Have you ever seen this: "WWJD"? It is short for asking the questions, "What would Jesus do?" Both of these are commonly seen or heard among Christians today and we agree that it is a great idea. However, I would like to ask this question: What DID Jesus do?
1 John 2:6 says: "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
My question is this: Does the "church" today really look like Jesus? Do we daily live as He did, doing what He did, following the practices of His life? If not, then is the "church" accurately portraying Jesus to the world?
If not, then perhaps it is time to examine what we are doing and make a choice between our traditions and "comfort zone" or living like our Saviour.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Is This Message Important!
Matthew 24:3-5
"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
This implies a couple of very important points. One being that there will be many false teachings and beliefs relating to this doctrine and it implies that we have a responsibility to know and understand the scriptures so that we are not deceived.
If we are not careful history will repeat itself. Jews rejected Him in the flesh, we may reject Him through His word…
I don’t know if we know the first time God promised the return of Christ, but He did it long enough ago that Job wrote about it. That great saint of God said,
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
The prophet Daniel wrote that…
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
The Bible promises over and over the return of Christ. This is one of several reasons as to why this message is so important.
The promise of His return is also a personal promise.
John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven…” He’s not sending a search party to look for His children. He’s not sending an ambassador to take care of His business. Jesus came personally the first time and He’s coming back personally the next time.
Not only does the Bible promise that Jesus’ return will be personal, it promises His return to be visible. When Jesus left the earth the disciples stood there with their mouths dropped open looking up into the sky.
The angel asked them, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up in to heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
The Bible promises the return of Christ. It promises His return will be personal, visible, and sudden. Matthew 24:44 says that we’d better be ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Jesus Himself said, “Surely I come quickly.”
I want you to know that through and through the Bible promises the return of Christ. Those promises are the hope of humanity, the joy of the saints and the faithful and true words of God. But listen, not only does the Bible tell us that the return of Christ is a promised return, it’s going to be a day of Judgement.
1 John 3:2-3
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Everything we do in the Church leads to our being presented to Christ on His wedding day! The purpose of the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, Sunday School teachers, youth directors, and every program pertaining to Church is to make us spotless and without wrinkle. Everything we do each day at work or at home should be in preparation, or with the thought that we are going to stand before God when all of this is over.
"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
This implies a couple of very important points. One being that there will be many false teachings and beliefs relating to this doctrine and it implies that we have a responsibility to know and understand the scriptures so that we are not deceived.
If we are not careful history will repeat itself. Jews rejected Him in the flesh, we may reject Him through His word…
I don’t know if we know the first time God promised the return of Christ, but He did it long enough ago that Job wrote about it. That great saint of God said,
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
The prophet Daniel wrote that…
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
The Bible promises over and over the return of Christ. This is one of several reasons as to why this message is so important.
The promise of His return is also a personal promise.
John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven…” He’s not sending a search party to look for His children. He’s not sending an ambassador to take care of His business. Jesus came personally the first time and He’s coming back personally the next time.
Not only does the Bible promise that Jesus’ return will be personal, it promises His return to be visible. When Jesus left the earth the disciples stood there with their mouths dropped open looking up into the sky.
The angel asked them, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up in to heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
The Bible promises the return of Christ. It promises His return will be personal, visible, and sudden. Matthew 24:44 says that we’d better be ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Jesus Himself said, “Surely I come quickly.”
I want you to know that through and through the Bible promises the return of Christ. Those promises are the hope of humanity, the joy of the saints and the faithful and true words of God. But listen, not only does the Bible tell us that the return of Christ is a promised return, it’s going to be a day of Judgement.
1 John 3:2-3
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Everything we do in the Church leads to our being presented to Christ on His wedding day! The purpose of the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, Sunday School teachers, youth directors, and every program pertaining to Church is to make us spotless and without wrinkle. Everything we do each day at work or at home should be in preparation, or with the thought that we are going to stand before God when all of this is over.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Who Killed Jesus?
“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.”
Isaiah 53:10
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2
What Jesus did when he suffered and died was the Father’s plan from the foundation of the world. It was conceived even before creation, as God saw and planned the history of the world.
That is why the Bible speaks of God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
The prophet Isaiah foretold the sufferings of the Messiah, who was to take the place of sinners. He said that the Christ would be “smitten by God” in our place.
Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities. . . . All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
What is most astonishing about this substitution of Christ for sinners is that it was God’s idea. The suffering of Christ was not a good idea that came about after the fall of man. Christ did not unexpectedly step in on God’s plan to punish sinners. God planned for him to be there. Isaiah also said, “It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10).
This explains the paradox of the New Testament. On the one hand, the suffering of Christ was a display of God’s wrath because of sin. On the other hand, Christ’s suffering was a wonderful example of submission and obedience to the will of the Father.
So Christ cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). And yet the Bible says that the suffering of Christ was a fragrance to God. “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
I pray that we would know and worship the God of such fearful and wonderful love.
Isaiah 53:10
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2
What Jesus did when he suffered and died was the Father’s plan from the foundation of the world. It was conceived even before creation, as God saw and planned the history of the world.
That is why the Bible speaks of God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
The prophet Isaiah foretold the sufferings of the Messiah, who was to take the place of sinners. He said that the Christ would be “smitten by God” in our place.
Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities. . . . All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
What is most astonishing about this substitution of Christ for sinners is that it was God’s idea. The suffering of Christ was not a good idea that came about after the fall of man. Christ did not unexpectedly step in on God’s plan to punish sinners. God planned for him to be there. Isaiah also said, “It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10).
This explains the paradox of the New Testament. On the one hand, the suffering of Christ was a display of God’s wrath because of sin. On the other hand, Christ’s suffering was a wonderful example of submission and obedience to the will of the Father.
So Christ cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). And yet the Bible says that the suffering of Christ was a fragrance to God. “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
I pray that we would know and worship the God of such fearful and wonderful love.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return
One of the many lies perpetuated through the Church World today is the doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return”.
The generally accepted definition of imminence is that Jesus could come "at any moment". Like most false teachings, it doesn’t take a bible scholar to prove that these teachings are not supported by God’s Holy Word.
If one truly believed that Jesus could return for His church at any moment, they would be engaged in non-stop preaching of God’s word on some level. However, this teaching as with all false teachings, produces unsustainable life. In other words, many find themselves “burnt out” if you will, because they fall victim to a doctrine that does not give life. Jesus said, “my words are spirit and they are life”.
The Bible states something about God that is very clear. The prophet Isaiah recorded in chapter 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come”.
I take this to mean that God has an appointed time for everything under heaven, and He makes it known. There are things that must come to pass before Christ will return. Why else were we commanded on several occasions to “watch”?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Even in the great commandment we clearly see that the end of the world is an appointed time. Jesus didn’t say, “I am with you for an undisclosed length of time which I can not disclose because it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the topic because only my Father in heaven knows the day and hour”. He said, I will be with you until the end” until all things are finished.
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus tells us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all of the world as a witness to all nations BEFORE the end comes.
Some people believe that Jesus teaches that His return is imminent in John 14:2-3. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also”.
Does Jesus, in this passage, mention that His coming could be "at any moment" or does He merely teach His disciples that He will be coming back for them? Just a few days earlier, He had told this same group of men of wars and rumors of wars, of the abomination of desolation, of the great tribulation, of signs in the sun, moon, and stars.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28
Is it possible, as some believe, that the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) was meant only for the Jews and John 14 was meant only for the church when BOTH were spoken to the same group of men only days apart?
In answer to His disciples question in Matt. 24:3, "What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" He did not tell them that His coming would be sign less or imminent. He told of wars and rumors of wars, etc. Then He said,
As soon as [the fig tree's] branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.
In other words, we will not know the exact day or hour, but when these things begin happening, His coming is so near that the generation to see the signs will not die before His return. Could His coming be imminent BEFORE these things have happened? (Matt. 24:32-34,36; Luke 21:28)
Many pre-tribbers quote verses about the "thief in the night" to support their "at any moment" doctrine. In Revelation 3:3 written to the church at Sardis (not Philadelphia, not Laodecia), Jesus says,
"Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you."
However, it is "the day of the Lord" which comes like a thief.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
But when we keep reading, we find, "But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief." (vs.4)
It is in this context that we are commanded not to sleep, but to watch.(vs. 6-7; Mark 13:36)
We are watching because of what we read in Acts 2:20 and Joel 2:31 placing the sun turning dark and the moon to blood BEFORE the Day of the Lord? That wouldn't make the rapture very imminent would it? Could it be merely a coincidence that this is the very sign Jesus described would precede His coming?
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31.
This coinciding of the Day of the Lord and the rapture is spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
According to Luke 21, it is only "when these things begin to take place" that we can "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
The generally accepted definition of imminence is that Jesus could come "at any moment". Like most false teachings, it doesn’t take a bible scholar to prove that these teachings are not supported by God’s Holy Word.
If one truly believed that Jesus could return for His church at any moment, they would be engaged in non-stop preaching of God’s word on some level. However, this teaching as with all false teachings, produces unsustainable life. In other words, many find themselves “burnt out” if you will, because they fall victim to a doctrine that does not give life. Jesus said, “my words are spirit and they are life”.
The Bible states something about God that is very clear. The prophet Isaiah recorded in chapter 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come”.
I take this to mean that God has an appointed time for everything under heaven, and He makes it known. There are things that must come to pass before Christ will return. Why else were we commanded on several occasions to “watch”?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Even in the great commandment we clearly see that the end of the world is an appointed time. Jesus didn’t say, “I am with you for an undisclosed length of time which I can not disclose because it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the topic because only my Father in heaven knows the day and hour”. He said, I will be with you until the end” until all things are finished.
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus tells us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all of the world as a witness to all nations BEFORE the end comes.
Some people believe that Jesus teaches that His return is imminent in John 14:2-3. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also”.
Does Jesus, in this passage, mention that His coming could be "at any moment" or does He merely teach His disciples that He will be coming back for them? Just a few days earlier, He had told this same group of men of wars and rumors of wars, of the abomination of desolation, of the great tribulation, of signs in the sun, moon, and stars.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28
Is it possible, as some believe, that the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) was meant only for the Jews and John 14 was meant only for the church when BOTH were spoken to the same group of men only days apart?
In answer to His disciples question in Matt. 24:3, "What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" He did not tell them that His coming would be sign less or imminent. He told of wars and rumors of wars, etc. Then He said,
As soon as [the fig tree's] branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.
In other words, we will not know the exact day or hour, but when these things begin happening, His coming is so near that the generation to see the signs will not die before His return. Could His coming be imminent BEFORE these things have happened? (Matt. 24:32-34,36; Luke 21:28)
Many pre-tribbers quote verses about the "thief in the night" to support their "at any moment" doctrine. In Revelation 3:3 written to the church at Sardis (not Philadelphia, not Laodecia), Jesus says,
"Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you."
However, it is "the day of the Lord" which comes like a thief.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
But when we keep reading, we find, "But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief." (vs.4)
It is in this context that we are commanded not to sleep, but to watch.(vs. 6-7; Mark 13:36)
We are watching because of what we read in Acts 2:20 and Joel 2:31 placing the sun turning dark and the moon to blood BEFORE the Day of the Lord? That wouldn't make the rapture very imminent would it? Could it be merely a coincidence that this is the very sign Jesus described would precede His coming?
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31.
This coinciding of the Day of the Lord and the rapture is spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
According to Luke 21, it is only "when these things begin to take place" that we can "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Proof?
Just wanted to share something that came to me today as I was meditating on some things.
To those who are being saved, no PROOF is necessary…
To those who are perishing, no PROOF is adequate…
1 Corinthians 1:18
To those who are being saved, no PROOF is necessary…
To those who are perishing, no PROOF is adequate…
1 Corinthians 1:18
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Forgive To Be Forgiven!
The greatest risk we face as a church in these last days is not that we may lose a musician, or that we may lose money, or that we may lose members, or that we may lose staff, or that we may lose reputation.
The greatest risk is that we may lose heaven. Because one way to lose heaven is to hold fast to an unforgiving spirit.
Jesus said (in Matthew 6:9, 12), "Pray like this: 'Our Father who art in heaven . . . forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'" Then in verses 14–15 he explains why he taught us to pray this way: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
If we hold fast to an unforgiving spirit, we will not be forgiven by God. If we continue on in that way, then we will not go to heaven, because heaven is the dwelling place of forgiven people.
Here is forgiveness: when you feel that someone is your enemy or when you simply feel that you or someone you care about has been wronged, forgiveness means,
1. resisting revenge,
2. not returning evil for evil,
3. wishing them well,
4. grieving at their calamities,
5. praying for their welfare,
6. seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you,
7. and coming to their aid in distress.
All these point to a forgiving heart. And the heart is all important. Jesus said in Matthew 18:35—"unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Forgiveness is not the absence of anger at sin. It is not feeling good about what was bad.
When you are wronged, you are not expected to feel good about what happened. Anger against sin and its consequences is fitting up to a point. But you don't need to hold on to it in a vindictive way that desires harm for the one who has wronged you.
You can hand it over to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23) again and again, and pray for the transformation of the one who has wronged you. Forgiveness is not feeling good about horrible things.
We are not bound to trust an enemy; but we are bound to forgive him.
You can actually look someone in the face and say: “I forgive you, but I don't trust you.”
But be aware of how crucial the heart here.
What would make that an unforgiving thing to say is if you were thinking this:
“I forgive you, but I don't trust you. What's more, I don't care about ever trusting you again; and I won't accept any of your efforts to try to establish trust again; in fact, I hope nobody ever trusts you again, and I don't care if your life is totally ruined.”
That is not a forgiving spirit. And our souls would be in danger.
Perhaps we are at risk in some way, we all have people we need to forgive. We need very much to see Jesus and feel what it means to be forgiven of our huge debt.
The greatest risk is that we may lose heaven. Because one way to lose heaven is to hold fast to an unforgiving spirit.
Jesus said (in Matthew 6:9, 12), "Pray like this: 'Our Father who art in heaven . . . forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'" Then in verses 14–15 he explains why he taught us to pray this way: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
If we hold fast to an unforgiving spirit, we will not be forgiven by God. If we continue on in that way, then we will not go to heaven, because heaven is the dwelling place of forgiven people.
Here is forgiveness: when you feel that someone is your enemy or when you simply feel that you or someone you care about has been wronged, forgiveness means,
1. resisting revenge,
2. not returning evil for evil,
3. wishing them well,
4. grieving at their calamities,
5. praying for their welfare,
6. seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you,
7. and coming to their aid in distress.
All these point to a forgiving heart. And the heart is all important. Jesus said in Matthew 18:35—"unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Forgiveness is not the absence of anger at sin. It is not feeling good about what was bad.
When you are wronged, you are not expected to feel good about what happened. Anger against sin and its consequences is fitting up to a point. But you don't need to hold on to it in a vindictive way that desires harm for the one who has wronged you.
You can hand it over to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23) again and again, and pray for the transformation of the one who has wronged you. Forgiveness is not feeling good about horrible things.
We are not bound to trust an enemy; but we are bound to forgive him.
You can actually look someone in the face and say: “I forgive you, but I don't trust you.”
But be aware of how crucial the heart here.
What would make that an unforgiving thing to say is if you were thinking this:
“I forgive you, but I don't trust you. What's more, I don't care about ever trusting you again; and I won't accept any of your efforts to try to establish trust again; in fact, I hope nobody ever trusts you again, and I don't care if your life is totally ruined.”
That is not a forgiving spirit. And our souls would be in danger.
Perhaps we are at risk in some way, we all have people we need to forgive. We need very much to see Jesus and feel what it means to be forgiven of our huge debt.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Book Review
I have been in ministry in one capacity or another during the past 18 years. Often, people have recommended books to me that are said to be “life changing” revelation. In many cases, disappointment is all that I get from many Christian authors. However, this book is not like that. Gary Wood uses a principle in his writing that many would do well to follow when writing about biblical principles. Isaiah 28:9-10 says, “ whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept , precept upon precept ; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” KJV
That’s what you get from “The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle” Line upon line, scripture after scripture of understanding that is truly life changing. If you are hungry to know what the Bible actually says about the End Times and the rapture of the Church, this is the book you must read. This book will challenge many people’s understanding regarding the return of Christ for His church. And for those who are willing to yield to the truth of scripture, “that day” will not take you unaware. To order "The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle" go to
www.sixthdayrapture.com
That’s what you get from “The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle” Line upon line, scripture after scripture of understanding that is truly life changing. If you are hungry to know what the Bible actually says about the End Times and the rapture of the Church, this is the book you must read. This book will challenge many people’s understanding regarding the return of Christ for His church. And for those who are willing to yield to the truth of scripture, “that day” will not take you unaware. To order "The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle" go to
www.sixthdayrapture.com
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