> Could you please explain the 12 elements of
Christ? Thank You,
I will gladly try to help you, answer
your question?
I was also
reminded how in fact too many writers, radio, TV evangelists,
preachers distort the essential, the basic gospel of the Bible, of Jesus
Christ , and preach often rather a sensationalized, a Hireling's
gospel to try to attract the followers, listeners, more money
sadly too. I do it honestly, freely and I want nothing at all-in return,
nothing expect that God through Jesus Christ and His Sprit be glorified. How
did I get started to post devotional Christian messages and Christian graphics
on the internet? I was in a super great Church once, even though the
Pastors were stealing, abusing the funds, committing adultery, counseling
divorce, gossiping, slandering, lying, and so forth. The Holy
Spirit due to the prayers of some of the faithful persons there was
really moving in their services, and many people were getting saved, healed
and delivered, and the praise and worship services were really great. God
specifically had told me to go to this church as well, but he had put a
condition on it, he said do not talk with, communicate, fellowship with
any of the pastors. I had done some great personal counseling in that Church
as well.. met some great and also bad people. But eventually one
day next came when I had to talk to the same pastors, and even to tell them
that God was going to get rid of them, to next deal with them negatively and
God did! God next broke down this large Calgary church because it had grown
big in size and had become perverse. All of the pastors were next removed from
it as well. Luke 8:15 "The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and
good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop."
and "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says!" James 1:22
Now what 12 basic foundational elements of
Christ are we talking about? the doctrines of the 12 apostle? the
supposedly 12 essential apostolic, Christian doctrines we all Christian
must hold to, follow, believe first in? We all in our various Churches,
personally too do today still rather likely hold to different doctrines as
being essentials.. like the trinity- Jesus, God, the Holy spirit, the Bible as
the word of God, faith, water baptism, holy spirit baptism, tongues, elders,
deacons, ministry to the lord, good works even the ministry to the poor that
is part of giving, tithing too, etc? And I even do rightfully believe in the
essential New Testament Church pattern of worship, service restoration.. Some
people would say the tem commandments are the most essential doctrines I
just recently heard some people say again that the Jesus Sermon on the mount,
the beatitudes, were the Christian essentials as well? Well Christianity is
not some fast food joint, where one set of rules simplifies the Christian
daily walk with Christ? Walking with Christ is really an ongoing walk, work,
schooling..
One groups opinion of our - Foundation Series
graduates learn the basic spiritual skills set forth in the gospel of Jesus
Christ. They are educated with the basic knowledge of each of the 12 elements
of the gospel, they understand the spiritual tools of the Second Covenant and
how to use them, they learn how to function in their spiritual priesthood, how
to recognize their cycles of their growth, and how to work with the Spirit of
God who forms Christ within each of us. They are empowered to make their own
choices of faith and thus learn how to overcome themselves, the world, and the
devil. They learn how to daily walk in the Spirit, and how to steward the
grace of God to others, thus expressing the charity of Jesus Christ that
reaches into the soul to bring God's healing power."
http://www.second8thweek.org/LeadershipAccreditation.htm itself is just a
start.. No doctrines, teachings can replace daily still Christ
himself.
I admit I like to be balanced and transparently honest
too in my own life. For me the One sided presentations too often
firstly still do not give an honest, clear picture . Too many
persons still are Bashing others to try to fill the God shaped void that often
exists in their own life supposedly tends to initially make them
next feel better, superior but that is a short lived feeling leading
next to a deeper personal emptiness now too. The Pharisees had their own
definitions of what being spiritual now means as well. We all do need to be
realistic, and truthful as to what is truly Christian and what is not.
One is not even necessarily a better Christian even because he or she
knows the Bible better or has been in time a longer Christian now.. it rather
also relates as to how much of the Bible now have you personally applied based
on what you were given now too.. God loves all the same, equally now too
anyway but not the ongoing sinners with their still unrepentant
acts.
Many young persons even these days, today do still have a false
expectations of what next would make them really happy IN LIFE , even with
goals as getting married, getting a supposedly good paying job, buying a Home,
have a decent job, having enough friends, being able to save up to have
a good pension for retirement.. by the way you would be surprised to note as
to how many persons now do even die early and never get to enjoy it
too.. but there are many things still that money cannot buy.. and
one of those things is real peace, the ability to have also next a good night
sleep.. the Lord Jesus alone gives that.
One of the
greatest thing that I have appreciated in my whole life is the silent, God
given great peace I have had in my life, and relatedly thus to be
free of the other bad persons' hassle, bad company now too and I do , have
appreciated that peace. I remember God once speaking to me and saying, " Are
you not living a peaceful life, and are you not happy with it? And I had
replied yes Lord.
"You
search the scriptures, for in them you
think you
have eternal life But you are not
willing to come to me that you may have life.
He is telling people
that they substitute studying the Bible for coming directly to him; the Bible
only testifies about him.
And they think studying the Bible gives
them eternal life, but the way to eternal life is to go directly to
him.
The
words we hear
are words of eternal life, not the words we read or hear
read from the Bible.
Even though the Bible has many truths within, the
Bible is not truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
The Bible only testifies
to the way, the truth, and the Life.
I will send to you from the Father, the
Spirit of truth.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
If we want the way, or truth, or life; we have to go
to him.
He wants us to seek Him, not seek knowledge
about him from the Bible. Studying the Bible is
like studying the Law.
We have made learning scriptures a rival to learning
directly from God by Coming to Him.
But scriptures are not
wrong; it is the way we idolize scriptures that is wrong. Come to me, all
you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Jesus
saidFor everyone who comes
to Me and listens to My words and does them.. is like a man
building his house on rock. To the experienced, true
Christian believer It is undeniably clearly that the Holy Sprit is the
person, the individual who will lead and guide us into all truth, even
explaining the Bible to us now as well..
(Psa 31:3
KJV) For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake
lead me, and guide me.
(Isa 49:10 KJV) They shall not
hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath
mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide
them.
(John 14:17 KJV) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
(John
15:26 KJV) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,
he shall testify of me:
(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he,
the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and
he will show you things to come.
(1 John 4:6 KJV) We are of
God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error.
We all still CONTINUALLY DO NEED TO
trust the Holy Spirit as the main Teacher given by God and to make His
word clearer to us.
"God then began to show me that the
word of God alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things; that it can
be explained only by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day, as well as in
former times. He is the Teacher of His people. The office of the
Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that time. It was my
beginning to understand this latter point in particular, which had a great
effect on me; for the Lord enabled me to put it to the test of experience, by
laying aside commentaries, and almost every other book and simply reading the
word of God and studying it. I learned more in a few hours than I had
done during a period of several months previously." George Müller
(1805-1898)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/murray/prayer.XXXII.html
(Heb 10:19 KJV)
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high
priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and
our bodies washed with pure water.
Jesus: (Rev 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was
dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell
and of death.
(Prov 16:25
KJV) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof
are the ways of death.
(Isa
17:10 KJV) Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and
hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant
pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:
(Heb 8:11 KJV) And they
shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
(Jer 22:16 KJV) He
judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not
this to know me? saith the LORD.
It is quite possible, most
likely that One can know God, even work for him and yet still basically
to not know him at all, it seems most pastors do not even know God
now too, just as it is possible to know the name of the US President, or a
Prime Minister, or any leader for that matter and yet basically still you
really personally do not know them. Now next ext even if you had met these
persons, or work with them too, it still is very likely you do not really know
them as to what they are really like. So it is with God now too.
If you seek God with your
whole heart though you will find Him.
(Deu 4:29 KJV) But if from thence thou shalt seek
the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and
with all thy soul.
(Psa 5:8
KJV) Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make
thy way straight before my face.
(Psa 51:17 KJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(Isa 57:15 KJV) For
thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.
(Isa 33:17 KJV) Thine eyes shall see the king in
his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
We all do have a God shaped
vacuum in our hearts, in our lives that we rather often seem to be filling
with Junk, voids.
Seeking great things for yourself, seek them not (Jer
45:5 KJV) And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for,
behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD:
And if you are also now
busy doing your own thing, seeking to fulfill your own goals, pleasure,
priorities, you still this will never get to know God as well.
(Mat 7:12 KJV)
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(Mat 7:20 KJV) Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And
the rain descended, and
(Rom
15:20 KJV) Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was
named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
(1 Cor 3:10 KJV) According to
the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid
the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereupon.
(1 Cor
3:11 KJV) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
(Eph 2:20 KJV)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone;
(1 Tim 6:19 KJV) Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life.
(2 Tim 2:19 KJV)
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.
Many of the so called leaders in the evangelical churches
even have tried to lead me too often astray by saying I should follow their
essential doctrines as being thought by them and have said , that I must obey
them cause they are my teachers too, and they were all still rather in the
flesh, self glory tainted, really false teacher's and false prophets.
The church belongs to God and not any mere mean man.. for the word Pastor is
never mentioned in the new testament specifically, it is true a shepherd does,
but there seems to be a wrong difference in the simple definition of a
shepherd and the role of a pastor these days too.. and the word pastors is
only mentioned once and it is always a plural one too, (Eph 4:11 KJV) And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Undeniably the local Church Normal New Testament pattern
is a congregationally managed, owned one and it also has voluntary
submissions, generally unenforced submissions, a church led, run by plurality
of elders, prophets, apostles, deacons and never a one man ministry too. The
only forced submission seems to be to kick out all of the thieves, liars,
wolves, adulterers, abusers, slave drivers, drunkards out of the Church
meetings till they repent. Giving or Tithing is not even mandatory now too.
Now do note this critcal point
too.. We all do only really need to have Jesus Christ lead and teach us by the
Holy Sprit and we must all mature and get to that point as quick as possible
personally too. And I have covered that in how to hear effectively God
speaking to you and I can repeat it next too.. and basically it is humbly seek
Him, put him First always, listen for him, and wait for him, obey him, and do
not do your own thing.
(Heb
6:1 KJV) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God, (Heb 6:2 KJV) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and
of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.
Too many rather or even simplified Bible rules and
regulations will not keep a personal active relationship with Christ, His holy
spirit, God now as well.. for walking with Christ is a continual,
ongoing relationship. Having a mandatory personal Daily Devotional, waiting
time, prayer time before the Lord is a right start though, likely 30 minutes
in the morning and 30 minute at night. Educated pastors are not better
Christians if they do not personally follow the Bible now still too, do not
pray daily do not read the Bible and do not rejoice in the the Lord. I knew
firsthand of one pastor of many pastors, elders too, who wrongfully did not
fully participate himself in the churches' prayer, or praise, worship
meetings.
(Rom 5:2 KJV) By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Phil 2:16 KJV) Holding forth the word of life; that I
may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain.
(Phil 3:1
KJV) Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to
you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
(Phil 3:3 KJV) For we are the
circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh.
(Phil 4:4 KJV) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I
say, Rejoice.
(James 1:9 KJV)
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
(James 4:16 KJV) But now ye
rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Worshiping God is the primary duty now of all mankind,
all Christians, all pastors, elders too. And we worship God in many
ways, by thanking him, by being a witnesses of him, by doing good works, by
studying and reading the Bible, etc,..
Some people falsely do try to imply now that Sacred
dancing worship also is a part of the only 12 doctrinal elements of the
foundations of Jesus Christ? not just overly simplified, emphasized,
misdirected and overly wrong ? still our rejoicing personally, informally in
the Lord Jesus is always essential..
DANCING IS ONLY MENTIONED ONCE in the whole new testament
rather? (Luke 15:25 KJV) Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came
and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. or one can use this
common reference too (Exo 15:20 KJV) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of
Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with
timbrels and with dances.
Some persons, churches, the latter day movements would
today rightfully say that Pentecost in the book of Acts included the
Restoration of the Tabernacle of David, a worship service that was typical of
King David's dancing before the Lord? (Acts 15:16 KJV) "After this I will
return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down;
and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: " It is also
true that King David DANCE TO THE LORD, AND HIS WIFE DESPISED HIM FOR IT AND
SHE NEXT PAID THE PRICE FOR IT TOO because David recognized she was actually
despising, , going against God. . (2 Sam 6:14 KJV) And David danced before the
LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (2 Sam 6:16
KJV) And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's
daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing
before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
Now-
1: Let me tell you firstly
that the basic undeniable secret of any, all good church services, a
good praise and worship, dancing services firstly starts not with the pastors,
elders, deacons rather but it starts way before any of the service in fact..
it is started by specific believers jointly, systematically meeting regularly
in a prayer agreement before each of the specific services, and first agreeing
that God would be manifested in the specific service, in the preaching , in
the prophecies too, in the praises, and that people would ne touched by God,
healed, and would repent as well. No religious service anywhere at any time
can be successfully without this still no matter who leads it too. Next you
can also always have an informal, praise worship service too anywhere.
2: Still the joy of the Lord is our strength, and
yes we are to continually even to openly rejoice in the Lord, even with
praise, psalms, songs, dance too in church now as well. Such PRAISE, WORSHIP
services do rightfully attract a lot of young people and there is nothing
wrong in having regular, informal Spirit led worship praise services even 3
times a week in a church too or in any home. I also have been to great simple
worship, praise services in a very ordinary, simple home basement now too.
But a formal controlled "Sacred
Dance "is not really now part of the Bible's or of - "Building the basic
Foundation" (12 Elements of the Doctrine of Christ) .. and really now anyone
basically using the term "doctrine" for the Sacred Dancing is clearly
misleading, being deceptive, and manipulative if it is not part of a Holy
Spirit informally led specific worship service. Sinful Man seems always like
to control God and take the false credit for God's present, empowering, works
sadly. Sacred dancing it clearly, was is not a basic doctrine of the New
Testament Church, and it is not even mentioned specifically in the Books of
Acts, or rather IN THE WHOLE NEW TESTAMENT but it generally is covered under a
Praise, Worship service often found in the Old Testament . Some people still
do want to insist that some FORMAL church dancing is now mandatory, that we
all are be be active in dancing for him, and they do teach others on how how
to start a dance ministry, A liturgical dance, a ministry in praise dance,
TIPS on starting a dance ministry, worship in dance, encourage a worship dance
school to Worship him in the dance are going overboard AND SHOULD FIRSTLY
CONCENTRATE ON THE PRAISE, WORSHIP SERVICE.. and formality seems to kill most
Church services today as well. There is like many other things, either good
dancing or bad, dirty dancing.. Good church services and bad church services
too... good or bad pastors now too... good or bad Christians even.
Yes secular dancing itself is
clearly an act of the flesh designed to cause and to promote wrongfully sexual
arousals, by persons who are mainly still being led by the devil and the lust
of the flesh. There is also the idolatrous dancing too. (Exo 32:19 KJV) And it
came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and
the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his
hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
Most of the related reference sin the Bible about dancing
are these..
(Judg 11:34 KJV)
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out
to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside
her he had neither son nor daughter.
(Judg 21:21 KJV) And see, and, behold, if the daughters
of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and
catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of
Benjamin.
(Judg 21:23 KJV)
And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their
number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto
their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
(1 Sam 18:6 KJV) And it came to
pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the
Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and
dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of
music.
(1 Sam 29:5 KJV) Is
not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew
his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
(1 Sam 30:16 KJV) And when he had brought him down,
behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and
dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of
the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
(2 Sam 6:14 KJV) And David danced before the LORD with
all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
(2 Sam 6:16 KJV) And as the ark
of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through
a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she
despised him in her heart.
(1
Chr 15:29 KJV) And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD
came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a
window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her
heart.
(Job 21:11 KJV) They
send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
(Psa 30:11 KJV) Thou hast turned
for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me
with gladness;
(Psa 149:3
KJV) Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him
with the timbrel and harp.
(Psa 150:4 KJV) Praise him with the timbrel and dance:
praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
(Eccl 3:4 KJV) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a
time to mourn, and a time to dance;
(Isa 13:21 KJV) But wild beasts of the desert shall lie
there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall
dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
(Jer 31:4 KJV) Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be
built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and
shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
(Jer 31:13 KJV) Then shall the
virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn
their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from
their sorrow.
(Lam 5:15 KJV)
The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
But do not misunderstand me, I
have many times attended praise, worship, dancing services for hours even 5
times a week for years too willingly, and I know the benefit they can even
cause for people who are suppressed, persons who have poor self esteem, poor
self worth., etc.,,
One of the real sad fact of life is the too common
existing of demonic bullies, false oppressions and persecutions, and
many persons have become their victims. They the victims have been
next wrongfully suppressed so much they cannot even fully see or think
straight, and they have become rigid, cold, emotionless persons now too. At
least 1/8 persons have undergone extreme persecutions, and it is estimated
that at least 80 percent of all persons now also are overly submissive, rather
oppressed sheep and they are now not leaders rather. When I next was attending
a unloving, cold Baptist Church I had gone through a difficult point in
my life having lost my Church, my job, my money, my possessions,
my wife, family, friends and even my health now too. Needless to say I
was depressed, had a very low self esteem of my self, basically my own tire
was flat, clearly low, deflated, punctured and thus I saw no positive
light, hope in sight now too. I was really dismayed, shocked when God
had next specially led to me to a clearly expressive emotional,
Pentecostal church, even one that practiced dancing, holy laughter now
too. But God knew now that was just what I needed and who am I to tell God
what or how he can do things now too? As I participated in the emotional
worship, praises, dancing, clapping , laughing now as well eventually my self
esteem was build upon again. No my past problems, losses really next had not
gone away but I did rightfully feel a lot better presently about myself.
I next again saw myself now as still loved by God, as still being important to
God. There is value in one praising the Lord with acts of emotions too
and that is why the devil and his followers hates it so much and oppose it now
too!
but there is another
side of theses dancing services, this other side of the coin now too and it
was too often a fact still that most of the people who attended these services
still came away unrepentant, empty, went home in spiritual depravity, even in
lustful sins, basically unchanged in their lives, because to me it seems they
came to the church, prayer, worship, praise, dance services for wrong reasons,
to exalt themselves, their fleshly lust. Some persons openly had admitted to
me they had come to such services to meet the opposite sex too.. and this was,
is not acceptable.
Over half of the professing evangelical Christians I have
encountered in Canada in the last 50 years now clearly were
liars, pretenders, imposters, false, and they NEXT SERIOUSLY DEVIATED FROM THE
FAITH THEY ONCE had PROFESSED. I have to admit it was a great personal shock
to me the revelation of the true state of the Christ's Church, the Christian,
evangelical churches in North America.. and it is topic for urgent, continual,
serious prayers. Sadly there are too many persons in the church these days
too, on the radio, TV, internet merely playing church and they are not
real Christians. Before they can convert others they themselves basically it
seems need to be converted. Basically for a start only up to 30 percent
of all evangelical Church goers, Baptist, Fundamental, Pentecostal they
are are Firstly even real Christians.. and the rest, the 70 percent are
not.. they are still only persons playing religion, pretenders to the
Christian faith. 95 percent of Christians still do not read the Bible for 5
minutes of Day so what can you expect from them here too? Being a Christian is
still a daily, ongoing event.
Reverend George Whitfield has said.. - "Are You At Peace
With, Or Under The Wrath of God? "But what shall I say to you that have got no
peace with God? - and these are, perhaps, the most of this congregation: it
makes me weep to think of it. Most of you, if you examine your hearts, must
confess that God never yet spoke peace to you; you are children of the devil,
if Christ is not in you, if God has not spoken peace to your heart. Poor soul!
What a cursed condition are you in. I would not be in your case for ten
thousand, thousand worlds. Why? You are just hanging over hell. What peace can
you have when God is your enemy, when the wrath of God is abiding upon your
poor soul? Awake, then, you that are sleeping in a false peace, awake, ye
carnal professors, ye hypocrites that go to church, receive the sacrament,
read your Bibles, and never felt the power of God upon your hearts; you that
are formal professors, you that are baptized heathens; awake, awake, and do
not rest on a false bottom.
God speaks to us through
many ways.. He speaks through his words, the Bible, through his holy
spirit, through pastors, through others, through other means.. but no matter
how God now speaks to us we all do need to be the ones open to hear him and to
also to obey him in what he says, plus to continually seek Him continuously
and to seek His way. Whether he speaks in a still small voice, or in a a loud
external voice, he still speaks to us all today.. By the way I can tell the
difference between God is speaking to me, the Holy Spirit is speaking to me
and Jesus speaking to me too, or the devil, or my own thoughts, and can we all
?
(1 Cor 11:28 KJV) But let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation
to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak
and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we
should not be judged.
(Prov
3:33 KJV) The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth
the habitation of the just.
(Gal 3:13 KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that hangeth on a tree:
(3
John 1:2 KJV) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
(3 John 1:3 KJV) For
I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is
in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
(3 John 1:4 KJV) I have no greater joy than to hear
that my children walk in truth.
Again what is
essential?
But as for me I
will serve the Lord and praise him.. as he leads me By his word and His Holy
Sprit, His Son
(Psa 150:6
KJV) Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
(Rom 13:1 KJV) Let every soul be
subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers
that be are ordained of God.
(Rom 14:5 KJV) One man esteemeth one day above another:
another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own
mind.
(Rom 15:2 KJV) Let
every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
(1 Cor 3:10 KJV) According to
the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid
the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereupon.
(1 Cor
7:2 KJV) Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife,
and let every woman have her own husband.
(Eph 5:33 KJV) Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.
(1 Cor
16:2 KJV) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in
store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
(Gal 6:4 KJV) But let every man
prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not
in another.
(2 Tim 2:19 KJV)
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.
(James
1:19 KJV) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath:
(1
John 4:7 KJV) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
(1 John 4:8 KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for
God is love.
(1 John 4:9 KJV)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his
only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
(1 John 4:10 KJV) Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.
(1
John 4:11 KJV) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another.
(1 John 4:12 KJV) No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and
his love is perfected in us.
Basic Christian
Essentials..
The
Voice of the Lord We can and must hear God's voice
Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10
For a complete discussion on the
Voice of the Lord, see My Sheep Hear My Voice. Do see this Excellent
site... http://www.hallvworthington.com/index.html
We all must strive unto perfection unto Holiness but the
truth in Christ is we can never be free from sin totally here on earth,
for we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the
power in us may be manifested as coming from God and not from us
http://www.hallvworthington.com/teacher.html
AGAIN I
HAVE SAID IT THAT MANY OF US PROFESSING CHRISTIANS DO NOW SEE DIFFERENT
THINGS AS BEING ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES!
To some persons the Essential
Doctrines of the Historic Orthodox Christian Faith are
The authority and inerrancy of the scriptures
(autographs)
The Nature of God
The Trinity
The Creation
Humanity
Sin
Jesus Christ
Christ's Death,
Burial & Resurrection
The Holy Spirit
Salvation
http://defendchrist.org/essentials.html
To others the Basic Christian Doctrines for one example
are
There is only one
God - Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:5-6; Gal. 4:8-9
God is a Trinity - 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2
There are no Gods before or after God - Isaiah
43:10
God knows all things - 1 John 3:20
God is all powerful - Psalm 115:3
God is everywhere - Jer. 23:23,24
God is sovereign - Zech. 9:14; 1 Tim. 6:15-16
God is spirit - John 4:24
God created all that exists - Gen. 1:1; Isaiah
44:24
Spirit does not have a body of flesh and
bones - Luke 24:39
God has always been God -
Psalm 90:2
Jesus is God - John 1:1,14;
10:30-33; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8
Jesus became a man - Phil. 2:5-8
Jesus has two natures: divine and human - Col.
2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5
Jesus was sinless - 1 Pet.
2:22
Jesus is the only way to God the Father -
John 14:6; Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22
The Holy
Spirit is God - Acts 5:3-4
The Holy Spirit is
not a force. He is alive - Acts 13:2
The Bible
is inspired by God - 2 Tim. 3:16
All people
have sinned - Rom. 3:23, 5:12
Man did not
evolve, he was created - Gen. 1:26
Adam and
Eve were real people - Gen. 3:20; 5:1; 1 Tim. 2:13
Death entered the world because of Adam's sin -
Rom. 5:12-15
Sin separates us from God -
Isaiah 59:2
Jesus died for all our sins - 1
John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Pet. 2:24
Jesus'
sacrifice was a substitution, for us - 1 Pet. 2:24
Jesus rose from the dead in His physical body -
John 2:19-21
Those who reject Jesus will go to
Hell - Rev. 20:11-15
Hell is a place of fiery
punishment - Matt. 25:41; Rev. 19:20
Hell is
eternal - Matt. 25:46
The unsaved go to hell
forever - Rev. 21:8
Salvation is a free gift
of God - Rom. 4:5; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9
The Bible
is the Word of God - 2 Tim. 3:16
Jesus will
return visibly to earth - Acts 1:11
Christians
will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns - 1 Thess. 4:14-17
There will be a rapture (being caught up into the
clouds with Jesus) -
1 Thess. 4:14-17
There will be a final judgment - 2 Pet. 3:7
The damned will be thrown into a lake of fire -
Rev. 20:15
Satan will be cast into the lake of
fire - Rev. 20:10
There will be a new heavens
and a new earth - 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1
Statement of Faith of the
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
Biblical Inerrancy: The Bible is the Word of God, and
that its original manuscripts are free from errors and contradictions. It is
the one and only infallible, authoritative, and trustworthy rule for faith and
life. (2 Peter. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16). The Catholic apocrypha is not
inspired scripture.
God: God is the only Supreme Being
with no gods created before or after Him (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 44:8). He has
always been God (Psalm 90:2). He is Holy (Rev. 4:8), Eternal (Isaiah
57:15), Omnipotent (Jer. 32:17,27), Omnipresent (Psalm 137-12), Omniscient (1
John 3:20); etc. He is Love (1 John 4:8, 16); Light (1 John 1:5);
Spirit (John 4:24); Truth (Psalm 117:2); Creator (Isaiah 40:12,22,26),
etc. He is to be worshiped (Gen. 24:26; Ex. 4:31; 2 Chron. 29:28; 1 Cor.
14:25; Rev. 7:11). He is to be served (Matt. 4:10;1 Cor. 6:19;
Phil. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:14). He is to be proclaimed (Matt.
28:19f.; John 14:15f.; Acts 1:8).
Trinity: There is one God in whom there are three
eternal, simultaneous persons -- the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the
Holy Spirit. All three are the one God, coeternal, coequal, etc., yet there is
only one God, not three, and not one person who took three modes, or forms.
(Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt. 3:17; 28:19; Luke 10:35; 2
Cor. 13:14). See also, The Trinity
Jesus: Jesus Christ
is the Word (God) who became a man. He added human nature to His divine
nature. He is presently both human and divine, and, therefore, has two
natures. Yet, He is one person, not two. He is not part God and part
man. He is presently wholly God and wholly man. (Phil. 2:5-11;
Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:5-13; John 1:1-3,14)
Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ was miraculously conceived and
born of the virgin Mary. (Luke 1:42)
Resurrection: Jesus Christ rose from the dead in the same
body He died in, after being in the grave for three days. He was raised
in a glorified, physical body. He ascended bodily into heaven, sits at the
right hand of the Father, and rules heaven and earth. (John 2:19; 1 Cor. 15;
Luke 24:39). Likewise, we Christians will be raised bodily from the dead
and spend eternity with the Lord.
Substitutionary Atonement: God so loved us
that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus became man and
bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) and died in our place
suffering the consequences of the breaking the Law that was due us. He became
sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21). As a result, God's justice was
satisfied and Christian believers are released from eternal punishment.
(Isaiah 53:4-12; 1 Pet. 3:18; Matt. 1:21; Rom. 5; 1 John 2:2)
Baptism Baptism is an important
action of obedience for a Christian and signifies a person's identification
with Christ. It is an outward manifestation of an inward reality.
Baptism does not save anyone. We are made right before God by faith, not
by faith and baptism (Rom. 3:28-30; 4:3,5; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 21; Phil. 3:9; see
also Acts 10:44-48)
Man's
Condition Man is fallen, corrupt, and wicked. Man
believes in God by grace through faith, is unable to come close to God through
his own efforts, nor can he win salvation by his attempt at good works, nor
once saved does he maintain his salvation by his works, nor can he understand
the spiritual things of God on his own. Eternal punishment in hell and
separation from the blessed presence of God are the consequences of the
unregenerate person's sinfulness. (John 6:44; 15:5; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2
Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13)
Divine
Election "From all eternity God chose us in Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He
predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according
to the kind intention of His will," (Eph. 1:4-5).
Justification by Grace through
Faith Alone: We are saved from damnation by the undeserved and unearned
mercy and kindness of God, not because of our good works but because of the
imputed righteousness of Christ to the one who has faith in Christ alone. This
justification is received by faith alone and only upon trusting the true and
living Lord Jesus. (Eph. 1:1-11; 2:8, Rom. 3:23; Gal. 2:21)
Eternal Security"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never
perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).
Christ has done all that is needed for our salvation and he says that those
who have eternal life will never perish. Those who appeared to be
Christian but fell away never were Christians begin with (1 John 2:19).
Sanctification: Sanctification
is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that
we do, think, and desire and increases our ability to repent from sin -- by
God's grace. (1 Thess. 4:7; Eph. 2:10; 1 Tim. 4:4; 1 Peter. 3:15; 2 Tim.
2:25). This process continues all of the Christian's life and is a the
result of salvation, not a cause of it. Furthermore, the effort of
sanctification does not maintain salvation.
Christian Church: God calls Christians to his Church
where the Word of God is preached, where baptism and the Lord's Supper
(communion) is administered, where believers are discipled and disciplined,
and where believers serve to build up one another. (Matt. 16:18)
Church
Officers God calls qualified Christians to be ordained
and to serve Jesus Christ in special leadership capacities, i.e. Elders,
Deacons, Ministers of the Word, and Evangelists. The office(s) of pastor
and elder is limited to qualified men only, called by God, recognized by the
body, and meet the biblical standard of eldership. Women are not to be
pastors nor elders. (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:11-13; Titus 1).
Rapture The event where, upon
Jesus' return, those who have died in Christ and those Christians who are then
alive will be physically caught up to the clouds and meet the Lord Jesus in
the air. We will then forever be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2)
Rapture Because of the diverse opinions among godly
Christians regarding the rapture, CARM considers pre-trib rapture, mid-trib
rapture, and post-trib rapture to be within the scope of Christian
orthodoxy.
Second
Coming Jesus Christ will bodily and visibly come from heaven with
great glory and majesty. Then all human creatures will appear in person before
Him to be judged -- men, women, and children, who have lived from the
beginning until the end of the world. The evil ones will receive everlasting
torment. The faithful ones will receive everlasting life on a new world. So we
look forward to that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the
promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Matt. 24; Rev. 19-21)
Millennium Because of the
diverse opinions among godly Christians regarding the millennium, CARM
considers amillennialism, premillennialism, and post millennialism to be
within the scope of Christian orthodoxy.
Spiritual RealmThere is a spiritual realm of angels and
demons.
Eternal Judgment All
who are not justified by the blood of Christ will face eternal and conscious
judgment.
Evangelism Part of OUR beliefs and
Purpose is to carry out the work of evangelism which means that we must
teach the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as refute false doctrines, false
religions, and whatever else might contradict the word of God including such
sins as homosexuality, adultery, pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, lying,
fornication, false gospels, false gods, etc., inside and outside of the
church.
http://www.carm.org/
Carm even accepts
contradictory beliefs too.. pre-trib rapture, mid-trib rapture, and post-trib
rapture aand amillennialism, premillennialism, and post millennialism ..
incredible..
*** I personally
also do rightfully not agree with all of these above doctrines too.. for I
certainly rightfully believe that a Christian is not eternally secure, because
he has a free will and can anytime choose to go to hell and reject God..
I certainly also do not believe
that any women cannot hold any church office if she has her husband's
permission to do so too.. Note how they above seem to try to limit the office
to a pastor- elder and not pastors -elders too.
It rightfully peeves me off to that essential
doctrines have too often included include compulsory tithing, but
falsely omit the fact that clearly both old testament and new testament
tithing, giving included compulsory physically helping the
local poor people in the church.. and people who accepted tithes were
not allowed to own real estate, tangible properties.
We are not known to be
Christians because we all hold the same doctrines, rather we are known to be
Christians because we love Him who first loved us, Jesus, and also because we
love one another, ie., we do love other fellow believers in Christ..
Apostle's creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our
Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
"More Essential Christian Doctrine
When we talk about the
essentials of Christianity we're referring to the basic elements that make up
and characterize our faith, and which, of course, separate it from
other beliefs. The Cardinal Doctrines of
Christianity
"The Cardinal Doctrines of Christianity are
those beliefs which most Protestant denominations accept as forming the
foundational teachings of Christianity. Many, perhaps most Christian faith
groups feel that all Christians should believe each of these beliefs. Some
groups would classify a person as a non-Christian if they rejected even one
belief on their own list of Cardinal Doctrines.There appears to be a general
consensus by conservative and some mainline Protestant faith groups that a
list of core beliefs might include:
The Trinity,
The deity of Jesus,
Jesus' bodily resurrection,
The atonement as a result of the life, and particularly
the death, of Jesus,
Personal salvation by grace,
The inerrancy of the Bible
God's
inspiration of the Bible's authors,
The virgin birth,
and
The anticipated second coming of Jesus.
The Lord's Supper
Water baptism -
Sprinkled or immersion
But clearly there does not appear to be an agreed upon
single list that most Protestant faith groups accept as "cardinal
doctrines.""
Roman Catholicism expects its members to believe in a
much larger list of cardinal beliefs than is listed above. One example that is
not shared by Protestants is the assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at
death. For someone to say that Catholics is a cult, totally unchristian is
also absurd.. for they have accepted the deity of Jesus Christ, the Holy
spirit for 2000 years now still too..
(Rom 1:17 KJV) For therein is the righteousness of
God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by
faith.
(Gal 3:11 KJV)
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith.
(Heb 10:38 KJV) Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
PS: What also really surprises me that the
subject of all Christians daily mandatory living by faith in God, not trusting
in self or in others , trusting God to supply all of your needs as he did for
Rev George George Mueller and this is too often left out today in
most of Christianity.. Rev G. Mueller resolved never to tell anyone what his
needs were. He told them to God and confidently expected them to be met.
During his life, Rev G Mueller started 117 schools which educated over 120,000
young people and orphans. He became pastor of Bethesda Chapel in
Bristol. see
http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpmueller.html
"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek
after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His Temple." Psalms 27:4
"Give unto the LORD the glory
due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." Psalms 29:2
"For God takes pleasure in
His Children: He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the high
praises of the LORD be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand."
Psalm 149:4, 6a
(Mat 22:14 KJV) For many are called, but
few are chosen.
Essential
Christian doctrines - Undeniably the local Church Normal New Testament pattern
is a congregationally managed, owned one and it also has voluntary
submissions, generally unenforced submissions, formal membership or forced
giving is not required too, a church led, run if needed by the plurality of
elders, prophets, apostles, deacons and not a despotic, unloving,
dictatorial one man ministry. The only forced submission seems to be to
kick out of the Church, disfellowship with all of the bad Professing
Christians who are still thieves, liars, wolves, adulterers, abusers, slave
drivers, drunkards out of the Church meetings till they repent.. Apostle Paul
practised it, and so did I when I had pastored a church directly and I
ALWAYS loved there every one equally, of any age, status now too in the
church without any false partiality, dsicrimination.
"I do not pray that You should
take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:15-16
NKJV)
"As for God, His
way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to
all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30 NKJV)
"God is our refuge and strength, A very
present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 NKJV)
You will never find real peace,
happiness, joy, rest till you lay down all, your body, soul, spirit at
the sacrifice altar to God. https://pbulow.tripod.com/daily.htm
"The LORD redeems the soul
of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be
condemned."
"Behold, I
give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19
NKJV)
(Isa 42:5
KJV) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched
them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he
that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk
therein :6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold
thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the
prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison
house.
(Deu 5:32
KJV) Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath
commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
(John 10:27 KJV) My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Hearing God's voice is
something we all long for-but did you know that it's not hard to do? In fact,
God wants you to hear
His voice! Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen
too.. John
8:47 "He who is of God hears the
words of God . . ."
(Isa 30:21 KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word
behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right
hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Not only must we all learn how to be able to hear God's
voice continually now as the Bible says but also we do not turn to the left or
right unless one hears a voice saying to you walk therein. In our fast
food, take control society Nobody wants to wait. It would be easier to quit on
a need than wait. https://pbulow.tripod.com/wait.html(Ps 37:23-24) The steps of a good man are
ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not
be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
(Psa 32:8) I will instruct thee
and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine
eye.
(2 Cor 13:1 KJV)
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be
established.
The Christian and politicians, others.. the best thing
that they can do after repenting and receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and
personal savior is always to pray, read the Bible ... but now also
to live a godly life https://pbulow.tripod.com/thewalk.htm
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in
the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand
therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate
of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the
saints-" (Ephesians 6:10-18 NKV)
PUT ON THE GARMENT OF
PRAISE AND DO GOOD WORKS rather than the bad works so you shall have
nothing to be ashamed of still
(James 5:14 KJV) Is any sick among you? let him
call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save
the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they
shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and
pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
The Just shall live by
faith..
George Müller (1805-1898)
was a Prussian-born
English examplary Christian man of faith and prayer, he established
orphanages in Bristol and founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for
Home and abroad.
"No Salary for George
George Mueller had joyfully dedicated his "whole life to the object
of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith." When he
had moved to Bristol in 1832 to take the pulpit of Gideon chapel, he and his
wife Mary decided not to accept a salary from the congregation. They wanted
to daily depend upon the Lord for their needs, and they accepted only
unsolicited freewill offerings. Mueller's journal is full of the amazing
ways the Lord directed funds to them throughout his sixty-six years of
ministry."
"At
Bristol, Mueller began reading a biography of a great leader of the
"Pietism" movement, A. H. . Francke, who had founded an orphan house at
Halle in 1696. Francke's orphanage became the largest enterprise for orphans
then existing in the world, and he had trusted in God for every provision.
As Mueller began to work with the poor in Bristol, he too wanted to trust
the Lord and bring every need to Him in prayer."
George Mueller throughout most of his personal life he
freely received from God and he also continually freely gave as well,
expecting nothing in return, he did not sell anything for money or make
requests of anyone for money. He lived by a real, practicing faith in God
and not in man.. totally unlike most of the bad monetary, commercialized
pastors, evangelists today. Though much money had passed through his
hands he George Mueller did not accumulate any wealth for himself. "It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and
great, and honoured in that world where his Lord was poor, and mean, and
despised. - George
Mueller. Ironically and hypocritically
most of the people who today do even promote this basic examplary
Christian way of life, wrongfully contradict the example of the Christian
George Mueller by their own wrongful begging, asking for money,
commercialization of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear" (Hebrews 11:1).
FIRST: WHAT IS FAITH? In the simplest manner in which I
am able to express it, I answer: Faith is the assurance that the thing which
God has said in His Word is true, and that God will act according to what He
has said in His Word. This assurance, this reliance on God's Word, this
confidence is FAITH.
NO IMPRESSIONS ARE TO BE TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH
FAITH. Impressions have neither one thing nor the other to do with faith.
Faith has to do with the Word of God. It is not impressions, strong or weak,
which will make any difference. We have to do with the written Word and not
ourselves or our impressions.
PROBABILITIES ARE NOT TO BE TAIKEN INTO ACCOUNT. Many
people are willing to believe regarding those things that seem probable to
them. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities. The province of FAITH
begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail. A great many of
God's children are cast down and lament their want of Faith. They write to
me and say that they have no impressions, no feeling, they see no
probability that the thing they wish will come to pass. APPEARANCES ARE NOT
TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. The question is - whether God has spoken it in His
Word.
And now, beloved Christian friends, you are in great
need to ask yourselves whether you are in the habit of thus confiding, in
your inmost soul, in what God has said, and whether you are in earnest in
seeking to find whether the thing you want is in accordance with what He has
said in His Word.
SECOND: HOW FAITH MAY BE INCREASED. God delights to
increase the Faith of His children. Our Faith which is feeble at first, is
developed and strengthened more and more by us. We ought, instead of wanting
no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take
them from God's hand as a means. I say - and say it deliberately - trials,
obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of Faith.
I get letters from so many of God's dear children who say: "Dear Brother
Mueller, I'm writing this because I am so weak in faith." Just so surely as
we ask to have our Faith strengthened, we must feel a willingness to take
from God's hand the means for strengthening it. We must allow Him to educate
us through trials and bereavements and troubles. It is through trials that
Faith is exercised and developed more and more. God affectionately permits
difficulties, that He may develop unceasingly that which He is willing to do
for us, and to this end we should not shrink, but if He gives us sorrow and
hindrances and losses and afflictions, we should take them out of His hands
as evidences of His love and care for us in developing more and more that
Faith which He is seeking to strengthen in us.
The Church of God is not aroused to see God as the
beautiful and lovable One He is, and hence the littleness of blessedness.
Oh, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, seek to learn for yourselves,
for I cannot tell you the blessedness! In the darkest moments I am able to
confide in Him, for I know what a beautiful and kind and lovable Being He
is, and, if it be the will of God to put us in the furnace, let Him do it,
that so we may acquaint ourselves with Him as He will reveal Himself, and
that we may know Him better. We come then to the conclusion that God is a
lovable Being, and we are satisfied with Him, and say: "It is my Father, let
Him do as He pleases."
When I first began to allow
God to deal with me, relying on Him, taking Him at His Word, and set out
fifty years ago simply relying on Him for myself, family, taxes, travelling
expenses and every other need, I rested on the simple promises I found in
the sixth chapter of Matthew. Read Matthew 6:25-34 carefully. I believed the
Word, I rested on it and practiced it. I took God at His word. A stranger, a
foreigner in England, I knew seven languages and might have used them
perhaps as a means of remunerative employment but I had consecrated myself
to labor for the Lord, I put my reliance in the God who has promised, and He
has acted according to His Word. I've lacked nothing - nothing. I have had
my trials, my difficulties, and my purse empty, but my receipts have
aggregated thousands of dollars, while the work has gone on these 51 years.
Then, with regard to my pastoral work; for the past 51 years I have had
great difficulties, great trials and perplexities. There will always be
difficulties, always trials. But God has sustained me under them and
delivered me out of them, and the work has gone on. Now, this is not, as
some have said, because I am a man of great mental power, or endowed with
energy and perseverance - these are not the reasons. It is because I have
confided in God; because I have sought God, and He has cared for the
Institution, which, under His direction, has 100 schools, with masters and
mistresses and other departments which I have told you before.
I do not carry the burden. And now in my 67th year, I
have physical strength and mental vigor for as much work as when I was a
young man in the university, studying and preparing Latin orations. I am
just as vigorous as at that time. How comes this? Because in the last half
century of labor I've been able, with the simplicity of a child, to rely
upon God. I have had my trials, but I have laid hold upon God, and so it has
come to pass that I have been sustained. It is not only permission, but
positive command that He gives, to cast the burdens upon Him. Oh, let us do
it! My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, "Cast thy burden upon the
Lord and He shall sustain thee." Day by day I do it. This morning sixty
matters in connection with the church of which I am pastor, I brought before
the Lord, and thus it is, day by day I do it, and year by year; ten years,
thirty years, forty years.
Do
not, however, expect to obtain full Faith at once. All such things as
jumping into full exercise of Faith in such things I discountenance. I do
not believe in it. All such things go on in a natural way. The little I did
obtain, I did not obtain all at once. All this I say particularly, because
letters come to me full of questions from those who seek to have their Faith
strengthened. Begin over again, staying your soul on the Word of God, and
you will have an increase of your Faith as you exercise it.
One thing more. Some say, "Oh, I shall never have the
gift of Faith Mr. Mueller has got." This is a mistake - it is the greatest
error - there is not a particle of truth in it. My Faith is the same kind of
Faith that all of God's children have had. It is the same kind that Simon
Peter had, and all Christians may obtain the like Faith. My Faith is their
Faith, though there may be more of it because my Faith has been a little
more developed by exercise then theirs; but their Faith is precisely the
Faith I exercise, only, with regard to degree, mine may be more strongly
exercised.
Now,
my beloved brothers and sisters, begin in a little way.
At first I was able to trust the Lord for ten dollars,
then for a hundred dollars, then for a thousand dollars, and now, with the
greatest ease, I could trust Him for a million dollars, if there was
occasion. But first, I should quietly, carefully, deliberately examine and
see whether what I was trusting for, was something in accordance with His
promises in His written Word.
"As laborers together with Him" (2 Corinthians 6:1).
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/murray/prayer.XXXII.htmlGeorge Mueller has proved to the world the truth of
Philippians 4:19. But my God shall supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Three weeks after his marriage, he and
his wife decided to depend on God alone to supply their needs--never again
to approach people about them. Now he felt led to relinquish his small
salary as a preacher completely. Wishing that all support be
spontaneous, he put a box in the chapel for his needs; determining never to
run into debt, and to get his needs supplied only by requests to God
Himself. This was October, 1830. When he died, in March 1898, 68
years later, he had obtained from God more than any one else who ever
lived--seven and a half million dollars . Mueller read the Bible through
over 200 times, half of these times on his knees. He said he knew of
some 50,000 specific answers to prayer...requests to God alone!
http://www.uvm.edu/~sbross/biography/muller.txt
Why are so many people still
rather obsessed with fantasy, romance, divorce, drugs, alcohol, even TV,
movies, sex, pleasure, pornography and not Jesus?.. for most of them
personally it is an initial lazy, false escapism approach from the too
often real negative aspects of life that we firstly all tend to have,
particularly due to our own unrepentant sins and due to Satan's
buffeting, harassment of them.. the grass may appear greener in the neighbors
yard cause you do not know what hardships they are facing now, the supposedly
rich persons included. While God for his faithful few give them the grace to
endure hardships and even to overcome them, we are all nevertheless bound to
have trails and tribulations, hardships, all of us.. Instead of
personally first learning how to use the Bible to oppose Satan, obtain peace
in their own life, too many persons turn to the flesh.. The problem also
with the common graphic misrepresentation of the pleasure of sex the reality
is that Gays, lesbians, adulterers tend to have even more negative
consequences, oppressions in their life to force them into deeper bondage with
Satan.. Jesus sets us free from all that.
(Gal 5:16 KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(Gal 5:17 KJV) For
the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would.
(Rom 7:5
KJV) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by
the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
(Gal 5:19 KJV) Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(Rom 8:1 KJV) There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
(1 Cor 16:22 KJV) If any
man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
(1 John 2:15 KJV)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love
the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(John 16:33 KJV)
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
(Acts 9:31 KJV) Then had the churches rest
throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking
in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of
the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
We are epistles known and
read of all men ..(2 Cor 3:2 KJV) Ye are our epistle written in
our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly
declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink,
but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly
tables of the heart.
And to most people were are
the closest thing that they will ever read that will be like the Bible
too is our lives.. Over the years what I have found that God
has used the most, even to help others is that part of the Bible I have
experienced, practiced. Very often when I am asked eben what I initially
think is a difficult question, I often reflect on those related aspects in my
life where I now had experienced similar things, and I next also reflect as to
what God, and his Holy Sprit had there personally taught me and I next
effectively do share those truths. The other stuff I may known does not seem
to work at all..
(Rom
15:4 KJV) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for
our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might
have hope.
(2 Cor
1:3 KJV) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4 Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by
the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(1 Cor
14:3 KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort.
(1 John 1:3 KJV) That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
(2 John
1:5 KJV) And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new
commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love
one another.
2 Cor 13:11 KJV) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be
perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace shall be with you.
(1 Th
5:14 KJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men.
(2 Th
2:16 KJV) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father,
which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in
every good word and work.
The Christian,
pastors, politicians, and any others.. the best thing that they can do after
repenting and receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal savior is
always to daily pray, daily read the Bible ... but now also
to live a godly Biblical life
Now having said that the
Devil and his followers they will daily work hard to
- divert us, distract us, detour us continually in all of
this
- and note this even have us go to extreme
on a good thing
- as well as us having
personally add on the false values too...
The Voice of the Lord
We can and
must hear God's voice
Be still, and know that I am
God
Psalm 46:10
For a complete discussion on the Voice of the Lord, see
My Sheep Hear My Voice. Do see this Excellent site... http://www.hallvworthington.com/index.html We all must
strive unto perfection unto Holiness but the truth in Christ is we can never
be free from sin totally here on earth, for we have this treasure in
earthen vessels that the power in us may be manifested as coming from God and
not from us http://www.hallvworthington.com/teacher.html
God Bless you