The vast majority of Christians will go about their normal daily activities today, totally unaware it is an annual 'high day' Sabbath. Dismissed as an Old Testament 'holy day', 99% of professing Christians will neglect their biblical responsibilities and not give a thought about God's opinion on this matter. To give it its' biblical name, this holy day is 'the 7th, or last, day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:4-8). Read all 5 verses in this passage! It falls on the 22nd of the first month (Nisan/Abib) according to the Sacred God gave to His people. Notice, this and the other six holy days listed in Lev. 23 are called 'the feasts of the Lord' (v. 4), not the Jews' feasts or 'the Feasts of Israel'.
NB. God commanded His people to attend a worship meeting on this day and to avoid any 'servile' work during this holy day 'throughout your generations' (v. 21). True disciples of Jesus participated in the Passover ceremony on the night of Thursday, 29th March after sunset. According to the Sacred Hebrew calendar, this was the beginning of the 14th Nisan/Abib, the first month and it was the anniversary of Jesus 'last supper'and His betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane. This 7-day festival began at sunset on Friday, 30th March, the beginning of the 15th Nisan/Abib. This was a Saturday. This annual high day fell on the weekly Sabbath, making it a double Sabbath.
Today, 6th April, is the last of the seven days of the feast of Unleavened Bread during which all true disciples of Jesus are expected to avoid any food with raising agents in it eg. yeast. This is the feast Paul was referring to when he wrote to the mainly gentile church in Corinth (1 Cor. 5:8), 'Therefore, let us keep the feast'. Remember, this was written after the resurrection of Jesus so first century Christians, even gentile believers, were commanded to keep this meaningful festival, the feast of Unleavened Bread. In the Bible, leaven is compared to sin (1 Cor. 5:8; Matt. 16:6, 11; Lk. 12:1) and this festival is meant to remind us of the importance of avoiding/excluding sin from our lives every day. We are commanded to exclude sin from our lives 24/7/365.
Seven is God's number that represents completion eg seven days make up a complete week. This festival is forever meaningful and should not be neglected by anyone who regards him- or herself a true believer in Jesus! Each day begins at sunset and so from sunset, Thursday, 5th April until Friday sunset, 6th April, this day is holy unto the Lord, Jesus Christ. He desires all His followers to attend a sacred assembly with like-minded believers wherever possible. As with the children of Israel in the wilderness, under Moses' leadership, on this day each year, 22nd Nisan/Abib, all God's people today, in the 21st century, are commanded to rest from work and focus on the spiritual aspects of life.
The incorrect interpretation of Col 2:16, 17 does not show the holy days listed in Lev. 23 are no longer to be observed by God's people today. I will elaborate more about this point in a future blog entry. Much in the Bible is misunderstood by the vast majority of professing believers today.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
My Position On Easter
This year 'Easter Sunday' fell on 1st April. However, I, for one, did not be treat it as a special day, even though I am a Bible-believing Christian! Why not? The Bible is silent about keeping any day to remember or celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! (Human reason almost demands that followers of Jesus celebrate the resurrection anyway but we are not at liberty to worship Him as we see fit. God has told us in His Word how He wants us to worship Him! The choice we have is to worship Him as He has commanded or re-write the Bible as we see fit.) Those who introduced 'Easter' to the Church calendar and the other 'special' days of 'Holy Week' added their own ideas to the Bible. They disobeyed Scripture! (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:19 etc.) That is a BIG mistake to make! This is no minor matter! This subject deserves your full attention!
The Bible tells us after Jesus was dead in the tomb for three days and three nights (ie. a period of 72 hours!), (Matt. 12:40), He rose to (eternal) L-I-F-E, not just the temporary physio-chemical existence we call life! There is a BIG difference! After He rose from the dead, Jesus' body changed into spirit. His earthly body disappeared and, as before His birth to the virgin Mary, He had a body composed of spirit, since He was again fully God and 'God is a spirit' (Jn. 4:24). We read He appeared to His disciples by just materializing in their midst in a shut room (Jn. 20:19-26)! Following His resurrection, He was a spirit being capable of becoming flesh and bone at will or if He desired, vanishing at will (Lk. 24:31).
Note, the majority who call themselves Christians think the resurrection itself was the sign that Jesus was the Messiah who was prophesied by the the Old Testament prophets - not so! Jesus Himself said, "An evil and an adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah..." (Matt 16:4; 12:39-40). What did Jesus mean by these words?
Jonah was the OT prophet who tried to run away from his mission of preaching a warning message to the fierce vast city of Nineveh. In the book named after him, Jonah ran away in the opposite direction because he 'knew that (You) are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love...' (Jonah 4:2). Jonah had a 'gut feeling' the people of Nineveh would indeed heed his warning message and repent and avoid the total destruction God had planned for this entire vast city. He was right but 'it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry' (4:1). In fact, Jonah was one of the only OT prophets who succeeded in his mission from God. Why he didn't want to succeed is a very interesting study in human nature. Check out the eye-opening article about Jonah by clicking on his name at the beginning of this paragraph. I'm sure you will find it very interesting and enlightening.
Back to the 'sign of Jonah' Jesus mentioned in Matt. 16:4 and 12:40. Jonah got on a ship sailing away from Nineveh so God punished him by causing him to be thrown overboard by the other people on the ship at his suggestion. God caused a huge sea creature to swallow Jonah and for 'three days and three nights' Jonah was in the belly of this creature until he was vomited up near? Nineveh (Jonah 2:1; 10-3:3). Obviously, Jesus regarded Jonah as a real historical person who was actually in a giant sea creatures' belly for 'three days and three nights'. The sign of Jonah was the length of time he was in 'the belly of the fish'! Jesus said, "Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish" His only sign proving He was the Messiah was that He would spend a similar amount of time in the 'heart of the earth' (ie. the grave) thereby fulfilling the 'sign of Jonah'. It is important to realise the fact of the resurrection itself is not proof of Jesus Messiahship, according to Jesus Himself! If Jesus did not spend three days and three nights in the grave, He must be rejected as the Messiah! It's that serious! Remember, the length of time He would be in the grave would be His only sign! notwithstanding all the other miracles He performed during His public ministry. Jesus did fulfill His sign by rising from the dead as He said (He would) (Matt 28:6; 1 Cor. 15:3-4)! Jesus provided the proof He promised to convince all open-minded seekers of Truth that He was, and is, the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel (eg. Isa. 12:6), very God (the Son/Word) (Jn. 1:1-3,14). So, if Jesus was not crucified on a Friday and did not rise from the dead on a Sunday, what days did He die and rise on? If we accept He was dead in the tomb for a full 72 hours, virtually to the second! which is my belief, we must check the Gospels to see if we can determine when He was laid in the grave following His six hours on Calvary's Cross, ie. from 9am until 3pm (Cp Matt. 27; Mk. 15:25, 33-37; Lk. 23, esp vs 44-46; Jn 19) on Passover Day, 14th Nisan. We read in John 19:31, the day on which Jesus was crucified 'was the day of preparation' for the Sabbath and 'that Sabbath was a high day'. This is very important information indeed! NB. Every year, according to the Sacred calendar, the Passover is followed by an annual 'high day' Sabbath (Lev. 23:5-7). The day following the crucifixion was the first of the seven annual Sabbaths, not just the weekly Sabbath, although sometimes annual 'high day' Sabbaths do fall on the weekly Sabbath. (Such days are called 'double Sabbaths' and are not too uncommon.) So, was the high day Sabbath that followed Jesus' crucifixion a weekly Sabbath or a weekday Sabbath? The vital clue that will help us answer that question can be found in Luke 23:54-56. We read in v. 54, 'It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning' when Jesus body was laid in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid' (v 53). So, Jesus' body was placed in the tomb as the preparation day of the high day Sabbath was drawing to its end as the sun was setting. (Throughout the Bible, a day ends and the next day begins at sunset.) Jesus was buried on the Passover Day and the following day, every year, in the spring, is an annual Sabbath called the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Cp. Lev. 23:4-7; 1 Cor 5:7b-8). In verse 8, Paul was clearly commanding the gentile Christian disciples to 'keep the Feast (of Unleavened Bread). ('Therefore, let us keep the Feast', 1 Cor. 5:8, KJV). Arguing otherwise is to do grave injustice to the inspired text, in my opinion. A careful study of the New Testament verifies all God's annual Sabbaths were observed by the first century disciples that made up the 'Church of God'! (The annual holy-days listed in Lev. 23 are called 'Feasts of the Lord', not 'Feasts of the Jews' or any other such thing! Consider Gal. 3:28-29.)
From Luke 23, we learn Jesus' body was laid in the tomb at the close of the Passover as the sun set. The high day Sabbath began at sunset as soon as Jesus body was placed in the tomb. This was a mid-week Sabbath, not the weekly 'Lord's Day'! We can see this from vs. 55-56. After Jesus' body was placed in the tomb, 'The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how His body was laid (v. 55). 'Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments' (to put on Messiah's body after that high day Sabbath. Of necessity, they must have had to wait until after that Sabbath to buy and prepare the spices and ointments. This may have taken them several hours. Then, 'On the (weekly) Sabbath they rested according to the commandment (v. 56). This of course was the weekly Sabbath, sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, which all Jews kept as it was the 4th of the Ten Commandments God gave to His people, the children of Israel, under Moses in the wilderness, following their miraculous release from Egypt (Ex. 1-19; 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15).
So, we see that Jesus was crucified on the Passover; His body was placed in the new tomb at the close of the Passover as the high day Sabbath following it began at sunset. The day after the annual holy day, the women who were Jesus' faithful companions went out and bought spices and ointments and prepared them to put on Jesus' body to preserve it from decay for as long as possible. The following day was the weekly Sabbath, ie. sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. All righteous Jews' rested on this day also. This shows there were two Sabbaths during the week of Jesus' crucifixion! The following day, 'toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb' (Matt 28:1). By the time they arrived, it was already empty. Verse 5, 'But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. Verse 6, He is not here, for He has risen, as He said".....' So, Jesus was risen before sunrise on Sunday morning ('toward the dawn', v. 1) or 'on the first day of the week, at early dawn..., Lk. 24:1) or 'on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb' (Jn. 20:1). Jesus had been resurrected before sunrise on Sunday morning. So, now we can see that Jesus did indeed spend 72 hours in His tomb. The Passover must have been on Wednesday. Jesus' body laid in the tomb from sunset at the end of that day. His body was in the tomb Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night and daylight hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday so He did indeed spend three days and three nights in the hearth of the earth, just as He said He would. He fulfilled the only sign He gave that He was the Messiah of all those who would believe in Him (Jn. 3:16). He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead 72 hours later very late Saturday as the sun set. So, the Good Friday-Easter Sunday tradition is unbiblical and a lie! Those who believe it do not follow the Truth.
That resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed is wonderful news but isn't it strange the Bible does not tell us to keep this day special every year? Instead, Jesus, God in the flesh (Jn. 1:1-14; 20:28), commanded His disciples to remember His death every year on the anniversary of His last Passover supper (Matt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:14) and His betrayal soon afterwards in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:19b). Jesus, as Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament inspired Solomon to write, 'A good name is better than than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth (Eccl. 7:1). That's why He inspired King David, a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22) to write, 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' (Ps. 116:15). This is just one example of how our ways are not God's ways (Isa. 55:9). God is not very interested in the day of our birth; He is much more concerned with the day of our death whereas we are preoccupied with our birthdays and try not to think of the day on which we will die. This brings to mind the saying, It's not where you begin but where you end that counts.
In conclusion, I only observe days the Scriptures commands us to keep. God does not command us to observe nearly all the days religious people keep. God does not require or want His people to observe 'Ash Wednesday', 'Lent', 'Palm Sunday', 'Good Friday', 'Easter Sunday' and others besides. They are not commanded to be observed in the Bible. Therefore, we are adding to Scripture if we decide to keep them without God's instructions. Rest assured, He did not forget to command us to keep any of them! There is enough we are commanded to observe in God's Word; we don't need to add more so-called 'holy days' that God hasn't commanded us to keep! Our duty is to observe the days (and laws) He has commanded us to keep. That is why, every spring, I observe the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, treating the 1st and 7th days as holy annual high-day Sabbaths.
Much of what you have just read above may be very new to you. Hopefully, you will want to do more reading and research on this important subject. I enclose some useful links that will help you see where the vast majority of Christians have gone astray from the Bible.
was Jesus executed on good friday or a wednesday?
read this about easter
resurrection connection
true origin of easter
resurrection not on sunday
The Bible tells us after Jesus was dead in the tomb for three days and three nights (ie. a period of 72 hours!), (Matt. 12:40), He rose to (eternal) L-I-F-E, not just the temporary physio-chemical existence we call life! There is a BIG difference! After He rose from the dead, Jesus' body changed into spirit. His earthly body disappeared and, as before His birth to the virgin Mary, He had a body composed of spirit, since He was again fully God and 'God is a spirit' (Jn. 4:24). We read He appeared to His disciples by just materializing in their midst in a shut room (Jn. 20:19-26)! Following His resurrection, He was a spirit being capable of becoming flesh and bone at will or if He desired, vanishing at will (Lk. 24:31).
Note, the majority who call themselves Christians think the resurrection itself was the sign that Jesus was the Messiah who was prophesied by the the Old Testament prophets - not so! Jesus Himself said, "An evil and an adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah..." (Matt 16:4; 12:39-40). What did Jesus mean by these words?
Jonah was the OT prophet who tried to run away from his mission of preaching a warning message to the fierce vast city of Nineveh. In the book named after him, Jonah ran away in the opposite direction because he 'knew that (You) are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love...' (Jonah 4:2). Jonah had a 'gut feeling' the people of Nineveh would indeed heed his warning message and repent and avoid the total destruction God had planned for this entire vast city. He was right but 'it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry' (4:1). In fact, Jonah was one of the only OT prophets who succeeded in his mission from God. Why he didn't want to succeed is a very interesting study in human nature. Check out the eye-opening article about Jonah by clicking on his name at the beginning of this paragraph. I'm sure you will find it very interesting and enlightening.
Back to the 'sign of Jonah' Jesus mentioned in Matt. 16:4 and 12:40. Jonah got on a ship sailing away from Nineveh so God punished him by causing him to be thrown overboard by the other people on the ship at his suggestion. God caused a huge sea creature to swallow Jonah and for 'three days and three nights' Jonah was in the belly of this creature until he was vomited up near? Nineveh (Jonah 2:1; 10-3:3). Obviously, Jesus regarded Jonah as a real historical person who was actually in a giant sea creatures' belly for 'three days and three nights'. The sign of Jonah was the length of time he was in 'the belly of the fish'! Jesus said, "Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish" His only sign proving He was the Messiah was that He would spend a similar amount of time in the 'heart of the earth' (ie. the grave) thereby fulfilling the 'sign of Jonah'. It is important to realise the fact of the resurrection itself is not proof of Jesus Messiahship, according to Jesus Himself! If Jesus did not spend three days and three nights in the grave, He must be rejected as the Messiah! It's that serious! Remember, the length of time He would be in the grave would be His only sign! notwithstanding all the other miracles He performed during His public ministry. Jesus did fulfill His sign by rising from the dead as He said (He would) (Matt 28:6; 1 Cor. 15:3-4)! Jesus provided the proof He promised to convince all open-minded seekers of Truth that He was, and is, the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel (eg. Isa. 12:6), very God (the Son/Word) (Jn. 1:1-3,14). So, if Jesus was not crucified on a Friday and did not rise from the dead on a Sunday, what days did He die and rise on? If we accept He was dead in the tomb for a full 72 hours, virtually to the second! which is my belief, we must check the Gospels to see if we can determine when He was laid in the grave following His six hours on Calvary's Cross, ie. from 9am until 3pm (Cp Matt. 27; Mk. 15:25, 33-37; Lk. 23, esp vs 44-46; Jn 19) on Passover Day, 14th Nisan. We read in John 19:31, the day on which Jesus was crucified 'was the day of preparation' for the Sabbath and 'that Sabbath was a high day'. This is very important information indeed! NB. Every year, according to the Sacred calendar, the Passover is followed by an annual 'high day' Sabbath (Lev. 23:5-7). The day following the crucifixion was the first of the seven annual Sabbaths, not just the weekly Sabbath, although sometimes annual 'high day' Sabbaths do fall on the weekly Sabbath. (Such days are called 'double Sabbaths' and are not too uncommon.) So, was the high day Sabbath that followed Jesus' crucifixion a weekly Sabbath or a weekday Sabbath? The vital clue that will help us answer that question can be found in Luke 23:54-56. We read in v. 54, 'It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning' when Jesus body was laid in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid' (v 53). So, Jesus' body was placed in the tomb as the preparation day of the high day Sabbath was drawing to its end as the sun was setting. (Throughout the Bible, a day ends and the next day begins at sunset.) Jesus was buried on the Passover Day and the following day, every year, in the spring, is an annual Sabbath called the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Cp. Lev. 23:4-7; 1 Cor 5:7b-8). In verse 8, Paul was clearly commanding the gentile Christian disciples to 'keep the Feast (of Unleavened Bread). ('Therefore, let us keep the Feast', 1 Cor. 5:8, KJV). Arguing otherwise is to do grave injustice to the inspired text, in my opinion. A careful study of the New Testament verifies all God's annual Sabbaths were observed by the first century disciples that made up the 'Church of God'! (The annual holy-days listed in Lev. 23 are called 'Feasts of the Lord', not 'Feasts of the Jews' or any other such thing! Consider Gal. 3:28-29.)
From Luke 23, we learn Jesus' body was laid in the tomb at the close of the Passover as the sun set. The high day Sabbath began at sunset as soon as Jesus body was placed in the tomb. This was a mid-week Sabbath, not the weekly 'Lord's Day'! We can see this from vs. 55-56. After Jesus' body was placed in the tomb, 'The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how His body was laid (v. 55). 'Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments' (to put on Messiah's body after that high day Sabbath. Of necessity, they must have had to wait until after that Sabbath to buy and prepare the spices and ointments. This may have taken them several hours. Then, 'On the (weekly) Sabbath they rested according to the commandment (v. 56). This of course was the weekly Sabbath, sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, which all Jews kept as it was the 4th of the Ten Commandments God gave to His people, the children of Israel, under Moses in the wilderness, following their miraculous release from Egypt (Ex. 1-19; 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15).
So, we see that Jesus was crucified on the Passover; His body was placed in the new tomb at the close of the Passover as the high day Sabbath following it began at sunset. The day after the annual holy day, the women who were Jesus' faithful companions went out and bought spices and ointments and prepared them to put on Jesus' body to preserve it from decay for as long as possible. The following day was the weekly Sabbath, ie. sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. All righteous Jews' rested on this day also. This shows there were two Sabbaths during the week of Jesus' crucifixion! The following day, 'toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb' (Matt 28:1). By the time they arrived, it was already empty. Verse 5, 'But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. Verse 6, He is not here, for He has risen, as He said".....' So, Jesus was risen before sunrise on Sunday morning ('toward the dawn', v. 1) or 'on the first day of the week, at early dawn..., Lk. 24:1) or 'on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb' (Jn. 20:1). Jesus had been resurrected before sunrise on Sunday morning. So, now we can see that Jesus did indeed spend 72 hours in His tomb. The Passover must have been on Wednesday. Jesus' body laid in the tomb from sunset at the end of that day. His body was in the tomb Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night and daylight hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday so He did indeed spend three days and three nights in the hearth of the earth, just as He said He would. He fulfilled the only sign He gave that He was the Messiah of all those who would believe in Him (Jn. 3:16). He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead 72 hours later very late Saturday as the sun set. So, the Good Friday-Easter Sunday tradition is unbiblical and a lie! Those who believe it do not follow the Truth.
That resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed is wonderful news but isn't it strange the Bible does not tell us to keep this day special every year? Instead, Jesus, God in the flesh (Jn. 1:1-14; 20:28), commanded His disciples to remember His death every year on the anniversary of His last Passover supper (Matt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:14) and His betrayal soon afterwards in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:19b). Jesus, as Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament inspired Solomon to write, 'A good name is better than than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth (Eccl. 7:1). That's why He inspired King David, a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22) to write, 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' (Ps. 116:15). This is just one example of how our ways are not God's ways (Isa. 55:9). God is not very interested in the day of our birth; He is much more concerned with the day of our death whereas we are preoccupied with our birthdays and try not to think of the day on which we will die. This brings to mind the saying, It's not where you begin but where you end that counts.
In conclusion, I only observe days the Scriptures commands us to keep. God does not command us to observe nearly all the days religious people keep. God does not require or want His people to observe 'Ash Wednesday', 'Lent', 'Palm Sunday', 'Good Friday', 'Easter Sunday' and others besides. They are not commanded to be observed in the Bible. Therefore, we are adding to Scripture if we decide to keep them without God's instructions. Rest assured, He did not forget to command us to keep any of them! There is enough we are commanded to observe in God's Word; we don't need to add more so-called 'holy days' that God hasn't commanded us to keep! Our duty is to observe the days (and laws) He has commanded us to keep. That is why, every spring, I observe the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, treating the 1st and 7th days as holy annual high-day Sabbaths.
Much of what you have just read above may be very new to you. Hopefully, you will want to do more reading and research on this important subject. I enclose some useful links that will help you see where the vast majority of Christians have gone astray from the Bible.
was Jesus executed on good friday or a wednesday?
read this about easter
resurrection connection
true origin of easter
resurrection not on sunday
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Is the Bible Relevant in the 21st Century?
Why should anyone study or even read the Christian Bible today? Many people think it's an outdated, hard-to-understand, irrelevant book that belongs in the distant past. So, why is it the world's 'best seller' year after year? What is so special about the 'good book' that it's being printed in so many languages and versions around the world every year? A good starting point for understanding more about the Bible and how it was compiled is by reading How We Got the Bible (from rcg.org) and The Proof of the Bible (from pcog.org).
Interestingly, for such an old book, the Bible has been called 'the most up-to-date book in the world'. The last of it's 66 books was completed before AD 100. Somewhere between one-third and a quarter of the entire Bible is prophecy, or history written in advance. No critic has been able to find a failed prophecy in all of it's many pages. How can this be?
No book written by men could be 100% accurate in guessing future events to that degree! This fact alone is a strong argument that mere men did not write the Bible! It is evidence that the real Author of the Bible is the God whom Christians worship. Jesus of Nazareth, when praying to His Heavenly Father (Jn 17:1, 11) declared,"...Your word is truth" (Jn 17:17, ESV). Jesus is identified as God (the Word / Son) in John's gospel (1:1-3, 14). Notice how John spoke of Jesus as being 'the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth' (v 14).
So, who was / is Jesus and why is He called Jesus Christ? He was known by the common Jewish given-name, Yeshua, to His family and all those who knew Him. 'Christ' is a title, not a 'surname'! The word 'Christ' means anointed. Yeshua was anointed by His Heavenly Father when He rose up out of the Jordan river when the Holy Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and remained on Him, after He was baptised by immersion by His cousin, John the Baptist (Jn 1:19-34, esp. 32). Jesus, as God in human form, was unique in every way. He said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (Jn 6:63, KJV). A more understandable translation of the same verse reads, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (NIV).
So, who was / is Jesus and why is He called Jesus Christ? He was known by the common Jewish given-name, Yeshua, to His family and all those who knew Him. 'Christ' is a title, not a 'surname'! The word 'Christ' means anointed. Yeshua was anointed by His Heavenly Father when He rose up out of the Jordan river when the Holy Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and remained on Him, after He was baptised by immersion by His cousin, John the Baptist (Jn 1:19-34, esp. 32). Jesus, as God in human form, was unique in every way. He said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (Jn 6:63, KJV). A more understandable translation of the same verse reads, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (NIV).
*** More to follow soon ***
Friday, December 9, 2016
Ps 112: A Wonderful Psalm
I was reading Ps 112 tonight and I'd like to share 3+ verses with you.
Verse 1: Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in His commandments!
Verse 6: For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
Verse 7: He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Verse 8a: His heart is steady; he will not be afraid........
Wow! What wonderful words of hope! My heart leaped for joy when I read them!
I must confess when I take my eyes off God, I fall short of the high standard He requires of me and need to seek His mercy and forgiveness. But, oh, what an amazing incentive to draw nearer to God and fear Him in a healthy and right way!
'The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.....(Prov. 8:13)
Also, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' (Prov. 9:10; Ps 111:10).
Also, be sure to look up Prov. 1:7; 10:27; 14:27 and 15:16 etc.)
Those words are as true today as when King Solomon wrote them nearly 3000 years ago.
Sadly, many today believe God's commandments are no longer binding on them. If the Ten Commandments were 'nailed to the Cross'* (Col 2:14) as they argue, then there is no such thing as sin since 'sin is the transgression of the Law (1 Jn 3:4). Also, if that's true, what did Paul mean when he said 'The wages of sin is death' (Rom 6:23a)?
[* The only thing that was nailed to the Cross was the IOU each person owed God for disobeying His commandments! Our past sins are forgiven when we put our faith in Jesus to save us from the penalty of disobeying His righteous commandments. The Ten Commandments were most certainly not done away, as many deceived teachers claim. They should read Matt 7:21-23 very carefully. Also 2 Peter 3:15, 16.]
'.....all Your commandments are righteousness' (Ps 119:172). All those who love and fear the Lord should read all of Psalm 119 regularly!
Paul wrote'....as by one man (speaking of Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin.....(Rom 5:12). Since the Law defines what sin is (1 Jn 3:4), I believe the Ten Commandments were made known to Adam and Eve by the Lord (Jesus), their Creator, soon after He made them. I believe Paul did too!
Back to Ps 112:7, I do not want to be afraid of bad news when I hear it. I want to be close to God and put my complete trust in Him. He is my Rock and my Place of Refuge.
I think of the words of that song, 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul' especially 'Though my world may fall, I'll never let You go.' Amen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkGurx7vA3A (0:48)
It's only when our hand is in His will we be able to withstand whatever comes against us. It is my desire to draw ever nearer to the Lord Jesus and to be strong in Him. Let us not be confident in our own strength and abilities. Put your trust in Him and prepare now to be with Him for eternity.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
My Biblical Beliefs
I am among a minority of Christians who believes much of what passes for 'Christianity' is NOT faithful to what the Bible teaches. I take heart from the fact that very often the majority are not always right.
My beliefs include:
The Ten Commandments are still binding on God's people today. (Cp. 1 Jn 3:4; Rom 6:23a; Matt 5:17-20; 7:21-23; Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:3 etc.) [Check all these references carefully esp. Matt. 5]
The fourth commandment requires Christians to worship God on His day, the Sabbath, This is the 7th day every week (ie. Friday sunset until Saturday sunset) - not Sunday, the first day. (Gen 2:2,3; Matt 5:17 etc.) When did Paul preach to gentiles as well as Jews during his post-Resurrection ministry? Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44; 16:13; 18:4. (Answer: The weekly Sabbath!)
The seven annual Sabbaths listed in Lev 23 are still to be observed by God's people today. Paul mentioned to the mainly gentile church in Corinth that the festival of Unleavened Bread should be observed many years after the resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor 5:8). This was, and still is, a 7-day festival that immediately follows the Passover in spring each year. Christians should take the symbols of Jesus' shed flesh and blood, (a piece of unleavened bread and red wine) once a year on the anniversary of His sacrifice, according to the sacred Hebrew calendar. Truly, He is our servant King. God commanded His people, the children of Israel, to observe all His holy days 'throughout your generations' ((eg Lev. 23:14, ESV). Jesus fulfilled the need to offer up sacrifices so the main thing about the Lord's weekly and annual Sabbaths today is the time during which they should be observed.
The seven annual Sabbaths God requires* His people to assemble on to worship Him are:
1) Day 1 of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, held in March or April (1 Cor 5:8)
2) Day 7 of same festival (Lev 23:5-8)
3) The Feast of Pentecost, held in June (Lev 23:15-22; Acts 2)
'The Fall Festivals':
4) The Feast of Trumpets, held in Sept./Oct. annually (vs, 24-25) ie Tishri 1st.
This important Feast day falls on September 21, 2017, beginning at sunset on 20th (Wednesday).
5) The Day of Atonement, a fast day, held in Sept./Oct. (vs. 27-32; Acts 27:9**); Tishri 10th.
The Day of Atonement falls on the weekly Sabbath, September 30th 2017.
6) The Feast of Tabernacles, first day of this 7-day festival (vs. 34-44) falls on Tishri 15th (ie October 5th, 2017) beginning the previous evening (Wednesday, 4th) at sunset and
7) The '8th-day' (of the FoT,) ie the day after the Feast, (v. 39b); This last annual sacred festival falls on Tishri 22nd or Thursday, Oct. 12th beginning at sunset on Wednesday 11th.
My beliefs include:
The Ten Commandments are still binding on God's people today. (Cp. 1 Jn 3:4; Rom 6:23a; Matt 5:17-20; 7:21-23; Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:3 etc.) [Check all these references carefully esp. Matt. 5]
The fourth commandment requires Christians to worship God on His day, the Sabbath, This is the 7th day every week (ie. Friday sunset until Saturday sunset) - not Sunday, the first day. (Gen 2:2,3; Matt 5:17 etc.) When did Paul preach to gentiles as well as Jews during his post-Resurrection ministry? Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44; 16:13; 18:4. (Answer: The weekly Sabbath!)
The seven annual Sabbaths listed in Lev 23 are still to be observed by God's people today. Paul mentioned to the mainly gentile church in Corinth that the festival of Unleavened Bread should be observed many years after the resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor 5:8). This was, and still is, a 7-day festival that immediately follows the Passover in spring each year. Christians should take the symbols of Jesus' shed flesh and blood, (a piece of unleavened bread and red wine) once a year on the anniversary of His sacrifice, according to the sacred Hebrew calendar. Truly, He is our servant King. God commanded His people, the children of Israel, to observe all His holy days 'throughout your generations' ((eg Lev. 23:14, ESV). Jesus fulfilled the need to offer up sacrifices so the main thing about the Lord's weekly and annual Sabbaths today is the time during which they should be observed.
The seven annual Sabbaths God requires* His people to assemble on to worship Him are:
1) Day 1 of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, held in March or April (1 Cor 5:8)
2) Day 7 of same festival (Lev 23:5-8)
3) The Feast of Pentecost, held in June (Lev 23:15-22; Acts 2)
'The Fall Festivals':
4) The Feast of Trumpets, held in Sept./Oct. annually (vs, 24-25) ie Tishri 1st.
This important Feast day falls on September 21, 2017, beginning at sunset on 20th (Wednesday).
5) The Day of Atonement, a fast day, held in Sept./Oct. (vs. 27-32; Acts 27:9**); Tishri 10th.
The Day of Atonement falls on the weekly Sabbath, September 30th 2017.
6) The Feast of Tabernacles, first day of this 7-day festival (vs. 34-44) falls on Tishri 15th (ie October 5th, 2017) beginning the previous evening (Wednesday, 4th) at sunset and
7) The '8th-day' (of the FoT,) ie the day after the Feast, (v. 39b); This last annual sacred festival falls on Tishri 22nd or Thursday, Oct. 12th beginning at sunset on Wednesday 11th.
***NB: This on-going blog is 'under construction' and incomplete.
I plan to add much more information during the coming months.***
(*God is not unreasonable! He only requires holy day observance by those whom He has enlightened regarding His annual Sabbaths. However, it is the duty of every Christian to 'search the Scriptures daily' (Acts 17:11, KJV) and change one's beliefs until they conform to what the Scriptures teach!)
The vast majority of the approx 2 billion people worldwide who go by the name 'Christian' are not fully called by Him at this time (Jn 6:44 & v. 65). That is why they observe unbiblical days that God does not command His people to observe eg 'easter', 'Christmas', 'Lent' etc etc. Those days come from paganism and the church of Rome. What self-respecting Christian would keep a day with -mas (ie mass) in it's name? The fact this holiday is loved and kept by non-Christians should alert all Christians that it is not of God. Indeed, He hates it as it has nothing to do with Jesus! The only reason why professing Christians observe 'Christmas' is human reason. They feel they must celebrate the day on which the Messiah was born. Since the Bible is silent regarding the exact date that Jesus was born, men figured Dec 25th would be as good a date as any. Personally, I think 25th December is the worst possible date that could have been picked to celebrate Christ's birth as a member of Adam's race. Why? It was the date the ancient pagans throughout the Roman Empire celebrated the annual re-birth of the sun-god. [Read 'The Two Babylons' by Alexander Hislop for the full story.]
http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2016/november-december/should-christians-keep-christmas
Unknown to almost all, Satan the devil is behind all the false religious holidays the world observes.
[** I believe the mention of the fast / Day of Atonement in Acts 27:9 is a clue from God that this holy day was still to be observed decades after the Resurrection! Of course that means it should be observed by all God's people today, along with the other six annual Sabbaths listed in Lev 23!]
The vast majority of the approx 2 billion people worldwide who go by the name 'Christian' are not fully called by Him at this time (Jn 6:44 & v. 65). That is why they observe unbiblical days that God does not command His people to observe eg 'easter', 'Christmas', 'Lent' etc etc. Those days come from paganism and the church of Rome. What self-respecting Christian would keep a day with -mas (ie mass) in it's name? The fact this holiday is loved and kept by non-Christians should alert all Christians that it is not of God. Indeed, He hates it as it has nothing to do with Jesus! The only reason why professing Christians observe 'Christmas' is human reason. They feel they must celebrate the day on which the Messiah was born. Since the Bible is silent regarding the exact date that Jesus was born, men figured Dec 25th would be as good a date as any. Personally, I think 25th December is the worst possible date that could have been picked to celebrate Christ's birth as a member of Adam's race. Why? It was the date the ancient pagans throughout the Roman Empire celebrated the annual re-birth of the sun-god. [Read 'The Two Babylons' by Alexander Hislop for the full story.]
http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2016/november-december/should-christians-keep-christmas
Unknown to almost all, Satan the devil is behind all the false religious holidays the world observes.
[** I believe the mention of the fast / Day of Atonement in Acts 27:9 is a clue from God that this holy day was still to be observed decades after the Resurrection! Of course that means it should be observed by all God's people today, along with the other six annual Sabbaths listed in Lev 23!]
There is no trinity! The Holy Spirit is not a divine being as are God the Father and Jesus, God the Son. The Spirit is God's power and the agency by which He fills the entire universe. John 1:1-3 describes the Godhead. God is a family of two Beings. If God was a trinity, Paul would NOT have excluded (Him) from his opening greetings at the beginning of his NT letters.
For much more on this important subject, check out this article / booklet:
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person
For much more on this important subject, check out this article / booklet:
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person
It should be understood that eternal life is a gift from God and no-one is born with (or is) an 'immortal soul'. The reward of the saved is life (Rom 6:23b). The opposite of life is death, the wages of sin. It will be a state of non-existence. God is not a monster who will allow the wicked to suffer forever in hellfire. He will end their existence by destroying them (Malachi 4:1).
I am most certainly not a universalist who believes that everyone will eventually be saved. How anyone can read Jesus' words in Matt 7:13 and come to that conclusion is totally deceived by the 'god of this age'. (Paul wrote in 2 Cor 4:4 that being is Satan! Yes, Satan is a real spiritual being, not a personification of sin and evil, as at least one flawed cult insists.)
It's vitally important to understand that this is NOT God's world! He has allowed Satan to rule this planet and it's human inhabitants during this 6000 year age of man's misrule! (However, God is much greater than Satan and as such, He is in overall control of what happens here on Earth but He chooses to allow Satan to do his evil business for a reason that I will elaborate on soon!) This 'present evil age' (Gal. 1:4) will end when Jesus returns to establish His glorious Kingdom when He will rule the entire world in righteousness with His saints for a thousand years!)
I am most certainly not a universalist who believes that everyone will eventually be saved. How anyone can read Jesus' words in Matt 7:13 and come to that conclusion is totally deceived by the 'god of this age'. (Paul wrote in 2 Cor 4:4 that being is Satan! Yes, Satan is a real spiritual being, not a personification of sin and evil, as at least one flawed cult insists.)
It's vitally important to understand that this is NOT God's world! He has allowed Satan to rule this planet and it's human inhabitants during this 6000 year age of man's misrule! (However, God is much greater than Satan and as such, He is in overall control of what happens here on Earth but He chooses to allow Satan to do his evil business for a reason that I will elaborate on soon!) This 'present evil age' (Gal. 1:4) will end when Jesus returns to establish His glorious Kingdom when He will rule the entire world in righteousness with His saints for a thousand years!)
I believe the Lord's Church, the body of Christ, should most certainly not be divided into hundreds, if not thousands of denominations, sects, independent groups and home fellowships that war against each other. There should be unity and a spirit of co-operation among all God's people (1 Cor 1:13). Sadly, a growing number of denominations are compromising the clear teachings of the Bible. It must be recognised that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one. The same is true of denominations! That's why it is so important to know what the Bible really teaches! People should be willing to 'up sticks' and leave a church that strays from the teachings of God's Word!
I believe the reward of the saved is to be born into the God family at the resurrection of the saints at Jesus' glorious Second Coming. (That's the ultimate re-birth Jesus spoke about in John 3:3!) May that wonderful event happen soon. All those who will be in the First Resurrection will be given new spirit-composed bodies and granted immortality. King Jesus will usher in a thousand years of utopian peace and happiness upon His soon return. He will rule with His saints from Jerusalem for a thousand years. The Millennium will be a time of Heaven on Earth (Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:1-6 etc.)
The following Bible study articles will shed more light on the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
https://www.ucg.org/what-is-the-feast-of-tabernacles
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-study-course/bible-study-course-lesson-12/the-last-great-day
The following Bible study articles will shed more light on the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
https://www.ucg.org/what-is-the-feast-of-tabernacles
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-study-course/bible-study-course-lesson-12/the-last-great-day
More detail will be added here as time permits.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
When We Don't Understand Why
Sermon notes for message given (by me) on 21-2-16.
Title: 'When we don't understand why bad things happen to God's people'
When accidents, ill-health or other negative things happen to you, do you become obsessed with such questions as, "Why me? Why now? Why? Why? Why?"
God is under no obligation to tell us why negative things happen to us!
That is NOT the most important question to ask, from God's perspective.
God can see 'the big picture' in everyone's life! He can see the end from the beginning. He is all-wise and all-knowing!
Isaiah 55:8, 9 reads "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
The question we should ask when something bad happens to us is, "How can I make this work out for the maximum good for myself and others?"
Our response to our pain, our hurts and our suffering is more important than trying to understand why God has allowed it to happen to us.
If we are a child of God (ie a Christian) and walking in line with the Spirit of God , no matter what happens to us is done with God's full knowledge and permissive will. Sometimes, God causes it to happen to us for our good. Sometimes, the devil is responsible for our bad misfortune. Also, remember, time and chance happen to everyone at one time or another (Eccl 9:11).
There will be accidents, misfortune, illness etc in life but it's much better to suffer as a child of God. Those who are not Christians do not have Jesus to help them through their time of trouble and tribulation. You will be victorious IF you fix your eyes on Jesus instead of your problem!
Lamentations 3:22, 23 reads, Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
All God's people should start every day with prayer and time spent reading the Bible. That way, if anything happens to you during the day, your mind and heart will be focused on God and His Word and His love and concern for you. You will not easily be discouraged and prone to bouts of self-pity. The devil will not find it easy to discourage you and you will be strong in the Lord when you most need Him.
The Word of God is like a spiritual shield that protects your mind from the fiery darts of the evil one (Eph 6:16). It's been said discouragement is one of the devils most successful 'fiery darts' or weapons against Christians. Stay close to God and be blessed by Him and protected from the wiles of the devil.
God has promised us He will always be with His people (Heb 13:5; Matt 28:20; Deut 4:31).
Jesus offers those who are His - help, hope and rest, if we put our trust in Him (Matt 11:28-30).
If we learn to 'trust and obey' the Lord, He will help us through our bad and good times.
God wants us to endure or 'stand firm' through whatever happens to us (Matt 10:22; 24:13).
Hebrews 10: 38 reads "But the righteous one shall live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. 39) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
All this involves 'counting the cost' of becoming a disciple of Jesus (Lk 14:28 and Lk 9:62).
Consider 2 Cor 1:3,4, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
When we have suffered a painful illness or experience and, with God's help, been healed or delivered, we are in a better position to help and encourage those who face the same trial or hardship.
God is merciful to all His children (Ex 34:6; Joel 2:13; James 5:11). Remember Job's wonderful faith and trust in God when he was going through his terrible trial (Job 13:15a), 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him'.
1 Peter 5:6, 7, 10 read: Humble yourselves therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7) Cast all your anxiety on Him who cares for you. 10) And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
A great and wonderful blessing is guaranteed to all those who trust God's promises and His Word.
So, when you experience pain or suffering or anything negative, try to put the experience to the maximum use for the good of others. Don't waste a great opportunity to be a blessing to others. Ask God to use you and follow the lead of the Spirit. Also, let the negative experience draw you closer to God, your loving heavenly Father. Look for the positive and avoid dwelling on the negative in every situation you find yourself.
In other words, always look on the bright side of life. With God's help, you can!
This message was inspired by Dr Charles Stanley's 20 minute video sermon, 'When we don't understand why'.
Link: www.intouch.org/watch/when-we-dont-understand-why
Title: 'When we don't understand why bad things happen to God's people'
When accidents, ill-health or other negative things happen to you, do you become obsessed with such questions as, "Why me? Why now? Why? Why? Why?"
God is under no obligation to tell us why negative things happen to us!
That is NOT the most important question to ask, from God's perspective.
God can see 'the big picture' in everyone's life! He can see the end from the beginning. He is all-wise and all-knowing!
Isaiah 55:8, 9 reads "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
The question we should ask when something bad happens to us is, "How can I make this work out for the maximum good for myself and others?"
Our response to our pain, our hurts and our suffering is more important than trying to understand why God has allowed it to happen to us.
If we are a child of God (ie a Christian) and walking in line with the Spirit of God , no matter what happens to us is done with God's full knowledge and permissive will. Sometimes, God causes it to happen to us for our good. Sometimes, the devil is responsible for our bad misfortune. Also, remember, time and chance happen to everyone at one time or another (Eccl 9:11).
There will be accidents, misfortune, illness etc in life but it's much better to suffer as a child of God. Those who are not Christians do not have Jesus to help them through their time of trouble and tribulation. You will be victorious IF you fix your eyes on Jesus instead of your problem!
Lamentations 3:22, 23 reads, Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
All God's people should start every day with prayer and time spent reading the Bible. That way, if anything happens to you during the day, your mind and heart will be focused on God and His Word and His love and concern for you. You will not easily be discouraged and prone to bouts of self-pity. The devil will not find it easy to discourage you and you will be strong in the Lord when you most need Him.
The Word of God is like a spiritual shield that protects your mind from the fiery darts of the evil one (Eph 6:16). It's been said discouragement is one of the devils most successful 'fiery darts' or weapons against Christians. Stay close to God and be blessed by Him and protected from the wiles of the devil.
God has promised us He will always be with His people (Heb 13:5; Matt 28:20; Deut 4:31).
Jesus offers those who are His - help, hope and rest, if we put our trust in Him (Matt 11:28-30).
If we learn to 'trust and obey' the Lord, He will help us through our bad and good times.
God wants us to endure or 'stand firm' through whatever happens to us (Matt 10:22; 24:13).
Hebrews 10: 38 reads "But the righteous one shall live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. 39) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
All this involves 'counting the cost' of becoming a disciple of Jesus (Lk 14:28 and Lk 9:62).
Consider 2 Cor 1:3,4, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
When we have suffered a painful illness or experience and, with God's help, been healed or delivered, we are in a better position to help and encourage those who face the same trial or hardship.
God is merciful to all His children (Ex 34:6; Joel 2:13; James 5:11). Remember Job's wonderful faith and trust in God when he was going through his terrible trial (Job 13:15a), 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him'.
1 Peter 5:6, 7, 10 read: Humble yourselves therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7) Cast all your anxiety on Him who cares for you. 10) And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
A great and wonderful blessing is guaranteed to all those who trust God's promises and His Word.
So, when you experience pain or suffering or anything negative, try to put the experience to the maximum use for the good of others. Don't waste a great opportunity to be a blessing to others. Ask God to use you and follow the lead of the Spirit. Also, let the negative experience draw you closer to God, your loving heavenly Father. Look for the positive and avoid dwelling on the negative in every situation you find yourself.
In other words, always look on the bright side of life. With God's help, you can!
This message was inspired by Dr Charles Stanley's 20 minute video sermon, 'When we don't understand why'.
Link: www.intouch.org/watch/when-we-dont-understand-why
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Free Booklet Restricted to Munster, Ireland Residents
'GOD OR NO GOD' - Some clues from science.
A FREE 40-page booklet that challenges evolution.
Send your request and contact details asap to:
CBCG-UK
P O Box 8224
WITHAM, UK
CM8 1WZ
or, email cbcg.ireland@gmail.com
This publication can also be read online at:
www.cbcg.org
A FREE 40-page booklet that challenges evolution.
Send your request and contact details asap to:
CBCG-UK
P O Box 8224
WITHAM, UK
CM8 1WZ
or, email cbcg.ireland@gmail.com
This publication can also be read online at:
www.cbcg.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)