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Why keep learning in your old age?

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Suppose that we could speak with an embryo in his mother's womb and that you would tell him that the embryonic life is only a short one after which follows a real, long life. What would the embryo answer? He might say that the life in the mother's womb is the only one and that everything else is foolishness. But if the embryo could think, he might say to himself. "Here arms grow on me. I do not need them. I cannot even stretch them. Why do they grow? Perhaps they grow for a future stage of my existence, in which I will have to work with them. Legs grow, but I have to keep them bent toward my chest. Why do they grow? Maybe life in a large world follows, where I will have to walk. My eyes grow, although I am surrounded by perfect darkness and don't need them. Why do I have eyes? Maybe a world with light and colors will follow." So, if the embryo would reflect on his own development, he would have clues about life outside of his mother's womb, without...

Pink Mist

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In the book, "Service: A Navy SEAL at War," veteran Marcus Luttrell writes about "pink mist." Here is what he writes: "The explosion killed the two ... leading the way; the first man simply disappeared, evaporated by the blast, his scant remains drifting away in the air, a pink mist ..." It seems that the reality of what can become of a man, in an instant, is something that many of us want to ignore. The human mind says: "Let's not think about that," as we naturally proceed through the rest of our day. Instead of doing that again, let's try something different. Let's consider who and what we really are according to the word of God. To do this is a powerful exercise. The word of God can transform what seems to be a distantly isolated event into an ever-present personal reality. For example, let's see how we relate to "pink mist." "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist t...

The Gospel According To The Bible

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What is the gospel?  Have you ever attempted to define it? Sure, Websters has their modern definition HERE . But compare and notice HERE how the Websters definition has changed over the past 190+ years. The word of God says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Yet, many today have their own personal definitions about what the gospel is and what the gospel is not. As with Websters, it is easy to see that the positions of men are as shifting sand ... unstable and ever-changing. In order to be sure, the foundation of faith must be built on the solid rock of Christ Jesus (ref. Matthew 7:24-27). So, without further delay, let us see together what the gospel is according to the word of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ is: "the power of God unto salvation" (according to Romans 1:16). From this key scripture, we can begin to see the truth about the gospel. First of all, it is "the gospel of Jesus Christ." Without Jesus Christ...

PERPETUAL THEOLOGY

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BEWARE: Perpetual theology is one of the places where unbelief goes in an attempt to justify itself ... saying ... "While I'm learning about God, I don't have to do what He says." "Ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth" is NOT a good thing. Constantly asking ... "Did God really say?" ... Is not a position of faith. It is the position of the serpent at the temptation of man (Ref. Genesis 3:1). WHERE DID I GET THIS WARNING? FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD AND FROM THE WORD OF GOD. REF. 2 Timothy 3:1-17 ... This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING ...

How Many Apostles Are Specifically and Clearly Named In Scripture?

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Jesus and the original twelve apostles are well known. However, it may be a surprise to learn that there are many others.  Here's a list. First and foremost is Jesus ... the author and finisher of our faith. 1. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of the Living God is named "Apostle and High Priest of our confession" according to Hebrews 3:1.  Secondly, there are the original twelve apostles chosen by Jesus according to Mark 3:14-19. Jesus plus the original twelve brings the total count of named apostles up to thirteen. 2. Simon (Peter) 3. James the son of Zebedee 4. John, Brother of James 5. Andrew 6. Philip 7. Bartholomew (Also known as Nathanael) 8. Matthew 9. Thomas 10. James, son of Alphaeus 11. Thaddaeus 12. Simon the Zealot 13. Judas Iscariot Thirdly, is the replacement for Judas Isca...

What is a Christian?

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Let's cut through the confusion. First, notice that the question: "What is a Christian?" is quite different from the question: "What is a born again child of God?" In this text, we are only attempting to answer the question ... "What is a Christian?" According to the Bible, (Acts 11:19-26) it is recorded that the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in the community of Antioch. Acts 11:26 NKJV says that: "it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." The three key words here are "church, disciple, and Christian." Here are those definitions from the Greek lookup on BibleHub : church : an assembly, a (religious) congregation disciple : a learner, pupil Christian : a follower of Christ. The above definition of the word Christian in the context of Acts 11 should suffice as the answer. Howeve...

Leg Lengthening Fake or Real

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Is leg-lengthening fake or real? What is the significance of this practice according to scripture? Notice what the scripture says about the legs of the lame: "THE LEGS OF THE LAME ARE NOT EQUAL ..." (Proverbs 26:7 KJV) Remember that Jesus healed the lame ... and Jesus used the healing of the lame as one of His specific signs to declare who He was. For example, consider the following exchange between Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and THE LAME WALK, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."   (Matthew 11:2-6 KJV)  Not everyone in the...

THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND YOU

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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT," ~ Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 28:19 NKJV) THE FATHER (OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN - THE FATHER OF JESUS) "In this manner, therefore, pray: OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, Hallowed be Your name." ~ Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 6:9 NKJV) THE SON (JESUS OF NAZARETH - OUR SAVIOR) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." ~ Jesus of Nazereth (John 3:16-17 NKJV) THE PROMISE OF ANOTHER HELPER (THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH - THE HOLY SPIRIT - JESUS IN YOU) "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER HELPER, that He may abide with you forever—THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him n...

Believers For Christ - Statement of Faith

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[Editor’s Note: The following is adapted from Gospel Fellowships - Principles for the Gathering of Believers , Pages 370-377 (282-291 printed version)] 1. The Bible We believe that all 66 Books of the Bible are God-breathed [2 Timothy 3:16]. They were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to the prophets and Apostles who composed them [Hebrews 1:1, 1 Peter 1:10]. The Bible is complete and inerrant truth. It has the highest authority. Nobody is allowed to distort it in any way [Romans 3:4, Revelation 22:18-19]. The Bible clearly states God’s purpose of redemption of mankind [John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9]. The Bible is the highest standard of our Christian life and ministry. We are against any denials of the Bible; we are against any teaching or theories that regard the Bible as out of date, or as erroneous; we are also against the practice of believing only in selected sections of the Scripture [Psalm 19:7–9, Acts 20:27]. We want to emphasize that the Scriptures must be interpreted ...

TRUE APOSTLES

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By Josh Adkins The recent apostolic resurgence/movement is in many ways a godly thing. The Lord has always commissioned leaders to help advance His kingdom, and it’s wonderful to see many awakened to this previously overlooked calling. However, this generation really needs to get clear about a few things in regard to the apostolic: If you are ACTUALLY called as an apostle (many who claim to be are not), it’s an invitation to die. Stop. Before you print up new business cards or change your Facebook profile, read that again: You are called to DEATH. For some that literally means martyrdom. For others, it will mean laying down your livelihood for the body of Christ. You will be persecuted more than most in your pioneering. You may be poor while others made rich. You may experience struggle and suffering while others comfort. Yet, you are called to love even more deeply! Before all of this, you will likely be tested and tried by fire - not because of sin, but to fulfill all right...

Sackcloth and Ashes

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“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." ~Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 10:13 NKJV) What mighty work was done in Chorazin and Bethsaida? Answer: The Bible does not specifically record the works which were done in Chorazin. However, in Bethsaida, it is specifically recorded that Jesus opened the eyes of at least one blind man (read Mark 8:22-26). In this land, in the United States of America, have you ever seen a mighty work of God? Here is a specific testimony ... one of many which are available ... of blind eyes opened in the name of Jesus Christ in the United States. This is the exact kind of mighty work that Jesus did in Bethsaida ... and He is still doing today. Testimony link: https://youtu.be/8myl-bbiKgw Many mighty works have been done in this land! Yet, in this land, have you ever seen anyone truly repent? W...

Have you come to “WHEN” yet?

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"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job WHEN he prayed for his friends." (Job 42:10) The plaintive, self-centred, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. ‘Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.’ I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it. If you ...

Cursed is the Man who trusts in Man

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Thus says the Lord: Notice closely the reflection of this man's gaze. He is looking unto the cross of Christ. His HOPE is the LORD! “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5-8 NKJV) If you put your hope in anything other than the Lord, you will be let down. For example, if you put your hope in your husband ... he will let you down. If you put your hope in your wife ... she will let you down. If you put ...

Does your theology violate the will and intention of God?

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For example:  Some believe theologically that God picks and chooses the people that He saves. One of the problems with this theological belief is that it opens the door for a person to believe that they are not chosen for salvation.  Or, in other words, it opens the door for one to believe that they are actually chosen for destruction.  It allows room for someone to think that they are unsaveable ... "So why try to place my faith in God? He has already chosen to hate me. I'm already disqualified. Look at what I have done.  I'm a mess. Oh well, I might as well enjoy myself and partake in as much sin as possible before I die." ... This is the kind of path that a person can follow when the idea of "election" is mishandled.  It opens the door to doubt and leaves room for lies to remain.  This leads to destruction. Doubt, lies, and destruction are not fruit of The Holy Spirit. The truth about God's actual will and intention... "The Lord does not ...