Question: "What is contemplative prayer?"
Answer: It is important to first clearly define what "contemplative prayer" is. For the purposes of this article, contemplative prayer is not just "contemplating while you pray." The Bible instructs us to "pray with our minds".
1 Corinthians 14:15
(What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with understanding.)
Clearly, prayer does involve contemplation. However, praying with your mind is not what "contemplative prayer" has come to mean. Contemplative prayer has slowly increased in practice and popularity each year since the mid-1990s, along with the rise of the Emerging Church Movement—a movement which embraces many unscriptural ideas and practices. Contemplative prayer is one such practice. Contemplative prayer, also known as “centering prayer,” is a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. According to Catholic Priest Thomas Keating, this is how it is done: "Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently, introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes."
Although this might sound like an innocent exercise, this type of "prayer" has no scriptural support whatsoever. In fact, it is just the opposite of how prayer is defined in the Bible. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done".
Philippians 4:6,
(Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.)
"At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and He will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy".
John 16:23-24,
(And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.)
These verses, and others, clearly portray prayer as being comprehensible communication with God, not an esoteric, mystical meditation. Contemplative prayer, by design, focuses on having a mystical experience with God. Mysticism, however, is purely subjective and doesn't rely upon truth or fact. Yet the Word of God has been given to us for the very purpose of basing our faith, and our lives, on Truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
(All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.)
What we know about God is based on fact; trusting in experiential knowledge over the biblical record takes a person outside of the standard that is the Bible. Contemplative prayer is no different than the meditative exercises used in Eastern religions and New Age cults. Its most vocal supporters embrace an open spirituality among adherents of all religions, promoting the idea that salvation is gained by many paths, even though Christ Himself stated that salvation comes only through Him.
John 14:6
(Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.)
Contemplative prayer, as it has come to mean in the modern prayer movement, is in opposition to biblical Christianity and should definitely be avoided.Recommended Resource:
Prayer, The Great Adventure by David Jeremiah.
Faith Undone by Roger Oakland
A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen
God Bless You!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Beware Of False Teaching
There is a movement out there today that is catching on even in mainstream Christian churches. The main point of their teaching is that there are certain methods for you to follow to be more spiritual. Some of these are contemplative prayer, yoga, use of a labyrinth (maze). What is being taught is that you need to empty your mind or reach a trance-like state of mindlessness in order for God to be able to talk with you. It is all associated with the New Age Movement that has been around for a long time. They want you to use meditation techniques, or say a mantra over and over to empty your mind to a hypnotic state. Once you reach this state, then and only then are you able to hear God. This is not Biblical and goes against what the Bible teaches.
We don't have to use any special technique to talk with God. We are instructed to pray without ceasing. You don't have to empty your mind to speak with our Heavenly Father. If this were the case, Jesus would have told us this while He was here on earth. God hears His children anytime they talk with Him. Anytime you put yourself in an altered state of mind, you are leaving yourself open to demonic influence. You may be hearing something from some source, but is it God or demonic? Anytime you are being taught something that is not found in the Scriptures, run from it. It may sound good and maybe there are a lot of people using these techniques, but God tells us to stay away from the occult practices. Here are some of the terms New Agers use.
1-Contemplative Prayer: Going beyond thought by use of repeated words or phrases.
2-Higher Self: Supposed God-self within that New Agers seek to connect with through meditation. Also called the Christ-self or True-self.
3-Christ consciousness: Taught by New Agers to be the state of awareness, reached in meditation, in which one realizes that one is divine and one with God or an enlightened being.
4-Inter spirituality: The view that all the world's religions are identical at the mystical level and therefore there should be solidarity among them.
5-False Self: The false self is the ego or personality that is observed by others. One rids oneself of the false self to find the true self through mantra-meditation.
7-Mantra: Word or words repeated silently or verbally to induce an altered state of consciousness.
8-Reiki: Spiritual energy that is channeled by one attuned to the Reiki power. Literally translated God energy.
9-The Silence: Absence of normal thought.
If someone starts to teach these methods, BEWARE!
Why would we as born again Christians have to use some special method to talk with God when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us? We don't have to empty ourselves to make room for Him because He is already living within us.
1Corinthians; 3:16
(Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?)
So if you are a child of God, you can speak with Him anytime and any place. He will hear you.
Pray that you are not deceived by any of these teaching.
God Bless You!
We don't have to use any special technique to talk with God. We are instructed to pray without ceasing. You don't have to empty your mind to speak with our Heavenly Father. If this were the case, Jesus would have told us this while He was here on earth. God hears His children anytime they talk with Him. Anytime you put yourself in an altered state of mind, you are leaving yourself open to demonic influence. You may be hearing something from some source, but is it God or demonic? Anytime you are being taught something that is not found in the Scriptures, run from it. It may sound good and maybe there are a lot of people using these techniques, but God tells us to stay away from the occult practices. Here are some of the terms New Agers use.
1-Contemplative Prayer: Going beyond thought by use of repeated words or phrases.
2-Higher Self: Supposed God-self within that New Agers seek to connect with through meditation. Also called the Christ-self or True-self.
3-Christ consciousness: Taught by New Agers to be the state of awareness, reached in meditation, in which one realizes that one is divine and one with God or an enlightened being.
4-Inter spirituality: The view that all the world's religions are identical at the mystical level and therefore there should be solidarity among them.
5-False Self: The false self is the ego or personality that is observed by others. One rids oneself of the false self to find the true self through mantra-meditation.
7-Mantra: Word or words repeated silently or verbally to induce an altered state of consciousness.
8-Reiki: Spiritual energy that is channeled by one attuned to the Reiki power. Literally translated God energy.
9-The Silence: Absence of normal thought.
If someone starts to teach these methods, BEWARE!
Why would we as born again Christians have to use some special method to talk with God when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us? We don't have to empty ourselves to make room for Him because He is already living within us.
1Corinthians; 3:16
(Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?)
So if you are a child of God, you can speak with Him anytime and any place. He will hear you.
Pray that you are not deceived by any of these teaching.
God Bless You!
Friday, November 07, 2008
The Ten Commandments!
Today the Ten Commandments are under spiritual attack from the enemy. There are many people who don't want them publicly displayed so they go to court to have them removed. Why would anyone go to such extremes to have them removed? It's not so much that they don't want you to see them, but they don't want to see them because they are convicting them of their sin. If these people were honest about their dislike of having the Ten Commandments displayed, they would have to admit to their sins. That is one reason why God told Israel to teach them to their children and grandchildren.
It is no different today. If we refuse to teach our children about God and His plan of salvation, then who will teach them?
Deuteronomy; 6:7
(You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.)
God wants us to do this so that we and our children know Him and want to be obedient to Him. There is going to come a time when people are not going to be as tolerant of the Word of God and persecution will start. It has already begun in many nations around the world, but here in the United States we still have this freedom to exercise our freedom of religion. Don't take this freedom for granted because Satan is at work trying to take it away.
Maybe you don't go to church or even own a Bible. How will you learn what God has told us about Himself and about Jesus His Son. How He sent his Son to die on the cross in our place so that those who put their faith in Him might gain salvation. Jesus tells us that He is the way to eternal life and how will we teach others if we refuse to learn ourselves? The fight against the Ten Commandments is just the beginning of the battle that is coming. If we don't stand up for our rights, the enemy will slowly pick away until won't have any right to talk about God or teach our children. This may sound far fetched, but look back at the rights we have already lost. People are offended by the Word of God because it convicts them of sin.
Why study the Word of God?
2Timothy; 3:16-17
(All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.)
God has given us His Word to prepare to do His will. Study it, memorize it, meditate on it, you never know when you will have your Bible taken away from you.
God Bless You!
It is no different today. If we refuse to teach our children about God and His plan of salvation, then who will teach them?
Deuteronomy; 6:7
(You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.)
God wants us to do this so that we and our children know Him and want to be obedient to Him. There is going to come a time when people are not going to be as tolerant of the Word of God and persecution will start. It has already begun in many nations around the world, but here in the United States we still have this freedom to exercise our freedom of religion. Don't take this freedom for granted because Satan is at work trying to take it away.
Maybe you don't go to church or even own a Bible. How will you learn what God has told us about Himself and about Jesus His Son. How He sent his Son to die on the cross in our place so that those who put their faith in Him might gain salvation. Jesus tells us that He is the way to eternal life and how will we teach others if we refuse to learn ourselves? The fight against the Ten Commandments is just the beginning of the battle that is coming. If we don't stand up for our rights, the enemy will slowly pick away until won't have any right to talk about God or teach our children. This may sound far fetched, but look back at the rights we have already lost. People are offended by the Word of God because it convicts them of sin.
Why study the Word of God?
2Timothy; 3:16-17
(All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.)
God has given us His Word to prepare to do His will. Study it, memorize it, meditate on it, you never know when you will have your Bible taken away from you.
God Bless You!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The American People Have Spoken
Our new President elect Barack Obama will take office soon and everyone is expecting big changes. I pray that they are the right changes because our nation has reached to the very bottom of the pit. Our founding fathers set up our Constitution on Christian ethics and moral values, and we have pushed these aside. We have become people pleasers instead of obeying God. God gives us laws to obey if we want to be a prosperous nation. We used to obey them and prospered. Now we as a nation have decided we don't need God. We pushed God out because many people have chosen not to believe in God. They don't want the rest of us believing either.
People want to do whatever their heart desires and thus the spiral downward. We have decided it is OK to kill innocent babies before they are born. We have decided it is OK to marry someone of the same sex even though God says it is an abomination. We have taken the Ten Commandments out of public eye because some people found it offensive. It doesn't matter that the rest of us take them seriously. What our people have said is "God we don't care what you say, we are going to do it our way". If we really want change for our country, we need to turn from our evil ways and start obeying God. That is the only way to bring about the change we need.
God, Please Heal Our Country
People want to do whatever their heart desires and thus the spiral downward. We have decided it is OK to kill innocent babies before they are born. We have decided it is OK to marry someone of the same sex even though God says it is an abomination. We have taken the Ten Commandments out of public eye because some people found it offensive. It doesn't matter that the rest of us take them seriously. What our people have said is "God we don't care what you say, we are going to do it our way". If we really want change for our country, we need to turn from our evil ways and start obeying God. That is the only way to bring about the change we need.
God, Please Heal Our Country
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Election Day
Today we make our choice for President who will lead our nation the next four years. It is a very important choice Americans make every four years. I pray that all of you have been paying attention to where each candidate stands on moral issues. Where do they stand on abortion, gay marriage, or what is their stand on freedom of religion? Most people in America take for granted our basic freedoms. They just don't realize the sacrifice that has been paid by many brave Americans fighting for their freedom. We would not be free without the shedding of blood by many brave soldiers.
Likewise, we would not be free from the penalty of sin if Jesus had not come down to earth to shed His blood for us. Having paid the price for sin , He is able to offer freedom from the penalty of sin to all who come to Him for forgiveness. We all should know that the wages of sin is death and if you die without forgiveness, we will pay the price our self.
Matthew; 26:28
(For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.)
Maybe you have heard some people say that there are many different ways to God, but this is not what the Scripture tells us.
John; 14:6
(Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.)
Jesus tells us that there is no other way to eternal life in Heaven. We must come to Him for forgiveness of sins, there is no forgiveness without Him.
Just like with the election today, we have one of two choices to make. Will we take the broad road and try to make it on our own, or will we take the narrow road and accept Jesus as our Savior and follow Him? Jesus said He shed His blood for all who repent and come to Him. You have to accept the free gift of life. He's not going to force anyone to follow Him. If you choose your own way, you will spend eternity in hell. Basically, there is the road to destruction (your way) or the road to eternal life (Jesus' way). The choice is yours to make.
TWO WAYS OF LIFE
Matthew; 7:13-14
(Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.)
Why is there few who find eternal life? Because of our pride we want to do it our way and we can never earn eternal life. So put your faith in Jesus today and ask for forgiveness and follow Him. It's the only true way to freedom.
God Bless You!
Likewise, we would not be free from the penalty of sin if Jesus had not come down to earth to shed His blood for us. Having paid the price for sin , He is able to offer freedom from the penalty of sin to all who come to Him for forgiveness. We all should know that the wages of sin is death and if you die without forgiveness, we will pay the price our self.
Matthew; 26:28
(For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.)
Maybe you have heard some people say that there are many different ways to God, but this is not what the Scripture tells us.
John; 14:6
(Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.)
Jesus tells us that there is no other way to eternal life in Heaven. We must come to Him for forgiveness of sins, there is no forgiveness without Him.
Just like with the election today, we have one of two choices to make. Will we take the broad road and try to make it on our own, or will we take the narrow road and accept Jesus as our Savior and follow Him? Jesus said He shed His blood for all who repent and come to Him. You have to accept the free gift of life. He's not going to force anyone to follow Him. If you choose your own way, you will spend eternity in hell. Basically, there is the road to destruction (your way) or the road to eternal life (Jesus' way). The choice is yours to make.
TWO WAYS OF LIFE
Matthew; 7:13-14
(Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.)
Why is there few who find eternal life? Because of our pride we want to do it our way and we can never earn eternal life. So put your faith in Jesus today and ask for forgiveness and follow Him. It's the only true way to freedom.
God Bless You!
Monday, November 03, 2008
The Fallen World
Philippians; 2:14-15
(Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,)
We don't have to look very far to see how perverted our world has become. We can start at the top in our government and see how many of our political leaders have fallen into sin and been brought down from a position of leadership to a position of disgrace. This same fall has reached into the very heart of our church's. Over the past years we have seen many spiritual leaders fall into sin and step down from their position of leadership. What we see is that the minute we take our eyes off of God, we open ourselves up to spiritual attack. None of us are immune and if we don't rely on God's power, we will fall.
1Corinthians; 10:12-13
(Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.)
So God tells us not to be proud that we think we can stand up to any temptation on our own. He does tell us that as the temptations come, we need to be looking for the escape that He does provide for us. As a Christian, we are going to be tempted and we are told this throughout Scripture. We can look at Joseph, David, Job, just to name a few. Joesph was tempted by Potiphar's wife and he ran away from her. David was tempted when he saw Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. He failed that temptation and lay with her. Job was tempted to curse God when Satan took all his belongings and children from him. Godly and ungodly people will be tempted and we need to resist the temptation to sin.
We are to be a light in a dark world. If we don't stand true to our beliefs and obey the Word of God, how are we going to be any different from the rest of world? They will look at us and say "those Christians are no different than we are". Remember, Satan is out there on the prowl looking for any opening to cause us to fall. Draw near to God and rely on His strength, not you own.
Tomorrow we vote for our next president, I pray that you have been paying attention to where they stand on moral issues. Vote the way you know God wants you to vote.
God Bless You
(Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,)
We don't have to look very far to see how perverted our world has become. We can start at the top in our government and see how many of our political leaders have fallen into sin and been brought down from a position of leadership to a position of disgrace. This same fall has reached into the very heart of our church's. Over the past years we have seen many spiritual leaders fall into sin and step down from their position of leadership. What we see is that the minute we take our eyes off of God, we open ourselves up to spiritual attack. None of us are immune and if we don't rely on God's power, we will fall.
1Corinthians; 10:12-13
(Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.)
So God tells us not to be proud that we think we can stand up to any temptation on our own. He does tell us that as the temptations come, we need to be looking for the escape that He does provide for us. As a Christian, we are going to be tempted and we are told this throughout Scripture. We can look at Joseph, David, Job, just to name a few. Joesph was tempted by Potiphar's wife and he ran away from her. David was tempted when he saw Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. He failed that temptation and lay with her. Job was tempted to curse God when Satan took all his belongings and children from him. Godly and ungodly people will be tempted and we need to resist the temptation to sin.
We are to be a light in a dark world. If we don't stand true to our beliefs and obey the Word of God, how are we going to be any different from the rest of world? They will look at us and say "those Christians are no different than we are". Remember, Satan is out there on the prowl looking for any opening to cause us to fall. Draw near to God and rely on His strength, not you own.
Tomorrow we vote for our next president, I pray that you have been paying attention to where they stand on moral issues. Vote the way you know God wants you to vote.
God Bless You
Saturday, November 01, 2008
True Chrtistian Character
We all have come across someone who says that they are saved but live like the rest of the world. They may profess to be saved but their heart isn't right with God. Only God knows the condition of a persons heart and whether they are truly born again. We do know from Scripture that when we are born again, we become a new creation in Christ. The old man is done away with and all things have become new. This means that we should begin to see some visible change in our life. We should have a desire to know Jesus more and to try to be like Him in our daily walk. We should begin to walk by the Spirit instead of the flesh and to be obedient to the Word of God. God has told us how He wants us to live and we need to obey.
As I was reading in the Book of Psalms today and came across the 15th chapter, it speaks of the changed character of those who are saved.
Psalm; 15
(Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eye a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own heart and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall not be moved.)
This doesn't mean that we will never sin again. But what it does mean is that we are trying to live as God wants us to live. When we sin, we repent and move forward with our Christian walk. We don't allow the devil to beat us up for that sin because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
God Bless You!
As I was reading in the Book of Psalms today and came across the 15th chapter, it speaks of the changed character of those who are saved.
Psalm; 15
(Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eye a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own heart and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall not be moved.)
This doesn't mean that we will never sin again. But what it does mean is that we are trying to live as God wants us to live. When we sin, we repent and move forward with our Christian walk. We don't allow the devil to beat us up for that sin because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
God Bless You!
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Second Death, Not Annihilation!
Hebrews; 9:27
(And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,)
There are two things that we are not going to escape from while living here on earth, paying taxes and dying. God has appointed all men to die once, but then you may die twice. The choice will be yours to make while you are still alive. You don't have a choice about the first death which is our physical death, but you do have a choice to make about the second death. Maybe you are asking "what does he mean by a second death"?
The Bible teaches that we will die physically because of Adam and Eve's sinning in the garden of Eden. They disobeyed God and sinned and the consequences of that disobedience was physical death. That one act of disobedience left all of mankind with a decision to make. Will we come to God for forgiveness of our sins, or not? That one decision we make will determine if we die once or twice. If we do decide to ask Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, then we will die once physically but He will raise us up to eternal life in Heaven with Him.
John; 3:16
(For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.)
Now if we make the decision not to ask for forgiveness because we refuse to believe what God has written in the Bible, then we will die twice. We will die once physically, and the second time will be spiritually. You will be separated from God for all eternity. This doesn't mean that you will be non-existent. The bible clearly teaches that it is eternal punishment in hell. The punishment of hell last for eternity and is unmistakably taught through out Scripture.
Daniel; 12:2
(And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.)
Matthew; 25:41
("Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels;)
You don't have to worry about the second death if you will humble yourself and come to Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus is waiting for you to repent and turn from your sin and believe in Him. If you do this, you will be saved and have everlasting life. Jesus has already the price for sin when He died on the cross. But you must come to Him to receive forgiveness and eternal life. Don't wait another day, we never know when it is our last chance for forgiveness. Once you die, there is no second chance, you either will be present with the Lord or waiting for The Great White Throne Judgment!
God Bless You!
(And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,)
There are two things that we are not going to escape from while living here on earth, paying taxes and dying. God has appointed all men to die once, but then you may die twice. The choice will be yours to make while you are still alive. You don't have a choice about the first death which is our physical death, but you do have a choice to make about the second death. Maybe you are asking "what does he mean by a second death"?
The Bible teaches that we will die physically because of Adam and Eve's sinning in the garden of Eden. They disobeyed God and sinned and the consequences of that disobedience was physical death. That one act of disobedience left all of mankind with a decision to make. Will we come to God for forgiveness of our sins, or not? That one decision we make will determine if we die once or twice. If we do decide to ask Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, then we will die once physically but He will raise us up to eternal life in Heaven with Him.
John; 3:16
(For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.)
Now if we make the decision not to ask for forgiveness because we refuse to believe what God has written in the Bible, then we will die twice. We will die once physically, and the second time will be spiritually. You will be separated from God for all eternity. This doesn't mean that you will be non-existent. The bible clearly teaches that it is eternal punishment in hell. The punishment of hell last for eternity and is unmistakably taught through out Scripture.
Daniel; 12:2
(And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.)
Matthew; 25:41
("Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels;)
You don't have to worry about the second death if you will humble yourself and come to Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus is waiting for you to repent and turn from your sin and believe in Him. If you do this, you will be saved and have everlasting life. Jesus has already the price for sin when He died on the cross. But you must come to Him to receive forgiveness and eternal life. Don't wait another day, we never know when it is our last chance for forgiveness. Once you die, there is no second chance, you either will be present with the Lord or waiting for The Great White Throne Judgment!
God Bless You!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sharper Than Any Two-edged Sword!
Most of us have a healthy respect for a sword or knife. Just the thought of it cutting us or piercing us sends shivers up our spine. Why is that? We all know that everything that is vital in the human body is on the inside or at least connected to the inside. Our life line is in our blood and if we lose it, we die. So to be cut or pierced in a way that reveals our blood scares us. Anytime someone has a knife in their hand and we don't know their intention, it makes us uneasy and we just want them to put it away.
It's the same way when we talk with unbelievers about the Word of God. Just the thought of the Word being spoken to them makes them very uneasy and usually they just want to get away. What makes them so nervous? God tells us that the Word reveals to a person that they are not able to hide the intention and condition of their heart.
Hebrews; 4:12
(For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)
Now we know why it makes people nervous. It gets right to the heart of the matter and shows us all that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. When the Word of God is spoken to someone, it reveals the inside. Nothing is hidden and there is no getting around the fact that we are not righteous in Gods eyes. God tells us that no one is righteous not one. So what do we do?
God tells us that we must believe in His Son if we want to have eternal life.
John; 6:40
(And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.")
There is hope for us no matter what we have done. Jesus came to die for our sins and if we come to him for forgiveness, He will forgive us and give us eternal life. Once you have given your life to Jesus and have put your faith in Him, then you will want to be in the Word of God. This is where we learn what God expects from us and He tells us how we are suppose to live. Jesus tells us that if we come to Him, He will not cast us out.
John; 6:37
(All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.)
That is a promise form Jesus and we can believe that He will do what He has promised. If you haven't put your faith in Jesus yet, today is the day. Don't wait until it is to late.
God Bless You!
It's the same way when we talk with unbelievers about the Word of God. Just the thought of the Word being spoken to them makes them very uneasy and usually they just want to get away. What makes them so nervous? God tells us that the Word reveals to a person that they are not able to hide the intention and condition of their heart.
Hebrews; 4:12
(For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)
Now we know why it makes people nervous. It gets right to the heart of the matter and shows us all that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. When the Word of God is spoken to someone, it reveals the inside. Nothing is hidden and there is no getting around the fact that we are not righteous in Gods eyes. God tells us that no one is righteous not one. So what do we do?
God tells us that we must believe in His Son if we want to have eternal life.
John; 6:40
(And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.")
There is hope for us no matter what we have done. Jesus came to die for our sins and if we come to him for forgiveness, He will forgive us and give us eternal life. Once you have given your life to Jesus and have put your faith in Him, then you will want to be in the Word of God. This is where we learn what God expects from us and He tells us how we are suppose to live. Jesus tells us that if we come to Him, He will not cast us out.
John; 6:37
(All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.)
That is a promise form Jesus and we can believe that He will do what He has promised. If you haven't put your faith in Jesus yet, today is the day. Don't wait until it is to late.
God Bless You!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
God Is The Answer!
I have been listening with much interest to all the different solutions to our problems in America. So far I have not heard even one person say that we should look to God for help. He is the only one who has the answer to all of our troubles, but we as a nation refuse to humble ourselves and repent of our ways and turn to Him for forgiveness.
Maybe some don't believe in God, but that doesn't mean He doesn't exist. In fact He tells us that we all know He exist by His invisible attributes. God has planted evidence of His existence in the very nature of man by reason of moral law. If we truly want help with our economy and a way out of this mess, then we need to pray and ask God for help.
God Bless You!
Maybe some don't believe in God, but that doesn't mean He doesn't exist. In fact He tells us that we all know He exist by His invisible attributes. God has planted evidence of His existence in the very nature of man by reason of moral law. If we truly want help with our economy and a way out of this mess, then we need to pray and ask God for help.
God Bless You!
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