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Archive for August, 2010

Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail – Pre-Trib Rapture Support –Part 1

31 Aug

Matthew 16:13-18 – 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

I like to put the scriptures down in the NIV version, but verse 18 in the King James I think is better on this.

Matthew 16:18 – 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I’m not one of those who believe this scripture is stating that Peter is the rock.  I believe Peter’s statement is the rock, which is, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This is the rock that Jesus has built His church.

With that let’s move ahead to Revelation.

Revelation 13:7-   7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The antichrist or beast in Revelation 13:7 is given power to overcome the saints.  Now if the saints are the church we have ourselves a contradiction here.  However, if the church is gone already, we do not.  Christ said the Gates of Hell will not overcome the My church.  People will continue to get saved in the tribulation by the millions.

Tomorrow we will continue with part 2.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, Rapture

 

Freewill – Ultimately It’s A Responsibility

30 Aug

Freewill.  Clearly the Lord didn’t want robots when he created the human race.

God wanted man to be able to enjoy the creation, mingle amongst others, but most importantly have relationship with Him. 

Then the fall happened.  Houston, we have a short circuit.  The spacecraft seems to be out of control.

Many people feel that since they are allowed to do anything that God must want them to exercise that power.  God’s Word warns us a thousand times plus against that theory.

God knows man is fallen.  He knows how he acts.  He knew without His interceding on our behalf, were destined for hell.  I believe God knew at the time of the fall about his plan for redemption.  If there wasn’t one I don’t think he would have allowed us to keep us coming into this world for that hopeless destruction.

Why did I just say all that?  I believe that all indicates that man’s freewill can choose redemption 100 percent of the time if it is presented to him.  I believe we are created in his image and if it isn’t presented (heard the gospel) our freewill still could choose God. 

However, man since the fall has been choosing either his own selfish desires or God ever since.

So how did Adam and Eve fall?  Disobedience with their freewill.

Just because we have freewill and grace, doesn’t mean it’s a license to sin.

Hebrews 10:26-27 –   26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Key word here is deliberately. 

We have a freewill that we inherited from God.  That freewill won’t give you a free pass. 

You have freewill to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  You have freewill to also choose not to.

That same freewill is choosing your destiny, creating files of good or poor things that you will be accountable for in front of the Most High.

Jesus’ sacrifice is a free gift.  You must freely accept it with your freewill for it to be official.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Quote Reflection – Billy Graham

28 Aug

“It’s not our job to raise doctors, dentists, schoolteachers, homemakers, mechanics, entertainers, and so forth.  It is our job to raise children who give their lives to God and commit their lives in service to Him.” ~ Billy Graham

Billy Graham, Living a Legacy (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2007), 6.

I couldn’t agree more.  You can raise a doctor that finds a cure for AIDS or ALS, but if that child dies in their sins and doesn’t serve God, how is that going to fare with the Most High?

The report card of eternal life isn’t going score well based on worldly accomplishments without God as the focus.

Mark 9:41-42 – 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

 42“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Christ first, worldly plans second.  Not a bad way for all of us to start from this day forward.

 
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Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

Because I Didn’t Have Time Lord

27 Aug

Staples came out with a button that you push and it says, “That was easy.”

As Christians, especially in today’s world, need a button that says, “Because I didn’t have time Lord.”

That way when we stand in front of God and he asks us how come we didn’t do things for Him, we can push the button.

“Because I didn’t have time Lord.”

How come you didn’t take the time to go and worship me at least once a week?

Click the button.  “Because I didn’t have time Lord.”

How come in your lifetime you didn’t read the bible from front to back and stay into it?

“Because I didn’t have time Lord.”

Why didn’t you take time to pray to me at night, before meals, or praise My name when I came to your mind?

Because…whoops…I guess that one doesn’t take as much time.

Psalm 34:1 – 1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Do we have enough time to watch television, movies, extracurricular activities, or recreational fun?

Are we too busy trying to build an empire on this earth?

None of these explanations will be fun for anyone when it’s time to stand in front of the Lord.  Yet most will be doing just that.  Why?  Because we have overdosed on a case of worldliness.  We even justify every action.

Romans 12:1-2 – 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

How do we break that cycle of worldliness?  Get into God’s word.  Not just Christian books only, because quite a few of them are pretty worldly themselves.  Start listening to Christian radio and television.  Be selective as many of them can get away from the Word of God.  Fill your spirit, with God, not the world.

You will see God more clearly and have a better understanding of why we’re here.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Create In Me A Clean Heart

26 Aug

Remember that song or remember that Psalm?

Psalm 51:10-12   10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Many different Christian singers have sung it.  One of those was Keith Green.  I remember singing it around the campfire at camp as a kid.

When you’re a kid you realize a clean heart is a good thing, but were unaware that aside from God it’s really impossible.  You think that there are good people and not so good people.  As you get older you realize that upon inspection were all messed up.  The question is, “How Much?”

We need to be in touch with the Holy Spirit and constantly reading God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 –  12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So the clean heart comes not from any human wisdom, but from the Spirit of God.  One of the most important things to working on a clean heart is to realize you are not going to do it without God. 

A clean heart is achieved by less you, more Him.  Not me, He.  To get the renewed Spirit we need to seek Holiness and God.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

 

Luke 21:35-36 – Pre Trib Support Scripture –Part 2

25 Aug

Yesterday we focused on these scriptures as supporting the pre-trib position.  If you haven’t had a chance it should be read before the rest of this post will be fully understood.

Today I want to speak on the warning.

Luke 21:34-36 –34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Our warning comes in verse 34.  One thing it is implying is that the group in verse 34 is in serious danger of not escaping the tribulation.  It’s not saying be careful of not being saved.  It’s saying don’t be caught loving the world more than Me.  It’s saying don’t be getting drunk and paying Me no mind.

Dissipation  – I thought I would copy down what the dictionary had on this.

dis·si·pa·tion [dis-uh–pey-shuh n] –noun

1. the act of dissipating.
2. the state of being dissipated; dispersion; disintegration.
3. a wasting by misuse: the dissipation of a fortune.
4. mental distraction; amusement; diversion.
5. dissolute way of living, esp. excessive drinking of liquor; intemperance.
6. Physics, Mechanics . a process in which energy is used or lost without accomplishing useful work, as friction causing loss of mechanical energy.

Wow, mentally distracted, wasting time and money on amusement or other diversions.  Busy with excessive drinking.   Not accomplishing useful work.  I have to believe the Lord is referring to work in regards to the Kingdom.  This is the group the Lord is warning.  

Seek Jesus and make Him your first love.  Also pray that you may be able to stand in front of the Son of Man and escape all that is about to happen.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, Motivation, Rapture

 

Luke 21:35-36 – Pre Trib Support Scripture –Part 1

24 Aug

The following scriptures I believe also support the Pre-Trib position.  However, in comparison to some of the many others I have brought up in the past weeks it can be interpreted differently.

Luke 21:34-36 –34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

The first thing a person who does not believe in the Pre-Trib position is going to say that escape doesn’t mean rapture.  That’s correct escape by itself doesn’t mean rapture.

In verse 34 we have a warning from Jesus to make sure that the worries, preoccupation, and cares of this world, don’t blind us of…….what?

Even if one is drunk or busy their going to see the things that are happening during the tribulation.  Almost all will be terrified and half of those left on earth are expected to perish.  It is also a warning that if you’re not careful it will close in on you unexpectedly like a trap.

Then it goes on to say in verse 35 that it will come upon all of those who live on the face of the whole earth.  So if you’re on the earth it will come upon you. 

In verse 36 Jesus says to always be on watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.  There is a lot that is going to happen during the tribulation.  It doesn’t say pray that you are hidden from what’s going to happen.  Because if your still on earth that’s what would have to happen.  Also it states that the beast was given power to make war with the saints and conquer them.

Revelation 13:7 –  7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

It appears that if you do believe Luke 21:34-36 is a pre-trib rapture verse then these saints must be the drunk and the one’s not praying, because it doesn’t appear the saints are escaping at this point. 

Last it says pray that you may escape and be able to stand before the Son of Man.  If we are raptured and escapes the tribulation, that’s where we’re going to be standing.

Tomorrow I want to expound a little further on this.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, Rapture

 

There are a lot of Godless Countries Out There

23 Aug

How are they doing?

The reason I ask is because there sure is a lot of motivation to kick Him out of ours.

Why?

I mean it, why?

Are the 10 commandments so corrupt that people just can’t take it anymore?  How about the Bible itself?  Is it really something that is so detrimental to people that they are so better off without it?

No.  So why? 

There is only one logical answer.  Given the option and opportunity to abandon God, man as a majority will eventually do it every time.

It started with the Old Testament and rings true to this day.  Man gets help from God, prospers, and over time the next generations falls away.  You see it’s a spirit thing.  We’re all spiritual beings and your spirit and soul will live on somewhere long after this body dies. 

Where?  A very important question to seek out indeed. 

I have made two pages on the right upper corner of this blog.  One is How to accept Jesus as Savior and the other is why we need a Savior.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Salvation

 

Proverbs 19:21 – Reflection

21 Aug

Proverbs 19:21 – 21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
       but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Our path vs. His path.

 
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The Antichrist – End Time Prophecy

20 Aug

We have talked about some End Time Prophecies to date.   Those have been Israel becoming a nation again.  We’ve talked about a one world government and a one world banking system.  That brings us to the world ruler in the end times.

The next few weeks we will talk about the world ruler that will come along.  The Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ that was to come.  They weren’t looking for a sacrificial lamb that came to die for the sins of the world.  They were looking for a ruler/king that was going to help them rule the world and give them peace.

John 5:43 – 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

The antichrist will come in his own name.  The antichrist has many different titles in the bible and we will go over those in the coming weeks.  What is the term antichrist referring to?

Well if you’re anti-Semitic, you’re against people of different races.  If you’re anti gun rights, you’re against gun rights.  If your antichrist, you’re against Christ.

1 John 2:22 – 22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.

The antichrist is a man who has a destiny and a deal with Satan.  In the beginning he is just a man and half way through the Tribulation is killed.  That is when Satan is allowed to enter his body and making it appear that he has came back to life.

How long has the battle been going on between Satan and God?  At least since the beginning of the Bible.

Genesis 3:15 – 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

God had a prophecy for Satan by the 3rd chapter of the Bible which is immediately after the fall.  Satan was going to have his head crush by the Son of God. 

Satan has always wanted to be like the Most High.  It is his pride that allowed him to fall.  He won’t stop until the Lord casts him into the Lake of Fire along with his partner the false prophet.

Next week we’ll discuss more on the antichrist.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, End Time Prophecies

 
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