Almost Persuaded. "Acts 26: 24-28 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Here is a letter I received the other day. “I believe this is one of saddest stories in the Bible. The king was almost Home. He was almost persuaded to make a heart commitment to Jesus and live with Him eternally in Heaven. Many of us have loved ones and friends who are almost persuaded to be a Christian. We need to search our heart and see if our actions and words to our family and friends are turning them away from Jesus. If we want our loved ones to make that final commitment to Jesus, then we need to pray for them and extend the Love of Jesus to them on a daily basis. Sometimes we get so busy with our schedules during the day that we don’t make the time to fellowship with our loved ones and friends. How would we feel if Jesus didn’t make time for us on a daily basis? Let’s live so that others will never say to us, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" Joanne Lowe. September 3, 2005 King Agrippa, believed the prophets but he couldn't bring himself to believe that the words of the prophets had come true in his lifetime. Thats the way it is today. Many are almost persuaded to believe in Jesus but because of one thing or another they have decided to wait. Politics, religion, peer pressure are all getting in the way of many that otherwise would be persuaded to join in on the Family of God. I've heard from many around the world that are confused by their friends, and religious people that know nothing of the intent of God in the lives of mankind. This world is not what it used to be and never will return back to that place and time that many of us remember. Too much has changed, too much has happened, to ignore the signs of the times. We preach love and compassion but there comes a time that love and compassion will not work. Fear and dread of the destruction of this earth will have to be used. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Can this happen? It already is happening, there are many that preach the Bible that denigh the Jesus Christ actually exist, some preach God only, some preach Jesus only and others preach what their congregations want to hear to appease man. Not accounting for the salvation of their listeners. We cannot persuade anyone by preaching one above the other, for as with Jude, he states, ”denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here we see again the separation of the two even thou they are one. We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Telling the truth and getting by man made doctrine. We have, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost, as was stated by Jesus. How can we denigh this? The plan of salvation come to us in three steps, The Father sacrificing His Son, The Son Sacrificing His Mortal Life and The Holy Ghost leading us into all truths. Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.[1Co_9:19-22.] Mat 19:21-22; Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Almost persuaded, riches became this mans god, his idol, his life, and rather to give heed to the will of God by distributing all that he had to the poor he chose to keep his type of religion and go about his ways. Observing religious practices from his youth up was by no means salvation. Many get into habits that become second nature to them and become more of a spectacle than worship. If a man is not born again of the spirit he has not attained salvation. If he has no circumcision of the heart there is no change. Religious practices are not what Jesus wanted from this man and neither from us. He wants mankind to worship God in Spirit & Truth. Baptism without repentance is useless. What was this young ruler actually missing? The Love of God over all, he was violating the first two commandments, Mat 22:37-40; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Isa 1:11-15; To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Again; We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Bring no more vain oblations, for what kind of sacrifice can you bring before God? There is none that can satisfy Him except the Blood of the Lamb. Persuasion of the lost by the word of God, not choosing what you want and letting the rest go, but using all, showing a pattern of useless situations that God will no longer accept, false religious practices, false religion, false doctrine, false prayers, willing to be heard above the crowd but not meaning any of the words coming from your mouth. We must persuade by example, by acts, by faith, by demonstration of Power of the Holy Ghost.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Are you almost persuaded or are you still indoubt, God says come to Him and reason with Him, ask Him any question on salvation, tell Him the reason that you refuse to serve Him and He will answer all your questions. God is willing to go another step with you if you are willing to listen. All the answers to all the questions are in the Bible. There is nothing covered that will not be shown, nothing hidden that will not be reveled and nothing said that will not be shouted out from the house top. Its all there. Are you listening to your friends, do you believe that everything is one big party, do you believe that you can escape the judgment, or have you listened to Satan telling you that, there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, no Judgment? Who are you listening too? Seek out your own salvation, seek out the God that has created and can destroy. Don't die and wake up in Hell saying,”I was Almost persuaded.”
Let The Sea Roar!
Psa 98:7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Jer 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? [Jer_10:7; Deu_28:58; Psa_119:120; Mat_10:28; Luk_12:5; Rev_15:4]
Where is the fear of God the Almighty? Are the people so strong that they can fight against the will of God? Can a nation that forgets God survive? The word rendered “be troubled” means to boil; to ferment; to foam; and here it refers to the ocean as agitated and lashed into foam. The world will not be dstroyed by water again, but it is being punished, India, Japan,Phillippiens, South East Aisa, Germany, Poland, Italy and yes America. Isa 5:30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof. Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. Jer 31:35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth [to stur up] the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: The Apolitic Nature of the elements of prophecy are being fulfilled but still yet, there are millions of people that refuse to heed the warning. I don't, as many others do, take every disaster and cry out doom and disaster, but when all the elements of Revelations start coming together, its time to blow the trumpet and wake a sleeping people. Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Fear ye not me? saith the LORD. Where is the fear of God? Does the earth have to be on fire before mankind starts to fear God and his wrath? “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Mankind looks for comfort in the arms of Government and self, family and friends, those who cannot help, who cannot comfort, who cannot save. This is the duty of Ministers;1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. But have the ministers also lost their fear of God and replaced it with the fear of mans retribution? God help us all if thats the case. We are the light of the world, but if we loose that light all mankind shall be in darkness. A man asked me the other day,”Where is God, Where is the proof that the Bible is real. I hear so many different interpretations that I don't know what to believe. Thomas needed proof and I will be like Him, where is the proof ? ” I told him of history books, not related to the Bible that supported all the accounts of Jesus, I told him of history biographeys of famous men that gave testimony of the validity of the Bible and I told Him of Faith in the unseen to help believe those things that we can see.My talk with Him still continues. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Let them behold darkness and sorrow, let the seas roar, let the dead bury the dead, let that light of freedom and comfort be extinguished, so that the soul might be saved. Is this because of just one catastrophe, No, its because of prophecy coming together in this lifetime. Just as Noah was warned, we are also warned. Mankind in the day of Noah, scoffed and laughed at the preachings of a man of God, and the same is coming to pass today. Noah condemned the world by his obedience to the will of God. Building of the arc was not only a task to save his family but was the prelude to the end of man on the earth, lawlessness, greed, hatred, sin, and disaster. The same is as today, an arc is being built, not one that can be seen, not one that can be moved, but one of the spirit, calling out for those that fear God to come aboard and be saved from the roar of an angry God. Who is going to stand in the anger of Gods wrath? Nations and Governments are turning away from the truth, turning away from Righteousness, turning away from the reality that which is of God. Laws being passed to insure and unholy lifestyle, lies and compromises, replacing one dictatorship with another, false religious and false prophets, going on the air ways spouting death to those that believe something other than they believe, this is not Christ like and payday is coming. To stur up the anger of God, to make Him roar like a Lion, to taunt Him with speculation and unbeliefe. Men are laughing at God and His anger is kindled. ” Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled - The waters of the sea.” The idea is, that they would not be afraid, not be afraid of God but of the times that they live in, though everything should be in commotion, and be as unsettled as the restless waves of the ocean. The earth might be changed, the mountains removed, the agitated sea roar and dash against the shore, but their minds would be unsettled, but their fear would not be of God. Man is looking for a natural explanation for tragedy and suffering. Their looking to place blame on anyone or everyone except themselves. Christian and sinner alike are suffering, but the Christian has someone to comfort them. The sinner must repent and have the fear of God within them. Eze 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity. Zec 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. I leave you these questions to answer for yourselves; Where is the fear of God the Almighty? Are the people so strong that they can fight against the will of God? Can a nation that forgets God survive? ars.
Another Mans Servant Romans 14:4-14:4
Sometimes we find ourselves alone in our indesision and self pity. There are those who wonder why God is using someone else in a great way while we sit along the wayside and wonder why we are not used by the Master. Man in his opinion of himself is always wanting to be the center of attention. Wanting to be noticed, wanting to be important. I think at one time or another, we have all felt the same way until we realized that our mission for God is not about self but of the concern of others. Many times a minister will receive a message from the Holy Spirit and when he delievers it, the roof comes down on many. lets look at the scripture for answers. Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Where have all the Preachers gone, you know the ones that spoke of Heaven being Sweet and Hell being Hot? Speaking of Angles and Golden streets and Fire and Brimstone, Shouts of Joy from the redeemed and screams of pain from the lost. Preaching the coming of Jesus and the wrath to come? The ones that knew that know matter what was preached, God was able to hold them up against ridicule. The ones who knew to his own master he standeth or falleth. I have noticed in the years that I have Preached and Taught, that when I and others, deliever a message that no one has heard of before, there is quite a stir amoung some. The reason for this, is that, many are afraid of change, change from what they thought was right. Fear of the unknown, fear of knowing the truth that they may be held acdcountiable.What is the Truth? Truth is that there is a vengiful God, there is a day of recompense, there is a day of wrath, there is a day of sorrow, comming upon this earth and those that refuse to listen to the word of God. Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. Fire, Brimstone and the smell of burning flesh, all appart of the word of God.
Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. What is Holy? Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.
Regarded with or worthy of worship or veneration; revered.
Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly.
Solemnly undertaken; sacrosanct.
Regarded as deserving special respect or reverence: The pursuit of peace. Divine, Sacred, God-like, Heavenly, Devotional, Devout, Pietistic, Prayerful, Saintly, Blessed, Hallowed, Sacred. Lets look at these next few verses and lets ask our selves, “Is this Holy”, “is this from our God that we serve?” ’’is this what we have been taught?” Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isa 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Your answer should be Yes! God is Holy, God is merciful ,God is Love, but God is also Power and Justice. Compromise,Compromise, say one thing and mean another. Dictate what is Holy and what is not, never willing to stand for a Rightious God. Never willing to see the truth of Scripture. Goverments calling for unification of all religions, no matter what the cost. Religious also calling upon the world to compromise the Word of Truth, just to bring about a non-lasting peace. Calling evil good and good evil. judging our brothers for standing fast in their faith in God. Calling them, contriversial, reactionary, non-compliant. False religions, false teachers, false preachers, compromisers. Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 1Ti 1:6-7 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Jesus was speaking of those who rejected the truth, those who would compromise the word for fading glory. ”He that is not with me is against me.” Those that speak of compromise, those that speak of change, those that speak as thou the word of God is inadequate in todays society to the salvation of the soul. These are those that are against Jesus and will pay a dear price for their inconsistencies in the Gospel. Mark 9:38-40 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part. “we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.” Many fail to see the significants of this statement. For there were more than the deciples and even Jesus that were also preaching of The Kingdom of Heaven. Who were they,where did they come from? God sent them. He sent them with the same message that His Son was delivering.
Jesus spoke in plane language. It became the center of hatred toward Him. A man of righteousness and Truth.
Matthew 10:35 For I am come to set a man at “variance” [The state or fact of differing or of being in conflict.SYNONYMS:
discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance.
These nouns refer to a state of disagreement and disharmony. Discord is a lack of harmony often marked by bickering and antipathy. Strife usually implies a struggle, often destructive, between rivals or factions. Contention suggests a dispute in the form of heated debate or quarreling. Dissension implies difference of opinion that disrupts unity within a group. Conflict suggests antagonism of ideas or interests that often results in hostility or divisiveness: Clash involves irreconcilable ideas or interests. Variance usually suggests discrepancy or incompatibility.
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. So if Jesus came to set at variance the family, why, then, when a man of God preaches or teaches the truth, and division comes in the family, do we judge that man for his words? Why do we judge and hate our brother because he tells the truth? Could it be possiable that what many have been taught is wrong or is only a portion of the truth? Could it be because we are holding on to tradition instead of holding onto the truth? Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Can a man of God actually do this as Christ commanded? Yes, if he listens to the Spirit and not to the flesh. Jesus made enemies of not only the Saducies and Pharieses but of the entire world. His message was of Righteousness and Truth, not of Compromise and indecision. John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Many are refused entrance into the Church because of their appearance or financial status. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Are we to listen to those who are not willing to ”Rock the Boat” or are we to preach and teach the messages that are delivered unto us by the Spirit? Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at “nought”[Nonexistence; nothingness, Nonexistent.
Insignificant] thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. ars
What is it if I Die? Psalms 88:10-88:11
What is it if I Die? What is it like to be dead? The Biblical Response. All scripture is good for instruction, the Bible says so. So lets talk about the thing that people fear most, death and the grave. Many people are so afraid of death, that they buy graves above the ground, Crypts. Death itself is a sting to the spirit and soul of a person, Jesus said so in scripture. I believe that it’s the unknown event that frightens most. We have no idea, when where or how we are to depart this life but we know that death is inevitable. We cannot run from it, hide from it, evade it or reason with it, it will come to all of us. I have found out, first hand, that we cannot control the time of our death nor the circumstances surrounding it. I found out that the old saying, “We are just a heart beat away from eternity.” Is true. But what does the Bible say about the grave? Psa 88:10 Wilt thou {God} shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead{Bodies} arise and praise thee? Selah. {Pause and reflect} Some times we make the mistake of not pausing in our studies to reflect on what we have read, for if we don’t we are sure to miss something that the Holy Ghost wanted us to see. We find here, that the Psalmist not only is questioning God on the state of his body after death but of all bodies after death. He basically asked, “Will you talk to the dead and show them wonders, and shall they rise up and Glorify you for the things they see?”
Psa 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness {Love and Mercy} be declared {Spoken of} in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?{will your promises be talked of}
Psa 88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark?{Death} and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?{Grave}
Psa 88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me {you have separated me from the ones that I’ve, known and loved while alive.}, and mine acquaintance {Knowledge of all I knew} into darkness. {No remembrance} The mention of lack of memory here only indicates that the righteous dead have no remembrance but the unrighteous will remember what they have done that caused them to perish. Many people will argue this point, saying that we will be able to reunite with family and friends in Heaven, but I have found no scripture to back up that claim. The verse most will try to use is, 1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Revelations read correctly explains that, we shall be known as over comers by the word and our testimonies. We shall be given a new name that no man knows. Ref: Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
So therefore Psa. 88:18, describes the dead {Righteous} as having no remembrance of any one individual. Can you imagine the tears of those who, if they remembered family and went on a search for them and didn’t find them, they would know that a loved one never made it right with God and was suffering in Hell? Our Father will not allow this to happen. Many say that they will reunite with their animals in Heaven, not likely, the Bible says, NO.
Ecc 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, {to judgment} and spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? {Back from where it was created}
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event {Death} to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. What he is speaking of here, is that no matter who you are, weather saint or
sinner, good or bad, righteous or unrighteous, we all have one thing in common, Death.
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil {an occurrence} among all things {living} that are done under the sun {things that are done on the earth}, that there is one event {Death} unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Ecc 9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living {still alive} there is hope: for [a living dog {sometimes refers to gentiles} is better than a dead lion. {Sometimes refers to a King}] This is one of my favorite verses in scripture. Translated it means, so long as a person lives {in the Body}, there is hope for conversion to righteousness, but after the person has died there remaineth no more hope for change. The body is only alive if the spirit dwells within it. Many people believe that if a man dies unrighteous, he has a chance to be prayed out of purgatory and be renewed into the house of God. This assumption is wrong and unfounded in scripture. Jesus said that as a tree {man} falleth so shall it be raised. {Judged}.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. After the spirit leaves the body at the moment of death, the works of that man has stopped. He can do no more evil or good. He cannot ask for forgiveness and his works on earth are then judged.
Ecc 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished {the earthly emotions of the individual is no longer, hatred, love, envy are all gone}; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. {The body nor spirit of man can never affect the world of the living} Many make saints of the dead but should rather make saints of the living, for God is the God of the living and not of the dead. Ref: Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might {What ever you start to do in this life, do it with all your heart}; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave {They say that the grave is cold and lonely, not so according to scripture. there is no actions of the body, no movement or feeling of any type}{It becomes only the shell of whom we were, nothing else.}, whither thou goest. {The body has no knowledge nor ever will, know the destiny of the soul of the man whom once dwelt within.} I pray that this lesson will be a help to those who still wonder about death and those who have already departed. This lesson by all means is not all conclusive, just a small portion to enlighten those with questions. Ars.
A Myth of Salvation Matthew 10:22-10:22
Many are preaching once saved always saved, lets look closer at scripture and see what Jesus had to say. Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ENDU’RE, To bear; to sustain; to support without breaking or yielding to force or pressure. To bear; to brook; to suffer without resistance, or without yielding. To last; to continue in the same state without perishing; to remain; to abide. The myth of salvation is once saved always saved. The problem is that there are some who misinterpret scripture and fail to compare scripture with scripture, this is a common mistake. Some of the scriptures they misinterpret are the following;1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. This verse tells us that God, with every temptation will make a way for our escape, but we must be willing to accept the alternate course that He has lined out for us. Remember that God gives us the power to change things in our lives but He never forces us to use that power. Rom 8:35 Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? The following, from verse 8:35, are conditions or state that we find ourselves in and not persons nor principalities or powers; {shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?} The same is also true of verse 8:39, height, nor depth, nor any other creature. The love of God for His creation (Man) will be and is everlasting. There is nothing, according to scripture that states God will ever hate His creation. When God calls something Good it is Good for eternity, but the state of it may be altered by outside influences but the original creation is still good. References; Gen 1:4, Gen 1:10, Gen 1:18, Gen 1:25, Gen 1:27, [God created man in his own image], Remember that God cannot hate His own Image.
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The preceding passages indicate that there is no one or thing that can what? 1. seperate us from the love of Christ and 2. seperate us from the love of God. If we look closer at John 3:16, we find that God
loved the world even thou the world was and had become unrighteous, True? So then the unrighteous world that He loved was lost. In verses Romans 8:35 and 8:39 are not stating that the people that God loves will be saved forever they express that their love for the creation cannot be separated by any means. Lets look again at John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The wording [should not perish] here indicates that there are no reasons why a person should be lost but it doesn’t state that they wont be lost. The word endure occurs more than once indicating an importance that we must address and understand. Lets read the following verses; James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. This verse is speaking of endurance or should we say lack of endurance from the Christians in the end days. God states that He will shorten the days so that the very elect (Christians) will not be lost.
Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 8. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. What does the word strive mean? To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard; applicable to exertions of body or mind.
To contend; to contest; to struggle in opposition to another; to be in contention or dispute; followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against temptation; strive for the truth. Still not convinced? Lets look at the Book of Revelations,
Rev 2:7 To him that overcometh, Rev 2:11 He that overcometh, Rev 2:17 To him that overcometh, Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh, Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh. Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh, He that endureth until the end, to complete this walk of Christ, to finish the race, to finish the course, to the end. This last verse is an end time prophecy; Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The reason that it is an end time prophecy is because of the wording; {And it shall come to pass}. Remember the wording in Revelations, remember the prophecies of fire and brimstone, earthquake and desolation, this is the last opportunity for the lost to ask God for forgiveness. To contend; to contest; to struggle, this is a fight to the end. Paul Stated; 2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:: In verses 4:7-8, Paul tells us of his impending death, but he states that he has 1.fought a good fight (a fight against false doctrine)2.Finished my course,(finished the course that God had set him on to deliver the gospel to the gentile race of people. And 3. Kept the Faith, ( Paul endured until the end not wavering nor giving up ,due to the temptations and hardships that he had to overcome.)
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Reading the words of Paul have helped me to continue the fight, there have been many who have opposed me in this subject but I can only offer the truth of scripture. We must teach all and help all those that are saved to Endure until the end so that one day we may all be lifted upon the wings of Eagles to that everlasting home of the Lord God Almighty. Ars.
What is Truth?
John 18:37-18:38
This sermon deals with the truth in the world, what truth is and what lies are. John 18:37-38 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
In my opinion, this is one of the most important questions in scripture. Pilate didn’t understand what he asked; he didn’t understand the importance of these 3 simple words. It took me many years to see the relevants of this verse, I was wrapped up in the words that Jesus spoke and was over looking what the Holy Spirit was trying to show me. Here are some examples of truth and lies. Lies; Iraq will become a show place for democracy in the Moslem world.
Truth; Beheadings are still taking place in Iraq; car bombings are still taking innocent lives. A little child moans and weeps for the loss of her mother, lying at her feet dead. Lies; The world economy is great, food is in abundant supply, we have a handle on A.I.D.S. Truth; Thousands are dieing in Africa of hunger and A.I.D.S., women are being raped and then sent off to die, insurgents are helping the local government to commit genocide on thousands. Lies; Gay marriage is a God given right to all; it will not harm children but strengthen the family values. There is nothing wrong with civil unions. Truth; Homosexuality and Gay Marriage is destroying this country from its basic foundation of a country that has put its trust in God for over 200 years. Politicians say that they believe in God and then vote not to ban these abominations. Lies; Family values are stronger today than they were 20 years ago; this nation is strong and vibrant. Truth; Three children, under the age of 4 years, and their mother were set on fire with gasoline and were burned to death by the father, who also died by suicide. The nation is divided over religion and marriage rights. Lies; Hell doesn’t exist and even if it does we have a thousand years to pray our way out to Heaven. Truth; Hell and the lake of Fire are eternal, there is no purgatory and there are no exit signs. A soul sent to the lake of Fire will burn for eternity, screaming and wailing and gnashing of teeth will be the punishment for not believing on the Son of God. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth [more correctly, into all the truth, will guide you wholly into the truth.] [The Spirit does not reveal all truth to men, but He leads them to the truth as it is in Christ.]: for he shall not speak of himself [Rev., rightly, from himself.] See on John 7:17; but whatsoever he shall hear [whatsoever things he may have heard.], that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth but its up to us to accept it. Many will turn a blind eye to the truth when it doesn’t suit their purposes or when it hinders them from doing those things that are pleasing to the flesh or their spirit. Many of the things that the scripture does not clearly teach are those things that the Holy Spirit will give us the power to discern on our own. [Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error.] Many of us who are on the meat of the word, no longer need to be fed by spoon but should be able to eat when we are hungry. We should be able at this point to discern, right from wrong, good from bad, righteousness from unrighteousness, truth from lies.
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The world has gotten into a position that they no longer see the truth, but are blinded by, political parties, wealth, positions, greed, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. A moment ago I stated that many were blinded to the truth, some of these are within the church, we are supposed to be the light of the world. How can we be a light if we look away from the real truth of the things that are taking place in this world? Many are preaching peace and safety and it’s just not true. They are preaching that the church is growing and prospering and is in the best shape it has ever been and it’s just not true. Jesus said that there would be a Great Falling Away first, 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means [Listen to the truth]: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first [some say the rapture comes first, but the scripture doesn’t line up that way, my interpretation here is that there will be a drop in church attendance because of apathy], and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [Here is when the rapture takes place, before the anti-Christ is reveled] {The rapture takes place before the 7 year tribulation period and the signing of the 7 year peace treaty with Israel and the anti-Christ.}
So when are these that preach, peace and prosperity, going to listen to Jesus and see for themselves the truth? 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. [Could this also be speaking of those that teach the body, a point for discussion]?
Luke 11:35-36 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee [Truth] be not darkness [half truth]. If thy whole body therefore be full of light [having the fullness of truth], having no part dark [having no half truths], the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. [The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is that bright candle, which delivers us to the truth] A candle shines it’s brightest when the night is its darkest, figuratively speaking of the world. This world has been taken over by the spirit of error; many are calling good evil and evil good. Many are blaming the worlds problems on the Christian faith. Many have said in the last 20 years that, “The world would be better off if it wasn’t for the Christians in it.” This was a direct quote, from a government official.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed [its best for all of us to start paying attention to scripture, its our guide into the next millennium], as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
1John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. We know the truth, but sometimes we try to paint a color picture with a collection of charcoal pencils. My life has been dedicated to reaching out to others with the truth, showing them that the sky is blue and the grass is green because God colored them that way. Preaching that Hell is a place of severe torment that last forever and that Heaven is a place of great joy and glory, which is our inheritance. The world is on a collision course with Armageddon and the people of the world have their racing shoes on, they are eager to shed innocent blood, they lye in wait for the weak to shed their blood and call it an act from God. Those of you that are lost here today, come to Jesus before its too late, before the light of the world is removed and darkness settles in over you, come to Jesus before you wake up in torment and are screaming for God to end the nightmare. John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Lost this is speaking of a time to come that the minister of the truth will be gone and no longer be able to guide you to Jesus. A time of great despair and tribulation, a time of martyrdom and blood, a time you will have to make the ultimate choice of death or life, death to be saved or life to be branded by the anti Christ as one of his demons. Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. “In that Night.” Are we speaking of the time of day or of a time of famine for the word of God? Reason for yourself. Ars.
