The Good Word Of The Day

Saturday, June 27, 2009

1 Corinthians 4 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 4
Apostles of Christ
1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Galatians 6 (New International Version)

Galatians 6
Doing Good to All
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but a New Creation
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Galatians 6:8 Or his flesh, from the flesh
2. Galatians 6:14 Or whom

Revelation 2 (New International Version)

Revelation 2
To the church in Ephesus
1"To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna
8"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum
12"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira
18"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27'He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery'[b]— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
2. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9

Revelation 1 (New International Version)

Revelation 1 (New International Version)

Revelation 1
Prologue
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and doxology
4John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"[b]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[c] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 1:5 Or the sevenfold Spirit
2. Revelation 1:13 Daniel 7:13
3. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

DR. W. J. CAMPELL PREACHES "DON'T MESS UP YOUR SEASON" PT# 1

BISHOP J.O. PATTERSONℜ Introduces DR. W.J. CAMPBELLℑ

Too Hot To Handle

Elder Michael B. Golden Jr Prt 3

Elder Michael B. Golden Jr. Prt 1

Elder Michael B. Golden Jr. Prt 2

Now That's Dominion - Elder Derrick Phillips (2)

Now That's Dominion! - Elder Derrick Phillips

Pastor Jamal Byrant Impact Conference

Power Principles

Dr Jamal Harrison Bryant

Three For The Price of One - Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant Preaching

Kickin' It Old School - Prophet Brian Carn - Noon Day Hour of Power (Day 1 - Part 1)

Hour of Power Interview with Ben Carson

Hour of Power Interview with Candace Cameron Bure

Christian Living & Beliefs : Understanding Christian Men

Romans 8 (New International Version)

Romans 8 (New International Version)

Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 8:1 Some later manuscripts Jesus, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit,
2. Romans 8:3 Or the flesh; also in verses 4, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 13
3. Romans 8:3 Or man, for sin
4. Romans 8:3 Or in the flesh
5. Romans 8:6 Or mind set on the flesh
6. Romans 8:7 Or the mind set on the flesh
7. Romans 8:15 Or adoption
8. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for Father
9. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
10. Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
11. Romans 8:28 Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
12. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
13. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers

Christianity

Christianity
Rembrandt – “The Return of the Prodigal Son

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian Churches teach that God's forgiveness is received through personal repentance in conjunction with the ministry of the Church, that is, the Body of Christ. In these churches, and in some Anglican communities it is customary to make formal confession of sins individually in the presence of a priest, and to obtain absolution as a formal expression by the church of God's forgiveness.

Most Protestant denominations teach that a believer receives forgiveness more directly through a sincere expression of repentance to God, and that the believer completes this in the act of forgiving others (once they show themselves repentant). Protestant Low church denominations generally place more emphasis on the need for private or informal repentance, and less emphasis on the need for formal or public repentance. This is supported by the direction to confess to God, since he is the only one who can forgive sins. However, even Catholics and Orthodox Christians cite scriptural support for a mediated confession, a power Jesus conferred upon the apostles to act in his name: "Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained."[8] Hence, the distinction that only God can forgive sins is cited by Catholics and Protestants alike.

It is taught by most denominations that the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus via the crucifixion is the vehicle through which God forgives the believer of his or her sins. The sacrament of communion is regarded as central to the reception of divine forgiveness in some Christian denominations.

Narrative Christian Theology understands forgiveness, not as a rule or spiritual duty, but as a form by which the people of God embody their mission to live as a people who are reconciled to God. Since the Church's very existence is formed by God's forgiveness it operates as a people of forgiveness, forgiven and forgiving, inextricably tied to peacemaking and justice. Philip D. Kenneson, associate professor of theology and philosophy at Milligan College, writes in his book Life On The Vine, "God's intent was not that this one divine act of forgiveness [in Jesus Christ] would itself magically transform the creation into God's intended paradise. Rather, this supreme act of forgiveness in Christ is the very large rock dropped into the middle of a pond. ... [I]f I refuse such forgiveness [for others] in the name of justice, is it possible that my view of justice falls short of God's view, where justice, shalom, wholeness and salvation are not opposing goals, but different names for God's singular desire?" Which doesn't indicate what one should do with unrepentant sinners. The Gospel makes it plain what God himself will do with them.

When Christian forgiveness is discussed, it is primarily within the context of God forgiving man. In his book Balancing the Scales of Justice with Forgiveness and Repentance, ex-lay prison minister Randall J. Cecrle makes the point that both forgiveness and repentance focus on the satisfaction of justice, each one side of the two-sided scales that addresses the human need to have justice satisfied. He writes that the means for humans to forgive other humans is the same means as God’s forgiveness of mankind, the substitutionary death of Jesus. When God through the Apostle Paul said “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13), he was giving clear instructions on how to forgive. The author goes on to say “Forgive as God forgave you. Forgive in the same way, using the same means and power that God used to forgive you and me. And God forgave you and me how? He forgave by accepting the blood of Jesus (death at the hands of the executioner) as the substitutionary satisfaction of His justice. To forgive those who have caused us harm, have injured us, caused us loss, we are likewise to: Accept Jesus’ Death as the Satisfaction of Justice!”

[edit] Hinduism

An even more authoritative statement about forgiveness is espoused by Krishna, who is considered to be an incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu by Hindus. Krishna said in the Gita that forgiveness is one of the characteristics of one born for a divine state. It is noteworthy that he distinguishes those good traits from those he considered to be demoniac, such as pride, self-conceit and anger (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, verse 3).

Huston Smith in his book The World's Religions[9] says

"Enter Hinduism’s myths, her magnificent symbols, her several hundred images of God, her rituals that keep turning night and day like never ending prayer wheels. It is obtuse to confuse Hinduism’s images with idolatry, and their multiplicity with polytheism. They are 'runways' from which the sense-laden human spirit can rise for its "flight of the alone to the Alone".

[edit] Islam

Islam teaches that God (Allah in Arabic) is 'the most forgiving', and is the original source of all forgiveness. Forgiveness often requires the repentance of those being forgiven. Depending on the type of wrong committed, forgiveness can come either directly from Allah, or from one's fellow man whom received the wrong. In the case of divine forgiveness, the asking for divine forgiveness via repentance is important. In the case of human forgiveness, it is important to both forgive, and to be forgiven.[10]

The central and most sacred book of Islam: the Qur'an, teaches that there is only one error that Allah cannot forgive, the error of ascribing partners (or equals) to Allah. Islam ranks this error as a denial of monotheism, and therefore of the supreme nature of Allah himself (shirk).

God does not forgive idol worship (if maintained until death), and He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who idolizes any idol beside God has strayed far astray. (Qur'an 4:116)

But if he returns to God and pleads sincerely for forgiveness and abandons worshiping other than the one and only God, He will be forgiven.

The Qur'an never allows for violent behavior on the part of Muslim believers,[11] Unless in the case of defending one's religion, one's life or one's property. Outside of this, the Qu'ran makes no allowances for violent behavior. From time to time certain Muslims have interpreted such Qur'anic allowances for "defensive violence" to include what other Muslims have viewed more as unwarranted and overly aggressive violence. This interpretative debate about when to forgive and when to aggressively attack or defend continues to this day within the Muslim community.

The Qur'an makes it clear that, whenever possible, it is better to forgive another than to attack another. The Qur'an describes the believers (Muslims) as those who, avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. (Qur'an 42:37) and says that Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust. (Qur'an 42:40).

To receive forgiveness from God there are three requirements:

1. Recognizing the offense itself and its admission before God.
2. Making a commitment not to repeat the offense.
3. Asking for forgiveness from God.

If the offense was committed against another human being, or against society, a fourth condition is added:

1. Recognizing the offense before those against whom offense was committed and before God.
2. Committing oneself not to repeat the offense.
3. Doing whatever needs to be done to rectify the offense (within reason) and asking pardon of the offended party.
4. Asking God for forgiveness.

There are no particular words to say for asking forgiveness. However, Muslims are taught many phrases and words to keep repeating daily asking God's forgiveness. For example:

* Astaghfiru-Allah, "I ask forgiveness from Allah"
* Subhanaka-Allah humma wa bi hamdika wa ash-hadu al la Ilaha illa Anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk, "Glory be to You, Allah, and with You Praise (thanks) and I bear witness that there is no deity but You, I ask Your forgiveness and I return to You (in obedience)".

Islamic teaching presents the prophet Muhammad as an example of someone who would forgive others for their ignorance, even those who might have once considered themselves to be his enemies. One example of Muhammad's practice of forgiveness can be found in the Hadith, the body of early Islamic literature about the life of Muhammad. This account is as follows:
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him, abused him and hit him with stones. He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of maltreating their Prophet. Muhammad (may peace be upon him) prayed to Allah to save the people of Ta'if, because what they did was out of their ignorance.[12]

1 Thessalonians 5 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 5 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 5

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.

23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

You could put all your sin and my sin and the whole world in one big package, and jesus would still say yes, because he paid our price in full

3 John 1 (New International Version)

3 John 1

1The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Because of Jesus - Casting Crowns

"The motions" by Mattew West

Divine Romance

Re: Re: Re: Re: Abomination Of Desolation!

From: leastofthebrethren
Date: 05/05/09

No! Praising Jesus is giving him all the praise, glory and honor! Someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! Jesus is the only way to Heaven! Praise Jesus forever! Shalom! George
___________________________________________________________


On May 5th 2009 8:23 AM. "findringer" wrote:

wouldn't praising jesus be a false idol, god tells us repeatably to worship him alone

___________________________________________________________


On May 4th 2009 9:25 PM. "leastofthebrethren" wrote:

They are being deceived from the Devil! Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven! Praise Jesus forever! Shalom! George

___________________________________________________________


On May 4th 2009 7:41 PM. "findringer" wrote:

what do you think about the muslim religion?

___________________________________________________________


On Apr 30th 2009 2:32 PM. "leastofthebrethren" wrote:

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ The world is throwing the pigs on God's altar! This unclean sin is a abomination of desolation to the God of Israel! The judgement of God has come to the world for the swine flu is a pestilence of God! Soon the Antichrist will stand up and say I am God in the temple of God that is the abomination of desolation that is told in the Bible in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 15! Hitler killed 6 million Jews in Europe in World War 2! The Antichrist in World War 3 will kill 6 million Christians in the U.S.A.! I plead the blood of Jesus over your Christians for protection in all the world! The only cure for swine flu is the healing touch of Jesus! I wept and cried bitterly today when I heard the song though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will tell the people not much time is left till the end of the world! Prayer warriors keep praying and fasting for the spiritual break throughs of the mighty move of God and Jesus the Messiah in the next 2 and a half years! A revival that the world will see that Jesus will take it to the streets for the glory of God! I pray in the name of Jesus the whole armor of God on the Lord's army! For the battle is the Lord's and victory in Jesus! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 05/07/09

Jesus is raising you up to a higher prophetic realm for the glory of God! Love Jesus forever! Shalom! George
___________________________________________________________


On May 6th 2009 8:53 AM. "findringer" wrote:

f0rgive me brotheren i didnt realize ur rank,

im learning

praise god and blessings

___________________________________________________________


On May 5th 2009 10:22 PM. "leastofthebrethren" wrote:

No! Praising Jesus is giving him all the praise, glory and honor! Someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! Jesus is the only way to Heaven! Praise Jesus forever! Shalom! George
___________________________________________________________


On May 5th 2009 8:23 AM. "findringer" wrote:

wouldn't praising jesus be a false idol, god tells us repeatably to worship him alone

___________________________________________________________


On May 4th 2009 9:25 PM. "leastofthebrethren" wrote:

They are being deceived from the Devil! Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven! Praise Jesus forever! Shalom! George

___________________________________________________________


On May 4th 2009 7:41 PM. "findringer" wrote:

what do you think about the muslim religion?

___________________________________________________________


On Apr 30th 2009 2:32 PM. "leastofthebrethren" wrote:

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ The world is throwing the pigs on God's altar! This unclean sin is a abomination of desolation to the God of Israel! The judgement of God has come to the world for the swine flu is a pestilence of God! Soon the Antichrist will stand up and say I am God in the temple of God that is the abomination of desolation that is told in the Bible in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 15! Hitler killed 6 million Jews in Europe in World War 2! The Antichrist in World War 3 will kill 6 million Christians in the U.S.A.! I plead the blood of Jesus over your Christians for protection in all the world! The only cure for swine flu is the healing touch of Jesus! I wept and cried bitterly today when I heard the song though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will tell the people not much time is left till the end of the world! Prayer warriors keep praying and fasting for the spiritual break throughs of the mighty move of God and Jesus the Messiah in the next 2 and a half years! A revival that the world will see that Jesus will take it to the streets for the glory of God! I pray in the name of Jesus the whole armor of God on the Lord's army! For the battle is the Lord's and victory in Jesus! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Extra! Extra! Read All About It On My Blog!

From: leastofthebrethren
Date: 05/19/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Extra! Extra! Read all about it on my blog! Please make my day and put your comment on my new blog! I love you in Jesus forever! May the God of Israel and Jesus bless you forever! I thank Jesus for the coolest friends in all the nations in the world on this holy, blessed site of Tangle! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley! P.S. Read it and weep before the feet of Jesus!

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

St. Louis Area Foodbank Awarded Least Of The Brethren The Best Food Pantry In Illinois!

From: leastofthebrethren
Date: 05/22/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ The St. Louis Area Foodbank awarded Least Of The Brethren the best food pantry in Illinois! I thank Jesus for this miracle! Least Of The Brethren in the last 12 years has fed one quarter million families with three quarter million people for the glory of God! Jesus told me to name the ministry Least Of The Brethren in the holy Bible in the book of Matthew, chapter 25 and verses 35 thru 40! First time award given to a food pantry in southern Illinois! Please keep praying for me in feeding poor, hungry people and preaching the word of God till Jesus returns! I love you all in Jesus forever! May the God of Israel and Jesus the Savior and Messiah bless you forever! I give God all the glory for all the miracles that he has done for Least Of The Brethren Ministry Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George "Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

Have A Blessed Memorial Day In Jesus!

From: leastofthebrethren
Date: 05/25/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters Have a blessed Memorial Day in Jesus! I thank Jesus for all the U.S. fallen heroes that gave their lifes so that we will have freedom of speech and freedom of religion in this blessed land of the U.S.A.! Freedom isn't free! The U.S. soldiers who shed their blood for the country that they believed in for the glory of God! Just like when Jesus was on the cross when he was shedding his blood for us to be free from sin and death! Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin! When Jesus was on the cross then you were on his mind! When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior then the bondage of sin from the Devil is broken! You are set free from sin, death and Hell! The truth will make and set you free from this old wicked world! Jesus is the truth, life and resurrection! You are a new creature in Christ and old things pass away! When you die then you will go to Heaven not to Hell! Your greatest decision in this life is accepting Jesus Christ the Savior and Messiah as your Lord! I thank you in the name of Jesus for your amazing grace to save sinners! I pray in the name of Jesus that you will save billions of souls on Earth and then you will return to take us home to Heaven! Jesus loves you so much that words can't describe! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

This is Love

From: glory259
Date: 05/26/09

Dear Fellow Christians,
These are Glory Days in Jesus' name! May the following message lift you higher to soar on Eagles Wings for the Glory of God in all thy Days:

JOHN 3:16-18
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God,,, Jesus".

PRAY:
Dear Jesus, help us to teach others how to love one another in your Glorious Name. Amen.

My dear Friends in Christ, May you use your gifts in the Service of God and others in the love of Jesus. Amen. Shalom!

In Christs Love,
Your sister in Christ,
betty/glory259

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory Prayer



From: mark16
Date: 05/27/09

"The Church has not yet touched the fringe of the possibilities of
intercessory prayer. Her largest victories will be witnessed when
individual Christians everywhere come to recognize their
priesthood unto God and day by day give themselves unto prayer."


"If added power attends the united prayer of two or three, what
mighty triumphs there will be when hundreds of thousands of
consistent members of the Church are with one accord day by day
making intercession for the extension of Christ's Kingdom."

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing;

North Korea Could Start World War 3!

From: leastofthebrethren
Date: 05/28/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ I warned you in love over 7 weeks ago about North Korea testing missles to see how far they would go! North Korea had a underground nuclear test and tested 2 more missles this week! I pray in the name of Jesus for Kim Jong 2 that North Korea won't start World War 3! I pray in the name of Jesus that South Korea and the 28,500 U.S. troops will be protected from a North Korea attack! I pray in the name of Jesus for the 30,000 U.S. troops in Japan will be protected! I pray in the name of Jesus that Kim Jong don't start a nuclear war! I pray in the name of Jesus for protection for all Christians in all the nations from a attack! I pray in the name of Jesus for protection in the U.S.A.! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/01/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Check out my new blog on prophecy on U.S.A. in 2009! Make a comment on my blog because I have the best Tangle friends in the world! You Tangler Wranglers are rough, tough and hard to bluff! I love you in Jesus forever! May the God of Israel and Jesus the Savior and Messiah bless you forever! I thank Jesus for Jason and the mean green Tangle Jesus machine! So long all my friends out there on Christ's spiritual cyberspace on Tangle! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George "Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley P.S. I send my love to all the hard-core remnant Jesus people in all the nations!

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: glory259 Date: 06/02/09

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,

There will be or should be a new Blog posting on my profile page soon that I hope to be helpful to all in the Love of Jesus. All for God's Glory. Please visit and may the reading have many spiritual benefits in Jesus' name. 'Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,,,. Amen.

In Jesus' Love,
your sister in Christ,
betty/glory259

Comments are always welcome:-)
Thank you

Psalms 104:30
Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; And thou renewest the face of the ground.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/04/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ The God of Israel says let my American Christians go free in Egypt! U.S. pharaoh Obama read the Koran and bowed down to Islam! The U.S.A is a Christian nation not a Muslim nation! U.S. pharaoh Obama is building a new pyramid in Israel called the Palestinian State! The Jews and Christians won't be the slaves in bondage to build this man made wonder for Islam! The curse of King Obama in Israel is going against the Abraham blessing! I pray for the Muslims all over the world in the love of Jesus! I pray for President Obama that his eyes would be opened not to go against the Abraham blessing! If President Obama pushes the Palestinian State in Israel then the people in the U.S.A will suffer from the God of Israel's judgement! Jesus showed me 5 months ago that President Obama is a Muslim and his speech today in Egypt proved it! The God of Israel says let my Christian people go free in U.S.A. from Islam's bondage and have freedom in Jesus Christ the Savior and Messiah of the world! May the God of Israel have mercy on the U.S.A.! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/08/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Churches jobs is God's business! The governments can't do God's business because they are broke! But the Churches jobs is to feed the poor people! Jesus said the poor will always be with you! Every church needs to have a food pantry to show the love of Jesus! People need help and only Jesus can provide it in churches! Jesus fed the masses and the churches have to meet the needs of the people! Also feed them with the spiritual food of Jesus which is the word of God! This is the time to help the people losing their jobs and homes to minister to them the love of God! There's no business like God's business! I pray in the name of Jesus that you touch the churches hearts for a vision to feed the poor people for the glory of God! Praise the Lord and pass the food! Jesus feed your people with the word of God in all your nations! Some nations have a spiritual famine for the word of God! It's written that we will stand on the word of God forever! Remember the battle is the Lord's and victory in Jesus! I pray in the name of Jesus let your manna from Heaven fall on your people for the glory of God! Amen! Jesus says Feed my lambs and sheeps the word of God to fill their spiritual bellies full! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: glory259 Date: 06/09/09

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,
I received a message from the Lord this morning and he said to write it in a poem. Praying for the best in his Christians.

HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD
by Betty L. Crone

To Worship Christ the King
is to Glorify God in everything.
The inner certainty he brings
in the things that we do
with God as your guide
to make dreams come true.

God has other plans meant just for you.
In his plan, God knows the path you will take.
Listen to his voice for the
needed changes he will make.

"Thy will, not mine," Lord I pray,
as I put all faith in him.
Bless my heart with Love and Grace,,,
my cup runneth over the rim.

"Hearken to the voice of God."

*******************************************

May the God of Israel pour his blessings upon each and everyone in Jesus' name. Amen. Shalom!
In Christs Love,
betty/glory259

Deuteronomy 28:2
and all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/11/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Spiritual showers of blessings! You can see the spiritual showers of blessings and hear the spiritual showers of blessings in the supernatural prophetic realm of God! What God does in the natural then he will manifest in the supernatural! In the last 3 days we have had 4 inches of rain! I pray in the name of Jesus let it rain the prophetic royal priesthood spiritual rain for the glory of God! It is raining spiritual showers of blessings from the portals of Heaven! If that don't bless your blesser then your blesser is broke! Get under the spout where the glory comes out! Let it rain the spiritual blessings of God on all his people in all the nations to be washed in the word of God and launch out in the deep prophetic waters! Just release your faith and walk on the waters you only have to keep your eyes on Jesus! Swim out in the deep prophetic waters of Jesus to go where no man has gone before! I hear the spiritual thunder and spiritual lighting of Jesus hear the roar of the lion of the tribe of Judah! I speak the blessings of Jesus to you from the north, south, east and west! We are the most blessed people in the world because Jesus lives in our hearts! Receive the spiritual blessings of God are falling on you right now! The glory cloud is letting the blessings fall on you! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/15/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Check out my new blog on Big Brother's boob tube! Please make a comment on my blog! I thank God and Jesus for you! May God and Jesus bless you forever! I love you in Jesus forever! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/16/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Please pray for the U. S. government leaders! The U.S. government leaders are socializing the U.S.A. like Russia and China! The U.S. government leaders are socializing the banks, FCC, car companies, insurance companies, health care and too many things to mention! This is the New World Order plan to control everything in the U.S.A.! This will destroy our democracy and freedoms in the U.S.A! The New World Order global goblins are killing capitalism in the U.S.A. to start their new age of socialism to control the people! In 5 and a half months in the U.S.A. the New World Order control freaks plans will be completed then our freedoms will be gone! President Barack Obama is the Antichrist! Jesus showed me that 2 years ago and told me to warn the people today! Please prayer warriors fast and pray for the perlious times are coming to U.S.A.! Please pray for the U.S. government leaders that Jesus will open their eyes from this trap of the New World Order global gurus for the U.S.A.! I pray in the name of Jesus for all the U.S. government leaders! Please God of Israel and Jesus the Savior and Messiah have mercy on the U.S.A.! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/19/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ I prophesied that North Korea would attack Hawaii with a missle over 2 months ago! Kim Jong said he is launching a missle at Hawaii on the 4th of July! There will be lots of firecrackers in the sky that day! The U.S. Armed Force has anti missles there to knock it out of the sky! I pray in the name of Jesus to protect your people in the holy state of Hawaii! I pray in the name of Jesus to protect the innocent people in North Korea that hasn't nothing to do with this! I pray in the name of Jesus that North Korea won't put a nuclear war head on the missle to start World War 3! Please Christians pray in all the nations because this will effect everyone! I pray in the name of Jesus to protect the U.S. Armed Forces from harm! I thank you Jesus for hearing our cries for a miracle to stop a war! I pray in the name of Jesus for the people in South Korea and Japan safety from the missle! Amen! Shalom! There will be no peace in the world till Jesus the Prince of Peace returns! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

From: leastofthebrethren Date: 06/22/09

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ 7,000 Tangle friends in the army of God in 14 months! I thank you Jesus for this miracle of the 7,000 Tangle friends in 200 nations in the army of God! You gotta, you gotta get up early in the morning! You not behind a plow or ditching a ditch but you are in the Lord's army! Praise the Lord and pass the spiritual ammo! You are not shooting blanks but that spiritual Jesus bullet is going to get their attention! The 7,000 Tangle army of God is rough, tough and hard to bluff! We will pray in one accord to Jesus and have unity of faith for the glory of God! We are marching on to Zion the beautiful city of God! A good soldier of the cross fights best when he is tired, and hungry with the help of God! Jesus is covering your back so march on Christian soldiers! Give me your best spiritual battle war cry in the name of Jesus and see the walls come tumbling down! The prophetic soldiers are at the point of the spear for a spiritual break throughs for all the Christian soldiers in the 200 nations! Shout in the name of the Lord that North Amercia, South America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Far East is the God of Israel's and Jesus the Savior and Messiah's holy lands! Wherever the soles of your feet tread then claim the land for the Lord! Remember the battle is the Lord's and victory in Jesus! Charge in the name of Jesus because there is no retreat! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

from tangle.com

Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ Dead Sea sinkholes a sign from God! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth! Sodom and Gomorrah was located at where the Dead Sea is today! Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for its sin of homosexuality! The God of Israel rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah killing everyone! The sign from God is that he will swallow up or have a great earthquake to destroy the homosexual sins! This sign is for all the world that okays sex same marriages in the nations there will be a judgement of sinkholes and earthquakes! Read your Bible for when God used judgement lots of the time a earthquake was a sign! Jesus showed me 3 times in the last 10 years that a powerful earthquake would destroy where I live! I live in the middle of the U.S.A.! This earthquake is for the judgement of God because the U.S.A. is allowing homosexual marriages in some states! This earthquake is very powerful and will do lots of damages! Some people in U.S.A. will be killed and many people will suffer! I pray in the name of Jesus to have mercy on the U.S.A. and nations of the world! I pray in the name of Jesus to put Christian leaders in that won't allow homosexual marriages in U.S.A. and in the nations! I pray in the name of Jesus to deliver the homosexual people from the bondage of their sins! Set them free in Jesus and save their souls! I thank you Jesus for this miracle! They will have a blessed life for the glory of God! Amen! Shalom! Your Brother In Christ George 'Pinckneyville, Illinois Prophet' Culley

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, 'even' these least, ye did it unto me.

Revelation 22 (New International Version)

Revelation 22 (New International Version)

Revelation 22
The River of Life
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
Jesus Is Coming
7"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

8I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

10Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."

12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

Exodus 14 (New International Version)

Exodus 14

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen [a] and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off [b] so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward [c] it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers ; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
2. Exodus 14:25 Or He jammed the wheels of their chariots (see Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac)
3. Exodus 14:27 Or from

Pastor E.Dewey Smith Jr. Praying & Encouraging The People of God- Praise Service

When Helping You Is Hurting Me(A MUST HAVE & MUST SEE Sermon)-Pastor E.Dewey Smith Jr.

Pastor E. Dewey Smith Jr. Sings " There Is A Fountain"

Lord Keep Me Day By Day- Pastor E.Dewey Smith Jr.

I Need Thee/Shine on Me- Pastor Smith Sings

1 Thessalonians 4 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 4 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 4
Living to Please God
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
The Coming of the Lord
13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with his own wife; or learn to acquire a wife

Colossians 4 (New International Version)

Colossians 4 (New International Version)

Colossians 4

1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Final Greetings
7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[a] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

16After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

18I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Footnotes:

1. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your

Beverly Cox "I Need Thee Every Hour"

Marvin Sapp: Never Would Have Made It at Mt. Zion Baptist, Kalamazoo MI

I Need Thee ( Marvin Sapp)

2 Corinthians 10 (New International Version)

2 Corinthians 10 (New International Version)

2 Corinthians 10
Paul's Defense of His Ministry
1By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

7You are looking only on the surface of things.[a] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. 8For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." 11Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.[b] Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. 17But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[c] 18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 10:7 Or Look at the obvious facts
2. 2 Corinthians 10:15 Or 13 We, however, will not boast about things that cannot be measured, but we will boast according to the standard of measurement that the God of measure has assigned us—a measurement that relates even to you. 14 ... 15 Neither do we boast about things that cannot be measured in regard to the work done by others.
3. 2 Corinthians 10:17 Jer. 9:24

GOD Favored Me - Hezekiah Walker & Marvin Sapp

Dr Marvin Sapp at The City Of refuge 5

Dr Marvin Sapp at The City Of refuge 5

Dr Marvin Sapp at The City Of refuge 11

Dr Marvin Sapp at The City Of refuge 12

Dr Marvin Sapp At The city of refuge4

Dr Marvin Sapp at The City Of refuge 8

Marvin Sapp YES

Dr. Marvin Sapp At The City of Refuge

Titus 3 (New International Version)

Titus 3 (New International Version)

Titus 3
Doing What is Good
1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Final Remarks
12As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

15Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Dr Marvin Sapp Preaching

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

Bishop Paul Morton - Good Success, part 6-6/keep the word

Bishop GE Patterson Praise Your Way Through Sermon COGIC

Is Jesus God? Not blind faith

Is Jesus God? Not blind faith
Is Jesus God? Here is a picture of the life of Jesus Christ and why it's not blind faith to believe in him...

By Paul E. Little

life of JesusIt is impossible for us to know conclusively whether God exists and what He is like unless He takes the initiative and reveals Himself. We must know what He is like and His attitude toward us. Suppose we knew He existed, but that He was like Adolf Hitler -- capricious, vicious, prejudiced, and cruel. What a horrible realization that would be!

We must scan the horizon of history to see if there is any clue to God's revelation. There is one clear clue. In an obscure village in Palestine, almost 2,000 years ago, a Child was born in a stable. Today the entire world is still celebrating the birth of Jesus.

He lived in obscurity until He was thirty, and then began a public ministry that lasted three years. It was destined to change the course of history. He was a kindly person and we're told that "the common people heard Him gladly." And, "He taught as One who had authority, and not as their teachers of the Law" (Matthew 7:29).
The Life of Jesus Christ. Is Jesus God?

It soon became apparent, however, that He was making shocking and startling statements about Himself. He began to identify Himself as far more than a remarkable teacher or prophet. He began to say clearly that He was God. He made His identity the focal point of His teaching. The all-important question He put to those who followed Him was, "Who do you say I am?" When Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16), Jesus was not shocked, nor did He rebuke Peter. On the contrary, He commended him!

He made the claim explicitly, and His hearers got the full impact of His words. We are told, "The Jews tried all the harder to kill Him; not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God" (John 5:18).

On another occasion he said, "I and My Father are One." Immediately the Jews wanted to stone Him. He asked them for which good work they wanted to kill Him. They replied, "We are not stoning You for any of these but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God" (John 10:33).

Jesus clearly claimed attributes which only God has. When a paralyzed man was let down through the roof wanting to be healed by Him, He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." This caused a great to-do among the religious leaders, who said in their hearts, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

At the critical moment when His life was at stake, the high priest put the question to Him directly: "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy" (Mark 14:61-64).

So close was His connection with God that He equated a person's attitude to Himself with the person's attitude toward God. Thus, to know Him was to know God (John 8:19; 14:7). To see Him was to see God (12:45; 14:9). To believe in Him was to believe in God (12:44; 14:1). To receive Him was to receive God (Mark 9:37). To hate Him was to hate God (John 15:23). And to honor Him was to honor God (5:23).
Jesus Christ - Not Blind Faith
“ As we face the claims of Christ, there are only four possibilities. He was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Truth.”

As we face the claims of Christ, there are only four possibilities. He was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Truth. If we say He is not the Truth, we are automatically affirming one of the other three alternatives, whether we realize it or not.

(1) One possibility is that Jesus lied when He said He was God -- that He knew He was not God, but deliberately deceived His hearers to lend authority to His teaching. Few, if any, seriously hold this position. Even those who deny His deity affirm that He was a great moral teacher. They fail to realize those two statements are a contradiction. Jesus could hardly be a great moral teacher if, on the most crucial point of His teaching -- His identity -- He was a deliberate liar.

(2) A kinder, though no less shocking possibility, is that He was sincere but self-deceived. We have a name for a person today who thinks he is God. That name is lunatic, and it certainly would apply to Christ if He were deceived on this all-important issue. But as we look at the life of Christ, we see no evidence of the abnormality and imbalance we find in a deranged person. Rather, we find the greatest composure under pressure.

(3) The third alternative is that all of the talk about His claiming to be God is a legend -- that what actually happened was that His enthusiastic followers, in the third and fourth centuries, put words into His mouth He would have been shocked to hear. Were He to return, He would immediately repudiate them.

The legend theory has been significantly refuted by many discoveries of modern archeology. These have conclusively shown that the four biographies of Christ were written within the lifetime of contemporaries of Christ. Some time ago Dr. William F. Albright, world-famous archaeologist now retired from Johns Hopkins University, said that there was no reason to believe that any of the Gospels were written later than A.D. 70. For a mere legend about Christ, in the form of the Gospel, to have gained the circulation and to have had the impact it had, without one shred of basis in fact, is incredible.

For this to have happened would be as fantastic as for someone in our own time to write a biography of the late John F. Kennedy and in it say he claimed to be God, to forgive people's sins, and to have risen from the dead. Such a story is so wild it would never get off the ground because there are still too many people around who knew Kennedy. The legend theory does not hold water in the light of the early date of the Gospel manuscripts.

(4) The only other alternative is that Jesus spoke the truth. From one point of view, however, claims don't mean much. Talk is cheap. Anyone can make claims. There have been others who have claimed to be God. I could claim to be God, and you could claim to be God, but the question all of us must answer is, "What credentials do we bring to substantiate our claim?" In my case it wouldn't take you five minutes to disprove my claim. It probably wouldn't take too much more to dispose of yours. But when it comes to Jesus of Nazareth, it's not so simple. He had the credentials to back up His claim. He said, "Even though you do not believe Me, believe the evidence of the miracles, that you may learn and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father" (John 10:38).
Is Jesus God? Some Points to Consider

who is Jesus ?First, His moral character coincided with His claims. Many asylum inmates claim to be celebrities or deities. But their claims are belied by their characters. Not so with Christ. He is unique -- as unique as God.

Jesus Christ was sinless. The caliber of His life was such that He was able to challenge His enemies with the question, "Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46). He was met by silence, even though He addressed those who would have liked to point out a flaw in His character.

We read of the temptations of Jesus, but we never hear of a confession of sin on His part. He never asked for forgiveness, though He told His followers to do so.

This lack of any sense of moral failure on Jesus' part is astonishing in view of the fact that it is completely contrary to the experience of the saints and mystics in all ages. The closer men and women draw to God, the more overwhelmed they are with their own failure, corruption, and shortcomings. The closer one is to a shining light, the more he realizes his need of a bath. This is true also, in the moral realm, for ordinary mortals.

It is also striking that John, Paul, and Peter, all of whom were trained from earliest childhood to believe in the universality of sin, all spoke of the sinlessness of Christ: "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22).

Pilate, no friend of Jesus, said, "What evil has He done?" He implicitly recognized Christ's innocence. And the Roman centurion who witnessed the death of Christ said, "Surely He was the Son of God" (Matthew. 27:54).

Second, Christ demonstrated a power over natural forces which could belong only to God, the Author of these forces.

He stilled a raging storm of wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee. In doing this He provoked from those in the boat the awestruck question, "Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!" (Mark 4:41) He turned water into wine, fed 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish, gave a grieving widow back her only son by raising him from the dead, and brought to life the dead daughter of a shattered father. To an old friend He said, "Lazarus, come forth!" and dramatically raised him from the dead. It is most significant that His enemies did not deny this miracle. Rather, they tried to kill Him. "If we let Him go on like this," they said, "everyone will believe in Him" (John11:48).

Third, Jesus demonstrated the Creator's power over sickness and disease. He made the lame to walk, the dumb to speak, and the blind to see. Some of His healings were of congenital problems not susceptible to psychosomatic cure. The most outstanding was that of the blind man whose case is recorded in John 9. Though the man couldn't answer his speculative questioners, his experience was enough to convince him. "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" he declared. He was astounded that his friends didn't recognize this Healer as the Son of God. "Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind," he said (John 9:25, 32). To him the evidence was obvious.

Fourth, Jesus' supreme credential to authenticate His claim to deity was His resurrection from the dead. Five times in the course of His life He predicted He would die. He also predicted how He would die and that three days later He would rise from the dead and appear to His disciples.

Surely this was the great test. It was a claim that was easy to verify. It either happened or it didn't.

Both friends and enemies of the Christian faith have recognized the resurrection of Christ to be the foundation stone of the faith. Paul, the great apostle, wrote, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1 Corinthians 15:14). Paul rested his whole case on the bodily resurrection of Christ. Either He did or He didn't rise from the dead. If He did, it was the most sensational event in all of history.
God Does Not Ask for Blind Faith

If Christ rose, we know with certainty that God exists, what He is like, and how we may know Him in personal experience. The universe takes on meaning and purpose, and it is possible to experience the living God in contemporary life.
“ Talk is cheap. Anyone can make claims. But when it comes to Jesus of Nazareth... He had the credentials to back up His claim.”

On the other hand, if Christ did not rise from the dead, Christianity is an interesting museum piece -- nothing more. It has no objective validity or reality. Though it is a nice wishful thought, it certainly isn't worth getting steamed up about. The martyrs who went singing to the lions, and contemporary missionaries who have given their lives in Ecuador and Congo while taking this message to others, have been poor deluded fools.

The attack on Christianity by its enemies has most often concentrated on the Resurrection because it has been clearly seen that this event is the crux of the matter. A remarkable attack was the one contemplated in the early '30s by a young British lawyer. He was convinced that the Resurrection was mere fable and fantasy. Sensing that it was the foundation stone of the Christian faith, he decided to do the world a favor by once and for all exposing this fraud and superstition. As a lawyer, he felt he had the critical faculties to rigidly sift evidence and to admit nothing as evidence which did not meet the stiff criteria for admission into a law court today.

However, while Frank Morrison was doing his research, a remarkable thing happened. The case was not nearly as easy as he had supposed. As a result, the first chapter in his book, Who Moved the Stone? is entitled, "The Book That Refused to Be Written." In it he described how, as he examined the evidence, he became persuaded against his will, of the fact of the bodily resurrection of Christ.
The Death of Jesus

Jesus' death was by public execution on a cross. The government said it was for blasphemy. Jesus said it was to pay for our sin. After being severely tortured, Jesus' wrists and feet were nailed to a cross where He hung, eventually dying of slow suffocation. A sword was thrust into His side to confirm His death.

The body of Jesus was then wrapped in linens covered with approximately 100 pounds of gummy-wet spices. His body was placed in a solid rock tomb A 1 1/2- 2 ton boulder was rolled by levers to secure the entrance. Because Jesus had publicly said He would rise from the dead in three days, a guard of trained Roman soldiers was stationed at the tomb. And an official Roman seal was affixed to the tomb entrance declaring it government property.

In spite of all this, three days later the body was gone. Only the grave linens remained, in the form of the body, but caved in. The boulder formerly sealing the tomb was found up a slope, some distance away from the tomb.
Was Jesus' Resurrection Just a Story?

who is Jesus ?The earliest explanation circulated was that the disciples stole the body! In Matthew 28:11-15, we have the record of the reaction of the chief priests and the elders when the guards gave them the infuriating and mysterious news that the body was gone. They gave the soldiers money and told them to explain that the disciples had come at night and stolen the body while they were asleep. That story was so false that Matthew didn't even bother to refute it! What judge would listen to you if you said that while you were asleep you knew it was your neighbor who came into your house and stole your television set? Who knows what goes on while he's asleep? Testimony like this would be laughed out of any court.

Furthermore, we are faced with a psychological and ethical impossibility. Stealing the body of Christ is something totally foreign to the character of the disciples and all that we know of them. It would mean that they were perpetrators of a deliberate lie which was responsible for the deception and ultimate death of thousands of people. It is inconceivable that, even if a few of the disciples had conspired and pulled off this theft, they would never have told the others.

Each of the disciples faced the test of torture and martyrdom for his statements and beliefs. Men and women will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie. If ever a man tells the truth, it is on his deathbed. And if the disciples had taken the body, and Christ was still dead, we would still have the problem of explaining His alleged appearances.

A second hypothesis is that the authorities, Jewish or Roman, moved the body! But why? Having put guards at the tomb, what would be their reason for moving the body? Also, what about the silence of the authorities in the face of the apostles' bold preaching about the Resurrection in Jerusalem? The ecclesiastical leaders were seething with rage, and did everything possible to prevent the spread of this message that Jesus rose from the dead. They arrested Peter and John and beat and threatened them, in an attempt to close their mouths.

But there was a very simple solution to their problem. If they had Christ's body, they could have paraded it through the streets of Jerusalem. In one fell swoop they would have successfully smothered Christianity in its cradle. That they did not do this bears eloquent testimony to the fact that they did not have the body.

Another popular theory has been that the women, distraught and overcome by grief, missed their way in the dimness of the morning and went to the wrong tomb. In their distress they imagined Christ had risen because the tomb was empty. This theory, however, falls before the same fact that destroys the previous one. If the women went to the wrong tomb, why did the high priests and other enemies of the faith not go to the right tomb and produce the body? Further, it is inconceivable that Peter and John would succumb to the same mistake, and certainly Joseph of Arimathea, owner of the tomb, would have solved the problem. In addition, it must be remembered that this was a private burial ground, not a public cemetery. There was no other tomb nearby that would have allowed them to make this mistake.

The swoon theory has also been advanced to explain the empty tomb. In this view, Christ did not actually die. He was mistakenly reported to be dead, but had swooned from exhaustion, pain, and loss of blood. When He was laid in the coolness of the tomb, He revived. He came out of the tomb and appeared to His disciples, who mistakenly thought He had risen from the dead.
“ Men and women will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie.”

This is a theory of modern construction. It first appeared at the end of the eighteenth century. It is significant that not a suggestion of this kind has come down from antiquity among all the violent attacks which have been made on Christianity. All of the earliest records are emphatic about Jesus' death.

But let us assume for a moment that Christ was buried alive and swooned. Is it possible to believe that He would have survived three days in a damp tomb without food or water or attention of any kind? Would He have had the strength to extricate Himself from the graveclothes, push the heavy stone away from the mouth of the grave, overcome the Roman guards, and walk miles on feet that had been pierced with spikes? Such a belief is more fantastic than the simple fact of the Resurrection itself.

Even the German critic David Strauss, who by no means believes in the Resurrection, rejected this idea as incredible. He said:

It is impossible that One who had just come forth from the grave half dead, who crept about weak and ill, who stood in the need of medical treatment, of bandaging, strengthening, and tender care, and who at last succumbed to suffering, could ever have given the disciples the impression that He was a conqueror over death and the grave; that He was the Prince of Life.

Finally, if this theory is correct, Christ Himself was involved in flagrant lies. His disciples believed and preached that He was dead but came alive again. Jesus did nothing to dispel this belief, but rather encouraged it.

The only theory that adequately explains the empty tomb is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Instead of Blind Faith, the Ability to Know God

If Jesus Christ rose from the dead, proving He is God, He is alive today. He is willing to be more than worshiped. He is willing to be known and to come into our lives. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him" (Revelation 3:20).

The late Carl Gustav Jung said, "The central neurosis of our time is emptiness." All of us have a deep longing for our life to have meaning and depth. Jesus offers us a more meaningful, abundant life, which comes through a relationship with Him. Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

Because Jesus died on the cross, taking with Him all of humankind's sin, He now offers us forgiveness, acceptance and a genuine relationship with Him.

Right now you can invite Jesus Christ into your life. You could say to Him something like, "Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask You to forgive me and to come into my life right now. Thank You for giving me a relationship with You."

If you need more information or still have questions about who Jesus is, please email us.

I just asked Jesus into my life (some helpful information follows)...

I may want to ask Jesus into my life, please explain this more fully...

I have a question or comment...

Adapted from Know Why You Believe by Paul E. Little, published by Victor Books, copyright (c) 1988, SP Publications, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60187. Used by permission.