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VIEWING 10 - 18 OUT OF 18 BLOGS.
Do What Jesus Did!
DATE: 03/16/2008 00:11:09 / MOOD: Enthusiastic
John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
Think about it like this...
The Son of God became the "Son of Man" so that the sons of men may become sons of God!
That thought popped into my head the other day and I've been dwelling on it ever since. I mean, that is so extraordinary when you really think about it.
We really are "joint-heirs" with Christ. We really are His body! We are Jesus with skin on! We really are to be and to do what Jesus did! That's why we are here. He left us in charge until He returns. We are to be doing what Jesus did because we are now Christ in this earth!
This world truly needs a touch from God. But the God that is Spirit chooses to "touch" flesh through flesh. So He sent His Son to become flesh. Then His Son sent us so that we may be one through His Spirit.
Love them like Jesus!
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Georgia Guidestones
DATE: 02/17/2008 11:57:09 / MOOD: Angry

The Georgia Guidestones telegraph the Global Elite's plan to depopulate the earth by more than 90%. Dr. Kent Hovind discusses this here:
On one of the highest hilltops in Elbert County, Georgia stands a huge granite monument. Engraved in eight different languages on the four giant stones that support the common capstone are 10 Guides, or commandments. That monument is alternately referred to as The Georgia Guidestones, or the American Stonehenge. Though relatively unknown to most people, it is an important link to the Occult Hierarchy that dominates the world in which we live.

The Age of Reason was a book written by Thomas Paine. Its intent was to destroy the Judeo-Christian beliefs upon which our Republic was founded.
The origin of that strange monument is shrouded in mystery because no one knows the true identity of the man, or men, who commissioned its construction. All that is known for certain is that in June 1979, a well-dressed, articulate stranger visited the office of the Elberton Granite Finishing Company and announced that he wanted to build an edifice to transmit a message to mankind. He identified himself as R. C. Christian, but it soon became apparent that was not his real name. He said that he represented a group of men who wanted to offer direction to humanity, but to date, almost two decades later, no one knows who R. C. Christian really was, or the names of those he represented. Several things are apparent. The messages engraved on the Georgia Guidestones deal with four major fields: (1) Governance and the establishment of a world government, (2) Population and reproduction control, (3) The environment and man's relationship to nature, and (4) Spirituality.
In the public library in Elberton, I found a book written by the man who called himself R.C. Christian. I discovered that the monument he commissioned had been erected in recognition of Thomas Paine and the occult philosophy he espoused. Indeed, the Georgia Guidestones are used for occult ceremonies and mystic celebrations to this very day. Tragically, only one religious leader in the area had the courage to speak out against the American Stonehenge, and he has recently relocated his ministry.
THE MESSAGE OF THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.2. Guide reproduction wisely - improving fitness and diversity.3. Unite humanity with a living new language.4. Rule passion - faith - tradition - and all things with tempered reason.5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.8. Balance personal rights with social duties.9. Prize truth - beauty - love - seeking harmony with the infinite.10.Be not a cancer on the earth - Leave room for nature - Leave room for nature.
Limiting the population of the earth to 500 million will require the extermination of nine-tenths of the world's people. The American Stonehenge's reference to establishing a world court foreshadows the current move to create an International Criminal Court and a world government. The Guidestones' emphasis on preserving nature anticipates the environmental movement of the 1990s, and the reference to "seeking harmony with the infinite" reflects the current effort to replace Judeo-Christian beliefs with a new spirituality.
The message of the American Stonehenge also foreshadowed the current drive for Sustainable Development. Any time you hear the phrase "Sustainable Development" used, you should substitute the term "socialism" to be able to understand what is intended. Later in this syllabus you will read the full text of the Earth Charter which was compiled under the direction of Mikhail Gorbachev and Maurice Strong. In that document you will find an emphasis on the same basic issues: control of reproduction, world governance, the importance of nature and the environment, and a new spirituality. The similarity between the ideas engraved on the Georgia Guidestones and those espoused in the Earth Charter reflect the common origins of both.
Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon, was recently quoted as referring to the American Stonehenge, saying:
"I want people to know about the stones ... We're headed toward a world where we might blow ourselves up and maybe the globe will not exist ... it's a nice time to reaffirm ourselves, knowing all the beautiful things that are in this country and the Georgia Stones symbolize that. " What is the true significance of the American Stonehenge, and why is its covert message important? Because it confirms the fact that there was a covert group intent on
(1) Dramatically reducing the population of the world. (2) Promoting environmentalism.(3) Establishing a world government.(4) Promoting a new spirituality.
Certainly the group that commissioned the Georgia Guidestones is one of many similar groups working together toward a New World Order, a new world economic system, and a new world spirituality. Behind those groups, however, are dark spiritual forces. Without understanding the nature of those dark forces it is impossible to understand the unfolding of world events.
The fact that most Americans have never heard of the Georgia Guidestones or their message to humanity reflects the degree of control that exists today over what the American people think. We ignore that message at our peril.

The hole that you see in the stone was drilled in the Center Stone so that the North Star could be visualized through it at any moment. This was one of several requirements stipulated by R.C.Christian for the building of the American Stonehenge and reflects his obsession with the alignment of the stars, the sun, and the moon. Occultists often worship the alignment and movement of heavenly bodies as part of their religious ceremonies .
CLICK HERE for videos on the Georgia GuidestonesVisit The Georgia Guidestones websiteand http://www.thegeorgiaguidestones.com/as_they_stand.htmEducateYourself! http://www.google.com/search?tab=vw&q=Georgia%20GuideStones
Visit:www.sheepkillers.comfor more information on this and other topics we need to be aware of as the Body of Christ in these Last Days.
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New Movie About Intelligent Design!
DATE: 12/27/2007 13:44:44 / MOOD: Excited
Atheist Scientists in Uproar over Movie Showing Intolerance of Evidence for Intelligent Design
EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed Coming to Theatres in February 2008
LOS ANGELES, October 5, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Atheist scientists who have become famous for attacking those who disagree with them are now loudly complaining about supposedly being mistreated in a film they haven't seen.
Oxford zoologist, Richard Dawkins, has made a lot of money and fame calling people who believe in God "delusional." Yet he is now grumbling that the producers of EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed "tricked" him into doing an interview. EXPELLED exposes the intimidation, persecution and career destruction that takes place when any scientist dares dissent from the view that all life on earth is the mere result of random mutation and natural selection.
"Some of these people -- especially Mr. Dawkins -- spend a lot of time insulting the millions of folks who disagree with them, so you would think they would have a little tougher skin," said Mark Mathis, one of the film's producers. "The funny thing is they are whining about the fact that the film is going to allow them to insult people on a much larger stage."
Other notable scientists who claim they were "deceived" by the producers of EXPELLED include Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education and PZ Myers, a biologist at the University of Minnesota, Morris, who devotes much of his time to his popular science blog.
Myers has attacked the film several times on his blog since EXPELLED announced its arrival in theatres in February 2008.
EXPELLED's producers say they aren't surprised by the academic uproar over the film because it is consistent with what happens on university campuses when students or professors question atheistic materialism.
"There is some serious mistreatment and downright reprehensible behavior going on here, but I can assure you it's not coming from us -- we're just the ones exposing it," said Executive Producer, Walt Ruloff. "When our audience sees the stories of the real victims of scientific malpractice they're going to be outraged."
The producers of EXPELLED are particularly amused by Dawkins's complaint that the name of the film was changed from "Crossroads" to "EXPELLED" suggesting that this re-naming was a deception. Dawkins is well aware of the fact that movie titles change. When he was interviewed for EXPELLED he made the comment that the title of his anti-religion documentary, "Root of all Evil?" was chosen as a replacement for the original title late in the process.
Additionally, Dawkins participates in the documentary "A War on Science," which is an attack on Intelligent Design (ID). Producers of that film presented themselves to the Discovery Institute as objective filmmakers and then portrayed the organization as religiously-motivated and anti-scientific.
"I've never seen a bigger bunch of hypocrites in my life," said Mathis, who set up the interviews for EXPELLED. "I went over all of the questions with these folks before the interviews and I e-mailed the questions to many of them days in advance. The lady (and gentleman) doth protest too much, methinks."
"Both Myers and Scott say they would have agreed to be interviewed under any circumstances, so why are they complaining?" said Ruloff. "In fact we had a second interview set up with Eugenie Scott, which she cancelled once rumors about EXPELLED began to circulate."
The legal releases all of the interviewees signed were quite explicit in regards to editorial control and transferability, something that is standard in the film business. Dawkins, Myers, Scott and many other scientists were paid for their interviews (Scott's check went to her organization, the National Center for Science Education).
EXPELLED's producers have made it clear the film will portray the scientists interviewed in a way that is consistent with their actual viewpoints or other public statements.
EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed is scheduled for release in February 2008. For more information on Ben Stein's journey visit http://www.expelledthemovie.com
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IMPORTANT! Know Your Rights This Christmas!
DATE: 12/07/2007 13:55:04 / MOOD: Encouraging
Your personal, constitutional rights are important to us and the staff at the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
We want to make sure you are fully aware of what is permissible when it comes to celebrating the Christmas holiday according to your religious beliefs.
With this in mind, we want to inform you that the ACLJ has prepared an online ChristmasResource Center that I invite you to visit right now.
There, you will find answers - clearly spelled out - to the most common questions we receive this time of year regarding your legal rights.
The ACLJ has also prepared and posted legal guidelines outlining the proper way for students to express their religious beliefs in school during this holiday season.
I encourage you to visit this valuable online ChristmasResource Center and know your rights ... and the rights of your children or grandchildren ... when it comes to celebrating Christmas.
If you encounter any hostility or have further questions about your rights, contact the ACLJ at 757-226-2489.
God bless you and Merry Christmas!
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The Lamb in the Tunic
DATE: 08/26/2007 18:07:15 / MOOD: Inspirational
The Lamb in the Tunic by Rob Skiba II
The Father dispatched his mighty Messenger to prepare the Earth and a young virgin for the birth of His Son. The Archangel Gabriel left at once and the Holy Spirit followed close behind.
Then the Father turned to Jesus and said, I desire to make Myself known in the visible realm. So go My Son. Show them who they are so that they may show others who I am. Show them how to live right. Redeem and reconcile them back to Me.
I will Father. Jesus replied. Then He took off the purple Ephod of Royalty and he blue Robe of Divinity and laid them beside the Throne. Now wearing only the White Tunic of Humanity the royal Son of God was transformed into the humble Son of Man. With complete confidence in His Father plan, He declared, I am ready.
The Father kissed His Son on both cheeks and embraced Him one last time before His departure. Secure in His Father love, Jesus smiled and spoke softly. I will faithfully perform Your will Father and draw all men to You.
Then Jesus left the realm of the invisible and with the help of the Holy Spirit became manifested in the womb of a young woman. Nine months later, He made His entrance into a lost and dying world. The Word of God was now flesh and blood; a tiny baby, vulnerable and totally dependent on His new earthly parents. Mary and Joseph raised Him well and He grew in wisdom and stature.
The years past and then at age 30, Jesus knew it was time to begin His mission of bringing Heaven down to Earth. So He went to see His cousin John the Baptist. And in obedience to His Father will, Jesus was baptized by him in the Jordan River. At once, the skies opened up and the Father expressed His great pleasure. This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased. Then, the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven like a dove and landed on Him. Immediately, He was given the power He needed for the mission He was called to perform. Now totally dependent on His Heavenly Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus began to show the world what it meant to be a man in right relationship with God.
Jesus demonstrated for us what the Father will is through every Word and deed that He performed. He showed love and compassion toward everyone He came into contact with and performed all sorts of miracles. Going about doing good and destroying the works of the devil, Jesus modeled what man was meant to be from the beginning a creature formed in the image and likeness of God; a created creator with power and dominion over everything in the visible realms.
But the task was too great for one man, so He gathered unto Himself twelve of His trusted friends and made them His disciples. He taught them the meaning of His parables and let them in on the secrets of the Kingdom. He trained them to be co-laborers with Him in the Harvest. He taught them how to be and to do all that He was and did. And asking that the Father will be done on Earth just as it is in Heaven, He showed them how to pray. Together, they healed the sick, raised the dead, cured those with leprosy and cast out demons. They gave as freely as they had received.
Finally, the time came for Jesus to complete His mission. In agony, the Son cried out to His Father asking for this cup of suffering to pass from Him. But the Father closed His eyes and spoke through trembling lips, My beloved Son I so sorry. But you and I both know there is no other way. Yes. Jesus knew. So He yielded His will to the Father and became obedient unto death. And so it was that the Son of Man offered Himself up as the Sacrificial Lamb that would take away the sin of the world.
With the betraying kiss of a friend, Jesus was carried away and tortured. Evil men shredded His skin and the pure white Tunic of His humanity became soaked in blood. The Roman soldiers beat, mocked and fastened the Lamb to the Altar of Sacrifice. His hands and feet were nailed to its corners and the cross-shaped Altar was covered in blood.
Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice that shook the heavens, It is finished! and He bowed His head and died. The Lamb was slain - the sinless blood of the Son of Man making atonement for all.
In Heaven, the Father wept and the angels stood in shock. The Devil and his demons celebrated. Death, Hell and the Grave roared in victory. But on the third day, the Resurrection Power of a Holy Father raised His Son back to life! And the enemy was defeated once and for all.
Early Resurrection morning, a devoted follower arrived at the Tomb. Seeing her Lord, she ran to Him. But Jesus stopped her before she could embrace Him. Do not touch Me Mary, for I have not yet been glorified. But go and tell the others what you have seen. I will join you later.
Jesus watched Mary run off in excitement and smiled. Then He looked up to Heaven and faded out of the visible and back into the realm of the invisible from which He had come.
The angels stood in amazement as Jesus made His way into the Throne Room of God. Wearing only a linen cloth around His waist, the marks of His Passion could clearly be seen. Tears flowed from the Father eyes as His Son carried a blood soaked Tunic draped over His outstretched arms. Arriving at the foot of the Throne, Jesus knelt down and offered it up to His Father.
You have done well My Son. I am so very proud of You. The Father took the blood soaked Tunic from His Son and walked over to the Mercy Seat. With great power and authority He wrung the blood out and it poured down over the Throne of Grace. Now at last, they may come boldly before Me. When I look through Your blood I will no longer see their sin and once again we may have fellowship with one another.
With the blood now removed from the Tunic, the Father placed it on His Son. Then, He lovingly placed the Robe, Ephod, Breastplate and Turban of Holy Priesthood on Him as well. Because You have done My will, I am giving You all power and authority in Heaven and on Earth. And as their eternal High Priest, You shall make intercession for them and be known as the one and only Mediator between God and man. Now, go back My Son and tell them what they are to do.
Thank You Father. I will. Then, Jesus turned and headed back to the Earth. For a period forty days He appeared to many and confirmed all that was done amongst them. Finally, when the time came for Him to leave again, He gathered His closest followers to Himself and said, All power and authority has been given to me in Heaven and on Earth. Therefore, you are to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to do everything I have commanded you to do. And know that I shall be with you always even until the end of the age.
As He began His ascent back to Heaven, one of His followers called out to Him, Lord, will You now restore the Kingdom to Israel?
Jesus smiled, It is not for you to know that which has been kept under my Father authority. But You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And with that power, you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Judea as well as in Samaria and even unto the farthest reaches of the Earth.
Then, Jesus disappeared into a cloud and two mighty angels descended out of it. They promised those who had gathered below that their Lord would one day return just as they had seen Him go.
Up in Heaven, having completed all He was sent to accomplish, the Son joined His Father once again and together with the Holy Spirit, the Trinity looked down on the Earth. And all of the angels came to see what they were looking at.
On Earth, the saints had gathered and were praying earnestly for the Gift Jesus had promised them.
The Holy Spirit asked the Father Shall I go to them now? The Father maintained his gaze on the blue planet. No. Not yet. We shall wait and see how much they have learned and how badly they desire that which I have promised them.
The saints continued to pray as if receiving the Gift of the Father that Jesus had spoken of was their only desire in life. Day after day they prayed and waited, prayed and waited, prayed and waited.
Pleased, the Father smiled and turned to the Holy Spirit and said, All right. Now You may go. Fall on them like fire and give them power to continue the work My Son started. With that, the Holy Spirit descended and fell on the saints with a fire that has spread even until this day.
And today, Jesus turns to us and says, As the Father sent Me, so I am sending You. Now go in the power of the Holy Spirit and make my Father will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
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Entering the Tabernacle
DATE: 08/25/2007 01:29:21 / MOOD: Inspirational
Entering the Tabernacle by Rob Skiba II
I enter Your Gates with thanksgiving
I enter Your Courts with praise
My flesh dies on Your Altar
I bathe in the Living Water
And I eat the Bread of Life
Your Oil runs over me
And Fire lights the way
Your incense burns
And my soul goes up in smoke
Then I enter into Your Presence with nothing more to give
In silence, I worship You in spirit and in truth
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Your Spirit mates with mine
And we are One
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Back from our Honeymoon!
DATE: 07/18/2007 17:15:56 / MOOD: In love
OUR HONEYMOON PICS!
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Why I believe the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today
DATE: 06/18/2007 16:18:30 / MOOD: Theological
Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit still in operation today?
OK, so I've been giving this a lot of thought recently. As many of you know, I am a missionary and I work with missionaries. Time after time, trip after trip, interview after interview, I keep meeting people, hearing stories and seeing things for myself that confirm the fact that the nine Gifts of the Spirit are as alive and active today as the nine things listed as the Fruit of the Spirit. Why is it so easy to accept the fruits and not the gifts? Both are ours for the taking.
I would have to say beyond any doubt that the answer to the question above is YES! Why? For starters, the Bible gives ZERO evidence that the Gifts of the Spirit should not be in operation today! In fact, I see just the opposite in scripture:
- In the last days (which we are clearly in) God promises: ...I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants and women alike. - Joel 2:28-29
- Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit...For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
- And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. - 1 Corinthians 12:28
These are things scripture CLEARLY illustrates have been given to us by God. What other gifts have we been given?
- Ephesians 2:8 teaches that we are saved by grace through faith and that it is a gift of God.
- Ephesians 3:7 says that even grace itself is a gift!
- Romans 5:15-17 also talks about our salvation being a gift as well as righteousness.
- Romans 12:6-8 talks about the gifts of prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership and mercy.
Are we to question all of these gifts too? Why are we able to accept and preach eternal security in the other things God has given to us and yet somehow reject the Gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians? It makes no sense whatsoever.
In Romans 11:29, Paul says that the GIFTS and call of God are truly irrevovable so why should anyone believe that certain Gifts of the Spirit have been revoked???? The answer is simple. We shouldn't!
Many teach that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit passed away with the Apostles. There are at least five fundamental problems I have with that teaching.
- As stated above, these (IRREVOCABLE) gifts are of the Holy Spirit - they are not the Gifts of the Apostles. Peter confirms this in Acts 3:11-16 "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus... By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." Peter makes it very clear that the gift of healing came not through him (an apostle) but through faith in the name of Jesus. Therefore, the gifts could not have passed when the apostles passed, because they have nothing to do with them! The gifts (that God has given and therefor will not revoke) have to do with faith in the name of Jesus!
- There were more than 12 apostles. If 1 Cor. 12:28 is true, then apostles are appointed by God for the church today just as they were back then. We can't pick and choose the ones we think should still operate in the church today when clearly God has established that He has given more than just teachers, administrators and workers who help people in His church (as stated above).
- NO WHERE does scripture teach the doctrine of cessation occuring anytime prior to the coming of that which is perfect. If we were to conclude that the Bible is the "that which is perfect" spoken of in 1 Cor. 13:10 then we have some big problems because knowledge must also then cease. But that flies in the face of reason as clearly knowledge is INCREASING (as Daniel predicted it would in the last days). Besides, the Bible as we know it didn't come into being for a couple hundred years after John died! So even in that case, we see that the Apostle argument is void. And once again, we can't pick and choose the ones we like and disgard the others. If prophesy and tongues have ceased, then so also must knowledge by that logic. No. Scripture is very clear. That which is perfect has not yet come. Therefore, all of the gifts are still in effect. Prophesy, tongues and knowledge have NOT ceased!
- Paul seems to indicate that the gifts are to be running strong up to the time of Christ's return: "Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns." - 1 Cor. 1:7-8
- I have personally witnessed the Power of God manifesting in the Gifts of the Spirit through His saints both first and second hand in the foreign mission fields - and even to some degree here in the U.S.. Besides what I have witnessed in others, I have also personally heard and experienced things from God unlike anything I had ever known before under the dead doctrines of cessation I used to be submitted to. I cherish the new heavenly tongues I now have too. I am not basing my theology on my experiences. However, my personal witness has CONFIRMED scripture in more ways than I can count and in ways I can not deny.
Speaking of tongues...
No where does Paul teach that tongues are wrong, will cease and not be for today. If anything Paul advocates and promotes speaking in tongues! He describes an orderly fashion for how it should be done, but he is clearly an advocate for tongues and even brags about how much he does it himself! "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." - 1 Cor. 14:18 See also:
- Acts 19:6
- 1 Cor. 12
- 1 Cor. 13:1 - Tongues are not just human languages.
- 1 Cor. 14 - The whole chapter praises tongues while teaching the proper way to use them.
- 1 Cor. 14:5 - Paul wants everyone to speak in tongues and prophesy.
- 1 Cor. 14:14 - Paul describes "praying in the spirit"
- 1 Cor. 14:22 - Paul says tongues are a sign for UNBELIEVERS - which are those who we're trying to reach! Prophesy is for believers - which are who we're trying to encourage in church. Both are needed for ministry.
- and finally, "Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." - 1 Cor. 14:39 Paul actually teaches NOT to forbid speaking in tongues! He also encourages the gift of Prophesy! So why are so many preaching against what Paul clearly said not to?
I am burdened by all of this because it seems to me that the church in America is doing great harm to itself in this false, Holy Spirit quenching, powerless doctrine of cessation.
Jesus said:
- "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." - John 20:21How was Jesus sent? John 5:36 says, "...for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." Just read the Gospels. See what Jesus did. The works He did show the character and will of His Father. So, we need never ask, "Is it God's will?" for according to Hebrews Jesus was the expressed image of God the Father. (Heb. 1:3) Whatever Jesus did is what the Father does. In John 14:19 Jesus told Philip, "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father." And Jesus said, as the Father sent me (to do the will of the Father), so we are sent to do the same.
- "He who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works..." - John 14:12I'm not going to debate whether or not salvation is the "greater work" for two reasons. 1) it is not relevant to the question. 2) the word is plural not singular. The real focus as it pertains to this question is in the phrase "will do the same works I have done." Read the Gospels.See what Jesus did. We are sent to do the same... if we "believe in Him."
- "Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..." - Matthew 28:19-20What did Jesus command His disciples to do? The first account of many is recorded in Matt. 10: "...heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons..." So, even the Great Commission tells us to do what He did!
- "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation... these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." - Mark 16:15-18Mark's version of the Great Commission lays it out in case we didn't grasp it in Matthew's version.
The entire book of Acts shows that the disciples (and many of their disciples) actually did what Jesus told them to do - which is to do what He did. And indeed, they did do some "greater works" than Jesus did. Jesus didn't heal people with His shadow. Jesus didn't pass out hankerchiefs that had touched His body and see people get healed. Prior to His resurrection, Jesus didn't "transport" from one region to another like Philip did. Jesus didn't employ the mass distribution of the power of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands as the apostles did. Jesus never traveled further than about a hundred mile radius of his birthplace - the disciples traveled to most of the known world in their day. So, at least in the sense of these examples, these men did do some "greater works" - over and above leading the lost to Christ through salvation.
In Romans 15:17-19 Paul said, "So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum."
I submit to you that if we are not presenting the Gospel in Word, Deed, with Signs and Wonders following through the Power of God's Spirit then we are not FULLY presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 Paul says, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
From Jesus to Paul and everyone in between we see that the Kingdom is expressed in God's power being manifested through MEN! That is the message of the Kingdom (see again Matt. 10). Over and over again you see the miraculous side by side with the mention of the Kingdom. Jesus commanded the disciples to say, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" And then to demonstrate it. Take an orange highlighter to every passage that mentions the Kingdom and a yellow one to any sign, wonder or miracle. You'll see orange and yellow side by side all through the Gospels. And Jesus said that "THIS message of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations and then shall the end come."
John the Baptist and Jesus also prefaced the announcement of the Kingdom with the word, REPENT! - which literally means, "Change the way you think!" We must change the way we think if we're to truly fulfill the Great Commission and see the Return of Christ. God is waiting for us to take the Kingdom message to the world before He's going to send His Son back. We've got a job to do and the only way we're going to be able to do it is by using the Gifts of the Spirit - as Jesus and the Apostles did.
For Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:20 that, "...the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God power."
Sadly, it is really only in North America and Europe that this weak, watered down, powerless and incomplete message of salvation exists. We have so much here. We don't need God. Our faith is in money, 401K plans, medicare, insurance, ibuprophen... in everything but the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He has freely given.
But in Africa, you had better have the Power of the Holy Spirit to combat the tribal spirits. In India, you had better be ready to do battle with the plethora of Hindu gods/demons. In Haiti, you had better be prepared to confront the forces of Santaria and Voodoo. The same can be said for most of the world. And they all have their religious books too by the way. So, just having a Bible and putting faith in that alone won't help you. The disciples weren't carrying around scrolls of their own writings! They were LIVING it - as we should too!
All of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are ours today just as much as they were for the apostles then. And we need them today just as much as they needed them then. But, fruits are grown, gifts are given. A gift must be received. The Gifts are freely given, yet so many do not receive because they either refuse to believe they can or should receive. I believe the Bible is clear...
All we need to do is believe and we will receive! We may not receive all of the Gifts because Paul states that the Body of Christ is made up of many parts, each with giftings related to its purpose. But Paul also makes it clear that we should NOT say to one part of the Body (who is gifted in a different way than we are), "I have no need of you." I would extend that to say to all you teachers out there who are teaching against the prophets, healers, miracle workers and tongue talkers... STOP teaching against them! The Body of Christ must be unified. You have no grounds to teach against these Gifts because scripture itself testifies to their validity.
The Gifts are real. The Gifts are still being given. The Gifts are from God. Believe, receive and use what you've been given to expand the Kingdom for the Glory of God... because that's what they are for.
Blessings!
(I will post this in the Forum too if anyone cares to discuss this further. If you wish to debate, please do so making your points with scripture as I have done here.)
- Rob
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MySpace MyKids
DATE: 05/06/2007 02:24:37 / MOOD: Encouraging
If you are concerned about your kids and their use of the secular and extremely popular MySpace, please check out this valuable resource:
http://www.myspacemykids.com/
MySpace MyKids is a parent's guide to protecting your kids and navigating MySpace.com
MyMinistrySpace.com exists to be a valuable resource to you as well. By telling others about this site, it will grow and become an equally fun and exciting - but safer - place to come to, visit, network and hang out in.
Spread the word!
- Rob
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