Reality Check

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=15 BGCOLOR="#0000FF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#0000FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>GOD'S BEST</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>   |HOME</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shepherd//Pastor ARE YOU DOING "><U><B><U>Shepherd//Pastor ARE YOU DOING        </U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="YOU ARE AN HEIR"><U><B><U>YOU ARE  AN HEIR</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEIRS "><U><B><U>IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEIRS </U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" BIBLE STUDY"><U><B><U> BIBLE STUDY</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PreTrib Rapture? 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To go there click on one of the other page names then click on home on that page.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Check the Bible Study page to see a sample of the Integrated New Testament that makes it easier to understand God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Please read this carefully and prayerfully because it contains the truth of God's word that can revolutionize your life.</B></I></div> <div> <B>Note: From time to time the same scriptures will be used. This is done for emphasis just as the same statement is used numerous times in God's word for that reason.It is of utmost importance that every child of God realize where we are on God's time table.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every child of God must spend more time in God's word and build their faith in order to be able to overcome the attacks of Satan as we head into the last days.</B></div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>You cannot wait until you are in desperate situations to build your faith. It doesn't work that way.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There is a possibility that you will read things here that you have never read or heard before. If you read prayerfully with a desire to serve God and be blessed by Him, His Holy Spirit will give witness with your spirit that these things are true. When this happens, you cannot begin to operate on it immediately. You will have to read and read until faith comes before things will work for you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hebrews 11:6 But without faith </B><I><B>it is</B></I><B> impossible to please </B><I><B>him</B></I><B>: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and </B><I><B>that</B></I><B> he is a re-warder of them that diligently seek him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Greek word translated as diligently seek actually means to crave. Of course, if a person craves something they will diligently seek it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Romans 10:17 So then faith </B><I><B>comes</B></I><B> by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The word hearing in that verse has the sense of hearing and hearing until faith comes. Hear is another verse that backs that up.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Hebrew word translated meditate, means to utter, mutter, speack aloud which conforms to Romans 10:17.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The following verses accurately describe the way things are today and are the reason that Christians must get deadly serious with God so He can give them divine protection and provision as things continue their downward spiral.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days </B><B><U>PERILOUS</U></B><B> times shall come.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here are some verses from the old Testament that describe the world today also.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because </B><I><B>there is</B></I><B> no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yes, the fish of the sea also shall be taken away. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for your people </B><I><B>are</B></I><B> as they that strive with the priest. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:5 Therefore shall you fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: </B><I><B>therefore</B></I><B> will I change their glory into shame. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms has caused </B><I><B>them</B></I><B> to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people </B><I><B>that</B></I><B> do not understand shall fall. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, </B><I><B>yet</B></I><B> let not Judah offend; and come not you unto Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD lives. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:16 For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:17 Ephraim </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> joined to idols: let him alone. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers </B><I><B>with</B></I><B> shame do love.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:19 The wind has bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As you have read verse 6 says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Since God's children are being destroyed today, isn't it logical that they are being destroyed for the same reason? Isn't it also logical that they are doing the same things they did then for the same reason?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let us look at some of the knowledge that the average child of God lacks that allows them to be destroyed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>They don't know fully who they are as children of God. They only think of God in terms of His all powerfulness. They don't understand the reality of Him as father. They don't know why He made man. They think He made man just to worship Him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The truth is that He made man because of His father heart. He wanted a family that would love and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy, which would make Himself happy. We see this from the following two verses.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jo. 16:24 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>LK. 12:32</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Many Christians think they have to die to get all that God has provided for them. That is due to a lack of knowledge. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated </B><I><B>us</B></I><B> into the kingdom of his dear Son:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are two important truths in that verse. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One is that God has delivered us from the power of darkness. What does that mean? It means that Satan(who is the power of darkness) no longer has any authority over us.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The second thing is that we are already in the kingdom of God's son and everything in it is available to us when we meet the terms given in God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Until a child of God knows that they have a right to something, they cannot ask for it in faith and God cannot give them what they are seeking unless they ask in faith.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For example, two of the ways that people are destroyed are by sickness and disease. Few people live in a healthy body and don't have to take any kind of medicine.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Yet, just as Jesus shed His blood and took our sins at the cross for our soul, few people know that He went through two things there for us to live in a healthy body.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Most Christians only know about one of them. They know that Isaiah 53 says that “with His stripes you are healed” and Peter said “by His stripes you were healed”. Isaiah 52 tells the rest of the story.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa. 52:14 As many were astonished at you; his visage(appearance) was so marred(disfigured) more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That disfigurement didn't happen from the beating. It was the result of what Jesus went through while He hung on the cross. During the three hours of darkness, His body experienced the worst case of every sickness, disease and accident that would ever touch a human body and it became so grotesque, had they been able to see it they couldn't have handled it. That was the reason for the darkness.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Not only do we have that as proof that it is God's will for His children to live in a healthy body, we have these verses.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, </B><I><B>which is</B></I><B> your reasonable service.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is clear from that verse that we are to present out bodies in sacrifice. If God is willing to accept a broken body in sacrifice today He has changed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal. 1:8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, </B><I><B>is it</B></I><B> not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, </B><I><B>is it</B></I><B> not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God wants to give His children every good thing they desire as long as it doesn't go against His word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ps. 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next is of critical importance. Ro. 10 gives the requirement to be born into the family of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 10:10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sadly, more often than not, when a person is given that information, they are not told the true and necessary meaning of believe. It is not mental assent. It means that the person believes to the point that they stake the destiny of their soul on believing Jesus was and is the son of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When a person truly believes and confesses, the person gets born into the family of God and their want to changes.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cot. 5:17 Therefore if any man </B><I><B>be</B></I><B> in Christ, </B><I><B>he is</B></I><B> a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 5:18 And all things </B><I><B>are</B></I><B> of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So if a person makes a confession of belief in Jesus and their want to doesn't change, they haven't become a new creature.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We are living in perilous times and they will continue to become more perilous. Therefore, it is imperative that every child of God get more serious with God than they have ever been. Every child of God must meet the condition set out in God's word to be taught by God's Holy Spirit. That is the only way they will ever get a true understanding of God's word. Where do you find the condition? Here.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire(intensely crave possession) the sincere(un-deceitful, unadulterated) milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The term intensely crave is like a dope addict craves dope or an alcoholic craves alcohol. They have one characteristic in common. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, they are going to get what they are craving.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When a child of God makes the no back down decision that they want the truth of God's word above anything else in the world and when they get it they are going with it no matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, and even if they find that some things they believed were wrong,  God's Holy Spirit will teach them and it will revolutionize their life.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God's Holy Spirit will tell everyone the same thing about God's word. This next scripture backs that up.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>you all speak the same thing</B></FONT><B>, and </B><I><B>that</B></I><B> there be no divisions among you; but </B><I><B>that</B></I><B> you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why is it important for everyone to speak the same thing? Because there is much confusion otherwise and God is not the author.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 14:33 For God is not </B><B>the author</B><B> of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Satan no longer has authority over children of God. What many don't know is that they have authority over Satan and many who do know, don't know how to exercise that authority.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Christians have been given the authority to use the name of Jesus when dealing with Satan. When a child of God doesn't know they have that authority or they don't use it, then Satan will continue to deal them misery.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>While sickness, disease and accidents are the primary weapons of Satan, his other and very powerful weapon is thoughts. Very many people, perhaps, consider themselves as physical beings. That is a mistake. People are spirit beings living in a physical body to operate in the physical world. As such, there are three sources for their thoughts. Some are theirs, of course, some are from God and some are from Satan. The only sure way to determine what the source is, is to know God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Jo. 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now let us look at some of our responsibilities.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jo. 14:12 </B></FONT><B>Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater </B><I><B>works</B></I><B> than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When Jesus said in that verse “He that believes”, He wasn't talking about just believing to be born into God's family. He was talking about believing the truth that God's children have the authority and responsibility to use the name of Jesus to do the things Jesus did. This next verse is a confirmation of that.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Jo. 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>; that you may know that you have eternal life</B></FONT><B>, and </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>that you may believe on the name of the Son of God</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Notice that it says, “and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God”. Does that make sense? It does when you understand that the second believing he is talking about is believing that God's children have the authority to do the things Jesus did, using the authority of His name.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One of the reasons that few Christians are receiving all that is rightfully theirs as children of God is that they are not doing what Jesus did.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>James 1:22 But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That leaves no doubt that Christian are to do what God's word says for them to do. In fact, if they don't do what they are told to do, it will not be done. They can plead, beg and cry for God to do it but He will not heed. Also by not doing it, they deceive themselves, which opens them up to the deception of Satan, and allows him to steal what is rightfully theirs.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So if you want to be blessed by God, start being obedient in what you already know. Get serious with God and find out what else you are responsible to do and do it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here is another scripture that is important concerning the above.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Eph. 5:1 Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Greek word translated followers in that verse actually means imitators. When a child imitates a parent, they walk, talk and act like the parent. Talking is the most important as evidenced by the following verses.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Pro. 18:21 Death and life </B><B>are</B><B> in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mt. 12:37</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>So how does God talk? Let's find out.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 4:17 (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, </B><I><B>even</B></I><B> God, who quickens the dead, and </B><B><U>calls those things which be not as though they were.</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How does calling things that be not work? This is how. Once a person asks God for something or to do something, they should not keep asking because continued asking indicates that they don't have any idea if God will answer their prayer or not. It is a lack of faith and God can't answer.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So how is this applied this?  Once a person have asked, from then until the answer becomes a reality, they confess that they have what they asked for or that God has done what they asked Him to do.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What happens is that the first time they make the confession, they plant the seed. As they continue to make the confession they water it, fertilize it and get the weeds of doubt and unbelief out. It builds their faith to the point that their faith reaches out and reaps a harvest.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Any time a person begins to act on that, Satan immediately begins to make things go wrong to get the person to speak doubt or unbelief. Just one word of doubt is all it takes to cut down the stalk. Unless the person starts making their confession again they will not get a harvest.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Normally, when a person doesn't get their prayer answered, they think it is because it wasn't God's will. That isn't necessarily the case. If the prayer isn't contrary to God's word, it is His will. So be sure what you ask for isn't contrary to God's will, then meet the requirements to get it and you shall have it. </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>THE WISDOM OF GOD IS HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>LET US FIND OUT WHY</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Due to a lack of understanding, many people think that they can read God's word just like they read a newspaper and they will understand it. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Fortunately this is not the case because, the truth of God's word and how to use it is so powerful that if it could be obtained that way, evil men would use that power for destruction.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God's word makes it abundantly clear that only those who have been born again(back into God's family) can get the understanding and even they have to meet conditions given in His word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God says in Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….  Sadly that hasn't changed over the years because Christians are still being destroyed by sickness, disease, accidents by people who are controlled by Satan, by weather forces, which some people erroneously call acts of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let us look at some scriptures concerning the wisdom of God then we will look at some others.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, </B><I><B>even</B></I><B> the hidden </B><I><B>wisdom</B></I><B>, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: It says hidden wisdom.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known </B><I><B>it</B></I><B>, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: It says princes of this world.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: It isn't received automatically.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:10 But God has revealed </B><I><B>them</B></I><B> unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: The knowledge and understanding are revealed by God's Spirit.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: Only the Spirit of God knows the things of God.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: Paul was talking to Christians.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: He is reiterating the fact that only by the Spirit of God do we get understanding.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know </B><I><B>them</B></I><B>, because they are spiritually discerned. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: Natural means one who has not been born again.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: He means that a Christian who has met the terms to be taught the truth understands thing of the spirit but those who haven't met the terms does not understand him.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: Only those who have been taught by God's Spirit have the mind of Christ.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>YOU ARE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>An heir of Almighty God</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That is 100% correct. Every human is an heir of eternal life. It seems that many people don't fully realize or understand that truth. Once a person takes the necessary action to receive eternal life, the person immediately is an heir of every good thing that God has provided for the heirs. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In order to receive an inheritance, three things are necessary</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You must know you are an heir.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You must know the terms of the will.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You must meet the terms of the will. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is our sincere desire that by the time you finish reading this, you will understand and make the commitment to receive your inheritance of eternal life if you haven't done so. If you are already a child of God our desire is that you will begin to receive every blessing that God' desires to give you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are so many conflicting stories out there in the world about God and the origin of man and the earth that confusion reigns supreme. This confusion has one source. It comes from the enemy of all mankind. His name is Satan and is commonly referred to as the devil. As a result of the confusion, many people have rejected God and His son Jesus Christ.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every human is an heir of Almighty God because of Jesus' death on the cross. As mentioned in the paragraph above every human has an enemy whose name is Satan. He is the mastermind of all the confusion. The reason he does what he does is because he hates Almighty God with a burning passion. He can't do anything to God directly. He can only get at God by getting humans, which are the crown of His creation, to believe his lies, so God cannot bless them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let's take it from the top, so to speak.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here we find God using the pronouns us and our. That is a clear indication that there was more than one involved in the making of man. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>While there are those who deny that there was more than one involved in the making of man, it is because of a misunderstanding  caused by Satan. Satan doesn't want anyone to believe there was more than one, to keep them from believing in the activity of God's Holy Spirit in peoples lives and the truth that Jesus was and is God's son, sent to earth to provide the means for humanity to return to the family of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Throughout God's word we find references to Him as father. The fact that He used the phrase, ”in our image and after our likeness” is a clear indication that His reason for making man was His father heart. He wanted a family that would love Him and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy, which would make Himself happy. Also, giving man authority over all of the things on the earth is an indication that He intended for man to have control over everything that God had created.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is very apparent that something went wrong along the way. Let us see if we can find out what it was and why it happened. We can check on one instruction that was not followed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is unfortunate but the  following verse is misunderstood by many. They say that God didn't mean that they would die the day they ate the forbidden fruit but would start dying. That may be due to the fact that they don't understand what death is</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>. Physical death is separation of the spirit from the body. Spiritual death is separation from God. So the day that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they died spiritually.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gen. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Satan didn't want Adam and Eve to believe God, so he lied to them and they believed him instead of </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >God.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As a result of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, the entire human race was born into the family of Satan. Therefore, because of not understanding that, many people believe that a person will go to hell for any number of sins. The truth is that those who go to hell do so because they stay in the family of Satan.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jo. 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>John didn't say takes away the sins of the world. He said the sin. All the sins of humanity are the result of that one sin. That sin is believing the lies of Satan.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every sin that is committed by anyone is the result of the lies that Satan tells them. This statement by Jesus should make that clear.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jo. 8:44 </B></FONT><B>You are of </B><I><B>your</B></I><B> father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Probably, the most powerful and damaging lie ever told by Satan is that he doesn't exist. Once a person accepts that lie it is easy to accept the lies that hell doesn't exist, that Jesus wasn't and isn't the son of God and that God has no desire to bless His children.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jo. 10:10 </B></FONT><B>The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have </B><I><B>it</B></I><B> more abundantly.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The thief is Satan and he steals the truth of God's word. When he does, there becomes a lack of knowledge.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How are people destroyed? By sickness, disease, accidents and murder. What do people need to know in order to avoid being destroyed? God's children(Christians) need to know that it is not His will for them to be in a sick and in broken down body, and what He did to provide them a healthy body.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>No child of God can ask for anything in faith unless they know they have a right to it. If they don't ask in faith, God can't give it to them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 11:6 But without faith </B><I><B>it is</B></I><B> impossible to please </B><I><B>him</B></I><B>: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and </B><I><B>that</B></I><B> he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse says it is impossible to please Him without faith. Here is a verse with important instructions.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, </B><I><B>which is</B></I><B> your reasonable service.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse says to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable. Let's look at what is not acceptable</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal. 1:8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, </B><I><B>is it</B></I><B> not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, </B><I><B>is it</B></I><B> not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse leaves no doubt that God will not accept anything but a healthy body. Some will say He has changed in that because we are no longer under the law. Has He really changed? Here is His word on that.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal. 3:6 For, I </B><I><B>am</B></I><B> the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If He doesn't change, then He still requires a healthy body, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto, God, which is your reasonable service. That being the case, we have some more verses that shed light on it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Pet. 2:24 Who, his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, </B><I><B>even</B></I><B> the forgiveness of sins:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus' bearing our sins on the cross and shedding His blood is guaranteed undisputable proof that it is God's will for us to be born back into His family. Jesus also experienced two things at the cross, which are guaranteed, undisputable proof that it is God's will for his children to live in a healthy body.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa. 53:5 But he </B><I><B>was</B></I><B> wounded for our transgressions, </B><I><B>he was</B></I><B> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace </B><I><B>was</B></I><B> upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Most all Christians are familiar with the stripes. But Isaiah 52 gives the other part.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa. 52:14 As many were astonished at you; his visage (apperance) was so marred (disfigured) more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That came about because of what Jesus experienced while He hung on the cross. During the three hours of darkness, Jesus' body experienced the worst case of every sickness, every disease and accident that would ever touch a human body. It became so grotesque that had they been able to see it they couldn't have handled it. That was the reason for the darkness.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since it is abundantly clear that it is God's will that His children live in a healthy body, they should never use the phrase, “if it be thy will”, when asking for healing. The terrible reality is, that using that phrase when praying for healing has caused more deaths than all the weapons of humanity throughout history. It shows a lack of faith. That is why God can't provide healing when it is used.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We used this verse above. It talks about lack of knowledge.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Not only are God's people destroyed for lack of knowledge but they fail to receive everything that is rightfully theirs as children of God, due to lack of knowledge. So, let's look at some things that are lacking.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>They don't truly know who they are as children of God. They just think of God as the all knowing, all powerful, creator in heaven. They don't fully understand why He made man, so they miss the reality of His being father even though they use the term father. God made man because of His father heart. He wanted a family that would love Him and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy which would make Him happy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>LK. 12:32 </B></FONT><B>Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jo. 16:24 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now that we have established the reason God made us, let us consider some other reasons Christians don't get everything that is rightfully theirs.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>They don't know what is rightfully theirs. Therefore, they don't know what they have to do to get what is theirs. So it stands to reason that they don't know how to do what they must do.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How do we find out what every Christian has a right to? Here is a verse that is important. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated </B><I><B>us</B></I><B> into the kingdom of his dear Son:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since God has already translated His children into the kingdom of His dear son, it stands to reason that everything there, is available when anyone meets the conditions given in God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The conditions are simple. Be obedient and ask in faith. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MT. 21:22 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>It must be pointed out that in the above verse and most others in the New Testament, the Greek word translated ask, is not like our word ask. If we ask someone to do something, it is their prerogative whether they do it or not, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>but that word ask is a demand for something due</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In order to give a clear understanding of that, let us digress for a bit. Let us check some verses in Hebrews chapter 9.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions </B><I><B>that were</B></I><B> under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We must point out that one of the meanings of the Greek word translated testament is devisory will.  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>These next verses indicate that will is the proper translation.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 9:</B><B>16 For where a testament </B><I><B>is</B></I><B>, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 9:</B><B>17 For a testament </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since will is the proper translation, the word ask being a demand for something due, means that when we have met the terms of the will we have a legal right to what we are asking for.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ps. 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse indicated that whatever we desire, is God's will for us to have unless it is contrary to His word.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are many myths and misconceptions about Gods word that keep people in bondage.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jo. 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, </B></FONT><B>If you continue in my word, </B><I><B>then</B></I><B> are you my disciples indeed;</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jo. 8:32 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>If people are not free in any area, it is because they do not know the truth or they are not acting on it. In all probability, they do not know the truth because they have not met the conditions set forth below.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Pet. 2:2 As new born babes, desire(</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>intensely crave possession</U></B></FONT><B>) the sincere(</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>un-deceitful, unadulterated</U></B></FONT><B>) milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The phrase intensely crave possession, means like a dope addict craves dope or an alcoholic craves alcohol. They have one characteristic in common. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, they are going to get what they are craving.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How does that apply to a Christian? It applies this way. When a child of God makes the no back down decision that they want the truth oh God's word, more than anything else in the world, and when they get they will go with it no matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, and even if they find out that some things they believed were wrong, God's Holy Spirit will teach them the truth and it will revolutionize their life.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Critical information.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</B></div> <div> <B>This verse of scripture gives two reasons that Pastors and teachers should be diligent in preaching and teaching the TRUTH of God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>One is that God's people are still being destroyed today just as they were when Hosea first put the verse forth.</B></div> <div> <B>The second is the penalty for not putting forth the truth of God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>What are some of the things that people lack knowledge about that causes them to be destroyed? Let us look at a few.</B></div> <div> <B>1. Not knowing how Satan's and how he operates. </B></div> <div> <B>2. Not knowing who they are in Christ Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>3. Not knowing their authority to use the name of Jesus to control situations.</B></div> <div> <B>4. Not knowing what is rightfully theirs as children of God.</B></div> <div> <B>5. Not knowing the importance of the correct meaning of various words in the bible.</B></div> <div> <B>6. Not knowing how to operate in faith.</B></div> <div> <B>Let us consider each of those things. Most people, it seems, are of the belief that humans are physical beings when in reality they are spirit beings. As spirit beings they have three sources of their thoughts. Some, of course, are their own. Some are from God's Holy Spirit and some are from the devil. So, one of Satan's methods of operation is by putting thoughts in people's minds. That is why we are told to try the spirits whether they be of God. The only way to do that is to compare the thoughts to God's word. A person cannot make that comparison if they don't know God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>Another way that Satan destroys God's people is by attacking them with sickness, disease and accidents and making them believe it is somehow God's will and God's doings.</B></div> <div> <B>Here is scriptural proof of Satan's ability to do the above.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Luke 13:16</B></FONT><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day</B></FONT><B>?</B></div> <div> <B>These next two verses show who we are in Christ Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>2 Cor 5:21  For he has made him </B><I><B>to be </B></I><B>sin for us, who knew no sin; that </B><B><U>we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</U></B></div> <div> <B>Eph 4:24  And that </B><B><U>you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.</U></B></div> <div> <B>Here we find our authority to use the name of Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>Mark 16:17  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Mark 16:18 </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 14:12  </B></FONT><B><U>Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater </U></B><I><B><U>works </U></B></I><B><U>than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</U></B></div> <div> <B>John 14:13  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>John 14:14 </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do </B><I><B>it.</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <B>In verses 13 & 14 the word ask is strictly a demand for something due. That is based on meeting the terms of the written Will. Most of the time that ask is in the Gospels,  that is the meaning. Therefore, just asking will not get anything.</B></div> <div> <B>The word ask is an example of knowing the correct meaning of words as referred to in number 5.</B></div> <div> <B>Even when people are told what they are to do and how to do it, if they don't get in the word and build their own faith they can't operate in faith.</B></div> <div> <B>In the following verses we find Jesus giving the one and only responsibility of the Pastor/Shepard. </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 21:15  </B><B>So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I><B>son </B></I><B>of Jonas, do you love me more than these? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>He said unto him, Yea, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Feed my lambs.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 21:16  He said to him again the second time</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I><B>son </B></I><B>of Jonas, do you love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>He said unto him, Yea, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him, </B></FONT><B>Feed my sheep.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 21:17  He said unto him the third time</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I><B>son </B></I><B>of Jonas, do you love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>do you</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And he said unto him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said unto him,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Feed my sheep.</B></div> <div> <B>Notice Jesus didn't say win millions of souls. He didn't say build great congregations and buildings. He didn't say go through a lot of rituals. He said feed three times. Anytime an instruction is repeated it is of vital importance to understand and do it.</B></div> <div> <B>Here is an example of instructions on how not to get results.</B></div> <div> <B>This is a critical point for Christians to know. To get the desired results they must do everything that the instructions say to do for a particular thing. Leave off just one thing and there will be no success.</B></div> <div> <B>James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.</B></div> <div> <B>Many people try to resist the devil when they realize what he is doing but he doesn't flee. Why? Because they don't submit themselves to God first. Or they may submit themselves to God but never resist the devil so he stays and does his thing. Either way he continues to cause the problem.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE.</B></div> <div> <B>God is not the cause of hurricanes. They are the activity of Satan. If all Christians knew what their authority is and started using it we would not have the destruction caused by hurricanes and other things of nature.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jo.14:12 </B></FONT><B>Verily, verily, I say unto you, </B><B><U>He that believes on me,</U></B><B> </B><B><U>the works that I do shall he do also;</U></B><B> and greater </B><I><B>works</B></I><B> than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus clearly stated that the things He did would be done by those who believe on Him. What did He do about the weather?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mk. 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Peace, be still.</B></FONT><B> And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mk. 4:40 And he said unto them, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>In verse 40, Jesus is indicating that </B><B><U>they</U></B><B> should have used </B><B><U>their</U></B><B> faith and calmed the storm. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Even though a person may know that those scriptures are in God's word they will not work for them unless they study them until faith builds in them. Faith comes by hearing and hearing God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now </B><I><B>it is</B></I><B> high time to awake out of sleep: for now </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> our salvation nearer than when we believed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is high time that we realize that it is time for us to take our rightful authority as children of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Whatever God's word says for us to do, will not be done unless we do it. Praying for God to do it will not get it done.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>How to win the Spiritual warfare.</B></div> <div> <B>God tells us in Hosea: Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: ………………</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Who is it that destroys?  An adversary, right.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What is an adversary? This is what the Webster's Dictionary has to say. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>ADVERSARY, refers to a person, group, or personified force contending against another. ADVERSARY suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Notice that an adversary fights DETERMINEDLY, CONTINUOUSLY, and RELEMTLESSLY.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Are not Christians today, God's people? If they are, are they not being destroyed today and for the same reason as in Hosea's day?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If you are in a war there are certain things you must know if you expect to win.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1. You must know who your enemy is.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2. You must know what his weapons are and his method of operation.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>3. You must know what your weapons are and how to use them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When you hear most Christians talk you would think that God is their adversary. They say things like: God let this bad thing happen to me to teach me something. Or, God is in control so if it happens it must be His will. In fact lately I have heard a preacher with a huge church talking on TV about going through a lot of bad things and when he asked God why, he said God told him that all of it was coming from Him because He is in control.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Could that be true? Let's look at God's word for the answer.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Pet 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1. Whoa! What did Peter say? He said our adversary is the devil, did he not. If God is our adversary, why did Peter say the devil is? Could it be that the lack of that knowledge is part of the reason God's people are being destroyed? Well if the devil is our adversary, what are we to do about it? Check the next verse.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Pet 5:9  Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Peter tells us that we are to resist. What does that mean? Here is Webster's word on resist. Resist: to withstand, </B><B><U>strive</U></B><B> against, or oppose. Strive: to </B><B><U>contend</U></B><B> in opposition, battle, or any conflict. Contend: to </B><B><U>assert </U></B><B>or maintain earnestly. Assert: to state strongly or positively; I think you will agree by the time we finish that the last is the proper meaning. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2. Many people have the erroneous idea that we are physical beings but we are not. We are spirit beings living in a physical body in order to operate in this physical world. </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jesus told us this in John. John 4:24  </B></FONT><B>God </B><I><B>is </B></I><B>a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship </B><I><B>him </B></I><B>in spirit and in truth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You might ask: What does God being a spirit have to do with us being a spirit?”. This is what it has to do with it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our IMAGE, after our LIKENESS: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A thorough search of the Greek for likeness shows it means a duplicate. Therefore we are a spirit.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One more scripture. Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man </B><I><B>of </B></I><B>the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. See. It says that man became a living soul not a living body. Webster's word again. soul n. 1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as </B><B><U>distinct</U></B><B> </B><B><U>from</U></B><B> the </B><B><U>physical</U></B><B>. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare </B><I><B>are </B></I><B>not carnal(of the flesh), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and </B><B><U>bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ</U></B><B>;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So our adversary, the devil, uses thoughts to bring us into captivity and to destroy those who don't know the truth. That is his method of operation.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>3. So what are our weapons? They are the words of God spoken in faith by us. Let's check some more scriptures.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prov 18:21  </B><B>Death and life </B><B>are </B><B>in the power of the tongue:</B><B> and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Whose tongue is he talking about? Ours , of course. How so?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 12:37  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus knew what He was talking about don't you think? Look at this scripture.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Luke 6:45  </B></FONT><B>A good man out of the good treasure of his heart </B><B>brings forth</B><B> that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart </B><B>brings forth</B><B> that which is evil: for of the </B><B>abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus tells us here how we bring things to pass. What is in our heart is what we speak. Here are some instructions to follow.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Eph 5:1  Be therefore followers of God, as dear children;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Unfortunately, the KJV leaves us hanging because some words are not translated properly. The Greek word translated followers means imitators. So, how does a child imitate a parent? They walk, talk and act like them do they not? All the power is in talking.. How does God talk? Let's find out.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor 1:27  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, </B><B>yea, </B><B>and </B><B>things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Notice that God has chosen things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Well how does He do that? Check this.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, </B><B>even </B><B>God, who quickens the dead, and </B><B>calls those things which be not as though they were.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul just told us that God calls things which be not as though they were. If we are going to be obedient and imitate Him then we will call those things that be not as though they were.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Often, due to a lack of knowledge we are actually using our words to bring things that we don't want into being, or keep things we don't want, by the words coming out of our mouth on a regular basis.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A lot of times when people find out that the devil is their problem, they start trying to resist him but don't have any success. The reason is two fold. a. They haven't taken the time to get in God's word and build their faith. b. They don't submit themselves to God first as it tells us below.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now how did Jesus resist the devil when He was here on the earth? Let's see.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:4  </B><B>But he answered and said, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>It is written</B><B>, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:5  Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:6  And said unto him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in </B><B>their </B><B>hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. Notice how the devil quoted some scripture? But he was using it wrong. Many people mis-apply scripture today.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:7  </B><B>Jesus said unto him, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>It is written again</B><B>, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:8  Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:9  And said unto him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mat 4:10  </B><B>Then said Jesus unto him, </B></FONT><B>Get you hence, Satan: </B><B>for it is written</B><B>, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:11  Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus didn't try to overcome the devil on His own but quoted God's word. That is our defense today but if a person doesn't know God's word, they are defenseless. Whatever God tells us to do, will not be done unless we do it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Today it is seldom that people come face to face with the devil as Jesus did. But the devil puts thoughts of doubt, unbelief, fear, and evil in people's minds. When those thoughts enter the mind, the person goes with the thoughts not knowing that they are from the devil.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every evil deed that is done on the earth, no matter how big or small, no matter how it is done or who does it, is the result of the thoughts put into people's minds by the devil.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Someone might ask, “Why would the devil do all of that?”. The answer is simple. He hates God with a burning passion but he can't do anything to God Himself. His only way to get at God is by causing God's children to suffer by their not knowing the truth and how to defeat him. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here are some more things Jesus said that Christians should know.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 21:22  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mark 11:24  </B></FONT><B>Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive </B><B>them, </B><B>and you shall have </B><B>them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 16:23  </B></FONT><B>And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give </B><B>it </B><B>you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you suppose Jesus knew what He was talking about? If He did then why do so many prayers go unanswered?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If you remember, I said earlier that our weapons are God's words spoken in faith by us. One of the biggest reasons that prayers go unanswered is because the requests are not made in faith. A person cannot ask in faith unless they know they have a right to what they are asking for. If they don't ask in faith, God cannot answer. The only way a person can know they have a right to what they are asking for is to know what God's word says about it. The only way to know what God's word says is to get deadly serious with God get in the word and let the Holy Spirit do the teaching.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Don't you know that if those people searched the scriptures to see if what the apostles told them was true, then people sure better be searching today.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>James 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That is an interesting statement by James. He said if we don't do what the word says then we deceive our own selves. Naturally if we deceive ourselves it opens the door wide for us to be deceived by the devil.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Whatever level a Christian is on, concerning the word of God if they will be obedient in that and diligently seek with all their heart to learn more and be more obedient, God will give them the knowledge that sets them free.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, </B></FONT><B>If you continue in my word, </B><B>then </B><B>are you my disciples indeed;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>John 8:32  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus didn't beat around the bush here. He said the truth shall make you free. Shall is an imperative. It doesn't mean, maybe, hope so, possibly, if it's God's will. It means you can depend on it. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Any child of God who meets the condition set forth in God's word, as recorded by Peter, that person will be taught by God's Holy Spirit and their lives will be revolutionized.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here it is. 1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sadly that doesn't even hint at what it said in the original. Here is the original. 1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes </B><B>intensely crave</B><B> the </B><B>un-deceitful, unadulterated</B><B> milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The fact that we are told to crave the un-deceitful, unadulterated milk is proof positive that the word does get used deceitfully and it does get adulterated. When it does it is harmful rather than helpful. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The phrase intensely crave is like a dope addict craves dope or an alcoholic craves alcohol. While I have never had any experience with either, I have talked with those who have. Those people have one characteristic in common. It doesn't matter what anyone else says thinks or does, they are going to get what they are craving.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How does that apply? This is how. When a child of God makes the decision that they want the truth of God's word above anything else in the world and when they get it they will go with it no matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, the Holy Spirit will teach them.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Some common misconceptions</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One is about the Sabbath. Many believe that Sunday is the Sabbath. That is incorrect. Saturday is the Sabbath. Some Christians think they are to keep the Sabbath. This is incorrect. The Sabbath has nothing to do with gentiles nor Jews if they accept Jesus as their Savior. God specifically told the nation of Israel that it was a sign between Him and them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ex. 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, </B><B>for</B><B> a perpetual covenant. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ex. 31:17 It </B><B>is</B><B> a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for </B><B>in</B><B> six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Another common misconception is that it is ok for women to pastor churches or be deacons. Wrong. The qualifications for those offices are clear and distinct. While a woman may believe that God has called her to one of those offices, she is wrong. God never calls anyone to do anything contrary to His word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That is why God's word tells us to try the spirits to see if they are of God or not. The only way to know is to know the word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A misconception that is becoming more common today is that women can be pastors and priests. In Timothy we find the requirements for a pastor. One, being, the husband of one wife. That alone precludes a woman being a pastor. God will never ever, under any circumstances or for any reason tell someone to do something contrary to His word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:1 This </B><B>is</B><B> a true saying, If a </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>man</B></FONT><B> desire the office of a bishop(</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>pastor</B></FONT><B>), </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>he</B></FONT><B> desires a good work. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>husband</B></FONT><B> of one </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>wife</B></FONT><B>, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre(money); but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 3:4 One that rules well </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>his</B></FONT><B> own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:5 (For if a </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>man</B></FONT><B> know not how to rule </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>his</B></FONT><B> own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>he</B></FONT><B> fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>he</B></FONT><B> must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>elders(deacons)</B></FONT><B> in every city, as I had appointed you:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>husband</B></FONT><B> of one </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>wife</B></FONT><B>, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, </B><B>and</B><B> lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 2:12 But I </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul gives the reason for his statement above.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal. 3:6 For I </B><I><B>am</B></I><B> the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Healing is God's will.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every promise of God requires our obedience in order for us to benefit from it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:1  And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe </B><B>and </B><B>to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Only 14 verses are dealing with blessing. The rest of the chapter deals with the curses that come from disobedience.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:15  But it shall come to pass, if you will not hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day; that all these curses shall come upon you, and overtake you:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Our primary focus here is on the curse of sickness and disease.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:22  The LORD shall smite you with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue you until you perish.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:27  The LORD will smite you with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof you can not be healed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:28  The LORD shall smite you with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:35  The LORD shall smite you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot unto the top of your head.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:60  Moreover he will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt, which you was afraid of; and they shall cleave unto you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:61  Also every sickness, and every plague, </B><B>which </B><B>is </B><B>not written in the book of this law,</B><B> them will the LORD bring upon you, until you be destroyed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why are all these things to happen to the people?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:45  Moreover all these curses shall come upon you, and shall pursue you, and overtake you, till you be destroyed; because you hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his </B><B>commandments and his statutes which he commanded you:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:46  And they shall be upon you for a sign and for a wonder, and upon your seed for ever.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:47  </B><B>Because you</B><B> served not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all </B><B>things</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now let us look at what God has provided for us concerning sickness and disease. Notice carefully that sickness and disease were a curse of the law.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gal 3:13  Christ has </B><B>redeemed us from the curse of the law</B><B>, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed </B><B>is </B><B>every one that hangs on a tree:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next verse tells us why He redeemed us from the curse of the law.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gal 3:14  </B><B>That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles</B><B> through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prov 4:20  My son, attend to my words; incline your ear unto my sayings.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prov 4:21  Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prov 4:22  For they </B><B>are </B><B>life unto those that find them, and </B><B>health to all their flesh</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>3 John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and </B><B>be in health</B><B>, even as your soul prospers.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let's look at how Jesus dealt with sickness and disease when He was here.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and </B><B>healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:24  And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; </B><B>and he healed them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:7  And Jesus said unto him, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>I will come and heal him.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:13  And Jesus said unto the centurion, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Go your way; and as you have believed, </B><B>so </B><B>be it done unto you</B></FONT><B>. And </B><B>his servant was healed in the selfsame hour</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:14  And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:15  And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:16  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with </B><B>his </B><B>word, and </B><B>healed all that were sick:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:17  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare </B><B>our </B><B>sicknesses.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, </B><B>and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Keep this next verse in mind.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto </B><B>him </B><B>his twelve disciples, </B><B>he gave them power</B><B> </B><B>against </B><B>unclean spirits, to cast them out, and </B><B>to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 10:7  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mat 10:8  </B></FONT><B>Heal the sick</B><B>, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 12:15  But when Jesus knew </B><B>it, </B><B>he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and </B><B>he healed them all</B><B>;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 12:22  Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and </B><B>he healed him</B><B>, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here is another reason that people are destroyed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and </B><B>their </B><B>ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with </B><B>their </B><B>eyes and hear with </B><B>their </B><B>ears, and should understand with </B><B>their </B><B>heart, and should be converted, and </B><B>I should heal them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them </B><B>those that were </B><B>lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and </B><B>he healed them</B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 21:14  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and </B><B>he healed them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mark 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, </B></FONT><B>A prophet is </B><B>not without honour</B><B>, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mark 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and </B><B>healed </B><B>them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he </B><B>laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 5:15  But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and </B><B>to be healed by him of their infirmities</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 6:17  And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and </B><B>to be healed of their diseases;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 6:18  And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and </B><B>they were healed</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 6:19  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and </B><B>healed </B><B>them </B><B>all.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 9:6  And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and </B><B>healing every where</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 9:11  And the people, when they knew </B><B>it, </B><B>followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and </B><B>healed them that had need of healing.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Some people have made the ridiculous statement that sometimes God gets glory from someone being sick. Nowhere in God's word is there a single statement about God being glorified when someone was sick. This next verse tells you when God gets glorified.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next verse really should be enough to let people know that it is not God's will for His children to be sick.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>you present your bodies a living sacrifice</B></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>holy, acceptable unto God</B></FONT><B>, </B><B>which is </B><B>your reasonable service.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Remember this verse</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>?</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal 3:6  For I </B><B>am </B><B>the LORD, I change not; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If God is willing to accept a sick sacrifice today He has changed because this is what He said about it .</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal 1:8  And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, </B><B>is it </B><B>not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, </B><B>is it </B><B>not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor 6:19  What? know you not </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost</B></FONT><B> </B><B>which is </B><B>in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>1 Cor 3:17  </B></FONT><B>If any man defile the temple of God</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>, him shall God destroy; for </B></FONT><B>the temple of God is holy, which </B><B>temple </B><B>you are</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>A reminder.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Where does this lack of knowledge come from or what is the cause?</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 10:10  </B></FONT><B>The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have </B><B>it </B><B>more abundantly</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Who is the thief? It is Satan. He has to steal the truth of God's word before he can kill and destroy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Just as surely as Jesus shed His blood and took our sins at the cross for our souls, He did two things at the cross for us to have a healthy body. Isaiah said:  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa 53:5  But he </B><B>was </B><B>wounded for our transgressions, </B><B>he was </B><B>bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace </B><B>was </B><B>upon him; and </B><B>with his stripes we are healed. </B><B>That was the first thing. He also said this: </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa 52:14  As many were astonished at you; his </B><B>visage(</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>appearance</B></FONT><B>) was so marred(</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>disfigured</B></FONT><B>) more than any man</B><B>, and his form more than the sons of men:  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That took place during the three hours of darkness as Jesus hung on the cross. During that period His body experienced the worst sickness, disease and accident that would ever touch a human body and it became so grotesque that if they could have seen it they could not have handled it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The question is: “Are you going to believe Satan's lies and let him destroy you and your loved ones or are you going to believe God's word and live in a healthy body, the temple of the Holy Spirit?”</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Here is what Peter had to say on the subject. 1 Pet 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by </B></FONT><B>whose stripes</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>you were healed</B><B>.  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The healing has already been provided. It is up to us to meet  the terms to get it.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>As far as God is concerned He has provided your healing. You just have to ask for it by faith. </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>You have to build your faith for healing just like for anything else.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>The phrase “If it be thy will” should NEVER be used when praying for a sick person to be healed.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> That is not faith and God cannot answer that prayer. That phrase has killed more people than all the weapons of humanity throughout history.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Just because the Holy Spirit may have born witness with your spirit that what you have read is true, you cannot get results immediately. You must build your faith by reading the scriptures above regularly or read them from the bible until you build your faith.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.   </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 10:17  So then faith </B><B>comes </B><B>by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. That means hearing and hearing.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Josh 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but </B></FONT><B>you shall meditate therein day and night</B><B>,</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>The word </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>meditate  here means to utter, mutter and speak aloud which coincides with hearing and hearing in</B></FONT><B> Ro. 10:17.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here is an important scripture: 2 Tim 2:15  Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What does it mean to rightly divide? For one thing it means to know what dispensation a scripture applies to. This is vitally impostant when reading the Gospels.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For example: Mat 6:33  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse does not apply to Christians today. Here is why. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Col 1:13  Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated </B><B>us </B><B>into the kingdom of his dear Son:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since that verse clearly states that we are already in the kingdom of His dear Son, we do not have to spend time seeking the kingdom.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We also don't have to spend time seeking His righteousness. This next verse tells us who we are.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 5:21  For he has made him </B><B>to be </B><B>sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sadly many Christians pray, “Oh Lord I am so unworthy”. That isn't true. We have been made the righteousness of God. Notice that verse tells us we have been made the righteousness of God.</B></div> <div>      </div> <div> <B>Misconceptions about God's word that allow Satan to kill and destroy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>M1. God will not put more on us than we can bear.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 10:13 There has no temptation (ad·ver·si·ty, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> 2.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> A calamitous event. </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>) </B></FONT><B>taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>permit</B></FONT><B>) you to be tempted above rhat you are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Notice it says , make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it. It is up to the person to take the way to escape.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted (</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>tested</B></FONT><B>), I am tempted oh God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, (</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>injurious: bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome</B></FONT><B>) neither tempts He any man.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The following verses should prove to anyone that God doesn't have to test anyone.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa. 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I an God, and there is none like me.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since He declares the end from the beginning, He knows how everyone will respond to everything. Therefore if He caused bad things to happen, knowing the many would turn away as a result, He ste wouldn't be a loving God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>M2. God's permissive will. Lots of people believe God has a permissive will. If that were the case, those who die lost would be in His permissive will. This verse says otherwise.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse doesn't leave any doubt what God's will is. It sure isn't permissive.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what </B><B>is</B><B> that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>That verse tells us to prove the perfect will of God. God has one will which is good, acceptable and perfect. People are either in it or out of it. When they are in it, God can protect and bless them. When they are out of it, Satan is free to do his dirty work.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>M3. Paul's thorn in the flesh was a physical ailment.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Greek word translated messenger is angel. Paul's thorn was a demonic spirit that went everywhere Paul did, stirring up the people against him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God is consistent in His use of terminology as evidenced by the following scriptures.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Num. 33:55 But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them </B><B>shall be</B><B> pricks in your eyes, and </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>thorns in your sides</B></FONT><B>, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Josh. 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out </B><B>any of</B><B> these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>thorns in your eyes</B></FONT><B>, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Judg. 2:3 </B><B>Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>as thorns</B><B> in your sides</B></FONT><B>, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The term thorn is used like people today say someone is a pain in the neck.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 12: 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.</B></FONT><B> Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Many people believe that Jesus was telling Paul he had to live with it the rest of his life. The truth is that He was reminding Paul that he knew God's word, what his authority was and how to use it. In effect He was telling Paul to use that authority.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next verse is an indication that Paul exercised that authority.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of </B><B>them</B><B> all the Lord delivered me.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul said that the Lord delivered him out of them all. Why was Paul delivered out of them all? Because Paul exercised his authority to use the name of Jesus to overcome those things.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>M4. God uses bad things to chastise us.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 12:6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Actually, the Greek word translated chasten, means to teach and train. People use this next verse to justify their belief.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to </B><B>his</B><B> purpose.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If that verse is taken to mean what it seems to, Then all bad things would be included. Fortunately it isn't even talking about pfysical experiences.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Greek word translated work means co-worker, fellow laborer. Co-worker and fellow laborer is a person. That person is God's Holy Spirit. Verse 27 is talking about what the Holy Spirit does, so verse 28 means all things the Holy Spirit does.</B></div> <div> <B>Another verse concerning chastening.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture </B><B>is</B><B> given by inspiration of God, and </B><B>is</B><B> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Greek word translated instruction is the same word translated chasten in Hebrews. God uses His word and His Holy Spirit to teach and train His children.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>M5. We never know what God will do. A lack of knowledge of God's word is the reason for that.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:8 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:10 But God has revealed </B><B>them</B><B> unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In order for God's Spirit to reveal those things, a person must meet the conditions in 1 Pet. 2:2 as given above.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>No matter how famous a person is, how big their church is or anything else, if what they say, when followed, will leave a person in bondage, it isn't so.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>May God's richest blessings be on you and your loved ones.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> hope, health, wealth, love, mercy, freedom, help. gospel, hate, lust, politics</div> </td> </tr></table></body>