Living Waters flood the earth

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19 His Living Water will flood the earth-He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 17:38 --- Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; Jeremiah 16:16 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. Ezekiel 47:1,5,8-10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? John 14:10,11 --- And the gospel must first be published among all nations. Mark 13:10 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14

Impress of Heaven

How does a Christian know if the activities they choose to partipate in are those which are O.K. for a Christian? It should have the Impress of Heaven: 1) Strengthen the Intellect: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 2) Purify the Character: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:5

Philemon (The rarely read epistle of Paul)

The little New Testament book of Philemon, a letter written by paul to Philemon on behalf of his runaway slave Onesimus, drips of the love and meekness of God upon closer examination.
1) Paul indicates he converted Onesimus I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? Philemon 1:10,13,16 2) Paul asks Philemon to treat Onesimus as he would treat Paul If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. Philemon 1:17 3) Paul agrees to take on the burden of any debt Onesimus might owe Philemon If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Philemon 1:18,19 4) Paul explains that maybe it was for the good that this happened-for now Onesimus is a believer too For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Philemon 1:15 5) Also notice where the early church was meeting ...unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ...and to the church in thy house: Philemon 1:1,2 6) Paul also tugged at the heart strings of Philemon by referring to his own age Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged,.... Philemon 1:9 7) informs Philemon he will stop by But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. Philemon 1:22 In Summary-the real point to the epistle of Philemon by Paul is verse 15 which is worth repeating For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Philemon 1:15

Teach them to your children

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7 --- And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Titus 3:15

Creation & Resurrection

The creation was invaded by sin causing decay and death. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Romans 8:22 His resurrection and victory over the grave shows us that the creation will one day be restored to perfection. Both the creation and resurrection took place on the first day of the week. And the Creator rested on the 7th day at the end of creation week and rested in death on His 7th day Sabbath then rose to continue His work for mankind. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22,26 Paul says- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39

Can the dead speak to us?

What did God tell the ancient Hebrews? For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Regard not them that have familiar spirits,... Leviticus 19:31 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits,....to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Leviticus 20:6 How serious did God take this subject? A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:27

The DEAD ARE DEAD- As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. Job 7:9 Even good king David isn't in Heaven -Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For David is not ascended into the heavens: Acts 2:29,34

So when people "Talk to the dead"--- its not the dead they are talking too. Its "familiar spirits" as the Bible calls them. Or demons in other words. Thats why God was so strict with Israel on the subject, to protect them from being decieved. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19

Created for What?

Why were we created? 1) For His Glory- Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7 2) The world was made to be inhabited - For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18

The Divine Character in light of the Cross

What do we see when we study the Divine Character in light of the Cross? 1) Mercy - For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 2) Tenderness - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,...? Ezekiel 33:11 3) Forgiveness - Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:24 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7 4) Equity for all - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: 1 John 3:1 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 5) Justice - For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God: Psalm 46:10

Advice from Paul

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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:2,3

Habakkuk & Acts

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. Habakkuk 1:5 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Acts 13:40,41

4 views of the MILLENIUM

HISTORIC PRE-MILLENIAL Believe that the Millenium begins after the 2nd comming of Christ. (The early church fathers-including Papias, a disciple of Johns, believed this).

MODERN PRE-MILLENIAL Believe in a "Secret Rapture" followed by a 7 year tribulation. Then the 2nd Comming followed by the Millenium. Belief bagan in 1800's.

AMILLENIAL Believe the Millenium is symbolism in scripture for just "a long period of time" before the 2nd comming. All problems Christians face from the crucifixtion to the 2nd comming are part of the time of trouble/and or tribulation. Many believe the prophesies were fullfilled during the time of the Roman Empire. This belief began in the 400's with St. Augustine of Hippo.

POST-MILLENIAL Believe that the Millenium occurs BEFORE the 2nd comming. Mostly a belief of charismatics (speak in tongues groups) who believe when the last person on earth finally speaks in tongues (baptised by the Holy Ghost) then the Millenium will begin and satan is bound and can't harm or tempt anyone. They believe it will be a thousand years of earthly peace. Then the 2nd comming happens at the end of it.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Luke 13:28

The MILLENNIUM (Revelation 20)

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Revelation 20:1-3 (Lucifer is bound during the thousand years because there is no one left on earth to tempt. - And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Jeremiah 25:33 - The bottomless pit, or grave, is where the unrighteous dead are. The little season he is to be loosed is just before the final showdown). And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: ( And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:29 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2) on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revealtion 20:4-6 (The righteous are resurrected at the first resurrection-For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:50,51-Then begins the thousand year millenium. The wicked are still dead). And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, Revelation 7:20 (Now satan is loosed from his imprisonment). And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Revealtion 20:8,9 (Obviously this is when the second resurrection, spoken of in verse five, takes place for the wicked. - They think they can take the City of God, which has desended on earth at this time, but they fail). And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10 (Their end is permanent. Evil is annihalated forever). And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revealtion 20:11-15 (The unrighteous are shown their judgement before us all, they are consumed in the lake of fire, death and hell - the actual word is grave- are defeated. The Lake of Fire is the 2nd death).

Search your heart

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

The Deep Things of GOD

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Corinthians 2:10

HIS custom

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. Luke 4:16

Without Excuse-Thanks to the Creation

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

Foolishness of God

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3

Death-Dust to Dust

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Ecclesiastes 3:20 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. Job 13:12

Rains on the good & the bad

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?...Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:.... and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? Job 4:7-9,13-17

He is The Cornerstone

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ...... In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19,20,22 **** The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22,23 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Matthew 21:42 **** This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:11,12

This world

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:15,16

Thy word is Truth

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Immanuel

When the Jews rebuilt the Temple after their return from the exile, the glory of the Lord no longer filled the Most Holy Place. There was no more fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. But it was predicted there would be a glory greater that was to fill the temple. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts:..and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2,9,7 It was to be the glory of God wrapped in human flesh that was to come and sit in their temple. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:7 ....and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. Isaiah 8:8