Discuss Luke 12 Page 9

To FRED SCANLAN

The Word of God is God ( John 1:1), which the natural man is not able to understand ( Cor. 2:14). For that reason our message remains the same: Ye. must repent.

Only through 'True Repentance' will God be able to reveal Himself, and adopt you as His sons and daughters ( Rom. 8:15,23; 2 Cor.6:18; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5; Hebr. 12:5; 1 John 3:1).

The word 'Repent' means a lot more than what people by nature have been conditioned to believe. It is the key principle of all the teachings of Jesus Christ and the axiom (basis) of the Word of God and a prerequisite and primary requirement for the salvation of mankind. It actually means the changing of spirits - to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God ( Acts 26:18).

For a better understanding and the 'spiritual truth' of what it means to repent, and learn how and by whom mankind has been deceived ( Rev. 12:9), and what people must do to be reunited with the true and living God, we invite you to seek Him according to the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive ( John 14:17).

You need not that any man teach you ( Isaiah 54:13; 6:45; 1 John 2:27), It is only by revelation of God that you will come to know Christ ( Daniel 12:4,9; Amos 3:7; Matthew 16:17; Luke 2:26; Romans 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:10; Gal. 1:16; Eph. 3:3,5; Rev. 1:1). It is a narrow way that leadeth unto 'Life', and few there be that find it ( Matthew 7:14).

Seek, and ye shall find ( Matthew 7:7).

In His Service.

Andy & Dianne van den Berg - Nova Scotia, Canada

To FRED SCANLAN

Please remember that the sons of God have come for the pulling down of this world's 'Strongholds', religion being the strongest of them all ( 2 Cor. 10:4; Luke 11:21-23).

When it comes to the Medical Profession, please know that the believers live by faith, as the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is their guide in all things. Remember how God took care of a host of 2m people for forty years. He fed them and provided them with water and other essentials. Even their shoes and garments didn't wear out. Also remember that out of the original group that crossed the Red Sea only Joshua & Caleb crossed the Jordan River. All the rest died in the wilderness, while only the new generation crossed the Jordan.

Rather than speaking from personal experience, we believe that the most effective way to be taught and to come to the understanding of 'The Chastening of the Lord' is by the Word of God itself

CHASTENING

Deut. 8:5

Job 5:17-19; 6:1-10; 23:10; 33:19

Psalms 6:1-10; 17:3; 30:1-12; 38:1-21; 94:12-14; 102:1-28; 116:1-19; 119:7,67,71

Proverbs 3:11

Isaiah 26:16

1 Cor. 11:32

Hebrews 12:5,6

James 1:12

1 Peter 1:7

Rev. 3:15-21

AFFLICTIONS

Psalms 34:19; 132:1

Isaiah 48:10

Acts 7:10; 20:23

2 Cor. 6:4

Col. 1:24

1 Thess 3:3

Hebrews 12:5-12

Rev. 3:18

SICKNESS AND HEALING

Exodus 15:26

Psalm 6:2

Isaiah 30:26

Jer. 30:17

Eze. 34:16

Hosea 6:1

Mal. 4:2

Matthew 10:8

Mark 2:17

Luke 5:31

James 5:15

1 Peter 2:24

Rev. 22:2

RELYING ON DOCTORS AND MEDICINE



2 Chr. 16:12,13

Job 13:4

Psalms 34:19; 108:12

Isaiah 30:1-3

Jer. 17:5-7,14

Hosea 5:13

Mark 5:25-29

Luke 8:43

MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING

Job 5:18; 23:10

Psalms 50:5; 119:67,71

Isaiah 48:10

Jer. 31:18

Hosea 5:15; 6:1

Romans 8:17

2 Cor. 4:17

Hebrews 2:10; 5:7-9; 12:10,11

1 Peter 4:1,12; 5:1,9,10

Rev. 3:19

Seek, and ye shall find ( Matthew 7:7).

In His Service.

Andy & Dianne van den Berg - Nova Scotia, Canada

The sad truth is that the seed of the gospel falls on different kinds of ground: rocky, shallow, sunlight dries up new growth.

People are going to FALL AWAY. It is a prophesy. We ought to pray for those people: ask God to send angels to pull them out of the ditch and drag them back to Church.

Our society does nothing to undergird belief in anything other than money, self indulgence and self promotion. They will FALL AWAY.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost...

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Hebrews 3:12-19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Matthew 24:10-13 - And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.....

Revelation 3:11 - Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Pray for them! Mishael

On 'BORN OF GOD' - 'BORN AGAIN

Most people on this website claim to be so-called Christians, but in truth are they followers of Jesus Christ or do they follow after an image of a false god and a false Christ ( Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Gal. 4:8; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rev. 12:9)?. Most of them also claim to be so-called 'Born Again', which means 'Born of God', but are they, or is it a form of self-transformation ( 2 Cor. 11:13-15), while in truth they are wearing the wrong garment ( Psalm 6:8; Matthew 7:20-23; 9:16; 22:2-14; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36)?

For answers to the above questions we invite you to peruse the earlier Comment below.

Seek, and ye shall find ( Matthew 7:7).

In His Service.

Andy & Dianne van den Berg - Nova Scotia, Canada

Hi Joshua. Just to briefly chime in here to lend full agreement & support to what you have declared as this is how I understand the believers' stand before God. The Lord will not draw a (predestined) seeking soul, in his conviction of sin upon hearing the Gospel, his cry out for forgiveness & then receiving confirmation of that redemption with joy, peace & the indwelling of His Spirit, if he then at some future date, decides to reject the Lord & turn back to his old ways. God makes no mistakes in His Call & Confirmation.

If a 'Christian' turns back, it can never be our determination of what sort of experience & spiritual work has been done in that life. God only knows every heart & our 'judgement' can only be based on what our eyes perceive: & that's not a good basis at all. That is why at one's water baptism, one can only be baptized based on the testimony of one's faith, not on the knowledge of the person's heart, mind or his present/future walk with the Lord. If a believer sins or even backslides, the matter is between him & God: for the Spirit's Work in Him to draw him back to spiritual health. We might see a 'Christian' lost into the world, but as said earlier, our perception is not with God's Knowledge; that same 'Christian' may one day return to full faith in a special abundant way.

And to add one more thing: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." ( Matthew 10:22, 24:13). This is the ultimate test isn't it, as has been proven over the centuries when godly folk, who may not readily agree with our understanding of the doctrines & lessons we discuss here, but who for their love for God through Christ & with a solid unshakeable faith, have gone to their deaths at the stake or the sword. Does it take such an event to convince us of their salvation? Maybe so. Is it even important or right that we do so, as each soul stands or falls depending on what has or has not transpired between him and God?

Hello, I agree with everything you typed except your paragraph starting with "If we continue our old practice..." Your scripture references don't relate to the claim that Christians are suddenly never Christians- almost like pretending to erase history. Who are you to say a person isn't a Christian if they're following Christ and who are you to say they don't have freewill to turn and make bad choices later on in life. What's your criteria on what a Christian is? Judas betrayed Jesus and is probably in hell. Peter denied Jesus and he was a devout Christ-follower (a Christian), so is your belief that Peter was never a Christian, even though he literally was a Christ follower? There's an ex-Christian forum online that has 71,000+ members. Where they 'never' Christians, but they were and maybe they will be again. I know you didn't answer the previous questions and that's your own choice to not not consider another point of view or not. God bless.

Hello Adam,

Yes, I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The standard I only desire to use is God's Word, and this is the only standard anyone can use regarding the truth( John 17:17).

Whether we, still imperfect in our sinful flesh, can "know" if we are saved or not is a good question. God tells us to examine ourselves, to see if we are in the faith( 2 Cor. 13:5). We examine if we are walking in agreement with God.

The whole of God's Word shows us that once we are born again, we become a new creature( 2 Corinthians 5:17). We are to be dead to our old ways. Dead to the ways of the world, because the world is wicked( 1 John 5:19). We are not to continue practicing sin( Titus 2:12, James 1:27).

We will still sin because we are still imperfect. ( Romans 7:23-24, Philippians 3:12, Ephesians 4:13). The difference is we do not continue PRACTICING sin, or WILLFULLY sinning. God does not judge by appearance, but by the TRUE state of our HEARTS( Luke 16:15, John 7:24).

If we continue our old practice - our dead in our sins way of living AFTER we become saved, we were never saved/born again to begin with( Hebrews 10:26, Hebrews 10:38-39, 1 John 2:15, 2 Peter 2:20-22).

We are still in the world but we are not of the world( John 17:16, Romans 12:2). On the contrary, we are tasked by the Lord to be examples & witnesses to the world( Philippians 2:15, Matthew 5:14, Romans 10:9-11, 13-15, 2 Corinthians 4:13).

This, I believe, is the "key" to knowing whether or not we are truly saved. If we truly believe.

Hi Joshua,

Do you believe that Christians physically cannot deny Christ? If so, do you think that God denies them their freewill?

Are you a Christian currently? If so, if you chose to deny Christ, would that mean you were somehow never a Christian?

So, what do you think qualifies someone to be a Christian then? If someone prays and asks for forgiveness and says he believes Jesus is the son of God and is Lord and wants to follow him and is baptized is that enough?

Christians turn from the faith and deny Christ too often, so all these Christians were never Christians? by the Bible's standards or someone else's? Can anyone be certain they're a true Christian then, because you don't know what you'll say or do in the future, right?

Look at the context of this verse. The one sin that won't be forgiven is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Right before Jesus said this, he said that those who deny Him (Jesus) before men will be denied eternal life. To deny Jesus is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, and that sin will not be forgiven.

If we deny Christ, we were never saved to begin with, and we are denied eternal life.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." Luke 9:24, Matt 16.25, Mark 8:35, Luke 17:33

To Carleton,

There is only one way of thinking of keys. Anyone that has been taught by God and is 'Born of God' knows that the keys referred to in the Word of God is 'knowledge' - to know the difference between good and evil and darkness and light ( Gen. 2:9). It is the key that opens and closes the door to the Kingdom of God ( Isaiah 22:22; Luke 12:52).

It is during your journey of 'Repentance' that God will teach you in all things and provide you with all wisdom and knowledge during your journey.

The word 'Repent' in different forms (repent, repentance, repented, repentest, repenteth, repenting, repentings) is mentioned 110 times in the KJV, and means a lot more than what people by nature have been conditioned to believe. The word 'repent' used in the New Testament was translated from the Greek word "metanoeo", and means to change, transform, to think differently or reconsider.

It is the key principle of all the teachings of Jesus Christ and the axiom (basis) of the Word of God and a prerequisite and primary requirement for the salvation of mankind. It actually means the changing of spirits - to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God ( Acts 26:18).

For a better understanding and the 'spiritual truth' of what it means to repent, and learn how and by whom mankind has been deceived ( Rev. 12:9) and what people must do to be reunited with the true and living God, we invite you to seek Him according to the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive ( Matthew 7:7; John 14:17).

You need not that any man teach you ( Isaiah 54:13; 6:45; 1 John 2:27), as mankind follows after an image of a false god and a false Christ ( Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Gal. 4:8; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rev. 12:9).

It is only by revelation of God that people will come to know the true Christ ( Daniel 12:4,9; Amos 3:7; Matthew 16:17; Luke 2:26; Romans 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:10; Gal. 1:16; Eph. 3:3,5; Rev. 1:1), and learn what 'True Repentance' means.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Luke 11:9

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Luke 12:31

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Philippians 2:21

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Acts 17:27

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is time now to put your foot down on the devils head, and start following Jesus for real. People followed Jesus all over for just free loaves and fishes. There arrives a day when you must follow Jesus because of who he is: the Son of God! If you give your heart to him and follow him; read His Bible every day; you can ask for what you need.

John chapter 3. You must receive Jesus and be born again. Confess everything.

1 John 1:9 Begin your new life in Jesus. Learn how to stomp on satans head in

Ephesians 6. For you and your family. It's time to get serious about what you believe in. Matthew 26:31-46

Jesus is coming back soon and we all have to be watching for his appearing.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. 2 Timothy 3

If you'll take a little time and read these passages, you'll be a whole new person.

Then God can help you defeat your enemies. Get your children saved through your testimony which is a very powerful thing.

I'm agreeing with you that God will undertake and oversee a brand new beginning for you. All those scriptures prove that Jesus is going to help you.

If they had confessed their belief in Jesus to you or others; that's what matters. Read these scriptures and be at peace in your heart about it. We don't hear what people pray in the middle of the night, alone in their bed. So, Believe the best.

Matthew 10:32

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Luke 12:8

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

Romans 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

1 John 4:15

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John 12:42

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Romans 14:11

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Philippians 2:11

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 3:5

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Romans 15:9

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

John 9:22

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

May Jesus be your Peace, Mishael

Grungebyte, you said "The Rapture which was an invention by an Irish priest in 1830 after a 15-year old Irish girl related her dream to him. To this day many Christians still believe in that foolishness." I believe in the Rapture as prophesied in the KJV Bible: My Pastor says when things are repeated 3 or more times, they're important. There are other scriptures foretelling the Rapture so it must be important.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1 Corinthians 15:52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Matthew 24:31 - And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 - For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Matthew 24:42 - Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mark 13:32-33 - But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Matthew 24:27 - For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Verse 19-The man thought that because he had many good things, he could enjoy them for many years. This joy was short-lived.

The word rapture is not found in the Word of God, but 1Thessalonians 4:17 reveals that the saints who are alive and remain at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ shall be caught up together with them (those who have fallen asleep in Christ), in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The words being "caught up" is the Resurrection of the Saints. I do not believe that we should form an opinion of whether or not He is coming pre, mid, or post tribulation. The truth of the matter is Jesus already told us we don't know the day or the hour when the Son of Man is coming, so how is it that we are having disputes over when He's coming. Jesus said, "Watch, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that ye think not." Matthew 24:44 & Luke 12:46

What is Jesus saying, He is saying that we must be ready at all times. For He is coming as a thief in the night!

Jesse,

Lots of feed-back, much appreciated.

First of all you are correct; you never said that the word teknon does not mean "child."

You actually said that the word kalos does not mean child, and again, you are correct.

I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

As far as the topic of repentance, I would refer to the definitions of the two Greek words offered previously, as they are both defined as "repent."

You bring up some interesting ideas about Judas being sorry but not repenting, , but I fully believe the words of Matthew 27:3 to be literal and true on face value; that is, Judas "repented himself."

Concerning Acts 1:18, again, I have never heard of anyone that can commit suicide by cutting themselves open from their Adam's apple to their belly button. That is one tough person. You say that it is possible. I disagree. You do provide interesting theories as well as historical basis to show how this may have happened.

I will offer another. The high priest (appointed by the Roman governor) that falsely accused Jesus likely did not want Judas to remain alive after he threw the money back at them and looked like he was sorry for what he did: So they murdered Judas also.

Your understanding of the unpardonable sin is thought provoking.

I never quite looked at it in that light but can definitely see how it applies throughout one's lifetime in a general way.

I would have to again lean on the Scripture already provided in Matthew 12:32, as well as Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10.

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

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Jesse,

You state,

"Just one more thing kind sir,

I am not too sure that I can say with certainty that Judas did not commit the unpardonable sin. There is nothing in scripture that would have me to believe that Judas ever surrendered His life to Christ or that he was a true follower. Sure, Christ chose him as one of the 12. But Judas was evil. I believe Christ chose an evil man to fulfill the prophecy saying He would be betrayed. Jesus chose an evil man to fulfill that role and Judas was that man.

What is your understanding of the unpardonable sin?

Look at Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:28, Luke 12:10.

Are you sure enough with your newly acquired understanding of a few Greek words to claim that, as you state, "Judas never surrendered his life to Jesus" and that Judas was "never a true follower"?

I have never met someone that is pure evil, have you? Even Satan at one time was good, even "perfect" ( Ezekiel 28:12-15).

So kind sir, please do not get too upset when you are challenged on Scriptural matters. I was not trying to offend, just understand.

Just one more thing my friend: Forgiveness is based on being SORRY for what you did and try to make amends (30 pieces of silver). God is the Judge. Ephesians 4:32.

Luke 12:51

Please pray for my friend Kiran, and her three sons, Ari, Ryan, & Naran; that they may be safe, and that the boys have the fire of the Holy Ghost ignite in their hearts, and so desire to live a Christian life. Please help them to find salvation, and to be zealous, like their parents. Please pray for their spiritual and physical protection.

Please pray for Kiran, and her friend , Saroj, that their ministry will prosper, and grow, and lead many to salvation. That it may be protected from attacks from the enemy. Please pray for Saroj's ageing husband, that he comes to salvation, and that his last days are comfortable. Please pray for them that they will be blessed to always have sufficient for their needs.

According to Luke 13:12 - 17; Luke 12:51 - 53; John 3:all; John 4:13,14; Psalm 23; Psalm 1; Psalm 2; Psalm 91;

Dear one, my 1st instinct is to encourage you and also for you to encourage your daughter to know the same...God is on His throne. He is sovereign. NOTHING will happen to us, be it job loss, job gain, good health or sickness, anything, unless it is God's will. AND...if something is God's will, nothing will stop it from happening. I've grown to really understand that over the years and I tell you, knowing that has been such a huge weight lifted and such a tremendous source of comfort.

God wants us to have complete and unwavering faith & trust in Him. This is where we can find rest for our weary souls.

There is no rest to be found in the cares of this world, but take heart, for He has overcome the world. ( John 16:33 kjv)

We can also know that unlike what so many tv preachers keep trying to say, this life is filled with trials & tribulations. God's Word let's us know this life is filled with them, but it's from faith to faith that He makes us to stand.

In my own life, a constant reminder I also give myself is to know that things could always be worse. For example, the worst thing could be to be lost out there in this world without the knowledge of a loving & merciful God who has every awareness of all our troubles, for He has even numbered the hairs on our head ( Luke 12:7kjv)....and not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing ( Matthew 10:29 kjv).

What an incredible comfort that is! We face this world with God and His perfect plan...not for this life only, but for eternity!

As for the enemy of our souls...Jesus rebuked Satan, overcame the temptations while He was in the wilderness, by the Word of God.

(Matthew chapter 4 & Mark chapter 1 kjv)

Hebrews 4:12 kjv

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Warren, I think if we look at Luke 12:49 in context to the chapter & also Matthew chapter 10 (as an addendum to Luke's account), we'll see that this is not a literal fire that Jesus speaks of, but a fire of divisions & contentions. In fact, in verse 51, He says, "Do you think I've come to bring peace on Earth? No, but to bring divisions". We might find this teaching troubling as we often think of the Gospel of Christ as that which brings peace to our once troubled & sinful souls & a new peace & relationship with the Godhead.

Yet, the other side of the faith in Christ's Gospel, is that of contentions & divisions. The Gospel is divisive: it separates the sheep from the goats, friends & family members are set apart because of its call for separation & holiness, it separates those who attend Church for conscience sake from those attending to worship the Lord Whom they love, it makes distinction between those who take up their cross daily from those who are careless in their fleshly walk, etc.

And Jesus says: "and what will I, if it be already kindled?", or "what can I say, that the spark of fire has already commenced?" The very fact of Jesus' Presence, amongst the people & his disciples, had already started the fires of anger & separation from one another. First, it commenced in the people's hearts as they heard teachings that were foreign to them & the Spirit-filled messages brought serious questioning & conviction within. Even arriving at the foot of the Cross, the division of those who followed the Lord from those who rejected Him became clearer & more distinct, resulting in more hatred from the Jews & Romans. Post Cross, we see the effects of that 'fire' as the apostles & those who obeyed the Lord suffered greatly, not because of anything they had done, but from those who had rejected Christ & godly living, were marked for destruction. You can keep these thoughts in mind as you read through the NT, looking for evidences of this fire that 'to follow Christ' brings.

These miracles done by our Lord are recorded in part to encourage us when we face some hardship. When my baby sister died, my parents suffered greatly. Many years later, my next younger sister died. We suffered but in all we found God's grace to be more than sufficient. The unsaved look on to see how we handle hardship. If we grow in our faith in the midst of these trials, the unsaved will have an improved outlook on what the Christian life is all about.

Ken well said. I might add the Pharisee Jews also were condemned of Jesus for their hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Matthew Chapter 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade [them] not beware of the LEAVEN leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the HYPOCRITES hypocrites do in the SYNAGOGUES synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. ...ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

The Pharisee Jews would talk the talk and not walk the walk.

Matthew 23:4 For they (Pharisees) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Keun, from my observations over many, many years, is that both the non-Christian & Christian don't "take this Book too seriously" enough. If you are referring to the Bible, God's Word to us for today & into the future, I have found that we are in the mess we are in today, because we have failed to heed God's Commands given to us in Love & not for our hurt & destruction. We have preferred to go our own way giving little regard to spiritual matters rather attending to worldly possessions & happiness. I wonder how many happy faces are there in Hell?

And so our present state reveals the extent of our deterioration, the deserving of rejection by God, & the necessary closing of this wicked age. Yes, the Bible contains some very serious matters in its pages, & we could do no less than to take it seriously & not casually or flippantly. I sincerely hope that you will carefully & prayerfully read through its pages & learn what God intends for your life & future.

Do you think some of us take this book a little too seriously?

If you have put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that God has raised him from the dead, you are already baptized in the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 11:15-17; 1 Corinthians 12:3 and 12:13; 1 John 5:1). All of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 is instructive in the working of the Spirit in Christ's body, the Church.

In John 14:16-18 and in John chapter 16, Jesus promises the Comforter will be sent to dwell with and in his disciples after he returns to the Father. The mission of the Comforter is to reprove the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. As the Spirit of truth, he guides Jesus' followers in all truth, not promoting himself, but glorifying Jesus Christ and the things of Christ.

Romans chapter 8 teaches us about walking in the Spirit after we've learned the hard lesson of our weakness in the flesh as found in Romans 7.

The book of Colossians and 2 Peter chapter 1 are a couple of fine prescriptions for aligning yourself to spiritual living.

How can I be baptized in the holy Spirit and also be filled with the holy Spirit

I need also to walk in the spirit

Some time ifeel so weak to pray

I need to be help

In reference too, Luke 12 read Luke 11 2-4 We have pray repeatedly, until Jesus return.

How do I feel about Luke 12:9? "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."

I've heard this twisted before and some will say that if you don't confess Christ publicly that you are denying Him. That is not what it says!

This is important to understand. The word "deny," ARNEOMAI, means to reject. The early church believers were put in a position where they either had to confess that Jesus is Lord or that Caesar is lord.

And by doing that, they would be denying that Jesus is Lord. So in order for this to be true, one of two things has to happen. You have to confess Jesus, or, you have to deny Him, reject Him!

Have you rejected Him? I haven't!

I will answer your last question on Romans 12:2 next.

How do I feel about James 2:17-26? If we are talking about faith without works is a dead faith, then I totally agree. But to understand what it means, you have to have an understanding of what the bible means by faith. Please give me your definition of faith. You and I cannot produce the faith the bible speaks of. All we can produce is flesh. The faith the bible speaks of is spiritual faith. Only God's Spirit can produce spiritual faith ( Galatians 5:22). The works that come from us come from the persuasion of God's Spirit persuading us to do those things. But it is His work, not ours. He gets all the glory. ( Ephesians 2:8-9).

Again, due to space, I'll answer your other questions on John 14:15, Luke 12:9, and Romans 12:2 next.