KNOW YOUR ENEMY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=104 BGCOLOR="#0000FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>GOD'S BEST</B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GODS BEST"><U><B><U>HOME</U></B></U></A><B><U>  </U></B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shepherd//Pastor ARE YOU DOING "><U><B><U>Shepherd//Pastor ARE YOU DOING        </U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="YOU ARE AN HEIR"><U><B><U>YOU ARE  AN HEIR</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEIRS "><U><B><U>IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEIRS </U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" BIBLE STUDY"><U><B><U> BIBLE STUDY</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PreTrib Rapture? 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That is the job of the Holy Spirit. My only job is to present the truth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do not, I repeat, do not try to act on what you read in this booklet until you have read the scriptures over and over and there is no doubt in your mind that it is God's will for you to have everything listed here.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Our only purpose in sharing what we have written herein is to help God's children to learn what is theirs and how to get it. As you will see below God's word tells us that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>God's children should not still be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Our prayer is that when the information contained herein is assimilated and faith is built the reader will become a powerhouse for God.</B></div> <div> <B>You will find that I have made some statements more than once and have given the same scripture more than once. This is for emphasis.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Critical information.</B></div> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</B></div> <div> <B>This verse of scripture gives two reasons that Pastors and teachers should be diligent in preaching and teaching the TRUTH of God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>One is that God's people are still being destroyed today just as they were when Hosea first put the verse forth.</B></div> <div> <B>The second is the penalty for not putting forth the truth of God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>What are some of the things that people lack knowledge about that causes them to be destroyed? Let us look at a few.</B></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Not knowing how Satan operates. This is one of the prime things.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Not knowing who they are in Christ Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>Not knowing their authority to use the name of Jesus to control situations.</B></div> <div> <B>Not knowing what is rightfully theirs as children of God.</B></div> <div> <B>Not knowing the importance of the correct meaning of various words in the bible.</B></div> <div> <B>Not knowing how to operate in faith.</B></div> <div> <B>Let us consider each of those things. Most people are of the belief that humans are physical beings when in reality they are spirit beings. As spirit beings they have three sources of their thoughts. Some, of course, are their own. Some are from God's Holy Spirit and some are from the devil. So, one of Satan's methods of operation is by putting thoughts in people's minds. That is why we are told to try the spirits whether they be of God. The only way to do that is to compare the thoughts to God's word. A person cannot make that comparison if they don't know God's word.</B></div> <div> <B>Another way that Satan destroys God's people is by attacking them with sickness, disease and accidents and making them believe it is somehow God's will and God's doings.</B></div> <div> <B>Here is scriptural proof of Satan's ability to do the above.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Luke 13:16</B></FONT><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day</B></FONT><B>?</B></div> <div> <B>These next two verses show who we are in Christ Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>2 Cor 5:21  For he has made him </B><I>to be </I><B>sin for us, who knew no sin; that </B><U>we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</U></div> <div> <B>Eph 4:24  And that </B><U>you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.</U></div> <div> <B>Here we find our authority to use the name of Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>Mark 16:17 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Mark 16:18 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 14:12 </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater </B><I><B>works </B></I><B>than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</B></div> <div> <B>John 14:13 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 14:14  </B></FONT><B>If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do </B><I><B>it.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>In verses 13 & 14 the word ask is strictly a demand for something due. That is based on meeting the terms of the written Will. Most of the time that ask is in the Gospels  that is the meaning. Therefore, just asking will not get anything.</B></div> <div> <B>The word ask is an example of knowing the correct meaning of words as referred to in number 5.</B></div> <div> <B>Even when people are told what they are to do and how to do it, if they don't get in the word and build their own faith they can't operate in faith.</B></div> <div> <B>In the following verses we find Jesus giving the one and only responsibility of the Pastor/Shepard. </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>John 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I>son </I><B>of Jonas, do you love me more than these? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>He said unto him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Feed my lambs.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>John 21:16  He said to him again the second time</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I>son </I><B>of Jonas, do you love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>He said unto him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Feed my sheep.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>John 21:17  He said unto him the third time</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>Simon, </B><I>son </I><B>of Jonas, do you love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>do you</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><B>love me? </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>And he said unto him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said unto him,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Feed my sheep.</B></div> <div> <B>Notice Jesus didn't say win millions of souls. He didn't say build great congregations and buildings. He didn't say go through a lot of rituals. He said feed three times. Anytime an instruction is repeated it is of vital importance to understand and do it.</B></div> <div> <B>Here is an example of how not to get results.</B></div> <div> <B>James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.</B></div> <div> <B>Many people try to resist the devil when they realize what he is doing but he doesn't flee. Why? Because they don't submit themselves to God first. Or they may submit themselves to God but never resist the devil so he stays and does his thing. Either way he continues to cause the problem.</B></div> <div> <B>This is a critical point for Christians to know. To get the desired results they must do everything that the instructions say to do for a particular thing. Leave off just one thing and there will be no success.</B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="ole_link1_2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE.</B></div> <div> <B>God is not the cause of hurricanes. They are the activity of Satan. If all Christians knew what their authority is and started using it we would not have the destruction caused by hurricanes and other things of nature.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jo.14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, </B><B><U>He that believes on me,</U></B><B> </B><B><U>the works that I do shall he do also;</U></B><B> and greater </B><I><B>works</B></I><B> than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus clearly stated that the things He did would be done by those who believe on Him. What did He do about the weather?</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mk. 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea</B></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Peace, be still</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Mk. 4:40 And he said unto them</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>In verse 40, Jesus is indicating that </B><B><U>they</U></B><B> should have used </B><B><U>their</U></B><B> faith and calmed the storm. </B></div> <div> <B>Even though a person may know that those scriptures are in God's word they will not work for them unless they study them until faith builds in them. Faith comes by hearing and hearing God's word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ro. 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now </B><I><B>it is</B></I><B> high time to awake out of sleep: for now </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> our salvation nearer than when we believed.</B></div> <div> <B>It is high time that we realize that it is time for us to take our rightful authority as children of God.</B></div> <div> <B>Whatever God's word says for us to do, will not be done unless we do it. Praying for God to do it will not get it done.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Some common misconceptions</B></div> <div> <B>One is about the Sabbath. Many believe that Sunday is the Sabbath. That is incorrect. Saturday is the Sabbath. Some Christians think they are to keep the Sabbath. This is incorrect. The Sabbath has nothing to do with gentiles nor Jews if they accept Jesus as their Savior. God specifically told the nation of Israel that it was a sign between Him and them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ex. 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, </B><I><B>for</B></I><B> a perpetual covenant.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>E</B></FONT><B>x. 31:17 It </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> a </B><B><U>sign between me and the children of Israel</U></B><B> for ever: for </B><I><B>in</B></I><B> six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.</B></div> <div> <B>Another common misconception is that it is ok for women to pastor churches or be deacons. Wrong. The qualifications for those offices are clear and distinct. While a woman may believe that God has called her to one of those offices, she is wrong. God never calls anyone to do anything contrary to His word.</B></div> <div> <B>That is why God's word tells us to try the spirits to see if they are of God or not. The only way to know is to know the word.</B></div> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:1 This </B><I><B>is</B></I><B> a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop(pastor), he desires a good work. </B></div> <div> <B>1 Tim. 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>husband</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>of one </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>wife</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial" ><B>, </B></FONT><B>vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; </B></div> <div> <B>1 Tim 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre(money); but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; </B></div> <div> <B>1 Tim 3:4 One that rules well </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>his</B></FONT><B> own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>1 Tim. 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) </B></FONT><B>1 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Tim. 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>he</B></FONT><B> must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Titus 1:5 For this cause left I you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>elders(deacons)</B></FONT><B> in every city, as I had appointed you:</B></div> <div> <B>Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>husband</B></FONT><B> of one </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>wife</B></FONT><B>, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 1:11 Whereunto, I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, </B><I>and</I><B> lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim 2:12 But I </B><U>suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence</U><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul gives the reason for his statement above.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Tim. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal. 3:6 For I </B><I>am</I><B> the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Healing is God's will.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Every promise of God is based on our obedience.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:1  And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe </B><I>and </I><B>to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Some will say that was talking about the nation of Israel so it doesn't apply to us. It does unless we are told elsewhere that it doesn't. God says in this next scripture that He doesn't change.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal 3:6  For I </B><I>am </I><B>the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the following verse We are told that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. That hasn't changed one iota since it was first written.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Back to Deut. 28.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:15  But it shall come to pass, if you will not hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day; that all these curses shall come upon you, and overtake you:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The primary focus is on the curse of sickness and disease.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:22  The LORD shall smite you with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue you until you perish.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:27  The LORD will smite you with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof you can not be healed.</B></div> <div> <B>Deu 28:28  The LORD shall smite you with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:35  The LORD shall smite you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot unto the top of your head.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:60  Moreover he will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt, which you was afraid of; and they shall cleave unto you.</B></div> <div> <B>Deu 28:61  Also every sickness, and every plague, </B><U>which </U><I><U>is </U></I><U>not written in the book of this law,</U><B> them will the LORD bring upon you, until you be destroyed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why are all these things to happen to the people?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deu 28:45  Moreover all these curses shall come upon you, and shall pursue you, and overtake you, till you be destroyed; because you hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his </B><U>commandments and his statutes which he commanded you:</U></div> <div> <B>Deu 28:46  And they shall be upon you for a sign and for a wonder, and upon your seed for ever.</B></div> <div> <B>Deu 28:47  </B><U>Because you</U><B> served not the LORD your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all </B><I>things</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now let us look at what God has provided for us concerning sickness and disease. Notice carefully that sickness and disease were a curse of the law.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gal 3:13  Christ has </B><U>redeemed us from the curse of the law</U><B>, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed </B><I>is </I><B>every one that hangs on a tree:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next verse tells us why He redeemed us from the curse of the law.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gal 3:14  </B><U>That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles</U><B> through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Prov 4:20  My son, attend to my words; incline your ear unto my sayings.</B></div> <div> <B>Prov 4:21  Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.</B></div> <div> <B>Prov 4:22  For they </B><I>are </I><B>life unto those that find them, and </B><U>health to all their flesh</U><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>3 John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and </B><U>be in health</U><B>, even as your soul prospers.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let's look at how Jesus dealt with sickness and disease when He was here.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and </B><U>healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people</U><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>Mat 4:24  And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; </B><U>and he healed them.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:7  And Jesus said unto him, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><U>I will come and heal him.</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 8:13  And Jesus said unto the centurion, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Go your way; and as you have believed, </B><I>so </I><B>be it done unto you</B></FONT><B>. And </B><U>his servant was healed in the selfsame hour</U><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>Mat 8:14  And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.</B></div> <div> <B>Mat 8:15  And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.</B></div> <div> <B>Mat 8:16  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with </B><I>his </I><B>word, and </B><U>healed all that were sick:</U></div> <div> <B>Mat 8:17  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare </B><I>our </I><B>sicknesses.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, </B><U>and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Keep this next verse in mind.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto </B><I>him </I><B>his twelve disciples, </B><U>he gave them power</U><B> </B><I>against </I><B>unclean spirits, to cast them out, and </B><U>to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 10:7  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Mat 10:8  </B></FONT><U>Heal the sick</U><B>, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 12:15  But when Jesus knew </B><I>it, </I><B>he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and </B><U>he healed them all</U><B>;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 12:22  Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and </B><U>he healed him</U><B>, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Here is another reason that people are destroyed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and </B><I>their </I><B>ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with </B><I>their </I><B>eyes and hear with </B><I>their </I><B>ears, and should understand with </B><I>their </I><B>heart, and should be converted, and </B><U>I should heal them.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them </B><I>those that were </I><B>lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and </B><U>he healed them</U><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mat 21:14  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and </B><U>he healed them.</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Mark 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, </B></FONT><B>A prophet is </B><U>not without honor</U><B>, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mark 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and </B><U>healed </U><I><U>them.</U></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he </B><U>laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 5:15  But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and </B><U>to be healed by him of their infirmities</U><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 6:17  And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and </B><U>to be healed of their diseases;</U></div> <div> <B>Luke 6:18  And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and </B><U>they were healed</U><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>Luke 6:19  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and </B><U>healed </U><I><U>them </U></I><U>all.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 9:6  And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and </B><U>healing every where</U><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 9:11  And the people, when they knew </B><I>it, </I><B>followed him: and he received them, and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God, and </B><U>healed them that had need of healing.</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Some people have made the ridiculous statement that sometimes God gets glory from someone being sick. Nowhere in God's word is there a single statement about God being glorified when someone was sick. This next verse tells you when God gets glorified.</B></div> <div> <B>Luke 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This next verse really should be enough to let people know that it is not God's will for His children to be sick.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>you present your bodies a living sacrifice</B></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>holy, acceptable unto God</B></FONT><B>, </B><I>which is </I><B>your reasonable service.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Remember this verse</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>?</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal 3:6  For I </B><I>am </I><B>the LORD, I change not; </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If God is willing to accept a sick sacrifice today He has changed because this is what He said about it .</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mal 1:8  And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, </B><I>is it </I><B>not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, </B><I>is it </I><B>not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor 6:19  What? know you not </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost</B></FONT><B> </B><I>which is </I><B>in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>1 Cor 3:17  </B></FONT><B>If any man defile the temple of God</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>, him shall God destroy; for </B></FONT><B>the temple of God is holy, which </B><I>temple </I><B>you are</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>A reminder.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Where does this lack of knowledge come from or what is the cause?</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>John 10:10  </B></FONT><B>The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have </B><I>it </I><B>more abundantly</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Who is the thief? It is Satan. He has to steal the truth of God's word before he can kill and destroy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Just as surely as Jesus shed His blood and took our sins at the cross for our souls, He did two things at the cross for us to have a healthy body. Isaiah said:  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa 53:5  But he </B><I>was </I><B>wounded for our transgressions, </B><I>he was </I><B>bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace </B><I>was </I><B>upon him; and </B><U>with his stripes we are healed. </U><B>That was the first thing. He also said this: </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isa 52:14  As many were astonished at you; his </B><U>visage(</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><U>appearance</U></FONT><U>) was so marred(</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><U>disfigured</U></FONT><U>) more than any man</U><B>, and his form more than the sons of men:  That took place during the three hours of darkness as Jesus hung on the cross. During that period His body experienced the worst case of every sickness, every disease and every accident that would ever touch a human body and it became so grotesque that if they could have seen it they could not have handled it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I must add a personal word of testimony here. A few years back, I had gone to bed one night. I was lying on my back and quicker than a split second, God showed me that body. It was so horrible that I recoiled so forcefully; I think I pushed the bed down about 5 inches or so. Prior to my learning that it is God's will for me to live in a healthy body, I had high blood pressure, arthritis, crazy heart and even spasms of my scalp. Today, I am in perfect health and take no medicine. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The question is: “Are you going to believe Satan's lies and let him destroy you and your loved ones or are you going to believe God's word and live in a healthy body, the temple of the Holy Spirit?”</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Here is what Peter had to say on the subject. 1 Pet 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by </B></FONT><B>whose stripes</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><U>you were healed</U><B>.  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>The healing has already been provided. It is up to us to meet  the terms to get it.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>As far as God is concerned He has provided your healing. You just have to ask for it by faith. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>You have to build your faith for healing just like for anything else.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> The phrase “If it be your will” should NEVER be used when praying for a sick person to be healed.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > That is not faith and God cannot answer that prayer. That phrase has killed more people than all the weapons of humanity throughout history.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Just because the Holy Spirit may have born witness with your spirit that what you have read is true, you cannot get results immediately. You must build your faith by reading the scriptures above regularly or read them from the bible until you build your faith.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.   </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 10:17  So then faith </B><I>comes </I><B>by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. That means hearing and hearing.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Josh 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but </B></FONT><U>you shall meditate therein day and night</U><B>,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>The word </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>meditate  here means to utter, mutter and speak aloud which coincides with hearing and hearing in</B></FONT><B> Ro. 10:17.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>May God's richest blessings be yours.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The binding of this booklet is for ease of removal to make copies to give to other people.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If you are a Pastor, you should give a copy to each family in your church.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>SPIRITUAL </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>WARFARE</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let me say up front that it is not my responsibility to get anyone to believe God's word. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. My only job is to present the truth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare </B><I><B>are</B></I><B> not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How to win the Spiritual Warfare.</B></div> <bR> <div> God tells us in Hosea: Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: ………………</div> <bR> <div> 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your ADVERSARY the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour:</div> <bR> <div> Who is it that destroys?  An adversary, right.</div> <bR> <div> What is an adversary? This is what the Webster's Dictionary has to say. </div> <bR> <div> ADVERSARY, refers to a person, group, or personified force contending against another. ADVERSARY suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly:</div> <bR> <div> Notice that an adversary fights DETERMINEDLY, CONTINUOUSLY, and RELENTLESSLY.</div> <bR> <div> Are not Christians today, God's people? If they are, are they not being destroyed today and for the same reason as in Hosea's day?</div> <bR> <div> If you are in a war there are certain things you must know if you expect to win.</div> <div> You must know who your enemy is.</div> <div> You must know his method of operation.</div> <div> You must know what your weapons are and how to use them.</div> <bR> <div> When you hear most Christians talk you would think that God is their adversary. They say things like: God let this bad thing happen to me to teach me something. Or, God is in control so if it happens it must be His will. In fact lately I have been hearing a preacher with a huge church talking on TV about going through a lot of bad things and when he asked God, he said God told him that all of it was coming from Him because He is in control.</div> <bR> <div> Could all of that be true? Let's look at God's word for the answer.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Pet 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:</div> <bR> <div> 1. Whoa! What did Peter say? He said our adversary is the devil, did he not. If God is our adversary, why did Peter say the devil is? Could it be that the lack of that knowledge is part of the reason God's people are being destroyed? Well if the devil is our adversary, what are we to do about it? Check the next verse.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Pet 5:9  Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.</div> <div> Peter tells us that we are to resist. What does that mean? Here is Webster's word on resist. Resist: to withstand, strive against, or oppose. Strive: to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict. Contend: to assert or maintain earnestly. Assert: to state strongly or positively; I think you will agree by the time we finish that the last is the proper meaning. </div> <bR> <div> 2. Many people have the erroneous idea that we are physical beings but we are not. We are spirit beings living in a physical body in order to operate in this physical world. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jesus told us this in John. John 4:24  </FONT>God <I>is </I>a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship <I>him </I>in spirit and in truth.</div> <bR> <div> You might ask: What does God being a spirit have to do with us being a spirit?”. This is what it has to do with it.</div> <bR> <div> Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our IMAGE, after our LIKENESS: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.</div> <bR> <div> A thorough search of the Hebrew for likeness shows it means a duplicate. Therefore we are a spirit.</div> <bR> <div> One more scripture. Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man <I>of </I>the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. See. It says that man became a living soul not a living body. Webster's word again. soul n. 1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as <U>distinct</U> <U>from</U> the <U>physical</U>. </div> <bR> <div> Now that we have established the reality of us being spirit, what does that have to do with our warfare? Well, for one thing, it means that there are three sources for our thoughts. Some of course, are our own. Some are from the Holy Spirit, and some are from the devil. Look at these scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Cor 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:</div> <div> 2 Cor 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare <I>are </I>not carnal(of the flesh), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)</div> <div> 2 Cor 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;</div> <bR> <div> So our adversary, the devil, uses thoughts to bring us into captivity and to destroy those who don't know the truth. That is his method of operation.</div> <bR> <div> 3. So what are our weapons? They are the words of God spoken in faith by us. Let's check some more scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> Prov 18:21  Death and life <I>are </I>in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.</div> <bR> <div> Whose tongue is he talking about? Ours, of course. How so?</div> <bR> <div> Mat 12:37  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jesus knew what He was talking about don't you think? Look at this scripture.</div> <bR> <div> Luke 6:45  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jesus tells us here how we bring things to pass. What is in our heart is what we speak. Here are some instructions to follow.</div> <bR> <div> Eph 5:1  Be therefore followers of God, as dear children;</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, The KJV leaves us hanging because some words are not translated properly. The Greek word translated followers means imitators. So, how does a child imitate a parent? They walk, talk and act like them do they not? All the power is in talking.. How does God talk? Let's find out.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor 1:27  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;</div> <div> 1 Cor 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, <I>yes, </I>and <U>things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:</U></div> <bR> <div> Notice that God has chosen things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Well how does He do that? Check this.</div> <bR> <div> Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, <I>even </I>God, who quickens the dead, and <U>calls those things which be not as though they were.</U></div> <bR> <div> Paul just told us that God calls things which be not as though they were. If we are going to be obedient and imitate Him then we will call those things that be not as though they were.</div> <bR> <div> We are actually using our words to bring things that we don't want, or keeping things we don't want, by the words coming out of our mouth on a regular basis.</div> <bR> <div> A lot of times when people find out that the devil is their problem, they start trying to resist him but don't have any success. The reason is two fold. a. They haven't taken the time to get in God's word and build their faith. b. They don't submit themselves to God first as it tells us below.</div> <bR> <div> James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.</div> <bR> <div> Now how did Jesus resist the devil when He was here on the earth? Let's see.</div> <bR> <div> Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.</div> <div> Mat 4:4  <U>But he answered and said, </U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><U>It is written</U>, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.</FONT></div> <div> Mat 4:5  Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,</div> <div> Mat 4:6  And said unto him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in <I>their </I>hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.</div> <div> Mat 4:7  <U>Jesus said unto him, </U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><U>It is written again</U>, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.</FONT></div> <div> Mat 4:8  Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;</div> <div> Mat 4:9  And said unto him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Mat 4:10  <U>Then said Jesus unto him, </U></FONT>Get thee hence, Satan: <U>for it is written</U>, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.</div> <div> Mat 4:11  Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus didn't try to overcome the devil on His own but quoted God's word. That is our defense today but if a person doesn't know God's word, they are defenseless. Whatever God tells us to do, will not be done unless we do it.</div> <bR> <div> Today it is seldom that people come face to face with the devil as Jesus did. But the devil puts thoughts of doubt, unbelief, fear, and evil in people's minds. When those thought enter the mind the person goes with the thoughts not knowing that they are from the devil.</div> <bR> <div> Every evil deed that is done on the earth, no matter how big or small, no matter how it is done or who does it, is the result of the thoughts put into people's minds by the devil.</div> <bR> <div> Someone might ask, “Why would the devil do all of that?”. The answer is simple. He hates God with a burning passion but he can't do anything to God Himself. His only way to get at God is by causing God's children to suffer by their not knowing the truth and how to defeat him. </div> <bR> <div> Here are some more things Jesus said that Christians should know.</div> <bR> <div> Mat 21:22  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Mark 11:24  </FONT>Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive <I>them, </I>and you shall have <I>them.</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >John 16:23  </FONT>And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give <I>it </I>you.</div> <bR> <div> Do you suppose Jesus knew what He was talking about? If He did then why do so many prayers go unanswered?</div> <bR> <div> If you remember, I said earlier that our weapons are God's words spoken in faith by us. One of the biggest reasons that prayers go unanswered is because the requests are not made in faith. A person cannot ask in faith unless they know they have a right to what they are asking for. If they don't ask in faith, God cannot answer. The only way a person can know they have a right to what they are asking for is to know what God's word says about it. The only way to know what God's word says is to get deadly serious with God get in the word and let the holy spirit do the teaching.</div> <bR> <div> Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.</div> <bR> <div> Don't you know that if these people searched the scriptures to see if what the apostles told them was true, then people sure better be searching today.</div> <bR> <div> James 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.</div> <bR> <div> That is an interesting statement by James. He said if we don't do what the word says then we deceive our own selves. Naturally if we deceive ourselves it opens the door wide for us to be deceived by the devil.</div> <bR> <div> Whatever level a Christian is on concerning the word of God if they will be obedient in that and diligently seek with all their heart to learn more and be more obedient, God will give them the knowledge that sets them free.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, </FONT>If you continue in my word, <I>then </I>are you my disciples indeed;</div> <div> John 8:32  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jesus didn't beat around the bush here. He said the truth shall make you free. Shall is an imperative. It doesn't mean, maybe, hope so, possibly, if it's God's will. It means you can depend on it. </div> <bR> <div> Any child of God who meets the condition set forth in God's word, as recorded by Peter, that person will be taught by God's Holy Spirit and their lives will be revolutionized.</div> <bR> <div> Here it is. 1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</div> <bR> <div> Sadly that doesn't even hint at what it said in the original. Here is the original. 1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes intensely crave the un-deceitful, unadulterated milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</div> <bR> <div> The fact that we are told to crave the un-deceitful, unadulterated milk is proof positive that the word does get used deceitfully and it does get adulterated. When it does it is harmful rather than helpful. </div> <bR> <div> The phrase intensely crave is like a dope addict craves dope or an alcoholic craves alcohol. While I have never had any experience with either, I have talked with those who have. Those people have one characteristic in common. It doesn't matter what anyone else says thinks or does, they are going to get what they are craving.</div> <bR> <div> How does that apply? This is how. When a child of God makes the decision that they want the truth of God's word above anything else in the world and when they get it they will go with it no matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, the Holy Spirit will teach them.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT</div> <bR> <div> WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT</div> <bR> <div> <I>YOU ARE</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>An heir of Almighty God</B></div> <bR> <div> That is 100% correct. Every human is an heir of eternal life. It seems that many people don't fully realize or understand that truth. Once a person takes the necessary action to receive eternal life, the person immediately is an heir of every good thing that God has provided for the heirs. </div> <bR> <div> In order to receive an inheritance, three things are necessary</div> <bR> <div> You must know you are an heir.</div> <bR> <div> You must know the terms of the will.</div> <bR> <div> You must meet the terms of the will. </div> <bR> <div> It is our sincere desire that by the time you finish reading this, you will understand and make the commitment to receive your inheritance of eternal life if you haven't done so. If you are already a child of God our desire is that you will begin to receive every blessing that God' desires to give you.</div> <bR> <div> There are so many conflicting stories out there in the world about God and the origin of man and the earth that confusion reigns supreme. This confusion has one source. It comes from the enemy of all mankind. His name is Satan and is commonly referred to as the devil. As a result of the confusion, many people have rejected God and His son Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Every human is an heir of Almighty God because of Jesus' death on the cross. As mentioned in the paragraph above every human has an enemy whose name is Satan. He is the mastermind of all the confusion. The reason he does what he does is because he hates Almighty God with a burning passion. He can't do anything to God directly. He can only get at God by getting humans, which are the crown of His creation, to believe his lies, so God cannot bless them.</div> <bR> <div> Let's take it from the top, so to speak.</div> <bR> <div> Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.</div> <bR> <div> Here we find God using the pronouns us and our. That is a clear indication that there was more than one involved in the making of man. </div> <bR> <div> While there are those who deny that there was more than one involved in the making of man, it is because of a misunderstanding  caused by Satan. Satan doesn't want anyone to believe there was more than one, to keep them from believing in the activity of God's Holy Spirit in peoples lives and the truth that Jesus was and is God's son, sent to earth to provide the means for humanity to return to the family of God.</div> <bR> <div> Throughout God's word we find references to Him as father. The fact that He used the phrase, ”in our image and after our likeness” is a clear indication that His reason for making man was His father heart. He wanted a family that would love Him and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy, which would make Himself happy. Also, giving man authority over all of the things on the earth is an indication that He intended for man to have control over everything that God had created.</div> <bR> <div> It is very apparent that something went wrong along the way. Let us see if we can find out what it was and why it happened. We can check on one instruction that was not followed.</div> <bR> <div> It is unfortunate but the  following verse is misunderstood by many. They say that God didn't mean that they would die the day they ate the forbidden fruit but would start dying. That may be due to the fact that they don't understand what death is. Physical death is separation of the spirit from the body. Spiritual death is separation from God. So the day that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they died spiritually.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Gen. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.</B></div> <bR> <div> Satan didn't want Adam and Eve to believe that so he lied to them and they believed him instead of God.</div> <bR> <div> Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:</div> <bR> <div> As a result of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, the entire human race was born into the family of Satan. Therefore, because of not understanding that, many people believe that a person will go to hell for any number of sins. The truth is that those who go to hell do so because they stay in the family of Satan.</div> <bR> <div> Jo. 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.</div> <bR> <div> Every sin that is committed by anyone is the result of the lies that Satan tells them. This statement by Jesus should make that clear.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jo. 8:44 </FONT>You are of <I>your</I> father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.</div> <bR> <div> Probably, the most powerful and damaging lie ever told by Satan is that he doesn't exist. Once a person accepts that lie it is easy to accept the lies that hell doesn't exist, that Jesus wasn't and isn't the son of God and that God has no desire to bless His children.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jo. 10:10 </FONT>The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have <I>it</I> more abundantly.</div> <bR> <div> The thief is Satan and he steals the truth of God's word. When he does, there becomes a lack of knowledge.</div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:</div> <bR> <div> How are people destroyed? By sickness, disease, accidents and murder. What do people need to know in order to avoid being destroyed? God's children(Christians) need to know that it is not His will for them to be in a sick and in broken down body, and what He did to provide them a healthy body.</div> <bR> <div> No child of God can ask for anything in faith unless they know they have a right to it. If they don't ask in faith, God can't give it to them.</div> <bR> <div> Heb. 11:6 But without faith <I>it is</I> impossible to please <I>him</I>: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and <I>that</I> he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.</div> <bR> <div> That verse says it is impossible to please Him without faith. Here is a verse with important instructions.</div> <bR> <div> Ro. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, <I>which is</I> your reasonable service.</div> <bR> <div> That verse says to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable. Let's look at what is not acceptable.</div> <bR> <div> Mal. 1:8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, <I>is it</I> not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, <I>is it</I> not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.</div> <bR> <div> That verse leaves no doubt that God will not accept anything but a healthy body. Some will say He has changed in that because we are no longer under the law. Has He really changed? Here is His word on that.</div> <bR> <div> Mal. 3:6 For, I <I>am</I> the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.</div> <bR> <div> If He doesn't change, then He still requires a healthy body, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto, God, which is your reasonable service. That being the case, we have some more verses that shed light on it.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Pet. 2:24 Who, his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.</div> <bR> <div> Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, <I>even</I> the forgiveness of sins:</div> <bR> <div> Jesus' bearing our sins on the cross and shedding His blood is guaranteed undisputable proof that it is God's will for us to be born back into His family. Jesus also experienced two things at the cross, which are guaranteed, undisputable proof that it is God's will for his children to live in a healthy body.</div> <bR> <div> Isa. 53:5 But he <I>was</I> wounded for our transgressions, <I>he was</I> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace <I>was</I> upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</div> <bR> <div> Most all Christians are familiar with the stripes. Isaiah 52 gives the other part.</div> <bR> <div> Isa. 52:14 As many were astonished at you; his visage(apperance) was so marred(disfigured) more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:</div> <bR> <div> That came about because of what Jesus experienced while He hung on the cross. During the three hours of darkness, Jesus' body experienced the worst case of every sickness, every disease and accident that would ever touch a human body. It became so grotesque that had they been able to see it they couldn't have handled it. That was the reason for the darkness.</div> <bR> <div> Since it is abundantly clear that it is God's will that His children live in a healthy body, they should never use the phrase, “if it be thy will”, when asking for healing. The terrible reality is that using that phrase when praying for healing has caused more deaths than all the weapons of humanity throughout history. It shows a lack of faith. That is why God can't provide healing when it is used.</div> <bR> <div> We used this verse above. It talks about lack of knowledge.</div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:</div> <bR> <div> Not only are God's people destroyed for lack of knowledge but they fail to receive everything that is rightfully theirs as children of God, due to lack of knowledge. So, let's look at some things that are lacking.</div> <bR> <div> They don't truly know who they are as children of God. They just think of God as the all knowing, all powerful, creator in heaven. They don't fully understand why He made man, so they miss the reality of His being father even though they use the term father. God made man because of His father heart. He wanted a family that would love Him and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy which would make Him happy.</div> <bR> <div> LK. 12:32 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jo. 16:24 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Now that we have established the reason God made us, let us consider some other reasons Christians don't get everything that is rightfully theirs.</div> <bR> <div> They don't know what is rightfully theirs. Therefore, they don't know what they have to do to get what is theirs. So it stands to reason that they don't know how to do what they must do.</div> <bR> <div> How do we find out what every Christian has a right to? Here is a verse that is important. </div> <bR> <div> Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated <I>us</I> into the kingdom of his dear Son:</div> <bR> <div> Since God has already translated His children into the kingdom of His dear son, it stands to reason that everything there, is available when anyone meets the conditions given in God's word.</div> <bR> <div> The conditions are simple. Be obedient and ask in faith. So how do you get the faith? Here is how.</div> <bR> <div> Ro. 10:17 So then faith <I>comes</I> by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.</div> <bR> <div> The word hearing has the sense of hearing over and over until your faith reaches the point that you have no doubt. In reality, true faith is a lack of doubt. Where there is no doubt there is faith.</div> <bR> <div> <B>MT. 21:22 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> It must be pointed out that in the above verse and most others in the New Testament, the Greek word translated ask, is not like our word ask. If we ask someone to do something, it is their prerogative whether they do it or not, but that word ask is a demand for something due.</div> <bR> <div> In order to give a clear understanding of that, let us digress for a bit. Let us check some verses in Hebrews chapter 9.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Heb. 9</B><B>:</B><B>14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?</B></div> <div> Heb. 8:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions <I>that were</I> under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. </div> <bR> <div> We must point out that one of the meanings of the Greek word translated testament is devisory will.  This next verse indicates that will is the proper translation.</div> <bR> <div> Heb. 9:16 For where a testament <I>is</I>, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. </div> <div> Heb. 9:17 For a testament <I>is</I> of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.</div> <bR> <div> Since will is the proper translation, the word ask being a demand for something due, means that when we have met the terms we have a legal right to what we are asking for.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Ps. 37:4</B><B> </B><B>Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart.</B></div> <bR> <div> That verse indicated that whatever we desire, is God's will for us to have unless it is contrary to His word.</div> <bR> <div> So how does one obtain eternal life? </div> <bR> <div> Here is your answer.</div> <bR> <div> Ro. 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.</div> <bR> <div> Believe in that verse does not mean mental assent. It means believing so strongly that you place the destiny of your soul on it and will not back down from the belief and confession.</div> <bR> <div> When you believe that strongly and ask God to save you, He will honor your request and will make you a new person with new desires.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man <I>be</I> in Christ, <I>he is</I> a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.</div> <bR> <div> Any time a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they come into God's family as spiritual babies. As such they must be fed the milk of the word to grow.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jo. 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, </FONT>Simon, <I>son</I> of Jonas, do you love me more than these?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > He said unto him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him, </FONT>Feed my lambs.</div> <bR> <div> The very first responsibility of a pastor is to feed new Christians the milk of God's word. The second responsibility of the pastor is to feed the sheep. Those who have grown. They are to be fed the meat of God's word.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jo. 21:16 He said to him again the second time, </FONT>Simon, <I>son</I> of Jonas, do you love me?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > He said unto him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him, </FONT>Feed my sheep.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto you were not able <I>to bear it</I>, neither yet now are you able.</div> <bR> <div> We are admonished to be doers of God's word.</div> <bR> <div> James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.</div> <bR> <div> When a child of God fails to do what God's word tells them to do, not only do they deceive themselves but, they open the door for Satan to deceive them, steal from them and destroy them.</div> <bR> <div> Paul tells us about every word being established. </div> <bR> <div> 2 Cor. 13:1 This <I>is</I> the third <I>time</I> I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. </div> <bR> <div> That indicates that we need to read all of the verses dealing with a subject. In other words, we need to read the other verses that are given for the superscripted letters.</div> <bR> <div> However, it is easy to lose your concentration when looking for those other verses.</div> <bR> <div> In order to solve that problem, the Integrated New Testament was created. Here is a sample.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>JOHN</B></div> <bR> <div> Jo. 3:4  Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?</div> <div> <B>Jo. 3:5  Jesus answered, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Verily, verily, I say unto you, </B></FONT><B>d</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>d. Mk. 16:16  </B></FONT><B>He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned</B>.</div> <div> Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.</div> <div> 1 Pet. 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:</div> <div> Jo. 3:6  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:7  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:8  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >The </FONT>e<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell where it comes from, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.</FONT></div> <div> e. Ecc. 11:5  As you know not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so you know not the works of God who makes all.</div> <div> 1 Cor. 2:11  For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.</div> <div> Jo. 3:9  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, fHow can these things be?</div> <div> f. Jo. 6:42  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he says, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >I came down from heaven</FONT>?</div> <div> Jo. 3:10  Jesus answered and said unto him, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:11  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak what we do know, and testify what we have seen; and you receive not our witness.</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:12  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:13  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And </FONT>g<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.</FONT></div> <div> g. Pro. 30:4  Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell?</div> <div> Jo. 6:33  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >For the bread of God is he which came down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 16:28  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.</FONT></div> <div> Acts 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand,</div> <div> 1 Cor. 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthly: the second man is the Lord from heaven.</div> <div> Eph. 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?</div> <div> Jo. 3:14  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And </FONT>h<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:</FONT></div> <div> h. Num. 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.</div> <div> Jo. 3:15  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >That who ever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.</FONT></div> <div> Jo. 3:16  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >For </FONT>i<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who ever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.</FONT></div> <div> I. Ro. 5:8  But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.</div> <div> 1 Jo. 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.</div> <bR> <div> As you can see the Jesus Is Lord Integrated New Testament is of great benefit in studying God's word because you don't lose your concentration on what you are studying because you don't have to look up the reference scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> The Jesus Is Lord Integrated New Testament is on a CD. It is in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect and PDF formats. The Adobe Reader is included. The INT is also available on 3.5” floppy disks in Microsoft Word and Word Perfect formats. The format desired must be specified for floppies.  The price is $15.00 for the CD. $5.00 for the floppies.. Send check or money order to: </div> <bR> <div> Glory Publishing</div> <div> 1410 Holmes Rd</div> <div> Eva, AL 35621</div> <bR> <div> We are convinced that those who have an extremely strong desire to know God's word so that they can get the greatest blessings of God will learn more in a shorter time with the Jesus Is Lord Integrated New Testament. Many people who have purchased it in printed form over the last 7 or 8 years have said that they learned more.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> You need to be fully aware of the fact that when you decide to build your faith to receive what Jesus died to provide for you, the devil will attack you either in your thoughts or physically to try to get you to speak words of doubt. It only takes one word of doubt to dig up the seed you plant.</div> <bR> <div> THE WISDOM OF GOD IS HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD</div> <div> <I>FIND OUT WHY</I></div> <bR> <div> Do not, I repeat, do not try to act on what you read in this booklet until you have read the scriptures over and over and there is no doubt in your mind that it is God's will for you to have everything listed here.</div> <bR> <div> Due to a lack of understanding, many people think that they can read God's word just like they read a newspaper and they will understand it. </div> <bR> <div> Fortunately this is not the case because, the truth of God's word and how to use it is so powerful that if it could be obtained that way, evil men would use that power for destruction.</div> <bR> <div> God's word makes it abundantly clear that only those who have been born again(back into God's family) can get the understanding and even they have to meet conditions given in His word.</div> <bR> <div> We are told in Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….  Sadly that hasn't changed over the years because Christians are still being destroyed by sickness, disease, accidents by people who are controlled by Satan, by weather forces, which some people erroneously call acts of God.</div> <bR> <div> Let us look at some scriptures concerning the wisdom of God then we will look at some others.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, <I>even</I> the hidden <I>wisdom</I>, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: It says hidden wisdom.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known </B><I><B>it</B></I><B>, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: It says princes of this world.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: It isn't received automatically.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Cor. 2:10 But God has revealed </B><I><B>them</B></I><B> unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Note: The knowledge and understanding are revealed by God's Spirit.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> If we must have faith to please God then it is of utmost importance that we know how to get it. This next verse gives the answer.</div> <div> 1 Cor. 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: Only the Spirit of God knows the things of God.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: Paul was talking to Christians.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: He is reiterating the fact that only by the Spirit of God do we get understanding.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know <I>them</I>, because they are spiritually discerned. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: Natural means one who has not been born again.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: He means that a Christian who has met the terms to be taught the truth understands thing of the spirit but those who haven't met the terms does not understand him.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: Only those who have been taught by God's Spirit have the mind of Christ.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Now let us look at some more vital scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> Heb. 11: 6 But without faith <I>it is</I> impossible to please <I>him</I>: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and <I>that</I> he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: The Greek word translated diligently seek means to crave. Of course if a person craves something they will definitely diligently seek it.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Heb. 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note:  Substance means the assurance. In it's simplest term, faith is believing that what is said in God's word is true.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Ro. 19: 17 So then faith <I>comes</I> by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: Hearing here has the sense of hearing God's word about a particular thing over and over until we know for sure that we can act on it. It doesn't mean just reading it silently.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Note: The words meditate means to speak aloud. It coincides with Ro. 19:17 above. There is a reason for reading aloud. There is a physical parallel. For example if a person goes to the Doctor and the Doctor prescribes some medicine, how it is administered is determined by the severity of the problem. If it is something minor the medicine will be given by mouth or a shot in a muscle. But if it is critical it will be given in the vain so it will go almost directly to the problem. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Reading Gods word silently is like getting medicine by mouth or in a muscle. Reading aloud is like giving a shot right into a vain. Reading aloud sends the word directly to the spirit without having to filter through the brain.</div> <bR> <div> If a person doesn't know that they have a right to something they can't ask for in faith God can't answer their prayer. In fact praying without faith is a sin. Look at this verse.</div> <bR> <div> Ro. 14: 23 And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because <I>he eats</I> not of faith: for whatsoever <I>is</I> not of faith is sin. Note: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >While this verse is dealing with eating certain foods the statement “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” applies to everything.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> My desire is that you may be benefited by this and that you will get God's greatest blessings</div> <bR> <div> If you benefited from this or any other of my writings and want others to benefit, please make copies and give to them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> What makes you think you can call God a liar and still receive blessings?</div> <bR> <div> You don't do that, do you? Well don't get mad. Take time to read this and you will find that you more than likely are in effect doing just that.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>I use provocative titles to get people's attention.</B></div> <bR> <div> If you believe God's word means what it says doesn't it make sense to do what it says to do? So let us look at some things we are specifically told to do and some things Jesus has clearly indicated we are to do.</div> <bR> <div> John 14:15 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >If you love me, keep my commandments.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> That is clear. Are you doing that?</div> <div> John 14: 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.</FONT> </div> <div> John 14:24 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> John 15:10 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Here are two very interesting statements concerning keeping Jesus' commandments.</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. </div> <div> 1 John 2:4 He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.</div> <bR> <div> John 14:13 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> That sounds simple enough doesn't it? But how many times have you asked God for something in Jesus' name and never received it? Did you not receive them because it wasn't God's will or was it for some other reason?</div> <bR> <div> Maybe it was for this reason. You didn't meet the requirements. The word ask in that verse isn't like our word ask. That word ask is a demand for something due. It means if we have met the requirements given in God's word.</div> <bR> <div> Here is one of the requirements. It says that we get what we ask because we keep His commandments.</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So if keeping God's commandments is required for us to get our prayers answered then it behooves us to find out what His commandments are, that we are to keep. Right?</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. </div> <div> 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, </FONT>Why do you call me good? <I>there is</I> none good but one, <I>that is</I>, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Here they are:</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 19:18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,</FONT> </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 19:19 </FONT>Honor your father and <I>your</I> mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</div> <div> Matthew 19:20 The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, </FONT>If you will be perfect, go <I>and</I> sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come <I>and</I> follow me.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.</div> <div> <B>Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.</B></FONT><B> </B></div> <div> Matthew 19:24 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.</FONT> </div> <bR> <div> Quite often when that verse is mentioned, someone will say, there was a small hole in a wall over there that a camel had to get on it's knees to go through. So it means we must humble ourselves. That is not what it means. Look at verse 26.</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 19:25 When his disciples heard <I>it</I>, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? </div> <div> Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld <I>them</I>, and said unto them, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jesus clearly states that with men it is impossible and this next verse explains it.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Mark 10:23 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, </FONT>Children, how hard is it for them that <U>trust in riches</U> to enter into the kingdom of God!</div> <bR> <div> What it all comes down to is, that if anyone wants their prayers answered and to be blessed they must keep the commandments given by Jesus.</div> <bR> <div> FYI. Here is refutation of the idea that many have, that God uses bad things to bring His children in line.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?</FONT></div> <bR> <div> May God's richest blessings be upon you and your loved ones.</div> <bR> <div> Go here for more information. http://godsbest.com.</div> <bR> <div> <I>IT IS EASY TO BLAME GOD</I></div> <bR> <div> That statement is the absolute truth. In fact, as a rule, we had rather blame God than to take responsibility for ourselves for the bad things that happen. What is the response when someone who has learned how to be blessed tells of something that they have experienced? It is usually, “you are lucky”.</div> <bR> <div> Our only enemy, Satan, the devil has been so successful in deceiving God's children that most of them have accepted the lie that God is responsible for everything that happens whether it is good or bad.</div> <bR> <div> The truth is that we and we alone are responsible for everything that happens in our lives. I know how hard that may sound and to accept but it is true never the less. God has been bringing this to my attention for a long time, at least a couple of years. He made it clear to me today that I must write this article.</div> <bR> <div> The following verse, although Jesus is talking about a fig tree and a mountain, sets forth a principle that applies across the board.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jo. 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, </FONT>Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this <I>which is done</I> to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.</div> <bR> <div> The key words are “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >have faith and doubt not</FONT>”. The simple fact is that when we have faith concerning something, there is an absence of doubt. What is faith anyway? In regard to God's word, it is simply, believing that God told the truth. When it comes to the things we believe about those things, there is no doubt in our mind that our statement is true.</div> <bR> <div> As little as we might think about it, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >if we think about it at all</FONT>, the negative things we say, we believe more strongly than the positive things we say. For example. “I believe I am coming down with a cold”. Almost always when a person makes that statement, the cold comes on with a vengeance.</div> <bR> <div> On the other hand, we are prone not to confess, “I am healed” even though God's word says we are. We make the excuse that if we say we are healed when we are sick or in pain we would be lying. We are not to make the statement based on how we feel but we are to make the confession based on the fact that God's word says it is so.</div> <bR> <div> Isa. 53:5 But he <I>was</I> wounded for our transgressions, <I>he was</I> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace <I>was</I> upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.</div> <bR> <div> The question is, are we going to believe God told the truth and say what His word says or are we going to say God lied? The reality is that if we are unwilling to say what God's word says about it, we are calling God a liar.</div> <bR> <div> Here are some scriptures that deserve serious study.</div> <bR> <div> Pro. 18:21 Death and life <I>are</I> in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.</div> <bR> <div> Whose tongue? Yours. Some common statements concerning death. “When God decides to take us”. “When God gets ready”. “If it's God's will”. </div> <bR> <div> What does this verse say about the length of our life?</div> <bR> <div> Ps. 90:10 The days of our years <I>are</I> threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength <I>they be</I> fourscore years, yet <I>is</I> their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.</div> <bR> <div> What is a score? It is twenty, so threescore is seventy. Nowhere in God's word does it give a shorter time for our life. But every promise of God is based upon complete obedience.</div> <bR> <div> We found in Pro. 18:21 that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Now, let's look at some verses in the new testament concerning our words.</div> <bR> <div> Mt. 12:37<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned..</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Jesus' statement is very clear, is it not.</div> <div> Lk. 6:45 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Do you study God's word? If you do, why do you study it? This is the only legitimate reason for studying God's word.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. </div> <bR> <div> Rightly dividing the word of truth is critical in all areas but especially the four gospels. Here is an example.</div> <bR> <div> Mt. 6:33 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> That verse does not apply to Christians. Why? Here is why.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated </B><I><B>us</B></I><B> into the kingdom of his dear Son:</B></div> <bR> <div> We are in the kingdom. We don't have to seek it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Cor. 5:21 For he has made him </B><I><B>to be</B></I><B> sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</B></div> <bR> <div> We have been made the righteousness of God. We don't have to seek it.</div> <bR> <div> Meet these conditions and God's Holy Spirit will teach you the truth of Gods word and it will revolutionize your life..</div> <bR> <div> 1 Pet. 2:21 As newborn babes, desire (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >intensely crave</FONT>) the sincere (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >un-deceitful, unadulterated</FONT>) milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:</div> <bR> <div> <B>DO YOU KNOW</B></div> <div> <I>THE</I></div> <div> <B>CREATOR</B></div> <bR> <div> A lot has been said and a lot has been written about the origin of man.</div> <bR> <div> There is much controversy in the world about whether there really is a creator. We have all heard the evolution theory. It should be clear to any one with even average intelligence that the theory of evolution is only a theory with no basis in fact.</div> <bR> <div> In order for evolution to be valid, things left to themselves, would still be evolving to higher forms. Of course this is not the case. All things left to themselves, remain the same until they die. In addition, there had to be the beginning for something to evolve from. End of discussion.</div> <bR> <div> Since there is no validity to the theory of evolution, we are brought face to face with the fact there is a creator. So let's be honest and consider what type of being the creator is and why he/she would create the earth and the inhabitants thereof, including man.</div> <bR> <div> We know that we live in an orderly universe, governed by physical laws. If a creator cared enough to create an orderly universe for man to live in, why would that creator deal with man, which is the highest of creation, in a disorderly manner?</div> <bR> <div> What I mean by dealing with man in a disorderly manner is, causing all of the religions of the world to exist. Religion or what we call religion is what we think about the creator and his/her dealings with man.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > Let's look at what the Bible calls religion.</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. We see from this that religion is action, rather than what we think about God or His word<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So, why was man created? Unless we understand why man was created, we can never know the creator in reality. Was man created simply because the creator had the ability to do it? Was man created so the creator would have someone to beat up on? Some religions seem to think that was the reason. Others think it was to have someone to worship Him. Or was man created because of love?</div> <bR> <div> Most religions that are called Christian, seem to think love prompted the creation of man. If love was the cause of man being created, then the Creator does not intend to deal with man in a disorderly and haphazard manner.</div> <bR> <div> If man had been created for any other reason than love, then there would be no logical reason to look for and fellowship with Him. Because man is a result of love, then it behooves, us to seek to know and fellowship with Him.</div> <bR> <div> The Christian Bible gives us an accurate account of the creator God, the purpose of man's creation and man's relationship to Him. Sadly, very few people understand what is written therein. There is a clear reason why so few understand what is written in the Christian Bible. In fact, the lack of understanding is what causes people to make statements  like, “We are all headed to the same place and it doesn't matter if we disagree”.</div> <bR> <div> The creator is called God in the Christian Bible in the English language and always is referred to in the masculine gender.</div> <bR> <div> (From here on the Christian bible will be called the Bible word of God.)</div> <bR> <div> We are told in the Bible that God is love and He is referred to many times as Father. It is easily seen from this that man was created because God wanted a family who would love and obey Him by choice. That is why He made man in His own image and in His own likeness.</div> <bR> <div> Satan, who is the opposite of God in purpose and desires, is presented to us in the first book of the Bible. He is portrayed as the originator of evil and the enemy of man. Satan is also a creation of God. Some people ask why Satan was allowed to tempt man. It is simple. Since God wanted His man to love and obey Him by choice, two things had to be available to choose from. Otherwise there could have been no choice.</div> <bR> <div> Why does God want a family to love and obey Him by choice? So He can bless them so they can be happy and thereby  cause God the Father to be happy. We learn this from the following scriptures. </div> <bR> <div> John 16:24 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Luke 12:32 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Everyone should understand that there is nothing but good in His kingdom.</div> <bR> <div> Those who have children and love their children know that it makes them happy when they are able to make their children happy.</div> <div> Why has this not been apparent all along? Simple. Satan, who hates God with a burning passion, cannot do anything to God directly. He must get at God through man. Therefore, he must deceive man about the reality of God and His desire to bless man. It breaks God's heart when He cannot bless his family.</div> <bR> <div> We are told in the book of Genesis that Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. What was the result of that deception? Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator and brought about both spiritual and physical death for themselves and their descendants after them<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> It might be asked, "How did that get at God?”<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT>John 3:16<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > in the new testament states clearly that God so loved the world (His man) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him would be saved. That is, born back into the spiritual family of God. Restored to fellowship with the Father.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Why is there a need to be saved? Because the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the spiritual death which resulted, separated God the creator from His creation, (family). Remember that it was love for a family that caused Him to create man, and His heart was grieved by the separation.</div> <bR> <div> God and man's arch, enemy (Satan) has been very successful in deceiving man about his creator and exactly what God did to restore man to Himself. Satan has succeeded in convincing man that God is man's enemy. In addition, he has also created many religions to further the deception.</div> <bR> <div> Many times in the New Testament, we are told that those who have been saved (born again into the family of God) are heirs. Heirs means there is a will. Where there is a will, the testator (the person who makes the will) must die to put the will into effect. The new testament from Acts 1:1 through the last verse of Jude, is the will that makes us heirs. Chapter 9 of the book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus died to put the will into effect.</div> <bR> <div> Where there is a will, someone in authority has to examine it and declare it to be valid or invalid. We call that probating and it is done by Probate Judges.</div> <bR> <div> God the father was the Probate Judge that looked at the will Jesus put into effect, even before it was written and declared it to be valid. Then He sent His Holy Spirit to tell us all that we had inherited, the terms of the will and to empower us to meet the terms.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >God the Father is also the administrator of the will. When Jesus used the phrase, “Whatever you ask in my name…”, the Greek word ask means a demand for something due, In other words, when we meet the terms of the will for what we have inherited and asked for in faith, we have a legal right to it. We find these words,</FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Isa. 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare you, that you may be justified</FONT>, </div> <bR> <div> That means that when we come to God for anything, we are to tell Him what the will says.  If we have met the terms we can get it then. If we haven't met the terms He will tell us so we can meet the terms and get what we need.</div> <bR> <div> All of the above being true, what have we inherited? The first thing everyone who has been born on the earth is a heir of is eternal life. That means a never-ending child-father relationship with God the Father.</div> <bR> <div> The terns of the will for receiving eternal life are given in these verses, Ro. 10:9-10 If we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.</div> <bR> <div> When any man, woman or child meets those terms and receives eternal life, they are instantly eligible for everything else in the will, provided they meet the terms for each of those things.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The following illustrates how even believers have dealt with the word of God. A wealthy man died, leaving a will with the following terms his heirs had to meet to receive their inheritances. The terms were that each heir had to dig a hole 8' x 10' x 6' deep with a pick and shovel. When the will was read, one of the heirs got excited, took a backhoe and dug a hole with the exact dimensions. But since he didn't do it with a pick and shovel, he didn't get his inheritance so he said, “I guess it wasn't God's will for me to have it”. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Another heir was a mathematician and instantly recognized that 8' 10' x 6' is 480 cubic feet. So he got a pick and shovel and dug up 480 c.f. of dirt but the hole was 20' x 12' x 2'. As with the other heir, since he didn't meet all the requirements, he didn't get his inheritance and like the other said, “I guess it wasn't God's will for me to have it.</B></div> <bR> <div> The third heir said, “If it is His will for me to have it, I will get it. He did nothing and when he got nothing he used the same refrain as the other two.</div> <bR> <div> The forth heir took a pick and shovel, dug the hole to the specified dimensions. He received his inheritance and the others got mad at him. That is the typical attitude of many Christians when they see some one meet the terms of the will and get their inheritance. They get even madder at the one who met the terms when he/she tries to tell the others how to get their inheritance.</div> <bR> <div> What else have we inherited? What about these? Peace that passes understanding, joy unspeakable, happiness, health and prosperity.</div> <bR> <div> If it was reported by the news media that Donald Trump had died and shortly thereafter you received a certified letter from the administrator of his estate stating that he had left you a million dollars, provided you meet the exact terms of the will, you would surely seek to know and meet the terms.</div> <bR> <div> You have inherited far more and greater things from the creator. Why not be as zealous, study the will, meet the terms and receive what you have inherited.</div> <bR> <div> If you met the terms given above to become a child of God then here is the next step. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes, desire (intensely crave) the sincere (un-deceitful, unadulterated) milk of the word that you may grow thereby.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> When you have met that condition, God's Holy Spirit will teach you what you have to do and how to meet the terms of the will for every good thing you can ever imagine and some you might not think of on your own.</div> <bR> <div> P.S. If you are going through a time of discouragement and despair and want some spiritual help, feel free to call 796-6744 any time.</div> <bR> <div> Printed by Glory Publishing, 1410 Holmes Rd, Eva, AL 35621.</div> <bR> <div> Feel free to make copies and give to others. May God richly bless you and yours.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> MYTHS</div> <div>  AND MISCONCEPTIONS</div> <bR> <div> <B>There are many myths and misconceptions about God's word that keep people in bondage.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, </B></FONT><B>If you continue in my word, </B><I><B>then </B></I><B>are you my disciples indeed;</B></div> <bR> <div> John 8:32  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>If people are not free in any area it is because they do not know the truth or they are not acting on it. In all probability, they do not know the truth because they do not meet the conditions set forth in the following verse.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Pet 2:2  As newborn babes, desire(</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>intensely crave possession )</U></B></FONT><B> the sincere</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>(un-deceitful</U></B></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>unadulterated</U></B></FONT><B>) milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:</B></div> <bR> <div> The phrase intensely crave possession is like a dope addict craves dope or an alcoholic craves alcohol. They have one characteristic in common. It does not matter what anyone else thinks, says or does, they are going to get what they are craving.</div> <bR> <div> How does that apply to a Christian? It applies like this. When a child of God makes the no back down decision that they want the truth of God's word, above anything else in the world, and when they get it they will go with it, no matter what anyone else says, thinks or does, and even if they find that some of the things they had believed, weren't true. When they want it to that extent, God's Holy Spirit will teach them and it will revolutionize their life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Misconceptions about the Word of God that allow Satan to kill and destroy.</B></div> <bR> <div> M. God will not put more on us than we can bear.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor 10:13  There has no <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>t</U></FONT>emptation<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U> (adversity [ad·ver·si·ties. 1. A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune. 2. A calamitous event.</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><U>])</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT> taken you but such as is common to man: but God <I>is </I>faithful, who will not suffer <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>(permit)</U></FONT> you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear <I>it.</I></div> <div> Notice it says make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it. It is up to the person to take the way to escape.</div> <bR> <div> James 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted(t<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ested</U></FONT>), I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,( <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>injurious:--bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome</U></FONT>,)  neither tempts he any man:</div> <bR> <div> These verses should prove to anyone that God doesn't have to test anyone.</div> <bR> <div> Isa. 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I <I>am</I> God, and <I>there is</I> none else; <I>I am</I> God, and <I>there is</I> none like me,</div> <div> Isa. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times <I>the things</I> that are not <I>yet</I> done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:</div> <bR> <div> Since He declares the end from the beginning, He knows how we will respond to anything.</div> <bR> <div> M. God's permissive will.</div> <bR> <div> Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what <I>is </I>that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.</div> <bR> <div> We are instructed to prove the perfect will of God.</div> <bR> <div> God has one will which is good, acceptable and perfect. We are either in it or out of it. When we are in that will He can protest and bless us. When we are out of that will, we are out in Satan's territory and he can do whatever he wants to and there is nothing God can do about it.</div> <bR> <div> M. Paul's thorn in the flesh was a physical ailment.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Cor 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn  in the flesh, the messenger (angel) of Satan to buffet (punish) me, lest I should be exalted above measure.</div> <bR> <div> Paul's thorn was a demonic spirit that went everywhere Paul went, stirring up the people against him.</div> <bR> <div> God is consistent in His use of terminology as evidenced in the following scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> Num 33:55  But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them <I>shall be </I>pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell.</div> <bR> <div> Josh 23:13  Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out <I>any of </I>these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.</div> <bR> <div> Judg 2:3  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be <I>as thorns </I>in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.</div> <bR> <div> The term thorn is used like we would say a person is a pain in the neck.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.</FONT> Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</div> <bR> <div> Many people take that verse to mean that Paul had to live with the physical disability the rest of his life. The reality is that God was telling Paul the he knew God's word, what his authority was and how to use it and for him to use it.</div> <bR> <div> This next verse is an indication that Paul exercised that authority. </div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of <I>them </I>all the Lord delivered me.</div> <bR> <div> After enumerating everything he had been through, Paul said that the Lord delivered him out of all. Why did the Lord deliver him? Because he exercised his authority to use the name of Jesus to overcome those things.</div> <bR> <div> M. God uses bad things to chastise us.</div> <bR> <div> Heb. 12:6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.</div> <bR> <div> Actually, the Greek word translated chasten means to teach and train.</div> <bR> <div> Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to <I>his </I>purpose.</div> <bR> <div> If that verse is taken to mean what it seems to, then every bad thing that happens would be included. Fortunately it isn't talking about physical experiences.</div> <bR> <div> The Greek word translated work means co-worker, fellow laborer. Co-worker is a person. That person is the Holy Spirit. The verses just before verse 28 are talking about what the Holy Spirit does. Therefore, verse 28 really means all things the Holy Spirit does.</div> <bR> <div> Even without that information people should know that it didn't mean bad things because few good things come from bad things happening. The reality is that more people turn away from God when bad things happen than those who turn to Him. Since God already knows how everyone will respond to things that happen to them, He would be evil to cause bad things to happen, knowing the person would turn from Him.</div> <bR> <div> Another verse about chastising.</div> <bR> <div> Heb. 12:8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.</div> <bR> <div> If chastisement included bad things happening, then based on the above scripture, everyone who experienced bad things would be considered children of God even if they denied the existence of God. On the other hand, those children of God who knew how to avoid experiencing the bad things would have to be considered as fake Christians because they weren't being chastised.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture <I>is</I> given by inspiration of God, and <I>is</I> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:</div> <bR> <div> The Greek word translated instruction is the same one translated chasten.  So the only things that God uses to chasten or teach and train His children are His word and His Holy Spirit. They are the only things that are exclusive given to Christians.</div> <bR> <div> Eph 5:1  Be therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children;</div> <bR> <div> As shown in parenthesis the original said to imitate God as dear children. How do children imitate their parents? Do they not walk like, talk like, and act like them?</div> <bR> <div> That verse is just as much a commandment as if it was on tables of stone or in red letters. That being the case, if God had anything what ever to do with bad things happening to His children, then we are commanded to do or cause bad things to happen to our children.</div> <bR> <div> M. We never know what God will do.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor 2:9  But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.</div> <div> 1 Cor 2:10  But God has revealed <I>them </I>unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:</div> <div> 1 John 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.</div> <bR> <div> The only way to know His will is to know His word. In fact we are told to try the spirits whether they be of God.  </div> <bR> <div> 1 John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.</div> <bR> <div> What spirits is he talking about? First of all we have three sources of thoughts. Some are strictly ours. Some are from the Holy Spirit. Some are from Satan. False prophets are following the teaching they receive in their mind from Satan. Therefore we are to test whatever we hear someone say about biblical teachings, by the Word itself. We are to check our own thoughts by the bible.</div> <bR> <div> No matter who says the bible says something or means something, if it will leave you in bondage, it isn't so.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>REALITY </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>CHECK</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Let me begin by saying that I am not responsible for getting anyone to believe any of the word of God. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. My only job is to present the truth.</div> <bR> <div> Please read this article carefully and prayerfully because it contains the truth of God's word that can revolutionize your life.</div> <bR> <div> Note: From time to time the same scriptures will be used. This is done for emphasis just as the same statement is used numerous times in God's word for that reason. It is of utmost importance that every child of God realizes where we are on God's timetable.</div> <bR> <div> Every child of God must spend more time in God's word and build their faith in order to be able to overcome the attacks of Satan as we head into the last days.</div> <div>  </div> <div> You cannot wait until you are in desperate situations to build your faith. It doesn't work that way.</div> <bR> <div> There is a possibility that you will read things in this article that you have never read or heard before. If you read prayerfully with a desire to serve God and be blessed by Him, His Holy Spirit will give witness with your spirit that these things are true. When this happens, you cannot begin to operate on it immediately. You will have to read and read until faith comes before things will work for you.</div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 11:6 But without faith <I>it is</I> impossible to please <I>him</I>: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and <I>that</I> he is a re-warder of them that diligently seek him.</div> <bR> <div> The Hebrew word translated as diligently seek actually means to crave. Of course, if a person craves something they will diligently seek it.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 10:17 So then faith <I>comes</I> by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. </div> <bR> <div> The word hearing in that verse has the sense of hearing and hearing until faith comes. Hear is another verse that backs that up.</div> <bR> <div> Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.</div> <bR> <div> The Hebrew word translated meditate, means to utter, mutter, speak aloud which conforms to Romans 10:17.</div> <bR> <div> The following verses accurately describe the way things are today and are the reason that Christians must get deadly serious with God so He can give them divine protection and provision as things continue their downward spiral.</div> <bR> <div> 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days <U>PERILOUS</U> times shall come.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Tim. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, </B></div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, </div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; </div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. </div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, </div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim. 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Here are some verses from the Old Testament that describe the world today also.</B></div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because <I>there is</I> no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. </div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. </div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yes, the fish of the sea also shall be taken away. </div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for your people <I>are</I> as they that strive with the priest. </div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:5 Therefore shall you fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, and I will destroy your mother.</div> <bR> <div> Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. </div> <bR> <div> As you have read verse 6 says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Since God's children are being destroyed today, isn't it logical that they are being destroyed for the same reason? Isn't it also logical that they are doing the same things they did then for the same reason?</div> <bR> <div> Let us look at some of the knowledge that the average child of God lacks that allows them to be destroyed.</div> <bR> <div> They don't know fully who they are as children of God. They only think of God in terms of His all powerfulness. They don't understand the reality of Him as father. They don't know why He made man. They think He made man just to worship Him.</div> <bR> <div> The truth is that He made man because of His father heart. He wanted a family that would love and obey Him so He could bless them and make them happy, which would make Himself happy. We see this from the following two verses.</div> <bR> <div> Jo. 16:24 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your JOY may be FULL.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> LK. 12:32 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good PLEASURE to give you the kingdom.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Many Christians think they have to die to get all that God has provided for them. That is due to a lack of knowledge. </div> <bR> <div> Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated <I>us</I> into the kingdom of his dear Son:</div> <bR> <div> There are two important truths in that verse. </div> <bR> <div> One is that God has delivered us from the power of darkness. What does that mean? It means that Satan(who is the power of darkness) no longer has any authority over us.</div> <bR> <div> The second thing is that we are already in the kingdom of God's son and everything in it is available to us when we meet the terms given in God's word.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Until a child of God knows that they have a right to something, they cannot ask for it in faith and God cannot give them what they are seeking unless they ask in faith.</B></div> <bR> <div> For example, two of the ways that people are destroyed are by sickness and disease. Few people live in a healthy body and don't have to take any kind of medicine.</div> <bR> <div> Yet, just as Jesus shed His blood and took our sins at the cross for our soul, few people know that He went through two things there for us to live in a healthy body.</div> <bR> <div> Most Christians only know about one of them. They know that Isaiah 53 says that “with His stripes you are healed” and Peter said “by His stripes you were healed”. Isaiah 52 tells the rest of the story.</div> <bR> <div> Isa. 52:14 As many were astonished at you; his visage(appearance) was so marred(disfigured) more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:</div> <bR> <div> That disfigurement didn't happen from the beating. It was the result of what Jesus went through while He hung on the cross. During the three hours of darkness, His body experienced the worst case of every sickness, disease and accident that would ever touch a human body and it became so grotesque, had they been able to see it they couldn't have handled it. That was the reason for the darkness.</div> <bR> <div> Not only do we have that as proof that it is God's will for His children to live in a healthy body, we have these verses.</div> <bR> <div> Ro. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, <I>which is</I> your reasonable service.</div> <bR> <div> It is clear from that verse that we are to present out bodies in sacrifice. If God is willing to accept a broken body in sacrifice today He has changed.</div> <bR> <div> Mal. 1:8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, <I>is it</I> not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, <I>is it</I> not evil? offer it now unto your governor; will he be please