Friday, October 21, 2016
Freewill
God has given mankind the free will to obey or disobey him (Col.3:17). This started in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and then their children Cain and Abel (Gen.2:17; 4:7). Ultimately people have to desire to change themselves. We can try to influence them for good but we cannot make them change. God and the devil both seek to influence man, in totally opposite directions. God seeks to influence for good and the devil attempts to cause man to sin. The devil appears to be more direct in his appeal to man, while God works through mediums such as the word (cp. Gal. 6: 1; Jn. 6: 44, 45). Also, on the surface, doing evil requires less effort than doing right (cp. Matt. 7: 13, 14).
Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Rephaim – Who were they?
The Rephaim – Who were they?: The Rephaim – Who were they? How does the Bible describe the Rephaim? Did Rephaim really exist?
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
What is the New Apostolic Reformation?
What is the New Apostolic Reformation?: What is the New Apostolic Reformation? Are apostles and prophets supposed to have authority over evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the church today?
Achilles was a demigod and Greek hero of the Trojan War, according to ancient Greek mythology. Achilles was a great warrior, without compare, and the hero and star of Homer's Iliad. Having been dipped as an infant in the sacred waters of the Styx river, he seemed an invincible force. However, Achilles has one spot that was unprotected from the river's enchantments, his heel, whereby he was eventually killed by his enemies. I love the message version of Psalm 91. Its as if, behind the words, I can see God smiling and nodding his head and whispering "its true, Steve; its so true!. From this text, we see that fear has no place in our lives. God guides us and goes before us in order to protect us (Exodus 13:21; Deuteronomy 31:8). He guards us on all sides, covering us from the elements, catching us when we fall (keeping us from falling!), and shielding us from the dangers all around us (Psalm 23; verse 11-13, verse 4). Isaiah also says that God will strengthen us from the inside out (Isaiah 41:10). John Piper, in one of his sermons, uses prepositions to help us truly comprehend the great promises of God's protection. I will use the same to apply to the preceding text: God guides us and goes before us (he is in FRONT of us), God shields us from dangers all about us (he is AROUND, BELOW, and ABOVE us), and he strengthens us and dwells in us (he is INSIDE US). Don't you see it, friend? We HAVE no achilles heel. God guards us on all sides. We are protected because the all-knowing, all-powerful God is OUR protector. read less
Monday, October 17, 2016
Greek fire
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY – On 1st September, 717 AD, the Muslim armada with 1,800 ships was defeated by the Byzantine navy through the use of Greek fire in the Siege of Constantinople. Greek fire, or sea fire, as it was often called, was said to be the secret weapon of the Byzantine Empire. According to the historian Theophanes, it was invented during the 6th century AD by the Greek architect Kallinikos, a former resident of Heliopolis who was residing in Baalbeck. It is described as a liquid chemical mixture that could be ignited and then sprayed or catapulted onto enemy ships. Its effects were devastating because this fluid could not be extinguished with water. In fact, it was said to be able to burn under water. It would cling to all materials and burn the flesh off the body of a man in seconds in a manner very similar to modern day phosphorus weapons. The formula was kept so secret that no one today knows how it was made, nor have scientists been able to recreate it using the ingredients available at the time.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?: What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming? Are the Rapture and the Second Coming different events?
They are referred to as “homo slackass-erectus” created by natural genetic downward evolution through constant spineless posturing and spasmodic upper limb gestures, which new research has shown to cause shorter legs and an inability to ambulate other than in an awkward shuffling gait.
The "drag-crotch" shape also seems to effect brain function. Expect no eye contact or intelligent verbal communication. History shows that this species mostly receives food stamps and full government care.
Unfortunately most are highly fertile.
The "drag-crotch" shape also seems to effect brain function. Expect no eye contact or intelligent verbal communication. History shows that this species mostly receives food stamps and full government care.
Unfortunately most are highly fertile.
Gehenna
Jerusalem’s ancient garbage dump—a place called Gehenna—was illustrative of the ceaseless agonies ofhell. This dump was on the south side of Jerusalem. In Old Testament times, children had been sacrificed to idols there (2 Kings 23:10); in Jesus’ day, it was a place burning with constant fires to consume the waste that was thrown there. The material burned there included everything from household trash to animal carcasses to convicted criminals (Jeremiah 7:31–33). Needless to say, the Jews considered Gehenna a cursed place of impurity and uncleanness. The word translated “hell” inMark 9:43is the Greek wordGehenna, which comes from the Hebrew name for a place called the “Valley of Hinnom.” Jesus uses this place to paint a vivid image of what hell is like. The Jewish people often associated the Valley of Hinnom with spiritual death. InMark 9:48, when Jesus says, “Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (ESV), He is quoting fromIsaiah 66:24: “They will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” In both texts the word translated as “worm” literally means “grub” or “maggot.” A maggot would have an obvious association with a dump like Gehenna where dead bodies are thrown; however, the maggot Christ speaks of “will not die.” Taken at face value, this text is one of the most horrific descriptions of what hell is like. The thought of eternal torment, likened to maggots eating away at a rotting corpse, is undoubtedly ghastly. Hell is so awful that Christ said, figuratively speaking, it’s better to cut off the hand that causes you to sin than to end up in hell (Matthew 5:30). Mark 9:48does not mean that there are literal worms in hell or that there are worms that live forever; rather, Jesus is teaching the fact of unending suffering in hell—the “worm” never stops causing torment. Notice that the worm is personal. BothIsaiah 66:24andMark 9:48use the wordtheirto identify the worm’s owner. The sources of torment are attached each to its own host. Some Bible scholars believe the “worm” refers to a man’sconscience. Those in hell, being completely cut off from God, exist with a nagging, guilty conscience that, like a persistent worm, gnaws away at its victim with a remorse that can never be mitigated. No matter what the wordwormrefers to, the most important thing to be gained from these words of Christ is that we should do everything in our power to escape the horrors of hell, and there is only one thing to that end—receiving Jesus as the Lord of our lives (John 3:16).
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
What does the Bible say about illegal immigration?
What does the Bible say about illegal immigration?: What does the Bible say about illegal immigration? How should Christians view illegal immigrants?
Monday, October 10, 2016
Tounge
Luke 6:45
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths. Ephesians 4:29
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, Ephesians 5:4
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:8
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. James 3:10
The same mouth that sang praise to God on Sunday, is now taking His name in vain on Monday. The same tongue that said Amen to the sermon on Sunday, is now breaking the commandments on Monday. The same tongue that spoke gently on Sunday is filled with bitterness on Monday. If the only time you see a change in your speech is out of respect for the sanctuary, then maybe you are a respectful sinner, but not a changed one?
#ExamineYourHeart
#ExamineYourHeart
Sunday, October 9, 2016
The Sign of Jonah
The Sign of Jonah: What is the importance of the sign of Jonah? Has God given us a sign that authoritatively bridges the gap between history and faith where Jesus is concerned?
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