Spiritual Gifts and Their Relationship to God’s Will

Dr. Larry Gilbert

The exciting news is that as a Christian you can know

God’s will for your life is part of your very being.

As Christians, we all have great concern about God’s will. We want to know whom to marry, where to live, where to go to church. We wonder what kind of car or home God wants us to buy. How many children should we have? Unfortunately, no Bible verses say, “Thou shalt have six children,” or “Thou shalt drive a Ford,” or “Thou shalt remain single,” or “Thou shalt (whatever it is we want an easy answer to).” Yet these are subjects that greatly concern us. Many of us will spend much of our lives seeking such answers, and questioning decisions on issues simpler than these—issues for which there are no clear and direct answers in Scripture.

We are rightfully concerned about wrong turns. For instance, it is said that in the United States alone there are more than 23,000 ways to make a living. According to some surveys, approximately eighty-eight percent of Americans who work have jobs they do not like or they would not choose for a career. Christians should not be included in such statistics, for we have a God who can lead us in the paths best suited to us. If that is true, how do we find God’s will or direction for life?

Interestingly, two of the major passages Paul writes concerning spiritual gifts begin by talking about God’s will. In Romans 12:2, Paul’s introduction to spiritual gifts speaks of that “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” So, if we want to know what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for our lives, then it must have something to do with spiritual gifts.What is the relationship between God’s will and spiritual gifts? First, your gift is always in perfect harmony with God’s will for your life. Remember, what God has called you to do He has gifted you to do, and what He has gifted you to do, He has called you to do. Second, understanding God’s will for your life is much easier when you know your spiritual gift. The earlier you understand your spiritual gift, the easier it will be to determine God’s will for your life.

If your area of service does not correspond with your spiritual gift, you may become discouraged and frustrated and never find out where you really belong. You won’t understand yourself, the gifts, or other Christians around you. In turn you could eventually become a dropout or end up doing nothing for God. The key is for Christians to learn about spiritual gifts in the early stages of their Christian life. This will give them a better angle on God’s will for their lives and give them more direction as they start their Christian walk.

God’s will is part of the Christian’s very being, and that being is strongly influenced by our God-given spiritual gifts.

In light of these facts, your emphasis should shift from trying to find God’s will, to walking with God in the Spirit-filled life and finding and implementing your spiritual gifts. When this is done, God’s will comes naturally.

churchgrowth . org * God bless

ISLAM and JESUS

OUR LOVE FOR JESUS GUIDED US TO ISLAM

What I am sharing is from a Islamic page. I will give my responses after each point. It is a very long tedious article but I am only posting the points I want to respond to. If I didn’t do that it would take forever to read. You can find the article named above… Please understand I don’t hate anyone, My concern is about the truth. The title and the words give a wonderful version of the religion but, Islam’s history is there to see. What is written sounds good on the surface, but the truth cuts deep.

* Our Love for Jesus Guided us to Islam Compiled and prepared by: Jotiar Bamarni

May Allah show mercy to those who printed, photocopied, translated, or made this book available on different social media platforms, without any addition or omission! May Allah reward them abundantly and make them and us steadfast upon Islam!

And you will surely find that the closest of them in affection to the believers are those who say: “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not arrogant.

When they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of recognizing the truth. * Saying is a response referring to the Muslim Jesus.

These real stories were lived by their writers over a number of years, along with their love for the Messiah, for Christianity and the Gospel. This love pushed them, by natural disposition, to search for the truth about Prophet Jesus and his true status in the sight of Allah Almighty and to seek the Creator of the worlds and the Disposer of their affairs. * Jesus gave some prophecies but He is above all.

Jesus the Creator https://thelordsroom.org/2022/09/13/jesus-the-creator-2/

They wanted to know Islam’s stance on Jesus and his mother, the pious virgin woman, and to revisit the Gospels with sincere intent to discover whether these words are truly the speech of Allah and His infallible prophets; or, whether they contain many distortions and alterations, leaving nothing remaining for them to follow.

Their curiosity and impartiality led them to find out the false claims about the position of Islam and Muslims regarding the Messiah and the rest of the messengers. They found the opposite of these claims, which led them to know the truth of Islam, the only true religion remaining on Earth.

They searched and held a comparison between their beliefs and Islam, studying and reviewing many books on comparative religion. They discovered that the religion that corresponds with the image that they themselves have of the true God, the true religion, and the right way of life that leads to success in this world and the Hereafter is Islam – so they testified that none is worthy of being worshiped except Allah alone and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that Jesus is the messenger of Allah. https://thelordsroom.org/2021/11/24/did-jesus-say-he-was-god-2/

Islam: Jesus Was a Created Being

While Jesus, in Islam, was born of a virgin, they also insist that He is a created being, not God the Son. Bible: John 14:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

I was amazed at the Qur’an’s description of Mary’s purity and the testimony of Jesus about the chastity of his mother, while he was still a baby in the cradle. Jashua described that night as the best night of his life!

Yusha Evans was born in Greenville, South Carolina, where he grew up in an ultra-conservative Christian home. But in the summer of 1996, his life changed. He studied the Bible from cover to cover and found many things that were against his beliefs and realized that his entire life was not consistent with the outcome of his search.

He left Christianity and set off searching for the truth – after numerous transformations and turns, and ups and downs, and after looking into many religions of the world that search for the tangible proof for the right way of life.

He read the Bible from cover to cover and found a lot of ambiguities and meaningless things and noticed there were numerous versions of it, as anyone could add or omit anything to it in accordance to their personal agendas. Then, he decided this was the book he had been searching for throughout his life.

The major additions to, omissions from, and misleading translations to be found in the Bible. * Can’t be denied, Satan has done some damage. But that does not mean every version is wrong. https://thelordsroom.org/2021/12/26/why-are-there-so-many-different-christian-interpretations/

He mentioned, thereafter, that he completed extensive reading of the entire Qur’an in three days, after which he declared his conversion to Islam, in December 1998. He urges Muslims to convey the light they have far and wide.

His father was an atheist, while his mother was a follower of the Roman Catholic Church. Hence, Abdur-Rahīm Green was raised upon the Catholic beliefs from babyhood.

After the colony of Dar al-Salam in Tanzania gained independence, his parents returned to the United Kingdom, where Green joined the Catholic Monks boarding school and then Gilling Castle school, and finally Ampleforth College.

Green attended the Catholic churches. At the age of 11, he moved to Cairo after his father was offered a job there, and he used to spend his long holidays in this city.

Green began to pose questions about life and faith to his Catholic teacher, and he would defend faith versus atheism, even though he did not think that his beliefs were right.

Green’s interest in Islam as a religion began in 1987, and he managed to obtain a translated copy of the Qur’an. “I was amazed at this great and astonishing book,” he said.

Then, he officially converted to Islam in 1988. Yet, he continued to drink alcohol and eat pork. In one of his videos, he jokingly said:

After embracing Islam and spending a lot of time examining reliable sources and studying the religion extensively, Green became one of the most prominent preachers of Islam in the West. He devoted his life to serving this religion and calling people to it.

Shaykh Abdur-Rahīm Green also used to give lectures at Speakers’ Corner in the famous Hyde Park in London, and he frequently appears on Peace TV and Islam TV channel.

My input: Islamic fundamentalist — there is no separation between the political and the religious. Islam is, in essence, both religion and regime (din wa-dawla) and no area of human activity is outside its remit.

Perfection lies in the ways of the Prophet and the events of his
time; therefore, religious innovations, philosophical relativism, and intellectual or political pluralism are anathema. In such a worldview, there can exist
only two camps — Dar al-Islam (“The House of Islam” — i.e., the Muslim
countries) and Dar al-Harp (“The House of War” — i.e., countries ruled by
any regime but Islam) — which are pitted against each other until the final
victory of Islam. These concepts are carried to their extreme conclusion by
the radicals; however, they have deep roots in mainstream Islam. {end}

{Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what was before them and what will be after them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge, except what He wills. His Kursī [footstool] extends over the heavens and earth, and safeguarding of both does not weary Him, for He is the Most High, the Most Great.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 255]

This universe did not come from nothing. It comprises a very delicate cosmic engineering. Hence, this life must be consistent with Allah’s intent.

I used to read the Gospel a lot. But I always saw that it does not accord with science. Science has certain facts and things, and the Bible says something different. I cannot believe in anything without proof. This caused a conflict within me. * Genesis Science Network – Science from a Biblical view

Questions began to come to my mind one after another, and doubts sneaked into my soul. I said: ‘I must go to the church,’ which I did. I met the priest and posed many questions to him, like: ‘Why is God three though He is supposed to be One?’

I asked him to convince me of the allegation of trinity and the reason behind salvation. If the Messiah was a god, what was the salvation for?

He answered me: ‘You should believe with your heart only.’ This phrase was like telling me: Do not think, do not discuss, do not ask. I cannot do that. I cannot believe in anything unless it is established to me by a proof. {thankfully there is an answer}

A Battle over the Biblical View of the Trinity?

If we exclude Barnabas’s clear and explicit prophesies about the mission of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), mentioning him by name, as the church does not acknowledge this Gospel in the first place, Christ gave nine prophesies in the Gospel of John. The word ‘paraclete’, which is used by John in several prophesies, has five meanings: the comforter, the intercessor, the lawyer, the praised one, the praiseworthy one. All these meanings fully apply to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). He is the comforter to the group of believers and followers of the truth after their past loss and decadence. And he is the lawyer who defends Jesus, the son of Mary, and all prophets and messengers after the Jews and Christians distorted their image and changed their religion, which is Islam.

The Letter of Barnabas was essentially a treatise on the use of the Old Testament by Christians. Very anti-Jewish, the author believed that the Old Testament could not be fully understood by Jews, as its significance could be understood only by those who read it and searched for types, or prefigurations, of Jesus. I also Barnabus mentioned Mohammad since he wasn’t yet born. What did Barnabas encourage them towards? “He encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (verse 23c). Perhaps this was his way of saying: Remember this day always. Remain true even when temptation comes.

Hence, the Gospel of John, 14:16-17, says: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; the spirit of the truth.” In another prophesy, 16:13-14, He says: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you to all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me.” This agrees with the Qur’anic verse

Notice the actual verses.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” ¹⁶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

“another Comforter” is real he is the Holy Spirit not Muhammad.

The fact that the Bible credits two different people with killing Goliath. {where?} According to 1 Samuel 17, Goliath, a heavily armed Philistine giant, challenged Saul for 40 days to send out a man to fight him. No one would face this warrior until David, armed only with a sling and stones, volunteered. David hit the giant in the forehead with a stone and killed him

The major additions to, omissions from, and misleading translations to be found in the Bible. * Can’t be denied, Satan has done some damage. But that does not mean every version is wrong. https://thelordsroom.org/2021/12/26/why-are-there-so-many-different-christian-interpretations/

Is there a difference between the Christian God and Allah? https://thelordsroom.org/2021/12/22/is-there-a-difference-between-the-christian-god-and-allah/

God bless, Dan Beliveau

If you died today, do you know where you will spend Eternity?

This is a question I hope everyone will ask themselves. People can be caught up in everyday things. Family, work, social encounters, etc. When we center mostly on just ourselves, we sometimes miss very important things.

When we ask ourselves the question about our future, we have to ask where we want to stand with God.

God created man to have dominion over the Creation. And also to have a personal relationship with Him. Sadly the first man, Adam broke the covenant with God. From that moment on, sin entered into the creation. Which includes the seed of Adam [all mankind]. That singular act separated us from God.

This site is about answering that question. You either desire to know Him or reject the whole idea. There is no middle ground. Being an Agnostic or someone who plays at being a “Christian” leads to the same destination as the Atheist.

God has made a way for each of us to get right with Him. Please look at the Salvation post before you decide.

God bless, Dan Beliveau

To preach only the happy parts of the Bible is to do nothing more than tell a fairy tale that ends in “Happily Ever After” yet sends church members to Hell. * David Rice’

You have one of two choices.

SALVATION A CHOICE

* You must be born again *

How can I be “born again” if I’m already alive? Being “born again” is not about changing what is on the outside. It’s about the inside, how your spirit/soul responds to God.

This is a very long article but it concerns the most important decision you will ever make. Please read it and then decide because your eternity is in the balance. It’s important that you know as much as possible, You have to know the truth to make an informed decision. Everyone is given the freedom to choose…

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. See the Book of Genesis. God created man on the 6th day and put them [includes Eve] into the garden. God formed a covenant between Himself and Adam, who was given dominion over all things.

“Man was made, who was the chief of the ways of God, who was designed to be the visible image of the Creator’s glory and the mouth of the creation in his praises” Matthew Henry.

The only real condition was that he could not eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam took the fruit from Eve and ate it, he broke that covenant. His singular act caused sin to be brought into the creation that was given to man. Just a few of the results of that action was the perfection He created was now flawed. Not only that but Adam who became sin now passes on his sin nature to all mankind.  We now have to look at what all this means. Including: Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:  “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. * Because of what Adam did not just man but the environment was also effected. 

If you need proof of the ‘sin nature’ look at the evil prevalent throughout the world. Murder, rape, theft, etc. This will continue until Jesus returns.

 Throughout life we are all searching for that inner peace, or whatever you want to call it. What am I here for?… Sooner or later a person must decide where they stand with God. Everyone will either accept or deny Him, we must decide which path we will take, and your decision effects your eternity. This is a very serious subject so I’m going to tell the truth about the way things are, with no sugar coating. 

According to His word, The one thing we can be sure of is, we will all be judged. Agree or disagree, it doesn’t make any difference! God has declared that all people will stand before Him.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

The afterlife has no “do-overs.” You have to get it correct now!

 Lets look at what His word says.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. Romans 3:23

Nobody is above God’s Law.

 “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God; They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

 There fore if you say that your a good person, look at the 10 commandments. If you’ve broken even one, according to God’s word; you’ve broken them all. That is why nobody is worthy according to His standards. James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

“Every man, woman, and child wants to do what’s right on his or her terms. These are the steps to imprisoning the heart. First the desire, then the deception, and finally the decision.” Dr. Ravi Zacharias

 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:17-20

The doctrine of original sin holds that every person born into the world is corrupted by the Fall and people are powerless to restore themselves but must be rescued by God.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is calling Him a liar. Matthew 12:31-32. It is the only unpardonable sin. The Holy Spirit is the one true witness of who Jesus is. God {Holy Spirit} is telling you Jesus is the only way, to deny Jesus is to call God a liar.

“BUT”

“For the wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

 “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in you heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness. and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10: 9-10

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

God’s Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 *  Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

 “The New Covenant is a gift of love. It’s all about the Cross. Jesus had to die to fulfill the covenant. Read Hebrews chapters 9-10. He is reaching down to us with this free gift of eternal life. All we must do is recognize that we fall short of God’s glory and acknowledge that we need the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. The shedding of Jesus’ blood fulfilled the requirements of the law.

We then walk in a personal relationship with God. I live to give God the glory. I am not seeking any glory for myself.” Bev an ex Morman

Many times either in person or on TV, I’ve heard someone say that if my good deeds out weigh my bad deeds, then I’m sure I’m going to heaven. A just God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell.

 It’s because He is a just God, that judgment is certain. Because of God’s perfect nature He can’t have sin in His presence. That is why all people will be judged, unless you accept the gift that Jesus provided for you, when He took your sins upon Himself on the cross. You must surrender to the Christ!

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

 “If we truly, sincerely repent and stop waging war with God by our defiance to His standards of right and wrong and humbly come before Him seeking mercy, He will cleanse our soul by the blood of Christ and give us a clean slate.” Author unknown to me

 “There are many who speak only of the forgiveness of sin, but who say little or nothing about repentance. If there is nevertheless no forgiveness of sins without repentance, so also forgiveness of sins cannot be understood without repentance. Therefore, if forgiveness of sins is preached without repentance, it follows that the people imagine they have already received the forgiveness of sins, and thereby they become cocksure and fearless, which is then greater error and sin than all the error that preceded our time.”   Melanchthon

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.” Acts 17:30-31

 As a wise man once said: “Our sin is great by God’s standard, But His Love is greater.”

 “Take heart, Jesus did not remain in the grave, He had the power to overcome the grave and offers us a free gift of salvation so that we can choose to be with Him. Because Jesus covered the debt you and I owe in our sinning against God [Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:3-5]; all you and I need to do is honestly confess our sins and truly accept Jesus as your savior.

If you have not accepted God’s love for you, I suggest that your seriously consider doing so as His infinite wisdom and love is comforting and is always there for you. All you need to do is to honestly confess your sins and receive His Son Jesus into your life as your savior from your sins.” Victor E. Pearson

You may have heard the expression “are you saved?” Or something of this nature. The term saved means to be free from judgment. For those who are under the blood of Christ will not go to the Great White Throne judgment. Belonging to a church, or having parents, or a spouse that are saved, calling yourself a Christian, or being baptized as a baby is not being saved. If you believe any of this protects you, It’s just not true. Being saved only happens when you come to the Cross in repentance, and your under the Blood of Christ.

 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:9-10

 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

 If after reading this information, you’d like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you need to repent and ask Him for forgiveness. Jesus because of the blood You shed, You have made a way for me. When you come to Him, ask Him to hide His face from your sins, and blot out all iniquities {in your words}. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

 The next step is to find a Church that uses the Bible as their only authority. A Church that allows a Minister more importance than God’s word, is not following God. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20) the church will help you with that. If you don’t have a bible get one, start with the book of Matthew and read at least one chapter a day. After reading the new testament, then go to the old testament. It will help you understand how to see Jesus in the old testament. Jesus is in every book of the Bible. I recommend the NKJV, but it’s up to you.

 Remember that Christianity is a journey, and in that walk with Christ we must be obedient to His word. Saying a prayer is only the first step. Salvation is something only the individual can work out with God, it’s between the both of you. Not between the person and others and God. Being a Christian means being a disciple of Jesus, you must to be willing to follow in His ways. It’s not repentance if you say a prayer and then continue to serve the world. You do not have Salvation without repentance.

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:1-6

There is a path we all have to take. Things like giving up drunkenness, doing drugs or whatever separates us from God. Nobody can tell you it will be easy. But you will find you have a new strength. Like it’s been said “take one day at a time.” Salvation is a choice you have to make…

God bless, Dan Beliveau

 “Just as God gave man the sign of the rainbow showing that we wouldn’t go through a flood again. He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit as a sign showing us we wouldn’t go through judgment when we accept Christ as our Savior.” Patrick Hammett 

Newsboys – God’s Not Dead * https://youtu.be/S_OTz-lpDjw

Mercy Me – I can only Imagine * https://youtu.be/N_lrrq_opng

Four Key Principles of Repentance

In our family devotions we have been sharpening some big beliefs, learning some big truths. We have been doing this with help from David Helm as he has led us through the Westminster Confession of Faith. This was a confession that played an important role in my younger years, but one I had neglected until recently. It has been a joy to return to it and learn from it again. Lately we have been learning about salvation and, more specifically,

“My friend you can get saved anywhere, at any place, if the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart and mind to make that choice of eternity and if you are really ready to surrender to God with all your heart, your will, your heart and your life just the way you are completely to him. Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His own precious blood for the forgiveness of all your sins. All you have to do is open your heart and give yourself fully to him. Jesus alone is the Savior of all souls born into this world. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.” John D. Butler 

Some people will tell you that it’s grace and works that are what save you. When we come under the blood of Christ. We aren’t earning our salvation by our works, but we are evidencing it. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. The truth is the greatest glory comes from receiving Christ.

MY TESTIMONIAL

I was raised a Catholic as a child. I learned many things from not only Bible classes in church, but also from attending Catholic School. The disagreement I had was that some things I was taught didn’t agree with Scripture. There is an article titled Tickled Ears where I share the information.

This isn’t so much about that here, as what has happened since I came to Jesus. I found that as I got older the more I wanted to learn. The need to know Him and His Word consumed much of my time.

I have had many different jobs in my life. Army medic, worked in two different ER’s, also 2 years as a Helicopter medic, Radar technician, Field engineer with Raytheon, Bus driver, Truck driver, etc. These jobs have opened up my mind to find a deeper meaning.

One day when I was a truck driver I was in a truck stop in Ohio. I had just woken up on a Sunday and somehow The Holy Spirit was telling me I needed to be baptized. I didn’t question it, it had to happen. I was originally baptized as a baby. I got behind the wheel and headed down the road. I came to a small town and saw a church. Pulled off the road and went inside where it was only a group of women having a Bible study.

I asked them if I could get baptized but was turned away. I was walking back to the truck thinking I could find a church in another town. Just about then bells started ringing. I looked up and saw a small church across the road. I looked up and said to the Lord “I got the message” I walked in and sat down and after awhile the pastor came back and asked if he could help me. I said I wanted to be baptized. He said yes, after the service. They took me to a small river in town and baptized me in the river. The emotions I was having are hard to explain, but I know something changed inside me. It’s a joy that only belonging to Jesus can be felt.

I have have some wonderful things happen to me in the Lord’s service. On a personal level , I was ordained as a deacon by the church I belonged to. Later I was given the privilege of being a Sunday School teacher. Since then I have also been ordained as a Minister in service to the Lord. My websites have been seen over a million times. All articles have been compiled here.

I am a couple months away from being 69 years old. In 2004 I had my 4th heart attack. One 4th of my right ventricle was destroyed. A doctor told me I would be lucky to live four months. My health has gotten a lot worse, my heart is now working at 30%. But because of my wife, God and the wonderful medical staff at the VA I am still here.

Please understand I am not afraid because I know I will be with the Lord when I pass. We have only one chance to get it right, so you have to at least be willing to know so you can make a decision. The things happening in the world today shows us how Scripture is being fulfilled. My prayer is that this website will be a blessing to you. I have a great Love for Jesus and want to share that. As Christians our goal is to share the Gospel to a lost and dying world.

May God bless you and keep you safe. Dan Beliveau

https://thelordsroom.org

I would like to add a comment. One time I was in London, England and had the privilege to see Westminster Chapel. It is a beautifully majestic place. Even so it is nothing compared to what the Lord has to come for those who love Him.

LUKES LETTERS

The Books of Luke and Acts

Luke 1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Acts 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Both letters {books} were addressed to Theophilus. Paul was on trial in Rome and his coworker in the Lord was the Physician Luke, who made Paul’s plea.. Theophilus was the lead investigator for the court of Cesar. Cesar was going to decide Paul’s fate and Theophilus brought in the evidence. The two books Luke wrote were written not only about the beginning Church but also how Paul played a role.

The letters were in essence affidavits; a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court. Luke had a first hand account of everything and was more than qualified to testify.

These two letters or books in the New Testament not only give solid evidence they are part of the Canon. Church fathers added them because they were also inspired by the Holy Spirit.

God’s peace

THE GOSPEL

If you’re agnostic, you may think the idea of knowing whether God exists is foolish. But God created us for that very reason—so that we would know Him and be in a personal relationship with Him.

The following four things you need to know about God will help you understand why the gospel is incredibly good news.

1. God is holy and just

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.” (Psalm 89:14)

In civil law, a good judge must punish crime. If he turns a blind eye to injustice, then he is corrupt and he himself should be punished.

In one ten-year period in the United States, 100,000 murderers were never brought to justice. These were unsolved crimes. If God turns a blind eye to those murderers, then He is corrupt by nature. It makes sense that if He is good and just, He should be angry with those who have taken the lives of others, and He should punish murderers, rapists, etc. This is the teaching of the Bible—that God will “by no means clear the guilty.” He “will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” “God is angry with the wicked every day.”

2. The Bible says “the wages of sin is death”

“Sin is transgression of the Law.” (1 John 3:4)

Let’s look briefly at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), and see if we have kept God’s Law:

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make yourself a graven image.

You shall not take God’s name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not lie.

You shall not covet.

Before we say we have obeyed the Commandments, this is what someone would be like if he kept the Law—he would always love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his strength, and with all his mind, and love his neighbor as much as he has loved himself. He has never made a god to suit himself (either with his hands or in his mind).

He has always given God’s name reverence, kept the Sabbath holy, honored his parents implicitly, and never once has he been “angry with his brother without a cause.” He has never hated anyone, had lust in his heart, or had illicit sex. He has never stolen even a paper clip or ballpoint pen, or told as much as a “white” lie, and not once desired anything that belongs to someone else. He is, and always has been “pure in heart,” perfect in thought, word, and deed.

The truth is, we are not like that. We have all “sinned” many times, and therefore we have stored up God’s wrath, which will be revealed on Judgment Day. The proof that we have sinned will be our death, and after death we must face God in judgment.

Think of it—if He has seen our every thought, word, and deed, and if He is going to bring all of our sins out as evidence of our guilt on the Day of Judgment, we will all be found to be guilty. Our conscience has shown us right from wrong; we will be without excuse. God will give us justice, and Hell will be the place of our eternal punishment. “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.”

3. God is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…“(Ephesians 2:4)

A youth once borrowed a fast car, and in a drunken stupor, sped through his hometown at 120 mph. Since everything was horse-drawn in his country town, there were no laws against speeding. So the council passed a law saying that 30 mph was the maximum speed, and that any transgressors would be fined $100 for every mile over the speed limit.

On his way back through the town, the speedster decided to pull the same prank. He was apprehended, tried, and found guilty by his father, the town’s only judge. He was fined $9,000, and because he had no money and no words of defense, the youth was led off to prison. As he sat in despair behind bars, his father appeared at the door, and told him that he had sold all his own prized possessions and paid the fine for him. The son couldn’t believe that he loved him that much. They embraced as they never had before, and walked off in a newfound relationship, bonded together with love.

That’s a picture of what God did for us through the gospel.

We have all broken God’s Law a multitude of times, but God came to this earth in the person of Jesus Christ, and paid the fine—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus satisfied eternal justice, and then rose from the dead, defeating death. Hundreds saw Him after His resurrection; it’s no fairy tale. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies about the promised Savior, written in the Holy Scriptures hundreds of years before His birth. But just as we cannot earn a gift, so we cannot earn eternal life by our good works—“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

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4. God offers eternal life through Jesus Christ

“He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

Life’s greatest mystery, death, was destroyed by the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” The Bible says, “He who has the Son has life…”

To find the way to God, to understand the truth of God’s Word, and to receive the gift of eternal life, repent and place your faith in Jesus alone for your salvation. You may want to express your thoughts through a prayer something like this: “Dear God, I understand that I have broken Your Law and sinned against You. Please forgive my sins. Thank you that Jesus suffered and died on the cross in my place and rose again. I now place my trust in Him as my Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you have repented and trusted in Jesus, then your sins are forgiven and you can now partake in the blessings of “the New Covenant.” Here are just ten of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises:

You have passed from death into life (John 5:24).

God will supply all of your needs according to His riches (Philippians 4:19).

Jesus will be with you in trials, promising never to leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth, and give you the power to live a holy life (John 16:13).

You are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ—God has removed your sins as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).

As you abide in Christ, you will see the “fruit” of His Spirit begin to manifest in your life (Galatians 5:22–25).

As you read the Bible daily, it will come alive to you and cause you to grow in your faith (1 Peter 2:1–3).

When you pray, God will hear you and answer your prayers (1 John 5:15).

The cross will be continual evidence of God’s love for you (Romans 5:8).

God “is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

Search the Scriptures daily, and see what God has in store for those who love Him. Honor Christ’s command to be baptized, and find yourself a Jesus-centered, Bible-teaching church and commit yourself to it.

May God continue to bless you as you obey Him.

Adapted from NeedGod.com, © Living Waters. Used with permission.

Tom Hammond | All Rights Reserved

THE FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. ² And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. ³ Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. ⁴ They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. ⁶ In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

⁷ The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. ⁸ They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. ⁹ And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. ¹⁰ They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. ¹¹ And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

¹² One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

Revelation 9:13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet,  “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” ¹⁵ And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. ¹⁶ The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

¹⁷ And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. ¹⁸ By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. ¹⁹ For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

²⁰ But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. ²¹ And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

This part of the Book of Revelation is very clear about what is coming upon the earth during the 7 year Tribulation. But this only tells part of what is coming. It is not a metaphor or anything but the actual future.

Nobody will be able to escape that terrible time when the Anti-Christ takes over control of the earth, unless you are saved and Raptured out. Read the article about the Rapture. The most important decision anyone can make is weather you accept Jesus or reject Him. See the Salvation article.

God bless, Dan Beliveau

https://thelordsroom.org

THE TRIBULATION

During a conversation a young man said this to me. “you are not even sure and you are still doubting, what is the meaning of tribulation? I am sharing this because I believe it’s that important. What is coming, and which people will be effected.

First, I am totally sure what is coming, and doubt is not in me! It was very easy to find the answer. This is the future during the tribulation for those who reject Jesus.

Those on earth will endure devastating judgments. The tribulation is a future seven-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving . The rise of the Antichrist (Rider on a White Horse, Rev. 6:1-2)

1st Series of Judgments

– War & civil upheaval (Rider on a Red Horse, Rev. 6:3-4)

– Famine & poverty (Rider on a Black Horse, Rev. 6:5-6)

– Death of 25% of population (Rider on a Pale Horse, Rev. 6:7-8)

– Believers are martyred (Rev. 6:9-11)

– Devastating Earthquake (Rev. 6:12-17)

2nd Series of Judgments

– A third of all vegetation destroyed (Rev. 8:7)

– A third of all oceans polluted & a third of all sea life destroyed (Rev. 8:8-9)

– A third of all fresh water polluted (Rev. 8:10-11)

– A third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened (Rev. 8:12)

– Demonic torment for 5 months (Rev. 9:1-11)

– A third of mankind killed by a demonic army of 200 million (Rev. 9:13-21)

3rd Series of Judgments

– Plague upon those who received the mark of the Antichrist (Rev. 16:2)

– The entire sea is polluted and all sea life destroyed (Rev. 16:3)

– All freshwater is polluted (Rev. 16:4)

– People scorched by the sun’s intense heat (Rev. 16:8-9)

– Darkness (Rev. 16:10) – Euphrates River dries up (Rev. 16:12)

– Most destructive earthquake in history (Rev. 16:17-18)

The Tribulation Clarifies the Seriousness of Rejecting Jesus

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.

During the time before the flood fallen Angels came to earth and took women as mates. The result was freakish children called the Nephilim. The goal was to corrupt the DNA of mankind. The flood happened because of how evil man had become. Today evil is again trying to change the DNA of mankind. It is part of the plan for man to submit to the New World Order.

Someday, I think soon it will be too late. Remember you have been warned.

21 FACTS ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST :

1. He will be an intellectual genius. (Dan. 8:23)

2. He will be an oratorical genius. (Dan. 11:36)

3. He will be a political genius. (Rev. 17:11-12)

4. He will be a commercial genius. (Dan. 11:43; Rev. 13:8)

5. He will be a military genius. (Rev. 6:2, 13:2)

6. He will be a religious genius. (2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 13:8)

7. He will begin by controlling the Western power block. (Rev. 17:12)

8. He will make a seven-year covenant with Israel but will break it after

three and a half years. (Dan. 9:27)

9. He will attempt to destroy all of Israel.

(Rev. 12)

10. He will destroy the false religious system so that he may rule

unhindered.

(Rev. 17:16-17)

11. He will set himself up as God. (Dan. 11:36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4, 11; Rev. 13:5)

12. He will briefly rule over all nations. (Ps. 2; Dan. 11:36; Rev. 13:16)

13. He will be utterly crushed by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 19)

14. He will be the first creature thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20)

15. He will be a master of deceit. (2 Thess. 2:10)

16. He will profane the temple. (Matt. 24:15)

17. He will be energized by satan himself. (Rev. 13:2)

18.He will do everything according to his own selfish will. (Dan. 11:36)

19. He will not regard the God of his fathers.

(Dan. 11:37)

This is an interesting one as far as lineage. Everyone tries to figure out who it will be but, the Word tells us. Anyone that does not line-up with the Word, we can rule him out. “It is written”.

20. He will not have the desire of women.

(Dan. 11:37)

21. His god will be the god of power.

(Dan. 11:38)

MARANATHA !

Teresa Bianco

WATCH TOWER

Bible Answer Man

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Jehovah’s Witnesses and Matthew 24: “New Light” or New Hermeneutic?

Brian J. Wright and Timothy Ricchuiti

On October 2012, nearly five thousand Jehovah’s Witnesses gathered in New Jersey for the 128th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania to hear the Governing Body’s “new light.”1 The Governing Body, currently made up of eight men, is the sole entity responsible for defining orthodoxy and orthopraxy for roughly eight million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.

The most recent “new light” focuses on Jesus’ parable in Matthew 24:45–51, which begins with the question, “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time?” (NRSV).

“In the past,” the Governing Body states, “our publications have said the following:…the slave represents all anointed Christians on earth as a group at any one time since then.” Going forward, though, “a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food” is now the slave, and “these anointed brothers make up the Governing Body” (emphasis added).

In one radical announcement, the Governing Body designated themselves—and themselves alone—the faithful and wise slave. How should we assess such a claim? Is this really “new light” or is it a new hermeneutic?

According to experts in rhetoric,2 there are four solid reasons you can properly criticize someone else’s viewpoint: demonstrate that they are uninformed, misinformed, illogical, or incomplete in their justification. As Christians, we add a fifth category to their list: unbiblical.

Using these five categories, we will assess the latest interpretative shift coming from Jehovah’s Witnesses’ headquarters. We will focus on one key issue per category in an attempt to evaluate the radical shift at play in the Governing Body’s “new light.”

Read the rest of this article > https://www.equip.org/…/jehovahs-witnesses-and-matthew…/ #Watchtower#theology#apologetics