All Discussion PAGE 2368

Sheila,

"I'm in need of learning to pray better " What is lacking in your prayers? I spoke once with a brother in Christ who said

he didn't know enough of the Bible to pray better. What he meant was, he didn't remember passages verbatim, with book, chapters and verses. As Christ taught us, a prayer is not a repitition of words( Matthew 6:7). Even what the Lord said is disregarded in that some people repeat his words as a prayer itself. Instead Jesus spoke of a manner of prayer, in which he spoke of the matters on his heart. Therein is what God wants to hear from us, the matters on our heart. I hear you saying you do that already, what more would make your prayers better?

Chuck the "dynamite teacher" has been an encouragement to you and we all have someone who has taught us in the things of God. Their words and mannerisms stick with us as a vital part of our learning. It is great to be on the receiving side of people who have dug out the gems in the mine of God's word. As we grow in grace we should be miners ourselves and in our turn pass on gems, you can and will also. Your prayer for God to touch us with his love and grant us comfort and peace is very much appreciated, thank you sister. I will remember you in prayer also as a dear sister in Christ who prays from her heart.

This phrase "shedding of blood for sin", stems back to God's Laws that required that when certain sins were committed (e.g. murder, adultery, witchcraft, homosexuality, child sacrifice, etc.), the penalty for those crimes was death. This was so, as God considered them so heinous, that they were not to be tolerated among His people, Israel. Today, many of those crimes are not considered so by most countries & even tolerated or encouraged - such is our world today.

So, if we then look at how God looks at sin in us as well, each one of us stands guilty before Him, as even one sin makes us guilty of all. If guilty, our punishment is also death (i.e. our blood has to be shed & Hell is our destination) & the only way to escape it, is by offering God some payment or restitution. But what could sinful man offer for his sins to escape death & Hell? Since all our good deeds are also tainted with sin, there is nothing that God could find acceptable from us.

God knew that nothing we could do or offer Him could get us freedom from death, so for Israel many years ago, He instituted a temporary system whereby they could offer a pure unblemished animal to God as payment for their sins. Since payment for sins was required (as God is Holy & Just), God accepted this type of sacrifice that kept Him from destroying them & though it did not continually deal with their sin (as they had to make offering each year), God had a plan where HIS Offering would be given that would be fully acceptable to Him.

And so Jesus, God's Son came to this World for that sole purpose to express His Love for us, that He willingly offered Himself as our substitute in death ("the Just for the unjust" 1 Peter 3:18). He didn't have to, but His Love compelled Him to do so because there was no other way for us to escape. So instead of us dying & going to Hell (which is our punishment), Jesus took our place & this was acceptable to God. So that's why One had to die (blood shed) for sins: it's God's requirement.

The women mentioned here, were able to share what they had with Jesus & His disciples, as they were continually moving about in the ministry with no place to call home. So, most likely food would have been prepared for them & for their journey. And maybe they did some repair work to their clothing, or even supplied some newly sewn clothes or night covering for their needs.

I have ,and read King James Bible. Do not see a book called " ESDRAS"

We don't know anything about him, except that he was the Apostle Paul's scribe for this letter to the Roman believers. Paul often had others to write for him, as we suppose, he had some problems with his eyes. See Galatians 6:11, where he himself writes to them in large, bold letters (rather than a lengthy letter).

PLEASE pray for my Mom, she isn't in good health and isn't feeling well. Please pray that the LORD will restore her physical health to her. I also have a request that is very important that I ask prayers for. Thank You. PLEASE pray for her, please.

Who was Tertius?

please keep Kristie and myself in your prayers , pray the LORD give her strength and courage to face her challenges ahead , please pray the walls that separated us be removed once and for all

So, I looked at Colossians 3:18 in my KJV & it gives only a single cross reference, & that to Ephesians 5:22, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

And to me, this cross reference seems more appropriate, as it is still the same (human) author (Paul) relating the same thought to both the Colossian & Ephesian Christians. And in Ephesians, Paul is stating his "fit in the Lord" is the same as his "unto the Lord".

If your KJV is directing you to Ephesians 5:3, then I'm sorry, I can't see the connection at all. May I ask which KJV you are using, whether it's a particular Study or Reference Bible? Mine is the Ryrie Study Bible. In asking that of you, I would be interested in any of the other readers of this thread to check their Bibles & see what the cross reference is to their Colossians 3:18 verse (whether similar to yours, mine, or another). I remained mystified to your cross reference & would like to do further examination on this.

To us, who understand the Word differently to the Roman Catholics, their belief & performance of Transubstantiation is one of the most important & revered aspects of remembering & partaking of the Lord. We generally think that they are re-sacrificing Christ by this act - they see that it's not a re-sacrificing, but that the Presence of Christ is evident in the bread & wine, without these being materially changed or even by smell or taste.

When they consider John 6:48-58, they believe that Jesus spoke to the people of having to actually partake of His Body & Blood so that their sins may be forgiven & His Life & Blessing may be transmitted through them. That these elements mystically change during the Mass & re-convert afterwards, continue to give their adherents this belief that they are truly partaking of Christ Himself. Apart from being a false understanding of what the Lord was saying (e.g. when He spoke of the Living Water), this belief, along with many others, holds RCs solidly to the Church, lest by leaving her, they should fall from the Grace of God. And that is why for any leaving that Church, would be an extremely difficult decision to make, both in their mental & spiritual areas. But once free, they are free indeed.

And RCs will readily admit to Christ's physical presence in Heaven, yet for the purpose of the Mass, the elements can be changed & received as such. Even while sitting with His disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus spoke about this matter with them ( Matthew 26:26-28): He was physically present, when they partook of the bread & wine, none of Jesus' Body & Blood were missing, but yet the RC remains convinced that even at the Table, those elements changed mystically.

So, I wonder whether we can make an accusation against them of sacrificing Christ at every occasion of the Mass. It really is their misunderstanding of what Jesus spoke & intended for His disciples to comprehend & practise & their compelling others to be deceived by such a belief.

Have a prayer request to rent a house... Plz pray so that we could sell it within a week

Hello brother,

I'm glad to hear that. So at 200 denominations I really could not even grasp at all the differences. I totally agree with you in being followers of Christ and to help sharpen each other in the Word of God without strife or division. Also that there is only one truth. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who has different beliefs than you? I have and always try to be respectful. Sometimes it is better to just back off as others may not agree and have their own view. As even some of my dear brothers, probably most, on here do not agree with me on a thing or two. This does not bother me because I love them and as they are my brothers in Christ I could not ask for anything else.

God Bless you.

Also, Psalm 25 is pleading to God to save us from the reproach of people. In this present world that we live in, quite a number of people patiently wait for our downfall especially as Christians so that they could mock us and speak ill of the God that we serve. King David like many of us to have these people waiting for him to be put to shame, Psalm 25 is written to plead to God to rescue him from the plans of his adversaries. So also us who call on the name of God day and night and we that have refused to compromise our faith, the Psalm 25 should be our anthem day and night to always remind God to remember his promises concerning those who believe in him.

Isaiah 66:17 In the day of The Lord those believing they are upright by the law shall have their hypocrisy revealed.

For the Father hath put all things into the hands of His Son, Christ Jesus.

By fire and by the sword (the Spirit of God and the Word of God) The Lord will see to it that they which foolishly deny The Lord's power and omnipotence are consumed by the letter of the law.

Question.... what do it mean "ministered unto

Him of their substance"?

Why is the shedding of blood need for the taking away sin

Kindly pray for my children to make a commitment to serve the Lord.

Pray for my grandsons 24 and 25 for a productive career path.

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson and I am requesting for prayer that God will heal me of this disease. I have been told that there is no cure for this disease but I know that Goe is a healer and he has asked us Christians to pray one for another. So, please pray for me

Matthew chapter 24 is directed to the Jews in Jerusalem, whether the ever increasing sorrows that come upon the World or more specifically, to the time of the Anti-Christ who proclaims himself as the Christ & begins to cause the Jews even greater hardship. So, in verse 15, when the Jews see this "abomination of desolation" standing in the Temple, then they need to get out quickly (run for their lives). To flee into the mountains without returning home to grab anything. Nursing mothers will find it hard because of the responsibility to their babies. And "pray that your flight be not in Winter, neither on the Sabbath Day, for then shall be great tribulation": and this means that if their flight (fleeing) into the mountains should fall on a Winter's Day or on the Sabbath, then there would be problems for them with the cold weather & restrictions of movement & work on the Sabbath.

This was given with the then Jewish culture & economy in mind. How this warning is translated into today's understanding, can be debated, given the developments of cities, of policing, of transportation, etc. Though I feel that the essence of the message is of the time of horror that is to come upon Israel, & will spread throughout the World, making it difficult for both Jew & Gentile as they have to answer to the Anti-Christ. And then of course, God also opens up the heavens to pour out His Wrath, so that coming time will be dreadful to those remaining on the Earth, to say the least.

Please pray for Megan Haggerty of CT and the Haggerty Family of CA. They are generational occultists. Their ancestors sold them into satanic slavery generations ago and so they have been brought up in satanism from birth without a chance to know Jesus' love for them. Please pray the precious blood of Jesus over their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

Also, pray for me and my family which have been getting attacked and cursed by them.

I'm not sure any amount of Scripture searching or study will help you to be more of what you're aiming for, though I do think of 1 Corinthians 10:24, "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." In other words, to seek another's welfare & esteem before yourself.

I feel that you already understand where you are falling short & where you'd like to be, so it's really a matter of just getting on & doing it, allowing God's Spirit to lead you & equip you. If for your problem of selfish desires, then seek opportunities to help someone else or give for another's needs: both you & them will be blessed for this act of Christian love.

Ambition is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you're wanting to elevate yourself or trample over others to achieve your goal, then give others the opportunity to get there first (maybe by first discussing it with them) & if they decline, then go ahead; in this way, you won't feel that you're forcing yourself to go higher.

Getting involved in some Church ministry: with kids, youth, church camps, sharing in Bible studies, will also help in placing yourself in a 'servant' category, rather than one to be served (see Matthew 20:25-28; Philippians 2:2-8: examples of the Servant-hood of Christ & of his children).

Any involvement with your Church Fellowship will foster opportunities to serve others & gradually allow the Spirit to give you that spirit of being a true servant of the Lord to others & not to keep yourself in your focus.

What Jeremiah 29:11 means for us Christians today?

I was not offended by your words. I'm saying there are over 200 denominations in Christianity because of the many beliefs that people have and that causes the division in the body of Christ. As followers of Christ, we are to sharpen one another in the word of God without strife or division. 'Iron sharpers iron'. When you have some time, please read over the following scriptures: John 1:1-14, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. Be blessed.

That is one of the oldest questions asked concerning eternity, aside from the pre-existence of God. Both non-Christians & those claiming Christian faith have wondered about "good people consigned to Hell" & humanly speaking, we really can't believe that a Holy, Righteous God would do such a thing. But the Scriptures are clear.

What we term a 'good person' is based on our understanding of 'goodness', i.e. one well behaved, conforms to society's norms & requirements, has a careful, considered disposition, rendering help to others & not given to 'major sins'. And yet, will all that 'goodness', God still manages to find fault with him. Is God unfair or judging us too harshly? From our viewpoint, we might think so, but from God's viewpoint (& from the Word), He assesses us correctly.

If "all have sinned & come short of the glory of God (or, God's standards)" ( Romans 3:23), God takes into account that evidence of sin, however minute in substance, as that which infects & affects the whole ("a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" 1 Corinthians 5:6). Just as the addition of a little leaven (yeast) causes fermentation & expansion of dough that affects the whole bread, so to does the smallest of sins (white lies, pride, bitterness, false accusation, anger, etc.) spoils the whole person making him a sinner: he's not a person who slips up in some sin but still essentially good, but a person who because of sin is essentially bad but show traits of goodness at times. But even with all his 'goodness', can he present himself as acceptable to God? Never to a holy God.

Romans 2:11-16 explains why a person never hearing about God or the Gospel through His Son, still remains condemned. In advanced civilizations, the Law alerts a person to his errors & sins. Amongst hidden tribes, their tribal Law applies, & where that law doesn't deal with sin, man is naturally alerted in his heart to wrong doing, their conscience bearing them witness. No chance without the Gospel reaching them.

Revelation 11:2 FORTY TWO MONTHS

Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the (spiritual) temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city (new Jerusalem) shall they tread under foot forty two months.

Forty two months is the three and one half years of Christs ministry. John the Baptist to Jesus crucifixion.

Daniel 12:11 And the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that MAKETH desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (forty two months or three and one half years).

Did you notice that the abomination that MAKETH desolate was set up at the same time the daily sacrifice was taken away and replaced by the ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice of Christ.

After Christ resurrection the treading under foot or the (spiritual) holy city (new Jerusalem) by the Gentiles became a lost cause.

Revelation 17:14 These (horns) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them....(spiritual warfare) 2 Corinthians 10:4 Isaiah 4:4 Isaiah 9:5

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the BEAST, these (horns) shall hate the whore, and shall make her DESOLATE and NAKED, and SHALL EAT HER FLESH, and BURN HER WITH FIRE.

Perhaps these horn parallel or are a shadow of the horns of the alter in the old testament.

Revelation 17:17 For God hath put in their (horns) hearts to fulfil HIS WILL, and to agree, and give THEIR KINGDOM unto the beast, until the WORDS OF GOD BE FULFILLED.

We read of the prescribed ingredients of the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:22-25, that which God instructed Moses about for the anointing (dedicating & sanctifying) the Tabernacle & its implements.

I don't recall Jesus ever used anointing oil in His Ministry, though His disciples did use it ( Mark 6:13) to anoint & heal the sick. As the Messiah, the Son of God, His spoken Word was all that was necessary for the Power of God to be seen & felt.

Why do Roman Catholics continue to offer a sacrifice at the hands of a priest when this is trampling the Lords work of Salvation through His own sacrifice that He once and for all gave for us. This can't be looked on favorably by The Lord. My whole life I spent in RC Church and now see what Paul is saying in this chapter.

Marilyn Taplin,

'Are you saying Adam and Eve problem was that they loved money?"

Wealth is something in your life that becomes a part of your self image. Adam and Eve wanted/desired what they thought the fruit would give them, namely, wisdom/wealth. As Paul states, it is not the money itself, but the covetous desire first seen in Adam and Eve, and thereby the root of humanity. Instead of imparting wisdom, the fruit changed the status of Adam and Eve from living to dead to God. Shortly after uncovering their sin, God himself gave wisdom to Adam and Eve, in the understanding that accompanied the blood sacrifice for their acceptable coverings, all of God and out of his graciousness.

"I know the Bible says what you quoted but"

That little three letter word "but" tells me you are more interested in pushing your own thoughts, rather than listening to the Bible.

You never answered the dispute you have with Peter, Paul and John on the sinlessness of Jesus. Are they wrong or are your suppositions wrong?

The interesting part of the story was that the angei of the Lord blocked Balaam's traverseness because his acts were so proverse before the Lord that the ass did three stubborn delays in ongoing.

The letter i does refere to most time the person beeing address.