even compromise integrity in the name of harmony. No reader will challenge the statement, "Honesty is a cornerstone of Christian character." Yet, honest inquiry and differences are too often subordinated to public and private pressure, fear, and the need to be fully accepted in the community of our choice. Our inconsistencies should not be equated with dishonesty. The most honest people I know have their inconsistencies. But, when one's inconsistencies are clearly pointed out and he or she refuses to acknowledge those inconsistencies, they become hypocrisies. Hypocrisies, then, become issues of Christian character. It is at this point that we deliberately reject a cornerstone of Christian character, and our basic integrity becomes flawed and is compromised. Then, we chart a course of denial, in which the line between truth and error becomes so blurred that we cease using logic in our search for truth. Administrators and faculty members can, by their position and power, determine which of their graduates are recommended for pulpits and various ministries. I sat in a forum at a well-known Christian university in which a young Christian man asked a question of a panel of aged and learned men - men whom I love. The question was about the "power structure in the church." The brother who answered the question is a dear personal friend. But he was in denial. He rudely accused the younger brother of using words put in his mouth by others. Then, he hastened to assure his audience that there was no "power structure" in the church - and that every church was autonomous. Every well-informed person in that audience knew a power structure existed in the church. This brother was on the forum, instead of others, because of a power structure. The boards and administrators exert great power over the affairs of institutions of learning and the church. They determine what courses will be taught in our institutions, how they will be taught, and by whom. They determine who speaks at chapel services and at the annual lectureships, and on what subjects. Power structures exist in our publications. The editors determine whose writings and what subjects the church members at large will read. They also have the power to blackball people, churches, institutions and movements among their readers, for good or bad reasons. The editor of the Firm Foundation wrote an editorial on August 12, 1986, soliciting submissions from readers. He said, "We also welcome articles written by faithful Christian ladies, but do ask that the articles be directed to the needs and interest of Christian women." The conclusion: Christian women should not, can not, and will not address issues in this journal which meet the "needs and interests" of men. Summed up, women, no matter how well informed, have nothing to say to men, and subtly, God wouldn't approve of it anyway. How bitter is the fruit of error. How far from the straight and narrow our warped thinking leads us. It cries, "Priscilla, you must not really have had anything of value to say to Apollos." In the church, preachers with dominant personalities intimidate those with lesser strength, and thus control the churches in a given geographical area. Usurpers, as preachers, have appeared in cities and have built or have attempted to build a power structure around themselves to dictate what all congregations in the city must teach and practice. Pulpit preachers must believe they have important and eternal things to say, or they would not be in the pulpit. Those who stay in the pulpit for a lifetime tend to dominate the minds in the churches they serve. When other more dominant personalities in the pew refuse to accept the preacher's position, the preacher usually moves on, or the church splits. The preacher is usually the most influential and dominating force in the local church. He is the only one who has the undivided attention of the members for one hour or two each week. He also works full time ministering to the local flock during the week. In addition, he teaches public Bible classes. He is usually the most eloquent and articulate person in the local church. It is assumed that he is also the most informed Bible student in the church. So, why shouldn't he dominate the thinking in the average church and set its doctrinal standards? By and large, he does. He may too often see himself as a keeper of the orthodoxy, and not as a man with a passion for seeking truth. The church submits to the teaching and preaching of this pulpit minister because few, if any, believe they have equal knowledge. And if they did, they would be powerless to challenge him because of position and training. Therefore, the church and its leadership usually defer to the preacher's knowledge and accept it as final eternal truth. The attitude mentioned by Shakespeare, "I am Sir Oracle, and when I speak, let no dog bark," has found its way into the personalities of some preachers. Next in line are the elders. Even though elders have the God-given charge to feed and protect the flock, they usually do most of it through hirelings and volunteers. They enjoy the power to hire and fire, set and approve budgets, determine discipline, and plan the work of the church. The church is taught to respect and submit to the elders. The members are warned not to bring a charge against any of them "without two or three witnesses." The church members are taught that elders are their shepherds, looking out and responsible for their souls. So, most church members, out of trained consciences, submit to the decisions of the elders, even though they know that some decisions are unprincipled, unjust, ignorant and even destructive of truth, peace and spiritual growth. One local eldership, twenty years ago, passed a rule on women's dress. They issued a policy forbidding the wearing of slacks, pant suits, and jeans to church. They claimed this was Biblically wrong. It was immodest dress. My guess is that some elder's wife or some other woman with a dominant personality didn't like it. Today, slacks, pant suits, and jeans are both Biblical and modest in that same church. The dominant personalities in the eldership rule the church and the weaker elders as well. In the end, preachers and elders do most of our thinking for us, while making decisions which determine the spiritual growth, quality of worship, standards of Christian living, and our ultimate destiny for good or bad. To those who would like to see what extremes dominant personalities will go to control the lives, minds, and souls of church membership, I recommend Robert Lindsey's book, A Gathering of the Saints, published by Dell. It will force one to take a critical look at those who would control their eternal destiny, and that of others, at any cost. In this maze of local and brotherhood power structures, we may use fear, insecurity, ignorance, tradition, and basic human weakness to keep the ship of Zion on a predetermined course. Woe unto the men and women who warn of dangerous shoals or point out ports-of-call where spiritual nourishment and the fresh waters of freedom exist. Some are so harbor bound that they do not know that a whole ocean of truth lies yet ahead of us. We sail on, submitting to the officers, even though suspecting or even knowing that some courses we take are filled with doubt, or are even wrong. We submit to the dominant personalities as well as the usurpers out of fear, for conscience's sake, in order to curry favor, escape wrath, keep the peace and maintain the association. So it is with our study of the women's role in the church. Young girls, from early childhood, are taught that from the beginning God planned forever that women are to be in submission to men. We assert this as truth, in spite of what I have come to believe has no Biblical teaching to support it but with clear teaching to the contrary. In fact, one of our brothers recently published a book on the subject. He asserted in his opening chapter that God, from creation, had put women in a submissive role to men - as if it were proven. He claimed God had made men women's spiritual leaders. He then proceeded to build an entire book of argument on this unproven assumption. In fact, most people make such an assertion when they attempt a study of this subject. It is usually stated this way, "Since we know that God planned, from the Garden of Eden, that men should rule over women, we must not violate God's plan." They then attempt to make all scripture in both the Old and New Testaments, to the contrary, fit into an interpretation based on traditions built around this assertion and the three short passages in I Corinthians 11 and 14 and I Timothy 2. Lacking knowledge, no one in the church is able or willing to challenge this false assumption. Therefore, the traditional teaching and practices continue, such as "drawing a line at age 14." Since the leadership of the church dominates our thinking, these traditional assumptions and assertions become rooted in our concept of Biblical truth. Women have been conditioned since childhood, to be in subjection to male leadership in the home, church, and world. They cannot speak up without violating the "rules of God" and their well-trained consciences. In fact, for women to even question assumptions and assertions is a violation of their God-given submissive role, so they dare not question or think, lest they sin. After all, God planned from the beginning for men to be their spiritual heads and to dominate their lives, didn't He? One well-known scholar, in reviewing this manuscript, asserted, "Every right-thinking woman is pleased to say that in order and arrangement, 'Man is greater than I, just as Jesus said, 'My Father is greater than I'.'' Here we clearly see how mistaken even scholars can be. I know of thousands of women who are greater than thousands of men. I know of no man who is greater than a woman simply because he is a man. Men, on the other hand, enjoy the right to dominate women and other men. If a weaker man dares to think for himself, some dominant personality will call him off and silence him. Little boys, like little girls, are conditioned in their pre-school years with the concept that they are ordained by God to rule women. In some homes, only dads and brothers lead the prayers in family devotionals and at meal times. In most Sunday Schools, little boys can lead prayer; usually little girls can't. Boys can collect attendance cards and pass out bulletins in church, but girls can't. So, we develop a mindset in boys that they, somehow, have a preference over girls, mandated by God. Divisions in churches usually occur over the clash of dominant personalities, rather than over what is right or wrong. Seldom, if ever, are churches split over doctrine. I know one church which split over feathers and flowers on a woman's hat. Back in the days when "head coverings were scripturally required," women wore hats to church. In this farm community, the hats were plain, without adornment, and usually black. On one Sunday morning, one sister showed up to worship with a new hat with bright feathers and flowers adorning it. The leaders met, no doubt because some sister with a dominant personality (and perhaps the owner of just a plain hat) demanded it. They told the lady her hat was both vain and immodest. Moreover, it attracted undue attention to her and attention away from God, whom they gathered to worship. The male leaders mandated, "Take the feathers and flowers off your hat." Her family refused to buckle under to such arrogance and ignorance. The church split because one woman with a dominant personality and influence had her way. I'm sure there have been thousands of other church splits in Christendom because domineering men and women determined to have their way and found a Biblical (?) doctrine to support it. So it is in the study of women's role in the church. Traditional male preachers, elders, teachers and scholars have concluded what is the final truth on the subject. Being trained to be subservient to men and having consciences trained by men, women seldom get to make suggestions, object to decisions, or involve themselves in the decision making process of the church in any way. Neither do men who take on the submissive role. Some women and weaker men do get power by objecting to or rebelling against the decisions of the leadership. We sometimes give greater consideration to what is safe, traditional, and acceptable to those who fill pulpits, serve as elders, administer institutions, or publish, than we give to what is true or right. All too often, those in power have assumed that present positions on issues are as final as if someone spoke ex- cathedra about them. Most often the rule is, don't point out our inconsistencies, ask hard questions, create doubts, or challenge our authority. On the question of women's role in the church, the domineering personalities will be glad to do our thinking for us if we let them. Many of them will use their positions of power, even their money, to keep us from studying the subject or teaching anything new on it. They will condemn us without a trial. The Catholic Church at least held inquisitions. To overlook the evangelistic power of sixty percent of church membership, to bury their talents, and to not use their skills and strengths, is tragic. But, it is done at the congregational level with casual dismissal. It is done with the claim, "The issue of women's role in the church is forever settled." This is flippant at best and closed-minded at its worst. I include a questionnaire which I have given to hundreds of inquiring Christians. By the time you answer the questions in it, I am sure you will realize that the question of women deserves much greater attention than we have dared give it in the past. One reviewer challenged my use of questions, stating that it is a debate tactic used to embarrass those who disagree and who find their practices inconsistent with what they think the Bible teaches. I confess to using questions in my desire that readers confront their positions, inconsistencies and explore what the Bible teaches on this subject. I confess that I hope men and women would be open and honest enough to laugh at themselves in the confrontation they have with what they think they believe and practice and what they really believe and practice. As to using questions to disarm others, I have a pretty fine "approved example" to follow, the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not always understand how much "baggage" we bring into the study of any subject, especially this subject. The questions that follow should alert the reader as to how many answers are unclear and how much non-Biblical baggage we are carrying around with us. Each of us is responsible to God to find, preach and live by His truth. We cannot allow dominant personalities, male or female, to stifle or threaten or do our thinking for us. Men shackle us and do not set us free; truth sets us free. I'm On The Winning SideI’m On The Winning Side
Along the way of life are many foes
That daily war against my soul; But constant victory My Savior gives to me As I press on to the goal. On the winning side, I’m on the winning side, I’m on the winning side with Jesus; Though hot may be the fray, My soul can boldly say, I’m on the winning side with Jesus.
The battle may be long and hard to win,
And Satan’s hosts may press me sore; But though I may be tried, I’m on the winning side, I shall triumph evermore. A multitude of warriors of the cross
In serried ranks do bravely fight; They never shall retreat, Nor ever know defeat, They are winning for the right. With courage in my soul I’ll do my part,
For Jesus I will loyal stand; So on the winning side Triumphant I abide With the faithful, holy band. To put God first above all things, even me and you.
Saints we are on the winning side if we have the holy ghost and we stayed prayed up,
if we are striving to continue in God's word of truth,
If we are his sheep and hearing his voice & obeying him,
if we are striving to enter in with all our heart,
body, mind and soul,
If we are obeying his word, living it as best as we can,
doing all we know to do diligently,
seeking Jesus and his kingdom,
his righteousness, then saints we are
gonna make it in IF WE continue in the strait path,
strive to do the will of Jesus, trust him and lean on him
and let go of this world, of our will, and let
Jesus have our hearts, bodies, minds and souls. They that endure til the end shall be saved, not they that receive the gift of the holy ghost and do what we want,
but those who seek Jesus and his will and apply his word and put
on Jesus daily, putting on his armour, which is his word.
Jesus is looking for a band of faithful Soldiers who are willing first to
submit themselves to him, surrender completely and let him have our
hearts, our minds, our souls, our mouths, our ears, our hands,
our feet and all inbetween. Jesus wants soldiers willing to surrender and submit 100%,
not even 99 1\2 will do, but we must give Jesus all. It's easier said than done, but it is
possible, made possible by Jesus Christ, the almighty God who conquered death,
hell, and the grave. Right now it's 10 minutes til 4 in the morning. Anyone who knows me
knows I don't get up that early but jesus woke me up praying. Saints I want higher heights and deeper depths
in Jesus and I don't care the cost, I want that first love to burn within me like it did
when I first got the holy ghost, but see I can want all I want to, if I don't seek Jesus it won't stay with me.
I am pressing through this morning saints, seeking Jesus for more of a desire for him, more of a desire to pray,
more of how to do things his way. I have tried my way and have never succeeded, only when things are
done God's way will I prosper and succeed in Jesus. I dont' care if I succeed in this life without Jesus,
for without Jesus nothing is possible to overcome, but I today and each day I must kill out my flesh,
kill out my desires, kill out what I want, kill out this desire to think like I want to, kill out this
desire to do things my way, kill out this old woman and let go and let Jesus have his way.
It's God's way or no way. We gotta kill out this flesh no matter how it hurts and do
things God's way today or we won't prosper and we won't get anywhere with Jesus.
But When I seek him first, then all things work out in my life. The same with you too.
Lets be soldiers that endure hardness, first the hardness of killing out us today,
letting go of the old man, and letting Jesus have his way heart, body, mind, soul 100%. Thats
how we succeed in this life by letting Jesus, and not letting us. When we get down to business with
Jesus and submit ourselves to him wholely then we resist the devil and his ways,
his thoughts, his will, then he will flee from us. There's where the victory lies saints.
It's all in Jesus, all in him, all in his way, all in his strait narrow path he chose for us today.
Remember we choose to serve Jesus every second of the day, we even chose to serve him in Spirit and in truth, to believe and receive truth that we must be born again. Saints when Jesus
chose us, and we chose him, we chose to be sealed til he comes, but just like when you're
canning, if you're not real careful and check the lid before sealing and clean around and within the jar even,
it comes unsealed and we can too. They that endure til the end, the same shall be saved. It's gonna
take that holy ghost and fire within to purify us, to keep us daily, but we got some laboring
to do. Laboring praying, fasting and seeking Jesus and taking on the mind of Christ and letting go
and surrendering completely, 100%, with everything we got. In this evil world saints, it takes a lot
of praying to keep ourselves where we need to be. The environment and the people we hang around
may help to hinder or help us, just whichever we choose to be around. If we choose Jesus we are on the
winning side, if we choose the world, our way, choose to listen to the devil, choose to
listen to people of the world, we choose death. Life or death. Jesus told us with Joshua,
and it still stands today, choose ye this day whom ye will serve. Which side are we gonna die on
Saints. It's serious and only those sealed are gonna make it in. We have some hard times the
bible says, I believe just right ahead, and who will survive the storm? Who will endure
til the end? We cannot afford to let up one bit, we cannot afford to wear our armour, the world's
armour, or man's armour he chooses for us, but we as David must wear and bear what Jesus gave
us. GBU and I hope we all meet in heaven, sealed until the day of redemption and on the
winning side, talk about a celebration, bible says the redeemed will sing a song that
not even the angels can sing. We have victory today and it's ours, so which side will we choose,
we cannot play on both sides saints. We cannot do what Jesus wills and our will too. But we
must choose and stay on the winning side..No matter what we face today, no matter
what lays in our path today, no matter what this day holds, we must stay on Jesus side.
Jesus is the winning side and who shall be able to stand? Shall he find faith when he comes?
Have you read and obeyed Acts 2:38? Do you have the key God gave Peter
on the day of pentecost in Matthew 16 when God poured out his ONE SPIRIT -ephesians 4:4,5?
Have you Repented, been baptized Everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for remission
of your sins, then received ye the gift of the holy Ghost-Acts 2:38? if you have-You're on the
winning side too, but if not, you are deceived and will die lost and be tormented in a burning
hell for eternity. Better get yourself ready...Jesus is coming soon....in the name Of Jesus > Mattie ..In Jesus name..Sister Mattie March 29 Psalms 63-65....Food for thought Today...
Psalms 63
March 28 The Oneness Of GodTHE ONENESS OF GOD!!!! I. INTRODUCTION One of the most misunderstood of Bible truths today, is the doctrine of the Godhead. The most universally accepted view of the Godhead in denominations today, is the teaching of the Trinity. This view basically states that God is three distinct persons who are co-equal in power, knowledge, and existence. The word trinity is never mentioned in the Bible, but the existence of One God is mentioned many times in scripture. Why is it important to know about the Godhead? Jesus said in John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins”. We also read of Jesus saying, “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him” (Luke 10:22). These verses tell us that if we don’t want to die in our sins, we must know who Jesus is, and the only way to know who Jesus is, is by revelation from Jesus Himself. If you have never received that revelation for yourself, it is our hope that this lesson will give you the knowledge to receive for yourself the true Bible doctrine of the Oneness of God. II. THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Many times in our version of the Old Testament the word God, or LORD is used in place of the name which was used by the writers. Some of the Hebrew names for God are: El. Strength, mighty, almighty, which denotes deity. Eloah. Derived from El. Always refers to deity. Elohim. A plural form of Eloah. The word used most often to denote God. The Hebrew plural is intensive, denoting God’s greatness, majesty, and many different attributes, not a plurality of Gods. Adonai. Lord. Eheyeh asher Eheyeh. I AM THAT I AM. YHWH (Yahweh). GOD, LORD, JEHOVAH. El-Elyon. Most High God. El-Shaddai. Almighty God. El-Olam. Everlasting God. Yahweh is the redemptive name of God in the Old Testament, and the name that God used to distinguish Himself from every other god. It means “Self-Existing One”, or the “Eternal One.” In the English it was translated as Jehovah due to the way that the Hebrew scribes wrote God’s name in their scrolls. The Hebrew language didn’t use vowels. Instead, when they wrote His name , they used the letters “YHWH”. So that they wouldn’t use His name in vain, it was not commonly spoken. After a long period of time had gone by the pronunciation of His name was uncertain. The translators had to guess what vowels went between the letters, and came up with the word Jehovah. So Yahweh (Hebrew) and Jehovah (English) mean the same thing. To take it one step farther, God revealed Himself to Moses as “I Am”. Yahweh is our way of speaking the same about God, only we would say “He Is”. So Jehovah or Yahweh simply mean “He Is”. Just as God assumed that everyone knew that He is the only One who could say “I Am”, the people assumed that God was the only One who could be called “He Is”. Both names speak of being eternal, or without beginning, or end. God continuously revealed Himself to the Old Testament people in different ways, which caused them to use descriptive words along with the name Jehovah. Remember that Jehovah (Yahweh) was many time translated as LORD. He was called in Genesis 22:14 “Jehovah-jireh”, which means the LORD will provide. In Exodus 15:26 He is “Jehovah-rapha”, the LORD that heals. In Judges 6:24 He is “Jehovah-shalom”, meaning the LORD our peace. Combining a descriptive action with the name Jehovah, gave a fuller meaning to His name. It told them more about who God was. We will talk more about this when we look at the God of the New Testament. III. HOW MANY GODS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4). “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour” Isaiah 43:10,11). “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself” (Isaiah 44:24). “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day there shall be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9). “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us” (Malachi 2:10). There are too many verses in the Old Testament to reference them all. But, it is clearly stated that only one God is Creator, Redeemer, King, the First and the Last. and our Saviour. Many have tried to say that the name “Elohim”, which is a plural word, is in reference to a trinity of the Godhead, when the rest of the phrasing in the surrounding verses refer to God in the singular. For instance, it says in Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”, but goes on to say in verse 27, “So God created man in his own image.” Does the Bible contradict itself? No. So, how do we explain this portion of Scripture which refers to a plural “us”,. and a singular “him”? We know the Bible says that God is a Spirit. Were Adam and Eve spirit, or were they flesh, or were they both? Adam was made of the dust of the ground, which became his flesh, and then God breathed into Adam the breath of life, which came from the Spirit of God, making Adam both flesh and spirit. Was God flesh and Spirit? Not yet. God has all foreknowledge and is not restricted in time as we are. Knowing that man would sin and that He would have to become our Savior, God looked ahead into future time, and saw what He would look like as a man dwelling on this earth. After He decided what He would look like, He made Adam in His likeness, which was the image of Jesus, who was both flesh and God (Spirit). “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Colossians 1:15). The “us” referred to is God and the man “Christ Jesus”, who is God manifested in flesh. Not two persons, but two manifestations of the same person of God. Since Jesus was the express image of God, when God made us in Jesus’ image, He was making us in His own image. IV. THE GOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23). “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Timothy 3:16). “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:8-11). All three of these portions of New Testament writing let us know that God came to earth in the form of a man. It says God was manifested, which means He was made visible, or He showed Himself to us in a fleshly form. The name Jesus could never have been used by God if He hadn’t come in the flesh. The name Jesus described the new role that God would play in relationship to mankind’s need. Only flesh and blood could die, and God said that blood was the only thing that could buy the remission of our sin. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Since the Spirit of God had no blood to shed, God formed a body for Himself by overshadowing the virgin Mary. That body was made for the purpose of becoming our Redeemer. In Old Testament law, only a near kinsman could redeem a person, or the land, when they were sold out side of the family.. God became one of us so that He could be our near kinsman and buy our salvation. The name “Jesus” is a combination of “Jehovah” and “our salvation”. He was called Jesus because Jehovah had become our salvation. Only by dying and shedding His blood could that happen. The Word then went on to say that God put every thing that there was of the Godhead in the physical body of Jesus. When we have Jesus, we have every thing we need for salvation. His very name means “salvation”. So, we are finding that the same Jehovah, who was God of the Old Testament, is still the God of the New Testament. V. HOW MANY GODS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT? “I and my father are one” (John 10:30). “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:5,6). “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:2). All of the above scriptures refer to only one God. There can only be one first, and one last. John only saw one God sitting on the throne of heaven. So why is there so much confusion about the idea of a trinity of persons in the Godhead? Let’s look at a verse of Scripture for the answer. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). This verse is the foundation of trinity teaching. It would appear to refer to God as consisting of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So let’s look at the command and how it was obeyed. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:28). It would seem, at first glance, that Peter misunderstood what Jesus told the disciples to do. But, look at Jesus’ command to baptize. He said to baptize in a name (singular). So what is the name of the Father, and the Holy Ghost? (We already know that the name of the Son is Jesus). “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” (Isaiah 9:6). “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not” (John 5:43). “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you , and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:8,9). Since Jehovah is one of the Father’s names, and Jesus came in that name (Jehovah is salvation), the Father’s name must be Jesus. Since Isaiah said that the Son who would be given, would be called “The everlasting Father”, Jesus must be the Father, for surely He is the Son that was given. Jesus told Philip that He was the Father. We can easily determine that the name of the Father is Jesus. But, what is the name of the Holy Ghost? “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:17,18). “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). “Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (II Corinthians 3:17). “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” (Colossians 1:27). “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (I Peter 1:11). Can there be any doubt that the Spirit that dwells in us, which we call the Holy Ghost, is Jesus. He said He would come to us. It says it is Christ in us. Jesus is that Spirit. In II Peter 1:21,22 it says that the Old Testament writers were moved by the Holy Ghost, yet, the Bible says that it was the Spirit of Christ. So, we know that the name of the Holy Ghost is Jesus. All the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus. One God, manifested in three offices. He was the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in habitation. VI. THE DUAL NATURE OF JESUS Many people have a hard time accepting the Oneness of God because they cannot understand the dual nature of Jesus. They say, “If there are not at least two persons, who was Jesus talking to when he prayed in the garden?” You will hear many similar questions, but they can all be answered by understanding the dual nature of Jesus. Jesus was both man and God in one body. The part of Jesus that was flesh would get hungry, thirsty, and cold, and would have to pray for divine strength. The part that was God was the Bread of Life, the Living Waters, and the One who answers prayers. Was Jesus talking to Himself? No, the flesh was talking to the Spirit, the man to God. Look at the statements of Jesus in the Gospels to prove this to yourself. When Jesus said “I thirst” who was talking? The man. When He said, “Before Abraham was, I am” God was talking. The hardest thing to conceive is not that God is One, but how He made a physical body to dwell in that was fully man and fully God. God made a man so perfect that He would be able to die for our sins. Because God was the Father of the man, Jesus, Jesus had undefiled blood. We get our blood type from our father, so Jesus blood was untouched by the sin of Adam. As a man, His Father was God. Being the Spirit of the Everlasting God, He was the Father. VII. CONCLUSION Without understanding the Oneness of God, it is hard to understand our salvation. We are baptized into the name of the one God, (Jesus) both in water and Spirit. If we didn’t know that God’s revealed name is Jesus, we wouldn’t understand why we obey, without fail, the command of Acts 2:38. “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). What a privilege to know who Jesus is, and that He is the One True God! For an even fuller understanding on the doctrine of the Oneness of God, we recommend that you read Bro. David Bernard’s outstanding book “The ONENESS of God” which from pentecostalpublishing.com. God bless you in your search to know Him in a greater way. March 11 People We Need The Lord and It's His will we prosperPeople Need The Lord
Words and Music by Phill McHung and Greg Nelson 1987 Everyday they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes. Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where. On they go through private pain, living fear to fear, Laughter hides their silent cries, only Jesus hears. People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord. When will we realize...people need the Lord? We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right. What would be too great a cost for sharing life with one who's lost. Thorough His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear. They must hear the words of life only we can share. That we must give our lives for People need the Lord, people need the Lord. I love this little song and it's so true...Saints as I read this I thought, "this is about sinners." maybe the backsliders and I wonder how many saints are truely leaning on Jesus and not our own understanding. It's God's will for us to prosper. But what exactly does that mean? that means in all we go to do Jesus wants us to prosper, especially the saints. Remember he came to seek and save all souls, but also the word tells us to cast our every care on Jesus, for he careth for you. That tells me Jesus wants to know all about our life, not just the needs, but to me I think it means praying seeking Jesus in all we go to do. For if the lord cannot prosper us in what we do, if the Lord cannot help us find favor in man's eyes, then who will? If God be for us, who can be against us? I believe it's the will of the Lord for us to seek his kingdom and his righteousness as he said in his word he would add all these things to us. All that we need can be found in Jesus. In the world, it's a matter of who you know to prosper and get by and to climb that social ladder. But my friends I tell you Jesus is all a person needs at all to prosper in this life. He even recorded how he prospered the faithful saints in his body because of their faithfulness. If not for David, paul, abraham and many others God would have destroyed mankind, but because of their obedience and trust they put in Jesus, he prospered them and not only them as he said in Acts 2:38, he promised the faithful the same holy ghost and their children and many as are afar off. See even our children and the prophets of olds children prospered when they surrendered their whole hearts, bodies, minds and souls to Jesus....so can we saints. Sinners, backsliders Jesus loves you, not the sin but loves your souls and wants to prosper you. Jesus even said his was his good pleasure to give us the kingdom, thats the main thing to obey Acts 2:38 and prosper and have the holy ghost first, then we keep seeking Jesus, put off the old man, put off all the doubt and fears, etc as Jesus leads us, quit trying to justify ourselves and just humble ourselves and submit ourselves to Jesus and the devil will have to flee, the old man will have to stayed buried and we will find propserity in Christ Jesus in all we do as we follow his leadance and guidance as the holy ghost leads and guides us to all truth. There is no better way than God's way. The world finds it's own way, but God's way is so much better.
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Jesus wants us to prosper even in our everyday life I believe, even in what may seem like the little things Jesus wants to manifest and prosper his people, to make known his presence and power and his glory in our lives and to draw others to him. But Jesus also said if ye love the world, the love of God is not in you. If we love the things of the world and that's what we seek, that's what we will end up with saints, sinners, & backsliders. But we don't have to, because Jesus has a kingdom, not just to dwell within us and that he wants to lead and guide us to all truth, but he wants us to prosper in all things. He wants to make known and manifest his presence in our lives and in our hearts. Jesus wants the love of God to manifest from us and wants us to be alight to the world of darkness.
I Just keep Trusting The Lord...Just Keep Trusting The Lord I just keep trusting my Lord as I walk along I just keep trusting my Lord and He gave a song Tho the storm clouds darken the sky o'er heavenly trail I just keep trusting my Lord He will never fail He's a faithful Friend Such a faithful Friend I can count on Him to the very end Tho the storm clouds darken the sky o'er heav'nly trail I just keep trusting my Lord He will never fail. ***********************************
Proverbs 3
March 07 He Touched MeThis comes from another Group I am in from
an apostolic sister..Just wanted to share..GBU
sister Mattie
He Touched Me
Words by William J. Gaither 1963 Shackled by a heavy burden, 'Neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the Hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same. Refrain He touched me, Oh, He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Since I met the Blessed Saviour, Since He cleansed and made me whole, I will never cease to Praise Him! I'll shout it while eternity rolls. Refrain He touched me, Oh, He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. (repeat the refrain 2 times) Scripture Mk 5:25 (KJV) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? Message Touch but His Clothes I love the above passage of scripture as it gives each of us so much hope .This woman had seen many doctors and spent all of her money after suffering for 12 long years . Many of us here today have suffered for a very long time myself included so here are a few thoughts the Lord has laid on my heart and I pray they will encourge all of us today . The Gospels often speak of the sick touching Jesus or of Jesus touching the sick. It was the contact and presence of Jesus that mattered. His touch has healing power because He sympathized with our infirmities and is the source of life and grace. Our responsibility in seeking is to draw near to Jesus and to abide in His presence. We require faith to do this and the woman in our scripture today had that kind of faith. Oh if we too could just reach out and touch the hem of Jesus garment and be made whole ,if we could have the kind of faith she had . I often ask myself do I have that kind of faith ? WHAT IS FAITH Faith....nothing shall be impossible . Jesus often comments on the nature of true faith. He speaks of faith that can move mountains, cause miracles and healing , and accomplish great things for God. Just what is this faith that Jesus speaks of . 1) True faith is an effective faith that produces results: "it shall remove" mountians. 2) True faith is not a belief in "faith" as a force or power, but it is a :"a faith in God" 3) True faith is a work of God within the Christian's heart. It involves an awareness divinely imparted to our hearts that our prayers are answered. It is created within us by the Holy Spirit: we canot produce it in our own minds 4) Furthermore , true faith is under God's control. Faith is given on the basis of His love, wisdom, grace, and kingdom purpose in order to accomplish the will of God and to express His love for us. It is not used for our own selfish purposes. Throughout redemptive history, believers placed their trust in God when it seemed as if all was lost in such times God gave the necessary faith and delivered His people according to His will and purpose. Jesus is the same today as he was yesterday and He never changes so that means that you an I can reach out to Him in our times of illness, discouragment ,and trials and Jesus will meet our needs perhaps not our wants but our needs according to His will if we only Believe. Let us all reach out to Jesus today and touch Him for He is here waiting to reach out to us . May Jesus bless you each one this day and may His healing virtue flow to each of you and make you every bit whole. Sister Phyllis Prayer Lord Jesus help us each one to be faithful to You in serving You in the callings You have placed upon our lives . Lord some of us are ill and facing trials and persecution as well but You will equip us to be able to serve You even in the midst of illness and trials . Lord give us the faith, courage, strength , committment, to obey You no matter what we face. Lord touch each one who read this little service today and bless them and if they are ill let healing flow , if they are facing persecution help them to be strong and lean on You .Thank You Lord for being here for us always and answering our prayers and we praise You and worship You and give You all the glory and praise. Meet every need Lord in Your Holy Precious name Jesus. Amen Closing Hymn Learning to Lean Words by John Stallings Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.<WBR>" Chorus I'm learning to lean, learning to lean, Learning to lean on Jesus. Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed, I'm learning to lean on Jesus. The joy I can't explain fills my heart, Since the day I made Jesus my King; His blessed Holy Spirit is leading my way, He's teaching and I'm learning to lean. Chorus I'm learning to lean, learning to lean, Learning to lean on Jesus. Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed, I'm learning to lean on Jesus. There's glorious vict'ry each day now for me, Since I found His peace so serene; He helps me with each task, if only I'll ask; Ev'ry day now I'm learning to lean. Chorus I'm learning to lean, learning to lean, Learning to lean on Jesus. Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed, I'm learning to lean on Jesus. God bless Don't you remember the first time Jesus touched you? Cast Down?I sit here tonight or today should I say since it's 1:15 am and ponder.
I am thinking on why David spake to himself many times trying
to encourage himself. I find myself here searching psalms for
to find encouragement and I expect to find it here. I have been
fighting discouragement lately. I am fighting needless to say. I don't
go by feelings and if I did it wouldnt' be doing what God wants, but
I know that I go by faith and do all that I know to do and I am trying to
be still and wait on the lord in some things. I want to share these scriptures
with you and I pray they bless you too in Jesus Name Sister Mattie
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Today I feel in my flesh like giving up, not to say that's what I am going to
do for I know I Cannot, but the devil would love to tickle my feelings and
make me give up before Jesus comes along with my victory. I know
what it means when they say there is a storm before the rainbow, Sorrow
before Joy, and growing pains, etc. tonight I am fighting and my soul is sore
vexed and the devils using all he can to discourage me, but I claim my victory
in Jesus name. I have victory in Jesus. I Know that Jesus is fighting my battle.
I know that I will come through. See the devil will jump on our feelings and
make us feel like throwing our hands up. Each of us has our own battles.
I know mine are no harder than yours, but I desire your prayers for me.
I have come through some hard times and I know by faith in Jesus is what
brought me through. I know that in myself I cannot do anything but I can
and will do all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens me, not
by what I feel, for the just shall live by faith, not feelings.
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Jesus the almighty God, Emmanuel, Johovah, My savior and king, God himself made
himself a fleshly body and came to this earth and lived and died for me, taking the
keys of death, hell and the grave. God himself, Jesus Christ in the flesh,
left his glory and came to earth, fought the devil and won every battle that
I go through. He bowed the heavens. He didn't have to, but because of
the Love of God unlike the worldly love, God himself made himself a
body in the womb of a virgin and came to this earth, lived, died and gave his life
willingly so that I might have victory in this life and he put satan under our feet saints.
Therefore we have power if we have the holy ghost to rebuke satan in the name of Jesus.
I cannot rebuke him in my name, for my name is nothing, but at the name of Jesus, everything and everyone in heaven and in earth will bow, even satan, the defeated foe.
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Gods people are gonna be tried as by fire, but it's through that fire we look
to Jesus no matter where the heat comes from, no matter what we are facing,
no matter what person, what flesh, what devil comes against us, it's through
Jesus where the power lies, and where our strength comes from and where
our victory is. Sometimes we are surrounded by darkness, by discouragement,
by fire, but Jesus is in the midst saints and he's made a way of escape for us.
Thats what I rely on is God's word. For Jesus won't lie to us. He is a faithful God
and he's true and never changes. Isn't that wonderful Jesus never changes.
People in their flesh are moody and they change toward us, but Jesus told us not to lean on the arm of flesh, our flesh or whether it's someone else's flesh.
God will prove himself true and will bring us through even when it seems everything and everyone is against us. As his word says If God be for us, who can
be against us? Nothing for we are made more than conquerors through Jesus.
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mankind looks on us sometimes with eyes that are not spiritual. But Jesus looks on
the heart, something mankind cannot always see. He knows the inner most being of
me and you. Jesus knows our hearts intent and he will keep our souls and deliver us
saints through the fire, through the flood and through the hardest trials, when we
put our trust in Jesus, not in mankind, but in Jesus alone.
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When we are being still and waiting on Jesus, seeking him, he is our help, our strength,
and he will be our shield and bring us through. No matter the situation.
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If we have the holy ghost, we are redeemed, and if we endure til the end and seek Jesus
alone, he will keep us, save us and give us victory and we won't and don't have to
live in this life without Jesus....
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February 10 Now now in Christ Jesus
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| For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
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| Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
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| And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
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| And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
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| For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
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| Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
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| And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
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| In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
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| In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
| ************************************************************** But now we who were afar off, that were so miserable, so unloved, so burdened down, never knowing what each minute of our lives would hold, not trusting anyone, not caring, worrying all the time, who have been born of water and of the Spirit, read and obeyed Acts 2:38 and are continuing in God's word, we have been brought nigh to Jesus Christ, the almighty God himself. We really don't have to worry, but we do when we get in the flesh. We need to learn to give things to Jesus and each trial is a lesson for you and me and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose. Saints if we are seeking Jesus and doing all we know to do, even if its just standing sometimes and holding on by a thin thread it seems, Jesus is there, he's got things in our lives all worked out. He just wants us to draw nigh to him, seek his kingdom and his righteousness, to read his word daily and let him lead and guide us. The word of God says He cares about the little sparrows, not just the sparrows but all the animals. Jesus feeds them even in the harshest of weather he takes care of them and how much more he cares and loves you and I, we have to only believe by walking faith and trust him and lean not to our own understanding but trusting Jesus that he knows whats best and nothing will happen to us but what Jesus makes a way of escape and when we get out of the way, God's ways is so much better than ours. WHen he tells us to wait upon the lord, that's just what he means. It's not like when we were out in the world and didn't know what would be for us from day to day, but now we are much closer to Jesus because of his blood, because of the sacrifice he made for us at calvary, we have victory and we need to only believe, receive and act like Jesus is our Lord instead of moping around and worrying about the things in our lives....Bible says submit OURSELVES unto God draw nigh unto him and resist the devil and he will fllee from us. The devil cannot stand with his doubt and fear where Jesus is, where faith is, and where the holy ghost is having his way....GBU and lets press toward the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ, our God and savior today and leave things in his hands and trust him and lean on him and not our own understanding. We dont' know what today holds but if we know the one who holds today, we don't have to worry about today, just live and walk in the spirit and trust Jesus. He knows just what to do about every situation in our lives. It's not easy for me to say this, I am standing by faith in Jesus on some things, some things that look impossible and some needs, not wants but needs we have to get met, but I am standing on Jesus that solid rock, who's never left me, neither will he forsake and his time is not my time, but he'll be right on time. I got faith enough to know when I dont' know what to do, Jesus takes over and makes a way where there seemeth no way. So hold on to Jesus today and know no matter what you're facing, unlike when we were out in the world, we are not facing things alone, but Jesus is there in the midst and he's in control and it'll come in his time...When Jesus speaks peace be still, remember even the devil has to shut up. GBU and may you find encouragement and strength today to face your trials and strength to go through for the joy of the Lord is our strength saints, Sinners and backsliders this same Jesus will do for you what he's done for us and is doing and will do for the saints. In Jesus Name...Sister Mattie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| James 4 |
| 1 | From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? |
| 2 | Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. |
| 3 | Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. |
| 4 | Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. |
| 5 | Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? |
| 6 | But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. |
| 7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |
| 8 | Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. |
| 9 | Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. |
| 10 | Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. |
| 11 | Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. |
| 12 | There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? |
| 13 | Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: |
| 14 | Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. |
| 15 | For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. |
| 16 | But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. |
| 17 | Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. |
1CO 8:6But to us there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
|
Victory Over Flustration part 5 of 5
Victory over Frustration (5)
Jesus made the way of escape for each of us. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism Ephesians 4:5. God said he
was Lord and he changes not in Malachi 3:6. In Acts 2:36 it says Jesus was made both Lord and Christ. If Jesus is Lord then that means God was Jesus manifest in the flesh, the almighty. For His word says ONE LORD. KNow ye not?
If the word has convinced you then praise the Lord if the word cannot convince you of truth, then I pray Jesus keeps
dealing with each soul that reads this so that you can become an overcomer and join those in spirit and in truth serving Jesus the almighty God. For his word bears out this word...
We seek JEsus and his way, his will, and let him lead and guide us to all truth, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
We Can make it saints if we choose and go God's way and let him have his way in our hearts, bodies, minds and souls. We are all lost and sinful souls before JEsus. But when we receive that gift of the holy ghost, that's GOd himself, the almighty, JEsus christ living and dwelling within us. We receive that when we read and obey Acts 2:38, but then we have lots of putting off of flesh and our will and our way and lots of JEsus to put on. For we must bear the fruits of his spirit.
We must bear the very image of JEsus when we stand before him that he sees nothing but his express image when he looks at us and it's possible to be perfected here on earth. The world says nobody's perfect. But JEsus said he's coming back after a perfect church in Ephesians 5, without spot, without wrinkle. Saints that means without SIN. No sin will enter in. We won't drop sin off on the way up to JEsus.
We better get busy laying it aside here before we die. Jesus made the way and it's up to us. He was the perfect sacrifice, making a way that we could become the perfect sons of GOd IF WE receive and believe and apply his word of truth to our lives DAILY. Not just the things we like, but the whole truth. Jesus wants to lead you and I into the whole truth. He wants to help you and me lay aside everything thats not pleasing to Him, and help us take on his express image. He's went before us, goes with us, and he's our rearreward. And we're without excuse when we stand before him if we don't stay prayed up, fasted up and ready to meet him sinless when we stand before His judgement seat. JEsus is merciful. If he cast out one of his once faithful angels, Lucifer for disobedience, what makes us any better? God is no respector of persons, what it takes for one, it takes for all.
But praise Jesus for victory over the world and for making a way for each of us one day, when there was no hope and no way possible. He made it possible for us all because he loves our soul. JEsus hates sin but he loved the souls of mankind so much he went to a cross and died one day and was resurrected with power for us to become the sons of God and be saved. What's coming between us and our Savior?
Let's be about the father's business. For JEsus is a soon coming king and he's coming back for a church like a bride and bridegroom that hath prepared ourselves and made ourselves ready, with no sin within. GBU And I pray you are encouraged with this message.
Jesus gave us victory saints when we received the holy ghost and nothing can seperate us from JEsus but us. But if we choose JEsus and his way, nothing can keep us from heaven for we are more than conquerors not in ourselves but through Christ Jesus which strengthens us IN Jesus name...
Mattie
Dealing with flustration part 4 of 5
Dealing with Frustration part (4) of 5
Let me assure you I have complete trust and faith Jesus is and will deliver me.
He's helping me daily when It rises up. I am learning in order to get anything from JEsus I must repent and lean on Jesus for his strength and his help. Jesus is the answer saints to whatever we may be fighting to whatever's standing between us and eternity. THere is no other we can depend on.
I have learned and JEsus has proven he is true. He's the one thing in my life that's real, that will help me in time of trouble and will forgive me if I repent and am faithful to ask his help. I know that groaning within is eagerness to see the works of Jesus. To see the blind see, lame walk, arms and legs created, to see the works of JEsus and greater works come forth from each of us. It's a daily walk with Jesus.
We must search our hearts daily, seek Jesus and let him help us clean our house out of all the flesh. I am learning to lean, but I am laboring in the process. I have to do my part or I have no right to ask JEsus. He's not gonna just take that flustration away, though he gives me the strength to overcome it, he done that at calvary. But I have to work, labor, repent and lay it aside. And the devil don't like it but when JEsus is finished with me, it will be complete. Not just a little bit but a complete work cause JEsus only does a complete work in all he does.
Jesus said his yay was yay and his nay was nay. The lord spoke to me awhile back and told me he was gonna help me clean house. I was praying for the natural and my spiritual house. I was and am saying "IT's ME OH LOrD, STANDING IN THE NEED OF HELP." ANd the lord spoke and told me he was gonna help me. He has in the natural and saints I can tell you he is in the spirit. I cannot feel things sometimes and What I Think, feel, or what things look like sometimes even doesn't matter, because I know it's a faith walk. Faith In Jesus to believe that he will do what he says he will. JEsus talks to his own. He said his sheep would know his voice.
We may walk through valleys and sometimes the devil even jump on our feelings and try to lead us astry, or put things in our minds, even put things before us and make them look so much worse than they are, but Saints, God's people live and walk in the spirit, not by feelings, not by what we see or think, or even what things look like, but by faith in our GOd to do what he said he would, IF WE are faithful to obey his small still voice and hold on even when Jesus seems far off, in those times we are in a royal battle with satan if we just hold to the word of GOd he will bring us through. Through the fire, through the flood, through all the trials and through all we go through.
We just have to trust JEsus and lean on him and his understanding and not our flesh or others flesh.
Just as Caleb claimed his mountain i have victory over this and I claim it in Jesus name...It's as big as caleb's mountain was to him. Before I came to Jesus I had served satan well. But now I don't belong to Satan anymore and the word of God tells us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. So now it's up to me to put on Jesus daily and let him lead and guide me and show me what to kill out daily and in his strength and that holy ghost power I find I am delivered in the name of Jesus. It's a day to day process. I must pray, fast, repent, and seek the Lord and let go and let him help me with this and the other things he shows me I do and have that are not pleasing to him. It's time to put off the old man and let Jesus have his way and let him manifest to those around about me so that he can prove his word through me. See til I conquer things In this flesh I cannot preach to others. But Jesus bought and paid for us heart, body, mind & Soul and he wants full control. He wants to control every part of us. That means we stop sinning as Jesus leads us out of the sins of spiritual egypt and into that spiritual Jerusalem which John saw come down out of heaven. We are that spiritual Jerusalem when we read, obey, and accept that same key to God's kingdom given to Peter that he preached on the day of pentecost. Then we become overcomers and under the devils foot, but we put him behind us and his ways behind and all the things the devil taught us to do, we must let go and let Jesus show us how he wants things done and do the Lord's way...For there is no other way to conquer the flesh but through the power of the Holy Ghost....through Jesus Christ the almighty God living and dwelling and controlling us from within and manifesting through us....
Victory Over Flustration part 3 of 5
Victory over Frustration (3)
Saints since the beginning of creation JEsus himself put a yearning in each soul. A Desire to be loved, a desire to be wanted, a desire to seek til we find complete satisfaction. Only complete satisfaction is found in Jesus. God designed us that way. He done it I believe so that we would seek him with all our heart, body, mind and soul and serve him that way too.
You know mankind as a whole is never satisfied, except when we surrender to Jesus with everything we have. When we give JEsus all, we are satisfied completely. I find myself searching my own heart. Let me point at me. There is some things I am seeking the Lord for help with, things I have had for years. One thing is flustration. I get flustrated pretty easy with situations, with people, with things in general and when I do, my attitude is not so good. That the lord is working on with me. Jesus won't take it away, but it's something of my flesh I have to kill out daily.
I yearn for the completeness in this, to see myself completely rid of flustration, but it's gonna take lots of praying, lots of seeking Jesus and some fasting to put it away. It's part of my flesh and I believe it's not pleasing to Jesus. I have a desire to be with Jesus, to live forever in heaven, to be satisfied completely, but God's word tells me to lay aside every little weight and sin that often besets me and run this race with patience.
Tonight was another at work where my patience were tried hard. I can see where the lord's been working on me and gave me more patience than I had before, But something within is groaning, praying, seeking JEsus for the day when I am completely free from flustration. I know it's gonna rise up but it's up to me to kill out this while JEsus is dealing with me, cause if he's dealing with me, and he is, then he's went before me and given me strength over this.
Are you fighting things with your flesh, things you are praying, fasting, seeking and desiring Jesus to set you free from? JEsus said, "They that wait upon the lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
But See there's some seeking and praying I have to do and laying aside of this flustration and it's not easy believe me. It's not the only thing GOd's dealing with me about, but it's one thing he's helping me with right now. I yearn from within, there is a groaning in me to let go and be free from this so that I won't yield to it. But there is a daily laying aside and repenting I have to do til Jesus sets me free from it. It's a daily thing I must repent and kill out and wait on JEsus to deliver me from, just one of many things.
The battle's not ours. But just as David Gave all to God when he went out to fight the giant, we all have our own giants within ourselves to fight and conquer. Jesus won't send us out to fight something he hasn't prepared us for. We must have the holy ghost. Jesus told us to be holy for I am holy, be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. These are commandments. The world says oh you have to sin, you are not perfect. No we better not. Jesus talked a lot about sin. He said in one place we have an advocate with the father when we sin. We better repent and keep all under the blood.
| RO 11:16 | For if the firstfruit be HOLY, the lump is also HOLY: and if the root be HOLY, so are the branches. |
| RO 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. |
| RO 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the HOLY Ghost. |
|
I Cor6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the HOLY Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
|
| EPH 5:27 | That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY and without blemish. |
| COL 1:22 | In the body of his flesh through death, to present you HOLY and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: |
| 2TI 1:9 | Who hath saved us, and called us with an HOLY calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began *, |
| TIT 1:8 | But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, HOLY, temperate; |
| 1PE 1:15 | But as he which hath called you is HOLY, so be ye HOLY in all manner of conversation; |
| 1PE 1:16 | Because it is written, Be ye HOLY; for I am HOLY. |
| 1PE 2:9 | But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an HOLY nation, a peculiar * * people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: |
|
|
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
|
| 2PE 3:11 | Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all HOLY conversation and godliness, |
| RE 4:8 | And the four beasts had each of them * * six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not * day and night, saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God Almighty, which was (5713) , and is (5752) , and is to come (5740). |
| RE 22:11 | He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is HOLY, let him be HOLY still. |
| RE 22:19 |
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.
Well now if the word of God hasn't convinced you and me, then we cannot be convinced. God's word of truth has gone forth, but how many are willing to swallow the truth and be ye truely holy as God is, was, and will be to come? We have a long way to go and Jesus is coming soon, coming back after a church as a bride that has prepared and adorned herself with Jesus within and without and who are willing to surrender 100% to Jesus and let him rule this earthly tabernacle, heart, body, mind and soul and let Jesus rule......When we get willing to let go and let God have his way, then there's where the complete peace and satisfaction come in... |
Victory Over Flustration part 3 of 5
Victory over Frustration (3)
Saints since the beginning of creation JEsus himself put a yearning in each soul. A Desire to be loved, a desire to be wanted, a desire to seek til we find complete satisfaction. Only complete satisfaction is found in Jesus. God designed us that way. He done it I believe so that we would seek him with all our heart, body, mind and soul and serve him that way too.
You know mankind as a whole is never satisfied, except when we surrender to Jesus with everything we have. When we give JEsus all, we are satisfied completely. I find myself searching my own heart. Let me point at me. There is some things I am seeking the Lord for help with, things I have had for years. One thing is flustration. I get flustrated pretty easy with situations, with people, with things in general and when I do, my attitude is not so good. That the lord is working on with me. Jesus won't take it away, but it's something of my flesh I have to kill out daily.
I yearn for the completeness in this, to see myself completely rid of flustration, but it's gonna take lots of praying, lots of seeking Jesus and some fasting to put it away. It's part of my flesh and I believe it's not pleasing to Jesus. I have a desire to be with Jesus, to live forever in heaven, to be satisfied completely, but God's word tells me to lay aside every little weight and sin that often besets me and run this race with patience.
Tonight was another at work where my patience were tried hard. I can see where the lord's been working on me and gave me more patience than I had before, But something within is groaning, praying, seeking JEsus for the day when I am completely free from flustration. I know it's gonna rise up but it's up to me to kill out this while JEsus is dealing with me, cause if he's dealing with me, and he is, then he's went before me and given me strength over this.
Are you fighting things with your flesh, things you are praying, fasting, seeking and desiring Jesus to set you free from? JEsus said, "They that wait upon the lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
But See there's some seeking and praying I have to do and laying aside of this flustration and it's not easy believe me. It's not the only thing GOd's dealing with me about, but it's one thing he's helping me with right now. I yearn from within, there is a groaning in me to let go and be free from this so that I won't yield to it. But there is a daily laying aside and repenting I have to do til Jesus sets me free from it. It's a daily thing I must repent and kill out and wait on JEsus to deliver me from, just one of many things.
The battle's not ours. But just as David Gave all to God when he went out to fight the giant, we all have our own giants within ourselves to fight and conquer. Jesus won't send us out to fight something he hasn't prepared us for. We must have the holy ghost. Jesus told us to be holy for I am holy, be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. These are commandments. The world says oh you have to sin, you are not perfect. No we better not. Jesus talked a lot about sin. He said in one place we have an advocate with the father when we sin. We better repent and keep all under the blood.
| RO 11:16 | For if the firstfruit be HOLY, the lump is also HOLY: and if the root be HOLY, so are the branches. |
| RO 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. |
| RO 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the HOLY Ghost. |
|
I Cor6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the HOLY Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
|
| EPH 5:27 | That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY and without blemish. |
| COL 1:22 | In the body of his flesh through death, to present you HOLY and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: |
| 2TI 1:9 | Who hath saved us, and called us with an HOLY calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began *, |
| TIT 1:8 | But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, HOLY, temperate; |
| 1PE 1:15 | But as he which hath called you is HOLY, so be ye HOLY in all manner of conversation; |
| 1PE 1:16 | Because it is written, Be ye HOLY; for I am HOLY. |
| 1PE 2:9 | But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an HOLY nation, a peculiar * * people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: |
|
|
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
|
| 2PE 3:11 | Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all HOLY conversation and godliness, |
| RE 4:8 | And the four beasts had each of them * * six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not * day and night, saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God Almighty, which was (5713) , and is (5752) , and is to come (5740). |
| RE 22:11 | He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is HOLY, let him be HOLY still. |
| RE 22:19 |
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.
Well now if the word of God hasn't convinced you and me, then we cannot be convinced. God's word of truth has gone forth, but how many are willing to swallow the truth and be ye truely holy as God is, was, and will be to come? We have a long way to go and Jesus is coming soon, coming back after a church as a bride that has prepared and adorned herself with Jesus within and without and who are willing to surrender 100% to Jesus and let him rule this earthly tabernacle, heart, body, mind and soul and let Jesus rule...... |
Victory over flustration Part 2 of 5
Victory over Frustration Part (2) of 5
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus didn't say here that we are predestined here and we can do what we want and call it ok. But what he is saying here is one day God looked down and saw the awful mess mankind had made of what Jesus had given us. He saw that there was so much sin and that there were some hearts seeking to have relief and to find a way of escape and that were willing to serve him if only they could escape the devil and his hold and all the sin. God himself made himself a fleshly body, became the word made flesh and dwelt amongst us and his name is Jesus John 1:1, 14. For he alone could become the perfect sacrifice for mankind's souls because no other was worthy. He became Jesus the son, the flesh man, God clothed in the flesh, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us Matthew 1:20-23, and lived and walked on this earth and conquered the flesh and made a way of escape for us IF WE Believe and receive his truth in Acts 2:38, the only key to heaven, the only plan of salvation and IF WE would get willing to surrender all to Jesus and let go and let him have control. See we can do nothing, nothing at all without Jesus and nothing can seperate us from God himself but Us and our rebellion and unwillingness to accept his truth, his doctrine, and his way according to his word. Nothing comes between our Savior and us, but us. No one can stop us from serving Jesus, nothing can hinder us, nothing can keep us from Jesus but us. If we only could become persuaded and hold to God's one true doctrine, and live God's word in spirit and in truth. We are all God's creation too, but only when we are born of water and of the spirit, that means surrendering completely and truely from the inner most part of our hearts repent of all our sin, not just the ones everyone sees, because nothing is hid, and it's sure not hid from God, not even the part of us that likes and holds on to the world. Then after repenting we must be baptized every one of us in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, going down in the name of Jesus, for the bible says, There is NO OTHER NAME (Jesus) under heaven given among men whereby we might be saved Acts 4:12. Jesus is the only name that saves us because it's God's name and his command that all we do in word and in deed be done in the name of Jesus Christ Colossians 3:17. EVERYTHING. Then we will receive that holy ghost and power to overcome when we receive that same holy ghost they received in Acts 2, when God poured out his one spirit, Ephesians 4:5, and not only us but it's promised to our children and as many as are afar off, Acts 2:39, right on down to today....to every man, woman, & child who believes and receives God's truth and becomes the true sons of God. Then we have that same power as they had in days of old. That same power that gave every one in God's word power to overcome. Jesus said, Be of good cheer for I have overcome. He overcame everything in this life, took the keys of death, hell, and the grave and gave us a way of escape, gave us victory over our flesh, over satan, over man, over everything in this life that seperates us from the love of God. He gave us power to overcome every flustration, over every sin, over EVERY THING in this life if we choose Jesus and his way. There's nothing hid and nothing that God won't do if WE get willing to let go and let him have our hearts, bodies, minds and souls. And Jesus must control it all, not part, but 100% if we are to make it into heaven.
Victory Over Flustration part 1 of 5
Victory over frustration Part 1 of 5
KJV Romans 8:22-39.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We need to understand that there is nothing impossible with God. When we put things such as flustration, aggrivation, and people who do
these things to us, In God's Hands, then He takes care of it. Sometimes we must fast and pray to get the strength to overcome these things. I remember writing this one night after a battle at work. I was so flustrated, and Jesus gave me these scriptures and I want to share them with you. I know I am not the only one who gets flustrated, but I can tell you this Jesus is the only answer to anything we are trying to overcome and he's the only one who can take what look's impossible to us, and make it possible. Our walk with Jesus is by faith, not by sight, not by what we are when we begin to pray, not what we feel, what we think, what things may appear to be, but BY FAITH in Jesus trusting him, leaning on him, and praying and putting these things in his hands by repenting and being truely sorry for yielding to them. That's how we holy ghost filled overcome is through the power of Jesus Christ, not in our strength, our feelings, our thoughts, our ways, but in Jesus the almighty God....Who gives us power after that we receive the holy ghost, Acts 1:8. That same holy ghost Jesus poured out on the day of pentecost to the 120 in the upper room. We have the same access by the same spirit, Ephesians 4:4- One body, one spirit, to the heavenly things we need to conquer our flesh from day to day and to lay aside all that we must lay aside in the name of Jesus Christ. For we know the word says no flesh and blood will enter heaven, and if Jesus is not living within us beneath that flesh, we won't enter in either. We must obey Acts 2:38 and live God's word, daily killing out us, our flesh and by not yeilding ourselves to temptations in our paths, but by faith overcoming through that power of the Holy Ghost, which is Jesus the almighty God living within, controlling, dealing, pricking our hearts and seeking daily to lead us to higher heights and deeper depths in him. There is always more to put off of us and more of Jesus to put on. But as Jesus said in his word, if we love the world, the love of God is not in us...found in I JOHN
15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18
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.
9 Misconceptions of Christianity
9 Misconceptions of Christianity
Ten misconceptions that has made Christianity weak. These conceptions were introduced in the church by the Catholic church in the days when Catholicism and Protestantism did not mix and were considered by Luther to be as different as night and day. Strange thing is todays Christian community have embraced these beliefs of catholicim and called it Christianity!
1. That God is a God of love and because hes a God of love everyone will go to heaven.
2. That 'believing' in God will get you to heaven.
3. That you can have a 'death bed' conversion.
4. That 'all' you have to do to be saved is call on the name of the Lord.
5. That the millennium is where Jesus and God will become one and share a throne.
6. That God will rule the world in the millennium but does the rule the world right now.
7. That the Son became flesh an dwelt among us.
8. That the Antichrist is one man who will rule the world.
9. That Jesus will visit Jerusalem the second time. When in reality they didnt accept him the first time he came and is not the 'New Jerusalem' the church that Jesus really is coming back for, the spiritual New Jerusalem?
Water Baptism According to Bible & Historical References
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Water Baptism |
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according to . . . THE BIBLE and HISTORICAL REFERENCES that relate to doctrines and practices of the Early Church, 33-100 A.D. |
| Compiled by Lewis Manuwal |
| SHOULD YOU BE IMMERSED or SPRINKLED WHEN BAPTIZED?
The LAST MESSAGE preached by Jesus was a COMMAND to BAPTIZE all nations. Matthew 28:19 The FIRST MESSAGE preached by the apostles resulted in a command for EVERYONE to be BAPTIZED. Acts 2:38 BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE. Below are two columns listing the SCRIPTURES for IMMERSION | ||
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IMMERSION |
SPRINKLING | |
| MUCH WATER | " And John also was baptizing in Aenon . . . because there was much water there" John 3:23 | |
| INTO THE WATER | "They went down both into the water, . . . and he baptized him" Acts 8:38 | |
| OUT OF THE WATER | "They were come up out of the water" Acts 8:39 | |
| BURIED | "We are buried with him by baptism" Romans 6:4 | |
| PLANTED | "We have been planted together" Romans 6:5 | |
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Paul said, "If we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel let him be accursed" Galatians 1:8, 9 |
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IMMERSE or SPRINKLE? | |
| BAPTIZO - GREEK | RANTIZO - GREEK |
| Below are writings of eminent Bible scholars and authorities on the subject. Most of these references can be found in your local library. | |
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GREEK |
| Greek-English Lexicon | Baptism taken from Greek word baptizo - to dip, immerse. |
| Classic Greek-English Dictionary, by Pollet | Greek word baptizo means to dip under. |
| Greek-English Dictionary, by Divry's | Greek word baptizo - to immerse. |
| AUTHORITIES |
| Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia | Baptism was always a burial. The command to baptize was a command to immerse. Vol 1, pg 451 |
| Catholic Biblical Encyclopedia | Immersion was oldest method employed. Buried in baptism. Romans 6:4. Pg 61, Paragraph 2. |
| Encyclopedia Dictionary of the Bible | It is evident that the action performed in baptizing was immersion. Page 202 |
| World Book Encyclopedia | The early church practiced immersion or submerging under the water. Volume 2, page 70. |
| Encyclopedia of Lutheran Church | Martin Luther preferred immersion as more true to original practice. Volume 1, Page 188. |
| Pulpit Commentary, by Eminent Scholars | Romans 6:4, "Buried in baptism." The reference is to baptism by immersion. Volume 18, Page 156. |
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LOGIC |
| An important factor is overlooked by the exponents of sprinkling. The original New Testament text and the spoken language of that day was Greek. The authors of the New Testament knew the Greek word "baptizo" meant to immerse. They also knew the Greek word "rantizo" meant to sprinkle. These often used words were never interchangeable, having separate meanings. If God had intended for His ministers to sprinkle, the Greek word "rantizo" would have been employed, not "baptizo."
If sprinkling cannot be found in the Bible, then the practice is a tradition of man, |
INFANT BAPTISM?
| As with sprinkling, the doctrine of infant baptism cannot be found in the New Testament without adding to it. Scriptural logic cries out against infant baptism. The very mode (immersion) makes it illogical and impractical. The teaching surrounding baptism automatically prohibits it. |
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THE BIBLE SPEAKS! |
| MATTHEW 28:19 | Teach all nations, baptizing them" Teaching or preaching must precede baptism. See Acts 2:41. |
| ACTS 8:36-37 | Eunuch, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip, "If Thou believest with all thine heart." Believing is a prerequisite of baptism. See Mark 16:16. |
| ACTS 2:38 | "Repent and be baptized everyone of you." Repentance must precede baptism. See Luke 24:47 |
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DID YOU KNOW? |
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Chambers Encyclopedia. Vol 2, Pg 112 |
The first recipients of baptism were adults. Infant baptism was a later development that led to sprinkling. |
| Interpreters Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1, Pg. 352 | There is no direct evidence in the New Testament for infant baptism |
| Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 1, Pg 138 | The earliest Christian literature makes no reference to baptism of infants |
| History of Church, by Walker, Pgs 87, 88 | The first mention of infant baptism was about 185 A.D. Not universal until 6th Century. |
| Time Magazine, Pg. 58 - May 1968 | That 350 Lutheran pastors of W. Germany wish to abandon infant baptism. Many of these same pastors refused to baptize their own infants. They felt that baptism should be understood first by the recipient. |
| Time Magazine, Pg 58 - May 1968 | That Karl Barth of Switzerland, the best known theologian of 20th Century said, "There is not Biblical basis for infant baptism - this tradition is simply an old error of the church." |
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A child should be old enough to receive teaching, believe, and repent of sin before being baptized. |
BAPTISM -- IS IT IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION?
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1. THE BIBLE SAYS SO! |
| JOHN 3:5 | "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Most Bible commentaries agree that water here refers to baptism.
See, Matthew Henry; Adam Clark; History Christian Church, Walker; Catholic Encyclopedia; Oxford Dictionary of Church; Interpreters Dictionary of Bible; Temples Bible Dictionary. |
| MARK 16:16 | "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Notice how Jesus places baptism in conjunction with salvation. |
| I PETER 3:21 | "Baptism doth also now save us." Also see Acts 10:6, 48 |
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2. IT REMITS SIN |
| HEBREWS 9:22 | The application of the blood of Christ is necessary to remit sin. What then is the Biblical way to receive remission of sin? The answer to this question will also be the way to get the Savior's blood applied. |
| LUKE 24:47 | "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name" (Jesus) |
| ACTS 2:38 | 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . . " The blood of Jesus is applied through water baptism in the name of Jesus. Also see I John 5:8 and Acts 22:16. |
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3. BAPTISM IN THE CHURCH |
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Every New Testament church was formed by those whom were baptized after believing and repenting. | ||
| 1. CHURCH AT JERUSALEM | 3000 WERE BAPTIZED | Acts 2:41 |
| 2. CHURCH AT SAMARIA | Believed & were baptized, men & women. | Acts 8:12-16 |
| 3. CHURCH AT CAESAREA | Peter commanded them to be baptized | Acts 10:48 |
| 4. CHURCH AT PHILLIPPI | Lydia & the Phillippian jailer baptized | Acts 16:14-33 |
| 5. CHURCH AT CORINTH | Believed and were baptized | Acts 18:8 |
| 6. CHURCH AT EPHESUS | Paul rebaptizes certain disciples | Acts 19:1-6 |
| 7. CHURCH AT GALATIA | Believed Paul and baptized into Christ | Gal. 3:27 |
| 8. CHURCH AT COLOSSE | They were buried with Christ in Baptism | Col. 2:12 |
| 9. CHURCH AT ROME | They died to sin, then buried in baptism | Romans 6:1-4 |
Baptism
1. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST
OR
2. IN THE NAME OF JESUS
Which of these were practiced by the
Apostles and the Early Church?
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Below are two columns for listing the scriptures where the Apostles either taught or practiced water baptism |
| IN THE NAME OF JESUS | FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST |
| Jews - "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ" Acts 2:38 | |
| Samaritans - They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 8:16 | |
| Gentiles - "And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" Acts 10:48. Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36) | |
| Peter taught - For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12. | |
| Paul taught - "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" Col. 3:17 |
| Matthew 28:19 was a command by Jesus to baptize in a NAME. The Apostles did not repeat the words of the command, but they did obey it as seen in the scriptures above. Since Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles of the manifestations of the Almighty Spirit and His body, the Apostles understood His SAVING NAME to be JESUS. Can any dare say that the Apostles disobeyed the Lord, or failed to baptize properly? THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST IS JESUS. The actions of the Apostles in the Book of Acts prove this to be true. |
Baptism
IN THE NAME OF JESUS
HOW DID THE EARLY CHURCH INTERPRET CHRIST'S COMMAND IN MATTHEW 28:19?
ACTS 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5 are four Biblical references that answer this question. If the Biblical record is not enough, please examine the findings of the educated scholars and historians.
| Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (1951), II, 384, 389 | "The formula used was 'in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ' or some synonymous phrase." |
| Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (1962), I, 351 | "The evidence . . . suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered not in the threefold name, but 'in the name of Jesus Christ' or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus." |
| Hastings's Dictionary of the Bible (1898), I, 241 | "[One could conclude that] the original form of words was 'into the name of Jesus Christ' or 'the Lord Jesus.'" |
| The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1957), I, 435 | "The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus." |
| Canney's Encyclopedia of Religions (1970), page 53 | "Persons were baptized at first 'in the name of Jesus Christ' . . . or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus.'" |
| IS IT AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY THAT THE NAME OF JESUS BE SPOKEN WHEN A CANDIDATE FOR WATER BAPTISM IS BEING BAPTIZED?
For the answer to this question, please read Acts 15:17 and James 2:7 [Greek Interlinear]. First Century Christians INVOKED OR CALLED the name of Jesus over believers in water baptism. If, as some say, "the name of Jesus means the authority of Jesus", then so much more should the NAME, rather than titles, be called over an individual in baptism. Read Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Colossians 2:9. Jude 3 is an exhortation to "CONTEND FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS." See Galatians 1:8-9 also. Should anyone dare to change what CHRIST and the Apostles established? |
Don't Believe It!
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Don't Believe It! Five misleading teachings about speaking in tongues |
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Concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. |
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1 FALSE TRUE |
| THE HOLY GHOST FOR ALL
The Holy Ghost is for all who obey the plan of God for salvation. Acts 5:32, Acts 2:38, 39; John 3:5; For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. (Church) 1 Cor. 12:13 GIFT OF TONGUES-NOT FOR ALL The gifts of the Spirit are divided to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor. 12:11. This means you may receive several gifts, but not necessarily the gift of tongues. ONE AT A TIME-DIVINE ORDER The gift of tongues is scripturally governed. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or the most, by three, and that by course (one at a time) and let one interpret. 1 Cor. 14:27. GOD IS PERFECT God being perfect, could not give us an imperfect example at Pentecost. The 120 received the Holy Ghost & all spoke in tongues at the same time as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4. This was repeated in the tenth chapter of Acts. While Peter was yet preaching, a large group of Gentiles began speaking in tongues. Acts 10:24-27 & 44-48. In Acts 19:1-7, twelve Ephesians spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. These large groups, speaking in tongues at the same time, is proof enough that this speaking in tongues is different from the gift of tongues. Remember, the gift of tongues was to be exercised by one person at a time. 1 Cor 14:27 A LATTER RAIN The baptism of the Holy Ghost is known as the latter rain. Rain does not fall one drop at a time, but is poured out on all at the same time. Acts 2:17. The Bible example is that we will speak in tongues when we receive the Holy Ghost. After receiving the Holy Ghost we are to covet earnestly the best gifts, one of which could be the gift of the tongues. 1 Cor. 12:21. |
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2. FALSE TRUE |
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3. FALSE TRUE Revised standard Vers: Do not forbid speaking in tongues. Living letters: Never say it is wrong to speak in tongues. Phillips Mod. Eng: Not forbidding to speak in tongues. Amplified Bible: Do not hinder speaking in tongues. What further proof should we need that speaking in tongues is not forbidden, but rather encouraged? |
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4. FALSE TRUE
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5. FALSE TRUE |
Isaiah The Oneness Prophet
| Isaiah |
| The Oneness prophet |
| QUESTION | Why was he and all the Jewish prophets oneness? |
| ANSWER | The first and greatest commandment of the law, according to Jesus, demanded it. Mark 12:29 & 30 with Matthew 22: 36-38. |
| WHAT LAW? | Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 Hear, O Israel, the LORD our god is one LORD. They must believe in one god and love him with all their heart, soul and might; their children must be taught this at all times.
Read Scofields Footnotes under Deut. 6: 4-9. These scriptures in Hebrew Liturgy are known as the SH'MAH, (pronounced shemah) |
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Sh'mah |
The Apostles and authors of the New Testament, being Jewish, were taught the SH'MAH from childhood on up. They could not possibly believe in a trinity consisting of three separate and distinct persons. They knew that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy. 3:16 The International Encyclopedia, Vol. 16, pg 221 states that the trinity did not form any part of the apostles' teaching. Emil Brunner, considered the foremost scholar of the twentieth century, said the idea of three separate persons is incredulous. He said that would be Tri-theistic or Three Gods. |
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Holy one |
1. Isaiah. 1:4 - Here Isaiah states that the LORD is the HOLY One of Israel. In the New Testament Jesus is known as the Holy One of Israel. This term is used over fifty times in the bible. Never once was the term Holy Two or Holy Three ever used. Isn't that strange trinitarians? |
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Immanuel - god with us |
2. Isaiah. 7:14 - He says that a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son and his name would be called Immanuel. This was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23. When Christ was born "they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Yes, Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16 |
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mighty god (son) |
3. Isaiah 9:6 - Unto us a child is born and a son is given (Jesus). He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Isaiah saw him as Immanuel, God with us and now as the Mighty God and Everlasting Father. No trinity here |
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one god & one saviour |
4. Isaiah 43: 10 & 11. - Vs 10: Ye are my witnesses saith the LORD, that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: Before me there was no god formed, neither shall there be after me. Vs 11: I, even I, am the LORD and beside me there is no saviour. Yes, Jesus Christ of the New Testament is the LORD Jehovah of the Old Testament. |
STRONGS, 3068 - the Jewish name of God is Jehovah, the LORD. When LORD in the Old Testament is spelled with all capitals it means Jehovah. It occurred 7,000 times. STRONGS, 2962 - Kuros, in Greek - In the New Testament, when Lord is spelled with a capital L, it always means Jehovah. It is used that way 800 times in the New Testament. |
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first and last |
| 5. Isaiah 44: 6 & 8 - Vs 6: I am the first and the last and beside me there is no God. Vs 8: Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any. Trinitarians know more than God. |
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Only one creator |
6. Isaiah 44:24 Jehovah said, I am the LORD that Maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the Earth by Myself. |
| Hear! | Hear! | Hear! |
Col 1:14-17 - for by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in Heaven and Earth. He is before all things and by Him all things exist. What further proof do we need that Christ and God are One? Thank you Isaiah and Paul for further confirmation on the oneness of God Malachi 2:10 agrees with Isaiah that we have only one father and one creator.
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who is equal to god |
7. Isaiah 46:5 - To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? The Answer: Philippians 2:6 - Jesus, who being in the form of God, (like him) thought it not robbery to be equal with God. |
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his holy arm |
8. Isaiah 52: 6 & 10: Vs 6: Isaiah prophesies concerning the day of Christ. In that day they shall know his name. Vs. 10: "the Lord hath made bare his holy arm and they shall see the salvation of our God Isaiah 53:1 - To whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? This entire chapter tells us that the arm of the LORD is Jesus. Read it carefully and prayerfully. |
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The husband's bride |
9. Isaiah 54: 5 - Thy Maker is thine husband: the LORD of hosts is his name, and they Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. The church is now the bride of Christ. What an honor to be the bride of God of the whole earth. His name is Jesus. Are you ready for the marriage supper of the lamb? |
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hated for his name's sake |
10. Isaiah 66:5 - Your brethren that hated you and cast you out for my name's sake. He shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed. Mark 13:13 - Jesus said, "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." Many times we who baptize in Jesus name have been refused fellowship by our Trinitarian brothers and vilified openly. We want them to know that we will always love them. |
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