a message given July 2013 at
 |
| Click here to view video |
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Our “good works” will not save us from Hell
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The "GOOD WORKS" of God's Grace!
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Devil Possession
Today in the dispensation of the grace
of God, are people still being possessed by devils?
The
answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Today we live in the dispensation of grace. I assume that you are referring to the type
of devil possession in the nation of Israel during the Lord’s earthly ministry
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and in Acts), when one of the miracles that was
performed by the Lord and the apostles and disciples (to whom he delegated
authority) was to cast out devils.
Mark 1:39
And he [Jesus] preached
in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
Luke 9:1
Then he called his
twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils,
and to cure diseases.
This
will also happen in the future, after this dispensation has ended. Casting out devils will be part and parcel of
God’s plan and purpose for the nation of Israel (Matt. 12:45).
Not
all in Israel were possessed by devils during Christ’s earthly ministry; and by
the way, no believer then or now can
be possessed by devils. If you are ‘in
Christ’ (a member of the church the body of Christ) because you have trusted in
the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as payment for your sins and in him as
your Saviour (1 Cor. 15:1, 3-4), no devil can possess you because God possesses
you. God the Spirit is in you.
1
Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are
the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
You
have been given the Holy Ghost.
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost which is given unto us.
It
is not possible for you to be possessed by devils.
Colossians
1:13
Who hath delivered
us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of
his dear Son:
But
let’s talk about lost people. First of
all, every lost person is influenced by Satan and his angels. That is who they worship.
Revelation
9:20
And the rest of the men
which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their
hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver,
and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor
walk:
You
are worshipping devils if you are not worshipping the God of the bible, and you
can only do that through the Lord Jesus Christ as a believer today in the body
of Christ.
1
Corinthians 8:4-6
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that
are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the
world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
The
lost are worshipping devils/fallen angels/evil spirits.
1 Corinthians
10:20
But I say, that the
things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to
God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
But
they don’t necessarily have to be possessed by them. The only way a person can be possessed by a
devil is by allowing it to come in and take them over. Mankind still has free will. You have to allow another power to possess
you. Even the stories about vampires [a
type of devil/fallen angel] say that they cannot come into a house unless they
are invited in.
We
believers allow God the Spirit to come in and possess us. We make that choice when we trust
Christ. When we, by our own volition,
decide to trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, one of the things that God does is
to come live inside us by his Spirit.
That is our new life in Christ.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried
with him by baptism [by the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 12:13] into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
But
if people desire it, they can be possessed by devils [i.e., Shamans calling
demons into their chests]. As we get
closer and closer to the end of our dispensation of the grace of God (at the
Rapture) when the Prophecy program will resume, the powers of darkness will
become more prevalent.
One
of the things the powers of darkness can do is possess people. There are YouTube videos that show two women
in England running out into traffic and being hit by trucks and cars. They are knocked down and then get up and run
away. I also saw a guy who was run over
by a big roller that construction workers use smooth out pavement. It rolled up to his neck and back and then he
jumped up. There was glass under him
that broke, but his body didn’t break.
We
also see a lot of black magic, magicians, witches, guys who can float in the
air. They are either possessed by devils
or they are definitely being influenced by them. All magic is evil.
Exodus
7:11
Then Pharaoh also
called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of
Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
You
can’t see the possession, but you can see the results of it. One of the things you can see is that people
who are possessed by fallen angels have supernatural strength.
Mark 5:1-5
And they came over unto
the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not
with chains: Because that he had
been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked
asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame
him. And always, night and day, he
was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with
stones.
When
we see things that are not humanly possible to do or to endure, when you see
someone get hit on the expressway by an 18-wheeler and then get up and run
away, it is certainly possible they are possessed by a devil.
Satan
is the god of this world.
2
Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of
this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.
Satan
and his fallen angels run this world.
Colossians
1:16
For by him were all
things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The
only people who they can’t have dominion over are believers in Christ. But, you can be a believer today and work
with Satan with doctrines of devils.
1 Timothy
4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
But
every lost person is run by Satan and his angels, whether physically possessed
by a devil or not.
Ephesians
2
And you hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince [Satan]
of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even
as others.
Ephesians
6:12
For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places [Satan and his fallen angels/devils
to whom he has delegated authority].
So in a way you can say that every
lost person is possessed by a devil because they are run by devils.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father
the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in
him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it.
Neither the devils nor God the
Spirit can just come in and take over a person.
They must be invited in by a person’s free will. God limits what Satan can do with humanity. Satan would like to kill every human being. But Satan and his angels can have an effect on believers.
Romans
12:2
And be not conformed
to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2
Corinthians 11:3-4
But I fear, lest by any
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another
Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,
which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not
accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Satan will bring another gospel,
another Jesus, another spirit – a spirit of law and not of grace.
Galatians
1:6-8
I marvel that ye are so
soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ. But though
we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Ephesians
5:6
Let no man deceive
you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience.
The mindset of the course of this
world is satanic; so in that sense the children of disobedience are
possessed. But there are people who want Satan to live in them and control
them. They worship him in the Church of
Satan.
Devils do not want to be disembodied;
they have an affinity towards the physical.
Matthew
12:43-45
When the unclean spirit
is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house
from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh
with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter
in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Matthew
8:31
So the devils besought
him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of
swine.
Every lost person is influenced by
Satan.
John 13:2
And supper being ended,
the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son,
to betray him;
Another passage says:
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan
into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Satan entered Judas, and he also put
it into his heart to betray Jesus. Could
the thought have been put into his heart before he entered Judas? Sure.
Satan can possess someone by a mindset, i.e., a thought process.
2 Timothy
2:26
And that they may
recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken
captive by him at his will.
Satan can take believers
captive. Not in your physical body; but
in your mind.
Genesis
6:5
And God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually.
Romans 8:5
For they that are after
the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the
Spirit the things of the Spirit.
2
Corinthians 10:5
Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Philippians
4:8
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things.
Hopefully this helps!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Widow’s Mite
The widow who gave her last two mites is
usually held up as a virtuous example of generous giving.
The Lord was taking notice of that, just like God does when religious leaders do that today. So it could very well be the case that she is an example of how the Pharisees were robbing widows. It could be that they were convincing these women to give all that they had.
Mark 12:41-44
And Jesus sat over
against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury:
and many that were rich cast in much. And
there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites,
which make a farthing. And he called
unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this
poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the
treasury: For all they did
cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she
had, even all her living.
But I'm wondering if that is the purpose
of the story. Is she really supposed to be an example of how the Pharisees were
robbing widows? Could it be that the Pharisees were manipulating people with
verses like Malachi 3:10 to squeeze all the money out of them that they could
in exchange for blessings of some kind? That would be similar to the Word of
Faith teachers today who want their gullible followers to send them all the
money they can swindle out of them in exchange for their valuable
prayers.
When
you say she is usually held up as a virtuous example of generous giving, it
depends upon who is doing that. It is
usually the health/wealth/prosperity people who want you to give everything to
God (which actually means ‘give it to them’).
We need to look at her giving in context. Right before that Christ is condemning the
scribes and Pharisees.
Mark
12:38-40
And he said unto them in
his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing,
and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the
synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses,
and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
The poor widow gave all she
had. Not only did she not have a
husband, but she probably did not have any sons or children who could provide
for her. Part of her motivation for
giving her last could have been that she was told to do that by these Pharisees
who were robbing widows and devouring their houses. That very well could be it.
But also because the kingdom of
heaven was at hand, and the Lord was going about letting Israel know they
should sell all they have, give alms and follow him.
Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have, and
give alms;
provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 18:22
Now when Jesus heard
these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that
thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, follow me.
We don’t know if she heard the Lord
teach and preach those things. It is
very likely that she knew about the Pharisees’ doctrine that if widows would
give to the temple (them), they would pray for them. You know how religious people are... ‘Give us your money and God will bless you.’
The Lord was taking notice of that, just like God does when religious leaders do that today. So it could very well be the case that she is an example of how the Pharisees were robbing widows. It could be that they were convincing these women to give all that they had.
Again, once the Lord showed up, he
was telling them to sell all they had and give alms and follow him. But in the context we don’t see her following
him. The Lord takes notice of her and
speaks well of her because they gave out of their abundance, but she gave from
her poverty.
The dynamic of what is happening is
interesting. She could have been giving because
of the satanic influence of those Pharisees who desired to devour her house;
but it is more likely that her motivation was in obedience to the Lord to give
and follow him.
+ + + +
Malachi
3:10
Bring ye all the tithes
into the storehouse,
that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it.
Sure, it is possible that the
Pharisees were taking this verse out of context to manipulate people, because
it has to do with tithes and offerings which were not money; they were from the fruit of their land. The only time their tithes and offerings
would be actual money was if they lived too far from Jerusalem to bring their
first fruits. They would exchange their
first fruits for money and carry it to Jerusalem and exchange it there for an
offering.
But no doubt these apostate
religious leaders would manipulate people.
Religion manipulates in order to extort money out of people, whether it
is Catholicism, Islam, Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Science or
the religious system of Christianity – Christendom, the denominational
system.
Matthew
23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the
platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Every religious system manipulates,
particularly the ones that use the Bible.
Anyone who uses verses about giving that are not Pauline (pure grace
giving), is handling the word of God deceitfully.
2
Corinthians 4:2
But have renounced the
hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the
word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Most people in denominational
systems today use Malachi 3:8-10 to get you to tithe (which was never money), to
squeeze money out of you. But when
Christians give today God only desires one thing – that you give, not
grudgingly, and not out of necessity, but cheerfully and willingly…
2
Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for
God loveth a cheerful giver.
…to the grace message to build up
the mystery of Christ. But the religious
system manipulates people with many verses from scripture that are not rightly
divided in order to extort.
1
Corinthians 6:10
Nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit
the kingdom of God.
It is fraud. It is what Bernie Madoff did, only worse,
because they are using God’s word to do it.
They will pay for extorting money.
Grace ministries like Norcal Grace can barely scrape together enough
money for a place to meet because most Christians are in denominational systems
and they allow men to take of them.
2
Corinthians 11:19-20
For ye suffer fools
gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into
bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man
exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
This fraud involves both the
religious system and the people who claim to be Christians and allow those men
to extort from them.
You
wrote, “That would be similar to the Word of Faith teachers today who want
their gullible followers to send them all the money they can swindle out of
them in exchange for their valuable prayers”. You’re right.
“Squeeze”, “swindle” and “extort” are all good words to describe what
they do. And you’re right that the Word
of Faith, Health/Wealth/Prosperity religious shysters and hucksters use this
poor widow as an example of giving all. They are using the word of God deceitfully to
extort money from people.
2 Peter
3:16
As also in all his
epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Hopefully this helps!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Dealing with Rejection
Bro Ron: That
video [How To Deal With
Rejection] you did for a sister in Christ was so much like my own situation
(at some points I even thought it could have been my own letters I've written
to you), and I just cried from the depths of my heart as I listened. I
wish I could comfort that sister, too. I know EXACTLY what she is feeling
and going through, and I have thought, w/regards to my own
situation, it was what you were saying with regards to it being
something within the other folks, but I just kept thinking, well, maybe I'm
doing something wrong, or I'm not handling telling others about
these truths, correctly. Your words to her were very comforting
and helpful, even strengthening. I praise the Lord for your love towards
the other saints, dear bro. The Lord knows I appreciate you and the work of faith and labor of
love you have for his body as well as the love for lost souls.
This
morning I came across an article on Suffering by Keith Blades
that may be helpful to the sister in Christ to whom you were addressing the
questions on rejection; of course, it's up to you if you think it should
be shared w/her or not. I pray that I would learn about these
sufferings and come to the place, as our Apostle Paul did, where I am able to
rejoice in these sufferings for Christ sake, to really understand that this is
what it is about; that I would learn to not complain about it, but have an
understanding of this doctrine and learn how to handle these sufferings in a
godly manner that is glorifying to the Lord.
Dear Sister:
There
are saints who are suffering in their closest relationships for Christ’s
sake. You are suffering for who you are
in Christ, which is part of the suffering we can expect to experience with and
for Christ. We will all experience those
things.
2 Corinthians 1:5-7
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
I have lost a number of friends
and contact with family members just because I have been faithful to the doctrine
committed to the apostle Paul – the grace gospel, the mystery of Christ.
Acts 20:24
But none of these
things move me,
neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with
joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel
of the grace of God.
Colossians
4:3
Withal praying also for
us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of
Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
But
do you know what Paul says?
2 Timothy
1:12
For the which cause I
also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I
have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed unto him against that day.
Know
that all of this suffering that you are going through because of who you are in
Christ and because you are a Pauline grace believer, is fruit that is abounding
to your account!
Philippians
4:17
Not because I desire a
gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
You
have committed it to the Lord Jesus because you are suffering with him…and for him. Although it is
difficult now and it seems like it will never end, one day soon you will get it
all back at the judgment seat of Christ.
1
Corinthians 3:11-14
For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [according to the revelation
of the mystery]. Now if any man build upon this
foundation [Pauline doctrine] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work
of what sort it is. If any man's
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
You
will rule and reign as a joint-heir with him if you stay faithful to this
doctrine the rest of your life.
Romans
8:17
And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rejection is part of this
suffering. Our desire is to have our
family members be a part of it and be zealous about these things, and yet
[quite often] they are not. They are
apathetic and maybe even hostile towards it in some cases. It may be your spouse, parents, sibling or
dear friends. There are saints who have
lost husbands and wives because they believe the doctrine, but their spouses are
into religion, a denominational system, and they reject the Pauline grace
message and the mystery.
Saints who experience this rejection
may be far in distance from each other, but not in heart. Sisters and brothers in the Lord, grace
believers, who are going through similar situations, can offer encouragement to
each other.
1
Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2
Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
You may think that you’re doing
something wrong or that you’re not telling others about these truths
correctly. No, it is not you. It is that people desire darkness rather than
light.
John 3:19
And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Be careful that you deliver Pauline
doctrine in meekness.
2 Timothy
2:25
In meekness instructing
those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
But no matter how gracious you are
in presenting the truth, when some people’s hearts are convicted they will
become hostile towards you [as the messenger].
They might accuse you of thinking that you’re God and that you know
everything, but don’t be discouraged.
1 Samuel
8:7b
…for they have not
rejected thee, but they have rejected me,
1 Samuel
15:23
For rebellion is
as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
I want you to be encouraged,
uplifted and edified. I am edified and
encouraged by the questions of the saints because I love to minister in that
way. Let’s grow together and help each
other to get a full reward at the judgment seat of Christ which is soon to
come.
Romans
8:18
For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
2
Corinthians 4:17
For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Hopefully this helps!
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)