News flash, There is not one soul, besides Christ Jesus Himself, in Heaven right now.
OK, OK, I know. This can be a touchy subject for many. If you are easily offended, you may not want to read this post or the next one.
Every religion has it's own take on what happens after we die. For most Christians, the belief is that all "good people" go to Heaven as soon as we die, and all "bad people" go to Hell. Buddhists believe that when we die we are re-incarnated into a being or place that corresponds with our "Karma" in this current life. The Muslim faith believes that after we die, we stay in the grave, either peacefully or un-peacefully depending on one's deeds, until the final "Day of Reckoning" in which Allah (God) judges us and determines whether we go to Heaven or Hell.
Interestingly enough, the Bible, God's Word, does not agree with ANY of these views. The common Christianity view is close in that it believes that "good people" go to Heaven and "bad people" go to Hell. Also, Islam is close as it believes that there is, to put it in a nutshell, a dormant era in which the soul after death neither goes to Heaven or Hell; awaiting Judgment by God. Both are close, but we aren't playing Horseshoes or throwing hand grenades here, we are investigating the Truth. I have nothing against people who believe in any of these views, I was once atheist, and then agnostic. Then my eyes were opened and I saw the Truth in God's Word.
What we are interested in is not Islam, not Buddhism, and not even mainstream Christianity, but the truth. Where can we find the truth? If you have read any of my other posts, you know that I find truth in the Bible, and nowhere else. For Bible-based evidence of the Truth, stay tuned for my next post. God Bless and good night!
-Luke
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The City Harmonic - Manifesto (OFFICIAL)
This is just an AWESOME song and equally amazing video. I always respect musicians who use scripture in their songs and these guys have possibly the best recital of The Lord's Prayer I have ever heard towards the end of this song.
Watch closely the animation that plays out (in a nutshell) Adam's sin being wiped clean by the blood of our risen savior Christ Jesus. AMEN!!
Electronic Bible
This is the best Bible study aid you can have if you are interested in investigating the Bible for yourself...and it's FREE! Just click on the link and download E-Sword. With it, you can learn about the origin of every word in the Bible and use numerous commentaries to learn more about each verse. There are also numerous Bible translations available. The translations I have downloaded (which I suggest to you) are:
Darby
Phillips NT
KJV
KJV+
Lamsa NT
Rotherham
RV
WNT
Wuest's
Compare
Parallel
The commentaries that I recommend are as follows:
Barnes
K&D
RWP
Scofield
TSK
VWS
Wuest's 1&2
Darby
Phillips NT
KJV
KJV+
Lamsa NT
Rotherham
RV
WNT
Wuest's
Compare
Parallel
The commentaries that I recommend are as follows:
Barnes
K&D
RWP
Scofield
TSK
VWS
Wuest's 1&2
Sunday, December 19, 2010
We Fight a Spiritual Battle- Are You Fully Equipped?
Hello and many blessings to all of my fellow believers and prospective believers alike. Today I come to you with some very useful information (as if there is such a thing as useless information concerning the Word).
I have been delving into the age-old question; "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I hope I have made the answer at least a little less foggy in the past couple of weeks. Or at least spiked your curiosity enough to investigate God's magnificent Word for yourself as that is where all of the answers are.
This post it is my prayer and desire, that through the truth that is the Word, I can explain what we can do to shield ourselves from the fiery darts of the wicked one.
First of all, I would like to make it clear that even the strongest believers; the most upright men and women of God, are never promised to be exempt of adversity. God's Word never promises that any of us are immune to the actions of the adversary. If we were, God would not have needed to provide us verses such as Hebrews 13:3-
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Along with what we learned from my last post and this verse, it is quite evident that we are all in need of protection from adversity. Knowing this, how do we protect ourselves? How do we live victoriously in this dark world?
The single BEST way to fight this spiritual battle and be VICTORIOUS is to BELIEVE in two simple verses in Romans:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Why are these two verses so important? It is because if one truly believes this, that person is endued with power from above. This power is Holy Spirit. This Spirit makes you a son of God. You do not need anyone to lay hands on you or pour oil on you to receive this Gift (and it truly is a gift, and true gifts are never taken back!) These two verses are the two most important and fundamental verses of this age.
Why is it so important to have Holy Spirit? Because with it comes eternal life, a sonship type relationship with God and nine manifestations or "sub-gifts". These nine manifestations are tools that God gives freely to ALL of His children. These are the tools we use to fight this spiritual battle and they are listed in 1st Corinthians 12:7-11:
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
I will go into more detail about each of these gifts at a later time, but for now just remember that everyone who believes in Romans 10:9-10 possesses these gifts and they are invaluable tools in living a victorious life and winning this spiritual battle discussed in Ephesians 6.
Another important thing to remember whenever you are faced with adversity is who you are in Christ. Never forget what kinds of things you are capable of and what is available. I would like to end here with two wonderful verses. One of them I have discussed before, the other is new to this blog. Both are spoken by our Risen Savior Himself.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Finally, as you know, the title of this blog is "The Shield of Believing". What is the true shield of believing? What is the primary cloak of protection for our lives on earth? The living Word of God! But not just the Word itself, but the Word when it is believed upon in one's heart and spoken by one's tongue.
Have a wonderful week walking and believing upon God's unfailing Word.
-Luke
I have been delving into the age-old question; "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I hope I have made the answer at least a little less foggy in the past couple of weeks. Or at least spiked your curiosity enough to investigate God's magnificent Word for yourself as that is where all of the answers are.
This post it is my prayer and desire, that through the truth that is the Word, I can explain what we can do to shield ourselves from the fiery darts of the wicked one.
First of all, I would like to make it clear that even the strongest believers; the most upright men and women of God, are never promised to be exempt of adversity. God's Word never promises that any of us are immune to the actions of the adversary. If we were, God would not have needed to provide us verses such as Hebrews 13:3-
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Along with what we learned from my last post and this verse, it is quite evident that we are all in need of protection from adversity. Knowing this, how do we protect ourselves? How do we live victoriously in this dark world?
The single BEST way to fight this spiritual battle and be VICTORIOUS is to BELIEVE in two simple verses in Romans:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Why are these two verses so important? It is because if one truly believes this, that person is endued with power from above. This power is Holy Spirit. This Spirit makes you a son of God. You do not need anyone to lay hands on you or pour oil on you to receive this Gift (and it truly is a gift, and true gifts are never taken back!) These two verses are the two most important and fundamental verses of this age.
Why is it so important to have Holy Spirit? Because with it comes eternal life, a sonship type relationship with God and nine manifestations or "sub-gifts". These nine manifestations are tools that God gives freely to ALL of His children. These are the tools we use to fight this spiritual battle and they are listed in 1st Corinthians 12:7-11:
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
I will go into more detail about each of these gifts at a later time, but for now just remember that everyone who believes in Romans 10:9-10 possesses these gifts and they are invaluable tools in living a victorious life and winning this spiritual battle discussed in Ephesians 6.
Another important thing to remember whenever you are faced with adversity is who you are in Christ. Never forget what kinds of things you are capable of and what is available. I would like to end here with two wonderful verses. One of them I have discussed before, the other is new to this blog. Both are spoken by our Risen Savior Himself.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Finally, as you know, the title of this blog is "The Shield of Believing". What is the true shield of believing? What is the primary cloak of protection for our lives on earth? The living Word of God! But not just the Word itself, but the Word when it is believed upon in one's heart and spoken by one's tongue.
Have a wonderful week walking and believing upon God's unfailing Word.
-Luke
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