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I noticed while going through all the discussion groups listed, that BC does not have a library of recommended reading material which, along with God's word "the Bible" might be of benefit to other believers. If I have missed something, please let me know.
If you have suggestions of Christian materials which might benefit another person on this site, please let us know the name of the book/publication, the author/publisher, and where this might be obtained.
Bibles come in numerous translations but are all the Word of God. What Bible do you use, and why is it meaningful to you?
In setting up this site, I would like to let everyone know that they would please stay to the topic intended for the use of others who may be in need of information.
God Bless all who respond, and thank you.
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The Holy Spirits Ministry
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Nov 1, 2009 7:30 pm
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1 Thessalonians 4:8
"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit." KJB
Every believer should have some awareness of the Holy Spirit and His work in their lives, but unfortunately some choose to ignore the small voice within them and do what they want anyway. If there is no such awareness then the chances of salvation are negligible and the relationship with God is nil if at all. In fact Paul tells us this: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9) KJB. Therefore, we need to earnestly look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit and what He has to do with your life.
Those who have come to the saving grace of Jesus could not get there on their own but rather were prompted by the Holy Spirit of wrong doing and their need for a Savior. All, who have come to that point, have been urged or convicted by the Holy Spirit prior to their salvation. Now, from the world's slant on things, that is where the ministry of the Holy Spirit is and should remain. We see, through the teachings of Christ Himself, that He is sent to "...reprove the world of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16: KJB. Which He does very well indeed or we who are saved would not be so. We all needed to be reminded that we are sinners who need the righteousness of God placed on us rather than our own righteousness. The Holy Spirit, in acting on the behalf of the Father, draws us into a very personal relationship with the Father and gives to us the enlightenment of our sins and confirms to us that we do not have any righteousness, or right standing, with the Father and our need for Christ's righteousness is the only way we can come to the Father and He, the Holy Spirit, is confirming to us that we will stand in judgment of our sins unless we accept the righteousness of Christ.
Now, reproof from the Holy Spirit has but one single goal: to bring about the regeneration of our hearts towards a just and Holy God and to give us the witness or proof that we are the children of God through accepting the Lord as our Savior. Until we do that we are not the children of God, despite what the world teaches. (Titus 3:5; Romans 8:16) KJB. We are born from above, right? (John 3:3) KJB and we are made a new creature by the Triune Godhead (2 Corinthians 5:17) KJB. Paul reminds us through his writings, and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that we are created like Christ, in "righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24) KJB. The Holy Spirit renews or rebuilds our "dead" spirit, and makes us alive and well. (1 Peter 4:6) KJB. In other words, without the ministrations of the Holy Spirit in our lives we would still be dead and sick because of the sin which we inherited from Adam who was the first to be thus, dead to their disobedience to God. (Romans 5:12) KJB.
Without the Spirit filled life we would never be able to live for God in no way what so ever. We are filled with the Holy Spirit at the instant of salvation and we will never receive any more of the Holy Spirit than that day and time. Without the unction or anointing of the Holy Spirit within our lives we could not be of any service to God. Now, salvation is only the beginning of life. Even though we might come to God at an age later than someone else we cannot truly live until He comes in and makes our souls alive unto God and it is through His prompting that we live each and everyday. When we do not have this prompting, it is not the Holy Spirit which leaves us but rather us who leave Him or rather ignore Him. The Lord will allow things to happen in our lives to get our attention and until we recognize those things that God is allowing, and maybe causing, we cannot live a total and complete life. Life in Christ is much better than a life without Him working in our lives.
Now, salvation, like I said, is only the beginning! Once regenerated or "born-again" the Holy Spirit sees that we are lead to all truth, the truth which lies in Christ and Christ alone. (John 16:13) KJB. The Holy Spirit is what John calls, "the Spirit of truth" and He will lead us to truth. Even though we might have read the Bible before salvation, we cannot learn the truth without the "Spirit of truth" directing us into this truth and He will. The Holy Spirit will not invent new truth for us to learn but will lead us only to the truth which is in His word, our Bible, regardless of what some might think. Before salvation we do not have the ability to learn the truth or understand His word, the Bible, but after salvation, the Holy Spirit opens up a new and wonderful world for us to explore. When I was in Vietnam, being there as a Mormon, I read the Bible several times and could not hardly understand any of it, but after I received Christ some 19 years later I was able to understand what I was reading. Even though I read it before, many times, it was after my salvation that I was able to understand it. That is the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life. The Holy Spirit will take the truth from the only source that is truth, His word and that is straight from the mind and heart of God.
Now, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are both sanctified positionally and progressively. (2 Thessalonians 2:13) KJB. We are sanctified at the instant of salvation but we are also made more so by the Holy Spirit directing us into the Word of God as we learn and mature as God's children. Also, with the power of the Holy Spirit, (Acts 1:, we are able to give forth fruit (helping others to learn of Christ), and to help us build them up in their faith. Paul tells us about this in his epistle to the church at Galatia. (Galatians 5:22-23) KJB. When we come under the filling of the Holy Spirit, or when the Holy Spirit moves in our lives, because as I said we do not receive more of the Holy Spirit for at salvation we have all we will ever have, we have the power of God to lead others to Christ's saving grace. That is the power we have, the power to be His witnesses to others around us, across the nation and around the world.
Now, I pray that we all have the glorious ministry of the Holy Spirit and that He may be ours as our Lord promised and that we all learn how to practice what He commands us to do, to be His witness to others so that they to may come to Him and make disciples also.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Grow in Faith
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Nov 1, 2009 3:36 pm
100 Views
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Hebrews 11:13
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." KJB
Every single believer needs to grow in their faith because it does not come automatically and in full force at the time of conversion but rather is a growing part of our belief. Each believer also should hold fast to the faith and it should never waiver because when our faith waivers in the slightest Satan uses that against us: sometimes without even our realizing it. Every believer faces many challenges through their life but there are at least two of them which at times is very difficult to handle. The first thing is that we cannot see heaven with our physical eyes and so without that our earthly nature sometimes has a hard time with the very idea of heaven and without that our minds seem to question whether or not that there even is a heaven. The nation of Israel, as they stood on the far bank of the promised land finally realized that it actually existed but for the forty years that they wandered through the desert they could not help but think the same thing that a modern Christian cannot help but ask: "Is the promised land actually there?" The writer to the Hebrews, which I believe is Paul, in our text for today was very aware that this question could lead to doubt and that doubt could lead to being highly discouraged and at the end might cause some to fall by the way side. He wrote this: "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:38-39) KJB. Notice that this seems to say that someone might be able to lose their soul but does it actually say that? NO! It says, "...if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." A parent does not stop loving a child when that child disobeys but rather does not have any pleasure in the fact that the child did disobey. The same thing is said there.
Even though we cannot see the promised land or heaven, does not mean that it is not there! However, by complete faith, we can "...see [it] afar off". Because remember, "...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) KJB. Now, our Bible is a very good source for finding out that heaven actually exists and when we study it out we cannot help but realize that it is true. Our faith is found in the Word of God and not in man. Paul seems to tell us that there is a very special power in the Word of God which enables believers to be able to grow in their faith because we read: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them." (Romans 1:17-19) KJB. I know, you are probably thinking, wow, it takes faith to be able to grow in faith. Faith is actually the fuel or energizer which helps us to have greater faith and that is illustrated in our text for today very well. Hebrews chapter eleven has been deemed as the "faith chapter" of our Bible because we read about Noah, Abraham, and many others in regards to their faith. They believed God and did what He told them to do and that took great faith. Take for instance Noah. He preached to those around him for over 100 years and yet not one believed him when he told them about what God was going to do with the flood. Only eight souls were saved at that time and the rest of the world, man, animals and plants died out during that forty days and forty nights of rain and the waters which came from the deep. These in this "faith chapter" had seen the promises of God by faith and not by sight. Abram (Abraham) went forth not knowing where he was going and yet he stepped out in faith and went. These in Hebrews Eleven showed their faith by their actions and it was their faith which helped them to grow in more faith. These promises were so real to these wonderful giants of faith that they "embraced them" (the promises) like we should do as believers in Christ and our walk with Him. We grow in our faith and walk as we learn of Him and what He did for us. We also grow in faith as we read about our sins and sin nature. I want you to realize something, it is only through our faith and making it as an integral part of our lives that we are able to grow and mature as Christians.
Our churches are full of "babes" in Christ because they refuse to learn about Him, so there faith does not come through that word and therefore it does not grow. The only way we can grow and mature as Christians is to learn more and more about the Lord.
Now, another challenge that we all face each and every day is the fear of the world's coming against us in some shape or fashion. We are told over and over again in the word of God that the world will come against us, that, we can take to the bank, by faith. The world does not like what a Christian stands for, and that is the Word of God. Now, this fear of what the world can do to us will stop many believers from being a witness for Him and will actually stop them from "confessing" their faith. Now, I realize that this might be a stop to some but to others it is a "dying faith", even though it is difficult to speak up when ones life is in the balance. Paul says: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) KJB. And then to the church at Philippi he said: "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed , but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:20-21) KJB. This should be the attitude of every believer or should I say true believer. We should not faint when it comes to proclaiming our faith to the world because the world can do nothing to us, the true us. Sure they can kill the body but the soul will live for all eternity.
Now, like nothing else can, the shouting forth from the roof tops the gospel of the living Christ helps us to build our faith in Him and it truly honors Him. So, if you want to grow in your faith, learn of Him in our Bible, then proclaim Him to all the world, even though that world might kill you. The question is, are you ashamed of what Christ did for you on the cross? NO! Then prove it!
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Not of Private Interpretation
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Oct 31, 2009 7:09 pm
130 Views
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2 Peter 1:20-21
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." KJB
I find it interesting to note that when it comes to the Bible, and when you are speaking to someone about those Scriptures, the statement which I hear the most is: "That is your own opinion." But unfortunately, those who say that, generally are those who say they are Christian. The Greek word here is the one "idios" which in literal sense means "by one self" or rather by yourself. You see, if we try to read the Bible and we interpret it by what we understand without God's help then we are doing the interpreting by ourselves. It is interesting to note that Paul tells us about this in his first epistle to the church at Corinth for he said: "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. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:12-14) KJB. I want you to notice something that Paul said here, and I will attempt to paraphrase it so that I can tell you what Paul was saying. Notice first off, Paul said "Now we have received...the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." He said, it was through the Holy Spirit that he was able to speak about what God gave to them, the truth.
Then He said in the next verse this: "...we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." He said, "We speak, not through the wisdom of man, but rather through the guiding of the Holy Spirit and we compare the things of God (spiritual) with other things of God (spiritual).” In other words, Paul said that Holy Spirit will guide us unto all truth which is found in the word of God, comparing Scriptures with Scriptures.
And then Paul continues to define what he is saying: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." In other words, without the Holy Spirit guiding them, the natural man (unsaved) cannot understand the things of God because it is the Holy Spirit within the saved who will let us understand the things of God. In other words, Scriptures are of no private interpretation: you cannot understand them alone, but with the Holy Spirit we can understand them.
I want you to understand something. The natural man (unsaved) when they read or hear the Word of God, they are doing it alone, without the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words their "...heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing..." and will not be able to "understand" what they are reading nor will they understand the things they are hearing, unless the Holy Spirit draw them. Their minds and their hearts are bound by their inability to understand and they will fall back on their own opinions, stubbornly denying the One who draws them to salvation.
First off, the Word of God, our Bible does not need to be interpreted in the least, because when we are saved He will give us the interpretation at the time we need to have it interpreted for us. As I have said many times in past devotionals, before I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, I read the Bible several times and each and every time I had great difficulty understanding what it was about. However, when I received Christ, the pages of my Bible were opened to me and I finally could read it and understand what I was reading. Now, I want you to understand something, I did not get a complete understanding of the Bible at the time of my salvation, 14 April, 1988 at 3:30 PM. Throughout the years since, the Lord has opened my understanding at the time I needed it. Why? To help others come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
In every other New Testament reference to "interpretation", and not in our text for today, we see that the word means to "explain" or "to give exposition for". Now, the simple truth is, that in the other verses it is a simple matter of translation and does not need to be interpreted nor does it need to be corrected, which many attempt to do. Our Bible does however, need to be properly translated and it was done during the reign of King James around the first part of the 17th century. Now, some try to tell you that even the King James has gone through numerous corrections or revisions, but those corrections were only for spelling or the proper use of words and not to change what the translators did when they translated the Greek and even Hebrew into English. It is true that the English language does not completely translate directly from the Greek or the Hebrew but if we start thinking that God is not able to make sure that His word is pure in no matter what language that it is translated into then we are falling into one of Satan's greatest traps, "Yea hath God said?". God has the power to keep His word pure and true and if we as His creation start thinking that He is not able to, then we soon fall by the side because of our doubts. And when that happens, Satan wins.
Our God is able to say what He means, and is able to keep what He says pure and above reproach, no matter what Satan tries to say or do to it. In past times He used the prophets of the Old Testament to faithfully write down His word, with the help of the Holy Spirit guiding them. He is able to keep His word pure and without mistakes even in the New Testament era. "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89) KJB. Also, when it comes to preserving the Word of God, we need to read this: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." (Psalm 12:6-7) KJB. In other words, God said it, and He shall keep it, no matter what man might try to do to it. So, when we think that what we have is not the pure word of God, then doubts arise and we are told over and over again the doubt about God's word is sin, pure and simple.
We are told, as God's children that our Father wants to communicate to us through His word, that is why it is so important to study it and to simply read it. His authoritative Word to all men and women should never be doubted nor should it be ignored because it is through the Word where we learn of the One who saves our souls and is saving us from the wiles of the Devil by the constant hiding of it in our hearts. Now, to all students of the Bible [and we all should be] He says: "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:3-9) KJB.
Remember, to say today that we do not have the pure word of God, then we fall for Satan's trap and the results of that trap is DOUBT. Also, we cannot interpret His word without Him being in our hearts, in other words, the Word of God is of no private interpretation, we need the Holy Spirit to know it rightly. It takes not one, ourselves, but God needs to be there also to understand what He has for us.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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So Very Very True
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Oct 31, 2009 1:49 pm
105 Views
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I received the following via e-mail this afternoon, and found everything said to be so very very true.
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to
church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the
truth......"
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with
their
SAVIOR."
"Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is
broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish
dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship
with
JESUS CHRIST."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from
gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that vital connection
throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he answered....
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to
work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty
lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from
the
pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small
voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive."
To keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home
and
see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays
non-biblical
music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes,
and
every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services
and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become
dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too!"
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin
to
look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Schedule important News Confrences and other "important" events during
worship services and bible study."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on GOD'S creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and
movies
instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip
and
small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power
from JESUS."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their
health
and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere
to get busier & more rushed, going here & there.
Having little time for their GOD or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.
I guess the question is...has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
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Cleansed White as Snow
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Oct 31, 2009 1:33 pm
130 Views
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Daniel 7:9
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." KJB
This vision of Daniel's, of the everlasting God who is sitting on His great judgment throne, uses the phrase "white as snow", which occurs six times in our Bible, is rather fascinating wouldn't you say so? This phrase is simply a visual picture of God's righteousness or pureness because when you picture pure white snow in a pristine environment. I think that there is nothing which can give us a better visual reference that pure white snow when it comes to the righteousness of God. Have you ever looked on a fresh snow field in a wilderness and thought about how marvelous it looks, even though in your mind you cannot help but feel the cold? I do not know about you but I love to see a fresh, white snow that has been lain down and think of how pure it is.
Now, the phrase "white as snow" is used twice to picture the Lord's cleaning of our souls from iniquity, which is most often pictured as being dark and evil. David confessed his own sin to the Lord by saying: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:1-2, 7) KJB. And then Isaiah said: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:1 KJB. Now, Isaiah is picturing actually what the cleansing blood of our Lord Jesus and is the only substance which can be blood-red and still cleanse as "white as snow." Wow, what a great picture of what the Lord does to our sins. Now, it is not the "actual" blood which does the cleansing but it is what that shed blood from the Lamb of God did on the cross as Jesus died for us and it is His sacrifice of His own blood on that altar which the Father sees and not our sins and because of that we are passed over and seen as clean by Him. Now, no one can come unto the Father except under the blood of Jesus Christ and it being applied to the door posts of your heart. Just as God saw only the blood applied to the door posts of the Israelites during the time when God was judging the Egyptians and the Pharaoh's hard heart.
Then when Christ ascended at the Mount of Transfiguration we read this: "And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." (Mark 9:3) KJB. Now, the disciples were looking on the Lord and was once again given confirmation that Jesus is the Son of God, even as the booming voice from heaven said. We read this in the Gospel of Matthew, we read: "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17:5) KJB.
Also at the tomb we something of this "white as snow" raiment, for we read: "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:" (Matthew 28:2-3) KJB. Now, the last thing that I want to bring out is the vision of John the Revelator and we read: "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." (Revelation 1:12-16) KJB. Notice that verse fourteen once again, gives us the picture of the pureness of God, being Jesus in His purified Holy Body, by using the phrase "white as snow", this being a picture of the Lord as He comes to judge the seven churches.
It is fantastic to think that as the Lord's raiment (clothing) and the raiment of the angels is the very same pureness that one day we too will show forth. Praise the Lord for His marvelous pictures of righteousness that He gives us in His word. We see the angels of God, the transfigured Lord and both are in the raiment which was white as snow letting us know that they are pure in righteousness. We actually have the phrase "white as snow" being used eight times in our Scriptures, five from the Old Testament, and three from the New Testament. Two of the times in which this phrase is used does not speak of pureness of only of color, because both times it tells us the color of one being leprous. Being leprous has always been used to visualize sin and unrighteousness. (Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27) KJB. The rest of the six times gives us what righteousness looks like, being pure and holy.
What about you, are you cleansed "white as snow" by the blood from the Lamb of God? Or is your soul still dark and evil, being not saved? Let the blood cleanse you from that and turn your soul as "white as snow".
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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History of Halloween
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Oct 31, 2009 10:53 am
89 Views
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Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual?
The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.
One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.
Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.
Probably a better explanation of why the Celts extinguished their fires was not to discourage spirit possession, but so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach.
Some accounts tell of how the Celts would burn someone at the stake who was thought to have already been possessed, as sort of a lesson to the spirits. Other accounts of Celtic history debunk these stories as myth.
The Romans adopted the Celtic practices as their own. But in the first century AD, Samhain was assimilated into celebrations of some of the other Roman traditions that took place in October, such as their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which might explain the origin of our modern tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween.
The thrust of the practices also changed over time to become more ritualized. As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts, and witches took on a more ceremonial role.
The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.
The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven.
The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree.
According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer.
The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember.
So, although some cults may have adopted Halloween as their favorite "holiday," the day itself did not grow out of evil practices. It grew out of the rituals of Celts celebrating a new year, and out of Medieval prayer rituals of Europeans. And today, even many churches have Halloween parties or pumpkin carving events for the kids. After all, the day itself is only as evil as one cares to make it.
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Forever Love
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Oct 31, 2009 8:38 am
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Ecclesiastes 9:9
"Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun." KJB
Our text for today was written by King Solomon and it's advice goes through and beyond mere intellectualism, the worlds pleasure, all kinds of riches, and every kind of power. Solomon said all of that is nothing more than "...vanity and vexation of spirit..." (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Even though God gave to him the greatest gift one could give to another, that of wisdom, he failed more times with just pleasing God.
Solomon had 700 wives, and even though the book of Proverbs says that these were more trouble than they were worth, they were still "princesses" most often for political purposes were made one of Solomon's wives. Now this does not take into count all of the concubines that he had. However it is interesting to note that the Bible only speaks of one son, Rehoboam and two daughters. Solomon could probably speak on the subject of love more than anyone else in the world because of the gift that God gave to him, that of wisdom. His one son was born before he became King and his mother Naamah was more than likely the only woman he truly loved. (Look at 1 Kings 11:42; 14:21). Solomon wrote the "Song of Songs" which more than likely spoke of his wife and his love for her. His other wives were more than likely just for political reasons, which is only my opinion, but it only seems logical because of what is actually recorded about his first love, Naamah.
At the time of of his life when he was faced with death it only seems logical that he would want to give advice to the young men and that his advice was to "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity." (look at Proverbs 5:18-19 also). Our Bible does not speak on the subject of marital love or romantic love but rather speaks on what has been termed as Biblical love using the word "agape" which is the strongest form of love that one could have for another. So, when romantic love is spoken of it is rare indeed. Such love that is spoken of between the bridegroom and the bride is very note worthy indeed. We are often called, as disciples of Christ, as being the bride whom the bridegroom (Christ) is waiting for.
We are told in our text for today to "live joyfully" and the very same word is translated as "alive", therefore, Solomon was telling us to keep that new love alive and joyful through our whole marriage. I know, it is hard to do. We are different in nature therefore it is only natural that we will, at times, have conflict but we are still admonished to "live joyfully" through our whole marriage. Our world today does not get married but rather lives together, then they can leave one another because there was no commitment to marriage. There is no marriage vows, so if it does not work, then they can just leave without feeling guilty. Jesus made vows to us that if we would come unto Him He would give us comfort and love. When we accepted Him as Lord and Savior, He said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, that is His vow to us His bride. He is almost ready to come back and receive us unto Himself, as our bridegroom, so let us prepare ourselves as His bride to "live joyfully". This earthly life is not what our eternal life is to be with Him in heaven but rather is a "life of thy vanity", meaning this is not what our life will mean in heaven with our eternal bridegroom. But our earthly marriage should resemble our heavenly marriage, in that we should "live joyfully" with each other and reflect Christ in all that we do. He is our example of how we should act towards one another. As Christ loved us to the point of death, then we should love Him the same way, for all our lives, even unto death.
It will not be easy, but with His help we can love each other as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. So, what about you, do you love Him enough to give your life for Him?
By Dr. Terry, Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Hastening the Lords comming
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Oct 31, 2009 8:20 am
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2 Peter 3:12
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" KJB
Our Bible tells us that we cannot know the time of the Second coming of Christ, so how is it that we can hasten that day? The answer seems too simple to be true, but it is by bringing it closer by being the witnesses for Him that He commands us to do. If all the worlds born-again Christians would actually do that command, then the day of His coming will be brought closer. The actual phrase which is used can also be understood as "hastening the coming" of our Lord's day.
We are given numerous signs of that day that our Lord will come back and defeat Satan and bind him for a thousand years, then loosed for a time then cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. Our Lord also said that no on could know or determine the exact time: not even Himself. We read this from the Apostle Mark: "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32) KJB. Because at the time, when He said this, He was still in His very limited human form, yet still being God, however, it seems that it depended upon what the disciples would do after He returned to heaven to be with the Father to "hasten his coming."
As I said earlier, He said: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1: KJB. As I said, Christ told us, "...ye shall be witnesses unto me..." which is the key to hastening His second coming. This was not only a command but also a prophecy because we would be His witness to all the nations of the world and now, because of satellite communication and the ability to travel easier over the whole world, we are closer to that happening than at any other time in history. In what has been called our Lord's "Olivet Discourse" He said: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14) KJB. So, you see, it depends on how we go forth and be His witnesses to all the world, which is the key to that coming back. There will be sometime, or somehow, that this is accomplished and only God knows the day in which the last person to receive Christ would happen. Every tribe on this planet will be reached, because we read from John the Revelator said: "...of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" in heaven (Revelation 7:9) KJB. Therefore, John's prophecy will include all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues (different languages and dialects of that language) before He comes back.
We read again in 2 Peter this: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise" to come again and He desires "...that all should come to repentance..." (2 Peter 3:9) KJB. Therefore we should understand and "...account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (2 Peter 3:15) KJB. As I said before, no one but the Father knows who the last convert will be, so if we want to hasten His coming back, we should be those witnesses and reach the darkest corners of the earth with the Gospel because we know that the Gospel is what saves and if we "...love his appearing..." (2 Timothy 4: KJB, we can "...hasten his coming..." by doing what we are commanded to do in the first place, so let us get this gospel over the entire world so we can go home for this is not our home but rather simply passing through.
What about you, have you been His witness for Him? If no, then why not? Understand this, if we as His disciples, do not witness for His names sake, that hastening of His coming will be delayed, is that what you want?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Natures Reliability
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Oct 31, 2009 8:15 am
55 Views
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Genesis 8:22
"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." KJB
We are so set that we hardly realize what God did when He set the Earth a certain distance from the Sun. If it was just a little closer the heat would not be to our liking because we would not be able to live in it and if it was any further away from the Sun it would be too cold. But when we think about the seasons we do not worry about it much. When it is cold we know that spring is just a round the corner and when it gets hot in the summer we know that autumn will come soon. The problem is we do not think of how important it is, even when the Sun goes down each night we are not worried because we know it will come back up in the morning.
Now, if we did not have the seasons as we have them now it would soon become extremely hard on us. There would be problems with our science and even the technology that we have, both being based on the assumption that like causes would produce like effects, can you see the impossibility of this? The times of each day are constant, they change because of the slight tilt of our planet, which needs to be there because if it wasn't we would not be able to live on this earth. The physical constants are what effects our everyday living. The earth's rotation controls the day, the earths movement around our sun controls the length of our years and the earth's tilt effects the seasons. Secular scientists, however, have no explanation for this. Our God does however, when He said that this world was created for man and made each and everything just the way it is so that man could have all these things. But secular scientists would try to tell you that it only happened by chance as the dust and gases were brought together. I want you to understand that the best answer is simply that God's gift of grace to His creation man is the only explanation which makes sense.
In fact, what we have now has only been on this planet after the flood during Noah's day. After the flood, the earth no longer had the mist that surrounded the earth causing an earth wide green house effect. But after the flood, the mist was no longer there. You can go anywhere on this earth and find evidence of this fact and also the evidence of the flood. This earth, at one time was totally green on land and blue over the one large sea, but because of the flood, we have what we have now. The separate continents and the ice caps at both ends of the earth. When God gave to Noah a promise of this earth's continuity, the changing of seasons, He did it so that man could till the land during the spring, let it grow over the summer and harvest it in the autumn, then leave the ground fallow during the winter so it can recover. This promise to Noah has been kept by God for over 4,000 years and will only change when Jesus remakes the earth, at least that is what I believe.
How can anyone look at His creation and not say that there is a God and that God loves us dearly? There is such beauty when the sun first comes up each and every morning and when it goes down each and every night. But, we know we will have both, the sunset and the sunrise, why, because God promised that it would be so. We read this: "And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:15-17) KJB.
Now, should we not thank our God, our Savior for all these things that He has created just for us? He created all the plants that we might have something to eat, He created the animals for the same thing. But, unfortunately, we have not taken very good care of what He has given us. Now, we need to thank God for what he has given to us. Thank Him today and praise His holy name.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction,Co.
Used with permission
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Cosmetology and the Christian
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Oct 30, 2009 2:20 pm
105 Views
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1 Peter 3:3-4
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." KJB
When we read the word of God and we come upon words contained therein that we wonder about, we need to get a good Strong's Concordance and learn what they mean. And I find it interesting to find out that a word we use frequently comes from another language and we adopted it into our language defining it sometimes a bit differently but we use it none the less. Take for instance the two words in Greek which are translated as "adorning" in our New Testament but are actually "kosmos" and "kosmeos" which we get our English words "cosmos" and "cosmetolgy". Now, "cosmos" is the entire universe and it's very ordered system of planets, stars and even suns, but our word for unordered system is the word "chaos" or "chaotic". It is surprising to note that our English word, "cosmetics" also comes from the same Greek word and speaks about taking something and adorning it, changing it from a seemingly disordered something to something ordered and beautiful. Some of our modern day women, and now even some men, cannot leave their homes without making something they think might be ugly into something beautiful and ordered.
However, for the Christian, Peter lets us know that it is not for the Christian that true cosmetics should not be used to change the outward appearance but rather that the Holy Spirit change and beautify the inward person. When our lives are changed by the Spirit of God or rather the Holy Spirit, He changes the inward confused heart into one of beauty. Our hearts before salvation are in chaos and ugly because our souls are dark and nasty but when the Light of God, Jesus Christ comes into our hearts at salvation, that is changed into something of beauty. Paul tells us about the Old Man when he said: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) KJB. Did you notice that at the time of salvation that you felt different inside, that something had changed deep within your soul, you felt at peace with yourself for the first time? That is the Holy Spirit coming in, cleaning house and changing your soul from total darkness unto the Light of Jesus' love. When our hearts are changed from that of dark chaos to that of purposeful "cosmos" (universe) and through "cosmeos" (ordered system) the changes are dramatic to the point of others seeing those changes. When I see someone make a seemingly decision for Christ and do not see any change in their appearance (outwardly and inwardly) I tend to doubt that salvation, because God is in the business of changing us. When we are changed on the inside that change, sooner or later, will make it's way to change the outward also. I have seen people whose only outward wear was things of evil (t-shirts that have death or destruction on them) to wearing clothing which reflects Christ and His changing the heart. Before salvation we do not see these things nor even care but after salvation we cannot seem to do the same things we used to do, that is true salvation. When our spirits or souls are changed by the Holy Spirit we seem to have a gentle and quiet spirit and that is reflected by our outward peace and radiates outward so that others see and want the same thing, that is the Holy Spirit changing the Old man into the New man.
Also, the Apostle Paul urges us or reminds us that "Christian women" need to "...adorn themselves in modest apparel...not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Actually, the true Christian has not only the quiet and gentle spirit, but true cosmetology is the works that reflect Christ and not self. As John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) KJB. Until we learn this vital lesson it will be about us and not about Him. If we adorn ourselves, not only women but men also, then we are not reflecting Christ. So let us all say with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Finally, the last thing that the Christian need to realize is that the beautiful cosmetic should be Christ reflecting Himself through us, for we read: "Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" (Titus 2:10-12) KJB. In other words, we need to "adorn" Christ in all things. Let us be all we can be for Christ, for when we do that we are doing the will of God.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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