Nov 05 2009

The Holy Spirit is the Power of God

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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.” In these first two verses of Genesis we are told that the Holy Spirit is God’s creating power. God is one, and the Holy Spirit is the power of God. Everything that God does he does by means of his power, his Spirit (ref: John 4:24). Without the continual supply of God’s Spirit, creation would not survive; a point made clear by the Apostle Paul when he spoke to the learned men of Athens (ref: Acts 17:24-25). Two millennium ago, God’s Spirit caused the virgin Mary to conceive resulting in the birth of Jesus, God’s only begotten son. Jesus had the power given to him to perform signs and wonders as a means of spreading God’s message. Jesus told his disciples that after his departure the Holy Spirit would come to them (“But you shall receive my power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8 ). These gifts were available between Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the availability of the written Gospel. In the Bible it is referred to as the “counselor” (RSV) eg. John 14:26 “But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  In 1Cor 13 we are told that Spirit gifts, including speaking in tongues, would pass away and once the gospel became available in printed form such gifts ceased to be needed.
Your personal hope:- eternal life on earth, is through God’s power; his Holy Spirit!
“…but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.” 1Cor13:10

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Satan

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“Don’t blame me, the Devil made me do it!” You have heard it said, and whether it is “Satan” or “Devil” churches teach you that the evil in this world is the work of Satan. Sadly this is not a Bible fact! So the question is what does the Bible teach in regards to Satan? First, let’s understand the meaning of the Bible terms. Satan means adversary and can refer to anything or anybody that is against the purpose of God. By example, when Peter encouraged Jesus not to do God’s purpose Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” (Matt 16:23). The book of Job mentions Satan who brings trials upon Job and his family. But even in this example, what does the account tell us about Satan? 1st, whatever Satan was he was in God’s control, and 2nd, Job understood that it was not Satan, but God who was behind the test; “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). So what of the “Devil?” Devil is a Greek term and as “diabolos” means slanders, liar or false accuser. In the Bible it is obvious that the devil is not a fallen angel and in places such as 1Tim 3:11; 2Tim 3:1-3; we see that the word is  ‘slanders.’ The Greek term “daimonion” identifies those that have a sickness (Matt 17:14-18), again nothing about fallen angels. The Bible teaches that everyone is responsible for their own actions and in James 1:14-15 we read “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death.”

Don’t blame the devil just because you have no self-restraint!

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Old Testament Promises Include You

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Around 2000B.C. a worthy man named Abram (Abraham) was sought out by God and told that he was to be father of a great nation. These blessings, known as the “Promises to Abraham” were passed down from Abraham to his son Isaac and then onto Isaac’s son Jacob (who was also named Israel). The promises commence in Genesis 12, and then continue in chapters 13, 15, 17 & 22, and are promises for God’s people, the Jews. They involved a promise of eventual land possession from the Brook of Egypt to the River Euphrates, and a people that are so numerous that God says, Abraham’s descendants will be “as the dust of the earth; so if you can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted.” An interesting fact is that in Gen 13 we see that the land was to be given to Abraham’s descendants ‘forever’ and in Gen 17 we see that the covenant was an everlasting one, and the land was to be an everlasting possession. Of course, Abraham’s descendants include both Jew and Arab, but when passed from Abraham to Isaac and particularly to Jacob we see the promises become focused on the Jewish people. This is exciting for all mankind as through Jesus all the world can become recipients of the promises. It is in Galatians 3:16 that we have confirmed that Old Testament promises include you, for Paul writes “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say :And to his offspring’s,” referring to many; but, referring to one, And to your offspring,” which is Christ.” Through baptism we qualify for life eternal as we are Christ’s, then by promise we are Abraham’s offspring, and heirs according to the promise.” The promise = ETERNAL LIFE
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, Jesus Christ & then YOU (?)

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Heaven and Hell

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Throughout history the Church has controlled individuals by; 1. If you don’t live as the church tells you, you will burn in hell; 2. If you obey the church it will mean your immortal soul will live forever in heaven (then to ensure the church has total control you make your confessions to a priest). The problem is that not one of these is based on Bible teachings. In the Bible you are told that humans and animals have the same life source and at death all go to the same place; “…all are from dust, and all turn to dust again” (Eccl 3:19-20). There is no conscious existence in death, nothing lives on, no extension of ones being, not even for the righteous. Again Solomon summarizes a Bible fact “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing” (Eccl 9:5). So what are the Bible facts? 1. In the OT hell is the Hebrew word ‘Sheol’ and means “the grave” or “the pit.” In the NT the word is ‘Gehenna’ or ‘Hades.’ Hades is equivalent to the OT Sheol and simply means grave. Gehenna is often rendered ‘Hell fire’ but when researched it is the geographical place ‘Ge-hinnom’ or ‘Valley of Hinnom’ on the edge of the old city of Jerusalem (ref: Jer 7:31-33; 2Kgs 23:10). Here dead animals and unburied criminals would be disposed of and in which fires were kept burning to avoid a stench.
2. Heaven is the place where the Lord God dwells, and where at present Jesus sits at his right hand (ref: Psa 110:1; Matt 26:64; Heb 10:12 & Acts 8:55-56). Jesus will soon return to earth from heaven to set up his Father’s eternal Kingdom (ref: Psa 37:11,22,29; Isa 11:6-9; Matt 5:5; 6:10 and Rev 5:10; 21:1-8). Your choice:- The grave, or God’s Kingdom here on Earth
The Bible is clear and says that God’s Kingdom will be on earth!

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

God is One

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Throughout God’s Holy inspired Bible it is made  clear that God the Creator is One. In Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 we read, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord;”
God’s “only begotten son” Jesus Christ, on several occasions revealed that salvation is based on a correct understanding of divine truth (Mk16:16; Rom 1:16; 1Cor 15:2-3). In praying to his Father (Jn17:3), Jesus stated “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Not only is “One God” a teaching of the Old Testament, and confirmed by Jesus himself, it was the doctrine believed by those that first heard the Gospel message from Jesus himself and the disciples. The Apostles, believed in God the Creator, his Son Jesus the Christ, born of the virgin Mary, and God’s  power that sustains live itself, the Holy Spirit. God, his power and his son, and yet single in purpose as stated by Jesus, “yet for us there is One God, the Father, from whom are all things….and one Lord, Jesus Christ…However, not all possess this knowledge” (1Cor 8:6-7). (Also refer to 1Tim 2:5; Eph 4:6; Acts 2:22; Acts10:38). All these passages are consistent with God’s claim through Moses in Duet 6:4.
In Acts 4:11-12 we are clearly told that our belief in this doctrine is a matter of salvation. In John’s letters he makes clear the fact that those who do not believe Jesus came in the flesh (i.e. those that believe God is Jesus), have the spirit of antichrist (Refer to 1Jn 2:21-25; 4:1-3). John’s 2nd letter foretells of deceivers coming declaring a belief different to Bible Truth in regard to the Godhead (2Jn 7:11).
Your hope is in Christ - Seek the TRUTH!
If Jesus was God on earth, who raised him from the dead?

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

God Answers Prayer

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The Lord God as well as being the creator of all that we see, is also our Heavenly Father, and as such desires that we communicate with him. At times of distress some challenge the existence of God, and sadly when troubled do not seek to be close to him. Prayer is the way that man communicates with God and is essential should we truly desire a relationship with him. The Bible and the experience of believers demonstrate beyond doubt that God does answer prayer, but the first step is for mankind to pray. This Bible Fact is beyond doubt; “Men ought always to pray and not faint” (Lk 18:1), “Pray without ceasing” (1Thes 5:17), and “In everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil 4:6). Also, not to pray, we read, is sin; “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (1Sam 12:23). It is really important that our communication with God is based on an understanding of him, and such insight only comes from a Bible based belief. From scripture it is also seen that sometimes God’s answer differs from the request, which is why a believer must pray and have faith that it is “God’s will, that will be done.” Jesus, who is the greatest example of one who communicated fully with his Father understood that sometimes what we want is not the will of God. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk 22:42) The Psalms are full of Godly communications and demonstrate clearly that we can be close to our Heavenly Father, and with such a relationship the follower will experience many blessings that come from a trust in God.
Remember - “Pray without ceasing!”
If you feel far from God, it is you that has moved away from him!

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Christ Died for You

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In John 3:14-15 we read “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whoever believes in him may have eternal life”
When the children of Israel were led out of Egypt, to provide a way to save the people from their own sins, God told Moses to make a brass serpent so that when the people looked at it they would be saved. As a part of Israel’s worship God also instructed that a perfect animal sacrifice should be offered to clear the people of their sins. Nearly 1500 years later God in his desire to have mankind voluntarily seek and worship him, provided his only son. The Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of mankind. In John 3:16 we are clearly told, “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This opportunity is available to all who look to Jesus as the means of salvation, but not to those that simply look, but to those who take up Jesus’ cross and follow him. The steps to qualifying for salvation are laid out by Jesus in Mark16:16 when he instructed the disciples to tell the world “…He who believes and is baptised will be saved.” Peter on the day of Pentecost as seen in Acts 2 , is also very clear, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;”
There are many Faiths in the world today, but as Peter confirms in Acts 4:12 it is only through Christ that salvation exists. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Remember, Christ died for you!
Remember; God so loved you that he gave Jesus to provide a way!

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Baptism is Essential for Salvation

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“Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4) These words of Paul confirm that as Jesus died, was buried and was raised immortal. We through baptism into Christ’s sacrifice are buried and born again with sins washed away. Baptized we qualify for eternal life. While success depends God’s Grace, without baptism by full immersion into a true Biblical understanding of the Gospel message there is no hope of salvation. In a world of many faiths, Peter in Acts 4 states truth with simplicity. When speaking about Jesus as the cornerstone of all faith he said; “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” It is now clearly stated that real hope comes only through a baptism of total immersion for someone old enough to understand the true Gospel message. The original Greek word ‘Baptizo’ signifies full immersion in its meaning of ‘immerse’ ‘plunge’ and is the word used in Greek when one wishes to dye a garment etc. from one colour to another. This is supported in scriptures with examples of baptism. At Jesus’ baptism we are told “he came out of the water”  (Matt 3:16), John was baptizing in Aenon as “there was much water there” (Jn 3:23), and then after the Ethiopian Eunuch had confirmed his understanding of the Gospel we read he goes “down into the water” (Acts 8:38). Even church authorities such as Herzog claim infant baptism is not Bible based.
Repentance & baptism into Truth - Your only hope!
Sprinkling may get you wet, but it doesn’t make you CLEAN!

Categories: Facts
Nov 05 2009

Armageddon

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Jesus tells us, the time of his return to earth will be as nations are gathered at the “place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon.” (Rev16:16) After Jesus’ death and resurrection he remained on earth 40 days, and when he ascended from the Mount of Olives to be at the right hand side of his father in heaven, the angels said to the disciples; “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts1:11) The prophet Zechariah also confirms that it is to the Mount of Olives that Jesus will return, when speaking of a great battle to come we are told, “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mt of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east,…” (Zech 14:4) This will be at a time when Jesus himself comes to do battle against the forces which come against Israel as described by the prophets. In Ezekiel 38 we have a picture of Israel restored from war, finally at peace with their means of national security disbanded. It is at this time a confederacy of nations move against Israel. These nations are named, and reference to most Bible Atlases’ will show these to include the modern nations of Turkey, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia (incl’ Sudan); also mentioned are Saudi Arabia & the Gulf States. Jesus will be victorious and the repentant will be saved. “….he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31). At the end of Revelation we are told “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life..” (Rev 22:14)
Armageddon can mean Salvation for you!
“Seek first his Kingdom and his Righteousness” (Matt 6:33)

Categories: Facts