I just took a tour this afternoon of my hometown.
We are a Certified Retirement Comunity and that is a big deal. Carol Fitzwilliam took us around Picayune and we met some wonderful people, we went to some great places, and I just can't understand why anyone would want to live somewhere else.
My daughter says she hates Mississippi.. I haven't a clue why. It's a gorgeous state. It's recovering quite nicely from Katrina. All is not perfect, but it is coming back, unlike Louisiana which is such a sad situation, especially New Orleans.
There have been 90 murders in New Orleanse in six months. Ninety... nine, zero, murders. I cannnot fathom that. There are few people there than before Katrina and there are three times as many murders in six months as in a year before Katrina. I can hardly wrap my brain around it.
Thank you, God for my home town. It is thriving and it is lovely and it is historic and the people are wonderful. That is a great combination.
the health/wealth movement -- word of faith
Let me quit dancing around here and just outline the problem I have with this Health/Wealth kind of false teaching.
Hear me well any who proclaim this type of false teaching for it will not go well with you.
First... To say that a person just doesn't have enough faith is the reason they are not healed is an out right lie straight from the Father of Lies, Satan himself.
You want to know why?
Because God takes care of His children and their needs regardless of what, when or how they ask. Matthew 6 You don't have to believe when you pray for something. It is best when you believe God has the power to answer your prayers. But, God is not a genie in a bottle up there to grant every wish or desire.
Go read Acts 12. Peter was amazed he was standing outside the prison. The church was absolutely shocked that Peter was standing outside the door completely free.
Please note, I am not at all denying clear Scripture that we have not because we ask not. (James) I am trying to point out that God's compassion for His people is overwhelming!
Jesus brought back to life the widow's son...just because He had compassion on her.
The storm at sea was calmed completely without the faith of the disciples.
The 5000 were fed without the faith of the disciples or the crowd.
The 4000 were fed without the faith of the disciples or the crowd.
The water was turned into wine at Cana without the faith of the servants.
The man at Bethesda Pool was healed by Someone he didn't even know.
Through no help of the disciples, Jesus walked on water.
Through no help of any one of us, Jesus was raised from the dead.
God does not need our help to do anything. However, God requires us to grow Spiritually in Him. There is no 12 Step Program to follow for God to grant our wishes. There is nothing magic about God's miracles. He pours out His blessings upon us because He loves us and cares for us and wants us to have the best and because we obey Him and put Him above all in our lives.
Seek ye first God's face and everything else will be added to you. From Genesis to Revelation there are multiple examples of God taking care of His people who are called by His name. Praying in the Spirit is NOT just for a special few of God's people called by His name. This is something that is given to all True Believers along with their very own motivational Spiritual Gift. Praying in the Spirit is not achieved by speaking in some garbled estatic tongue only understood by God Himself. Praying in the Spirit is achieved by being wholy in tune with the Lord, having the desires of the Lord in the heart attitude and having Jesus as the Lord of all aspects of life. Praying in the Spirit is achieved by turning one's back on enticing sin, by repenting any practiced sin. It isn't some magic formula. It is not a mantra to be "performed".
And for this reference--read all of Paul's letters plus Hebrews. And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Matt 6:7
The reason God did not do in Athens what He did in Ephesus is this: The Athenians did not recognize their need for God. God stooped to the level of the Ephesians and met them there with all His miracles. The Athenians refused to even meet God on their own level.
Hear me well any who proclaim this type of false teaching for it will not go well with you.
First... To say that a person just doesn't have enough faith is the reason they are not healed is an out right lie straight from the Father of Lies, Satan himself.
You want to know why?
Because God takes care of His children and their needs regardless of what, when or how they ask. Matthew 6 You don't have to believe when you pray for something. It is best when you believe God has the power to answer your prayers. But, God is not a genie in a bottle up there to grant every wish or desire.
Go read Acts 12. Peter was amazed he was standing outside the prison. The church was absolutely shocked that Peter was standing outside the door completely free.
Please note, I am not at all denying clear Scripture that we have not because we ask not. (James) I am trying to point out that God's compassion for His people is overwhelming!
Jesus brought back to life the widow's son...just because He had compassion on her.
The storm at sea was calmed completely without the faith of the disciples.
The 5000 were fed without the faith of the disciples or the crowd.
The 4000 were fed without the faith of the disciples or the crowd.
The water was turned into wine at Cana without the faith of the servants.
The man at Bethesda Pool was healed by Someone he didn't even know.
Through no help of the disciples, Jesus walked on water.
Through no help of any one of us, Jesus was raised from the dead.
God does not need our help to do anything. However, God requires us to grow Spiritually in Him. There is no 12 Step Program to follow for God to grant our wishes. There is nothing magic about God's miracles. He pours out His blessings upon us because He loves us and cares for us and wants us to have the best and because we obey Him and put Him above all in our lives.
Seek ye first God's face and everything else will be added to you. From Genesis to Revelation there are multiple examples of God taking care of His people who are called by His name. Praying in the Spirit is NOT just for a special few of God's people called by His name. This is something that is given to all True Believers along with their very own motivational Spiritual Gift. Praying in the Spirit is not achieved by speaking in some garbled estatic tongue only understood by God Himself. Praying in the Spirit is achieved by being wholy in tune with the Lord, having the desires of the Lord in the heart attitude and having Jesus as the Lord of all aspects of life. Praying in the Spirit is achieved by turning one's back on enticing sin, by repenting any practiced sin. It isn't some magic formula. It is not a mantra to be "performed".
And for this reference--read all of Paul's letters plus Hebrews. And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Matt 6:7
The reason God did not do in Athens what He did in Ephesus is this: The Athenians did not recognize their need for God. God stooped to the level of the Ephesians and met them there with all His miracles. The Athenians refused to even meet God on their own level.
Diva Nash Vegas
I give this book 2.5 stars. I do understand that nonChristians do not live Christian lives. I also understand that people who need Jesus have to meet Him where they are standing. I love stories like that.
Telling a story in present tense, as if it is happening as I read it -- like a movie script -- is okay for a chapter or two, but not all the way through the book. Short sentences are super as exclamation points, but too many leave me breathless and make me tired.
This is why I've given it only 2.5 stars.
Otherwise, it is a pretty good book. It moves fast and slows down when necessary so the good parts can be savored. I like it that Hauck says they went to bed and doesn't go into details. That would turn me off quicker than a light switch. It's a good, rainy afternoon read.
You can click on the title to order the book, or go to your local bookstore and ask for it by name.
Difference between the OT saints and NT saints 3
Faith saved them from the 2nd death, but they were not purified or rather justified so they could go into God's presence.
Rom 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. and Acts 13:39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
Faith was not a free pass into the presence of God. Men lost their lives for mishandling the Ark and for offering profane fire and for other things as well. Moses was with God but God hid His face from Moses. The Law provided for the same sacrifices year after year but could never bring the worshippers to perfection for all time. (Heb 10) Then it goes on to say that God did not delight in sacrifices and whole offerings although the Law prescribed them.
verse 10, it is by the will of God that we have been consecrated, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. Verse 13 For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are thus consecrated. Verse 19 So, my friends, the blood of Jesus makes us free to enter boldly into the sanctuary by the new, living way which He has opened for us through the curtain, the way of His flesh.
Before the Veil of the Temple was torn in two, the people whether living or dead had no direct access to the Living God Almighty. This is why the veil between the Holy of Holies and the Holy was torn from top to bottom opening the way for man to come into God's presence. Not flesh and blood to go into His presence. (Cor 15) But, for the souls of men to be justified and sanctified to go into God's presence.
The OT saints were prisoners per se' in paradise because they could not go into God's presence (Heaven). They had not been consecrated by Jesus' perfect sacrifice yet. But when He willingly laid down His life for us, His perfect blood sacrifice satisfied the Law's requirement in our stead and thus He freed the captives and He conquored death by rising from the dead. It was a legal thing set up by God.
Those saved before the Cross were saved by God's promise of the Cross and those saved after were saved by the literal blood of Jesus. (Of course by faith and belief!!)
The Law required blood sacrifice and yet, there was no blood perfect enough to cover, pay for and release a human from his sins until Jesus' perfect sacrifice whereby God was satisfied that the Law was fulfilled. J
esus is the door into heaven. He said so Himself.
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door [ Lit knocks, it] will be opened.
Matthew 25:10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. [ Mt 22:2; Lk 13:25;]
John 10:1 [ The Ideal Shepherd ] " I assure you: Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
John 10:7 [ The Good Shepherd ] So Jesus said again, " I assure you: I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Until Jesus laid down His life as perfect sacrifice, there was no door into Heaven by which mankind could walk through into God's Holy presence after Adam sinned. It is my understanding that Paradise was the place of comfort designed as a place for the OT saints to go while waiting for God's promised Son, the Messiah, to appear and follow through with God's perfect will.
Rom 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. and Acts 13:39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
Faith was not a free pass into the presence of God. Men lost their lives for mishandling the Ark and for offering profane fire and for other things as well. Moses was with God but God hid His face from Moses. The Law provided for the same sacrifices year after year but could never bring the worshippers to perfection for all time. (Heb 10) Then it goes on to say that God did not delight in sacrifices and whole offerings although the Law prescribed them.
verse 10, it is by the will of God that we have been consecrated, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. Verse 13 For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are thus consecrated. Verse 19 So, my friends, the blood of Jesus makes us free to enter boldly into the sanctuary by the new, living way which He has opened for us through the curtain, the way of His flesh.
Before the Veil of the Temple was torn in two, the people whether living or dead had no direct access to the Living God Almighty. This is why the veil between the Holy of Holies and the Holy was torn from top to bottom opening the way for man to come into God's presence. Not flesh and blood to go into His presence. (Cor 15) But, for the souls of men to be justified and sanctified to go into God's presence.
The OT saints were prisoners per se' in paradise because they could not go into God's presence (Heaven). They had not been consecrated by Jesus' perfect sacrifice yet. But when He willingly laid down His life for us, His perfect blood sacrifice satisfied the Law's requirement in our stead and thus He freed the captives and He conquored death by rising from the dead. It was a legal thing set up by God.
Those saved before the Cross were saved by God's promise of the Cross and those saved after were saved by the literal blood of Jesus. (Of course by faith and belief!!)
The Law required blood sacrifice and yet, there was no blood perfect enough to cover, pay for and release a human from his sins until Jesus' perfect sacrifice whereby God was satisfied that the Law was fulfilled. J
esus is the door into heaven. He said so Himself.
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door [ Lit knocks, it] will be opened.
Matthew 25:10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. [ Mt 22:2; Lk 13:25;]
John 10:1 [ The Ideal Shepherd ] " I assure you: Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
John 10:7 [ The Good Shepherd ] So Jesus said again, " I assure you: I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Until Jesus laid down His life as perfect sacrifice, there was no door into Heaven by which mankind could walk through into God's Holy presence after Adam sinned. It is my understanding that Paradise was the place of comfort designed as a place for the OT saints to go while waiting for God's promised Son, the Messiah, to appear and follow through with God's perfect will.
OT and NT saints are different part deux
Let me ask you this...
Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Why did Jesus say this if there was no difference between OT saints and NT saints? I am not trying to prove a hierarchy, just that Jesus pointed out a difference between OT and NT.
John was the awaited Elijah, Jesus said so.
John died before Jesus did. John died under the Law. Those "least in the kingdom of Heaven" died under grace just as those who die after Jesus rose. Both are saved by faith. Both believed God, believed Jesus is God's Son, but the only thing that is different is that Jesus led captivity captive when He rose from the dead.
(Eph 4) Those things that had imprisoned humans since Adam's fall from grace were sin and death. It was a legal thing set up by God. Those saved before the Cross were saved by God's promise of the Cross and those saved after were saved by the literal blood of Jesus. (Of course by faith and belief!!)
The Law required blood sacrifice and yet, there was no blood perfect enough to cover, pay for and release a human from his sins until Jesus' perfect sacrifice whereby God was satisfied that the Law was fulfilled.
By faith and by God's perfect Grace, the OT saints were held in comfort for the day that Jesus' sacrifice would imprison sin and death and unlock the door to God's presence.
Jesus is that Door! There was no door at all until Jesus rose from the dead and then suddenly the Door was there and was opened and all the OT saints came out from Paradise and went to God's Presence through Jesus the Door. Jesus explains this in John 10, but a word study of "door" is quite revealing.
In reality, all that has changed is the amount of the gospel that has been revealed. The Blood of Christ is eternal, and works both backwards and forwards in time. So, Abraham was saved by faith, and the last christian on earth was saved by faith, both through the power of the atonement. There is no question that this is true.
The Blood of Christ works backward in God's promise that it would happen and foreward from the literal happening. No matter from Adam to right now... no one was saved from God's wrath without belief and trust in God. Faith has been a factor always. However, Faith and Hope will fade away and the only thing that is eternal is Love.
Luke 16:16 Jesus says the Law and the Prophets were until John. So be thinking of exactly what that means.
Luke 16:19-31 The story is more like an eye witness account than a parable, of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Ex 33:18 Moses asked to see the Glory of God, but he was denied that request. It is very interesting that it took 3 days for God to raise Jesus from the dead. Why so long?
Ephesians 4:8 YLT: So then, the holy writings say, `When Christ went up to heaven he took those he had won with him. And he gave gifts to men.'
That says a lot to me about what Jesus was doing during those 3 days
Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus went to Sheol, Hades but to the Comfort side as described in Luke 16 where Lazarus was. I find zero evidence that He went to the Torment side like the Rich Man. All the OT saints that died before Christ, had to wait to get into Heaven until the blood price had been paid. Why?
Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Why did Jesus say this if there was no difference between OT saints and NT saints? I am not trying to prove a hierarchy, just that Jesus pointed out a difference between OT and NT.
John was the awaited Elijah, Jesus said so.
John died before Jesus did. John died under the Law. Those "least in the kingdom of Heaven" died under grace just as those who die after Jesus rose. Both are saved by faith. Both believed God, believed Jesus is God's Son, but the only thing that is different is that Jesus led captivity captive when He rose from the dead.
(Eph 4) Those things that had imprisoned humans since Adam's fall from grace were sin and death. It was a legal thing set up by God. Those saved before the Cross were saved by God's promise of the Cross and those saved after were saved by the literal blood of Jesus. (Of course by faith and belief!!)
The Law required blood sacrifice and yet, there was no blood perfect enough to cover, pay for and release a human from his sins until Jesus' perfect sacrifice whereby God was satisfied that the Law was fulfilled.
By faith and by God's perfect Grace, the OT saints were held in comfort for the day that Jesus' sacrifice would imprison sin and death and unlock the door to God's presence.
Jesus is that Door! There was no door at all until Jesus rose from the dead and then suddenly the Door was there and was opened and all the OT saints came out from Paradise and went to God's Presence through Jesus the Door. Jesus explains this in John 10, but a word study of "door" is quite revealing.
In reality, all that has changed is the amount of the gospel that has been revealed. The Blood of Christ is eternal, and works both backwards and forwards in time. So, Abraham was saved by faith, and the last christian on earth was saved by faith, both through the power of the atonement. There is no question that this is true.
The Blood of Christ works backward in God's promise that it would happen and foreward from the literal happening. No matter from Adam to right now... no one was saved from God's wrath without belief and trust in God. Faith has been a factor always. However, Faith and Hope will fade away and the only thing that is eternal is Love.
Luke 16:16 Jesus says the Law and the Prophets were until John. So be thinking of exactly what that means.
Luke 16:19-31 The story is more like an eye witness account than a parable, of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Ex 33:18 Moses asked to see the Glory of God, but he was denied that request. It is very interesting that it took 3 days for God to raise Jesus from the dead. Why so long?
Ephesians 4:8 YLT: So then, the holy writings say, `When Christ went up to heaven he took those he had won with him. And he gave gifts to men.'
That says a lot to me about what Jesus was doing during those 3 days
Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus went to Sheol, Hades but to the Comfort side as described in Luke 16 where Lazarus was. I find zero evidence that He went to the Torment side like the Rich Man. All the OT saints that died before Christ, had to wait to get into Heaven until the blood price had been paid. Why?
Difference between the OT saints and NT saints
Here is how I understand it...
Absolutely the spirit ascends now to be with the LORD. Paul said to die is gain and it is to with Him. But the difference between David and Paul is Jesus death and resurrection.
David is before the resurrection and Paul is After.
Before Jesus was resurrected, the sacrifices were in place and were necessary to foretell, be a shadow of Jesus, but were never good enough to cancel out sins. After Jesus died on the cross, God was completely satisfied legally concerning the sins of the world. Just like the Israelites had to bring the bull, slit its throat and burn it on the altar which was an admission of sins and was acceptance of admitting responsibility of sins which was supposed to bring them into alignment with the LORD God Almighty. None of that was good enough to cancel out the literal sins.
Enter Jesus. The perfect Lamb who knowingly and willingly laid down His life for us. That sacrifice was perfect and acceptable to God for the canceling out of all sins: past, present and future. It satisfied the legal issue.
Then and only then could the OT saints be covered by the blood of Jesus and be justified by His blood and sanctified by His loving action.
This is what made it possible for all the OT saints to enter into heaven after Jesus rose from the dead. Am I repeating myself?? Sorry.
I know I won't change anyone's mind, so I guess I'll quit trying. I really just wanted to say that when the all the pieces fit together then there are no holes in an interpretation. The only way for there to be no holes in this one is for there to be a definite distinction between how God handled the dead before Jesus died on the cross and after He died on the cross.
There is only one story that Jesus told where he used two names: Abraham and Lazarus. Plus he tells this story more like an eye witness account rather than a teaching example. That is why I don't think the story in Luke 16 is a parable, but a real life event.
We each have an identity which is written in the Book of Life. When we die, we do not lose our identity and we are not given new names until Jesus gives it to us after the 1000 years. Just because we cannot see the spiritual world unless God reveals it to us, does not mean that the souls of men are not "recognisable entities" to each other, angels and to God.
Are you with me so far?
Absolutely the spirit ascends now to be with the LORD. Paul said to die is gain and it is to with Him. But the difference between David and Paul is Jesus death and resurrection.
David is before the resurrection and Paul is After.
Before Jesus was resurrected, the sacrifices were in place and were necessary to foretell, be a shadow of Jesus, but were never good enough to cancel out sins. After Jesus died on the cross, God was completely satisfied legally concerning the sins of the world. Just like the Israelites had to bring the bull, slit its throat and burn it on the altar which was an admission of sins and was acceptance of admitting responsibility of sins which was supposed to bring them into alignment with the LORD God Almighty. None of that was good enough to cancel out the literal sins.
Enter Jesus. The perfect Lamb who knowingly and willingly laid down His life for us. That sacrifice was perfect and acceptable to God for the canceling out of all sins: past, present and future. It satisfied the legal issue.
Then and only then could the OT saints be covered by the blood of Jesus and be justified by His blood and sanctified by His loving action.
This is what made it possible for all the OT saints to enter into heaven after Jesus rose from the dead. Am I repeating myself?? Sorry.
I know I won't change anyone's mind, so I guess I'll quit trying. I really just wanted to say that when the all the pieces fit together then there are no holes in an interpretation. The only way for there to be no holes in this one is for there to be a definite distinction between how God handled the dead before Jesus died on the cross and after He died on the cross.
There is only one story that Jesus told where he used two names: Abraham and Lazarus. Plus he tells this story more like an eye witness account rather than a teaching example. That is why I don't think the story in Luke 16 is a parable, but a real life event.
We each have an identity which is written in the Book of Life. When we die, we do not lose our identity and we are not given new names until Jesus gives it to us after the 1000 years. Just because we cannot see the spiritual world unless God reveals it to us, does not mean that the souls of men are not "recognisable entities" to each other, angels and to God.
Are you with me so far?
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