Church!

Sunday is Time for Church!

When Solomon dedicated the Temple of God by prayer, fire came down from heaven consuming the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. The sacrifices he offered were acceptable to God.

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house." - 2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, when the 120 were praying in the upper room, cloven tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. 

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 KJV

Because they were acceptable living sacrifices, Jesus consumed them with the fire of His Spirit. (Matthew 3:11). The sign of His acceptance was their speaking in tongues as His Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:43-48, Acts 11:15-17, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:38-39).

Time for church! Let’s worship Jesus and be consumed with the fire of the Holy Ghost!

There is One God - Jesus is His Name

 

The Wrath of the Lamb

 The Wrath of the Lamb

How could a lamb, the symbol of gentleness, have wrath?

Jesus is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). As the Lamb, His visitation to man is one of gentleness and mercy.

Yet Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, has two Divine Attributes. He has the Divine Attribute of Mercy, as well as the Divine Attribute of Justice and Judgement.

Jesus told His people when He dwelt among them that He did not come to walk among them in judgment; He came to them in mercy, love, and forgiveness.

"…for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." - John 12:47 

Jesus took up a cross and died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead. After 40 days of witnessing of the power of His resurrection, His disciples watched Him ascend up to heaven. We will see Him again in the clouds at the time of the rapture, the first resurrection.

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [believers who have died] will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord [still living when the Lord returns] shall not prevent them which are asleep [will not meet Him ahead of those who have died].

“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 [believers who have died] shall rise first: 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 4:14-17 

Those that are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, know Him in His Divine Attribute of Mercy.

Those that are left in the world, shall meet the Lamb of God with His Divine Attribute of Judgment.

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" - Revelation 6:15-17 

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 6:2 

"… Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:37-39

Church!

 

Church!

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." - Psalm 16:11

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." - Psalm 122:1

"I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High." - Psalm 9:2 

"Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. ... Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:2, 4-5 

"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; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." - Titus 2:11-14 

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8

Give thanks and praise His name JESUS!

Living Water

 

Part 2

Living Water - The Spirit

How does this living water 

spring up into everlasting life (give eternal life)?

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [“give life to”] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11

The Spirit gives us eternal life when the Spirit dwells in us. The Spirit dwells in us when we have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [those dead that are baptized in Jesus name and filled with His Spirit] will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [those that are dead]. 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 [those dead that are believers] shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [believers] 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 [be forever with the Lord]." - 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

Those baptized in the name of Jesus and full of the Holy Ghost when they die (“the dead in Christ”), will rise first. Those baptized in Jesus name and full of the Holy Ghost and living when Jesus returns (“we which are alive and remain”), will join those that rose from the grave, to be caught up together in the clouds, to meet Jesus in the air. The gift of the Holy Ghost, the living water, gives us everlasting life with Jesus.

How do we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39 

Jesus

 

Our Heavenly Father put on a body of flesh and blood in order to pay the price of our sins, which is death, for the wages of sin is death.

He came in His name of salvation, which is above every name, the name of Jesus.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:10-11 

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." - Isaiah 45:21 

"I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." - Isaiah 45:23 

Our Heavenly Father defeated the devil and delivered us from the fear of dying.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." - Hebrews 2:14-15

We are delivered from the fear of death when we obey the gospel. By obeying the gospel, we have the hope of eternal life. 

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23 

Peter preached how to obey the gospel:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 

There is one God – our Heavenly Father. His name is Jesus.

The Gospel

   Repentance is death to sin. Water baptism in the name of Jesus is burial of old nature. Holy Ghost infilling is resurrection to new life.

Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth,

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 

Paul preached the gospel, the church received the gospel, they stood in the gospel, and they were saved by the gospel, if they kept in memory what he preached to them, or else their belief was in vain. They believed that Christ DIED for their sins, that He was BURIED, and that He ROSE again. Their BELIEF in the gospel would be in vain if they didn’t OBEY the gospel.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome,

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:1-4 

Paul preached we are DEAD TO SIN by REPENTANCE. We are BURIED with Jesus Christ by WATER BAPTISM in the name of Jesus. We are RESURRECTED by the infilling of the HOLY GHOST to walk in new life.

This is how we OBEY the gospel, so that our belief is not “in vain.” (Mark 16:15-16).

On the Day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter preached the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When asked, “What shall we do?” he preached how to obey the gospel.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Church!

 

 Time for Church! Worship and praising Jesus and hearing His word! Our mirror, sword and shield!

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." - Psalm 119:11 

"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." - Hebrews 4:12 

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" - Ephesians 6:17 

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." - Psalm 119:114

Teach Your Children

Teach your children 

What is the first priority in teaching our children?

Paul wrote to Timothy reminding him that from a child he knew the holy scriptures.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3:15

We can teach our children the things to get by in this world, but this world is not our home; there is the reality of heaven beyond this mortal world. We need to prepare our children for a place in heaven.

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9 

God impressed on His people how important it is to Him to teach our children  His commandments. 

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." - Deuteronomy 6:7 

Because of Timothy’s knowledge of the Word and his answer to the call of God in his life, he was able to not only save himself, but to teach others of the kingdom of God and how to be saved. (2Timothy 1:5, 1Timothy 4:14).

"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." - 1 Timothy 4:16 

Because we love our children and we want the best for them, we teach them about Jesus and His love for them. We teach them the gospel and how to be saved. We give our children the knowledge of the Word as we have been given the knowledge, passing it on to them so they too can have a place not only in heaven, but a place to be used in the kingdom of God here on earth.

Prayer

 

Remember to pray for those involved with the evil activities of this season. The spiritual wickedness in these days is dark, evil, and hidden. Though it may be difficult to fathom, there are human sacrifices that have gone on in the past at this time. Pray that those involved repent and that the innocent and deceived be set free or escape (adults and children).

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26 KJV 

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" - 2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV

Jesus can save those in the deepest of sin. They need our prayers. Jesus saves.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world [satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12 KJV

God sent Paul to the Gentiles with this mission:

"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." - Acts 26:18 KJV

God can open their eyes so they can see God’s light of mercy by obedience to the gospel – repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4).

Testimony Satanist and Halloween

A man's testimony of a childhood  memory of his involvement in a satanic ritual on Halloween. The dark side of Halloween. Pray for those involved in this. (Sound begins after 13 seconds).

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYUeigrPrHdk&h=AT3OY-cFhlvjM3oGwF2YpH7F-tPbGYUYlk0y1Z2bbhh1jxotsyAmsxQ6_B7AfYebNQCbtGTAdGx-4cxSLmwRSz6i26Vra-jKgDvAkBdYjshBgxsbe9t4Xb8SfQ2y_N3Tobiz09O_lXqrrwbU9MXKs_-XNx0&s=1

Believeth and is Baptized

 

Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:15 -16 

He that believeth what?

He that believeth the GOSPEL. (Mark 16:15).

What is the gospel?

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [without effect]

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 

To be saved, we not only need to believe the gospel, we must also obey the gospel by being baptized -  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..."

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5 

Peter preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2: 37-38. 

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." - Acts 8:12 

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" - 2 Thessalonians 1:8 

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:17 

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" - Romans 10:16 

(Also Acts 16:31-33, Acts 19:4-6).

Becoming the Temple of God - Part Two

Becoming the Temple of God - Part Two

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 

“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 

“But he spake of the temple of his body." - John 2:19-21 KJV

It is by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection that WE are able to BECOME the temple of God. To become the temple of God, we must go through a similar process.

We must become dead to sin, crucifying our old sinful nature in repentance. We are buried in a watery grave of baptism in Jesus name. By the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of Jesus in us, we are resurrected to live a new holy life in Jesus. (Acts 2:38)

Apostle Peter preached this on the Day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

As the temple of God, we have the name of Jesus called upon us, and the Spirit of Jesus in us.

We are reminded in the scriptures that we have become the temple of God.

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV

The Temple of God - Part One

 

The Body of Jesus - the Temple of God (Part One)

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 

“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 

“But he spake of the temple of his body. 

“When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." - John 2:19-22 KJV

Jesus’ body is the temple of God’s Spirit. All the fullness of God is in His body.

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:9 KJV

When we worship Jesus, we are not worshipping a man – flesh – but rather the Spirit of God that dwells within the man.

In other words, we are not worshiping the temple, but rather the Spirit of God that dwells within the temple.

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” “This temple” which Jesus spoke of is His body. 

Jesus’ body was “destroyed” when He suffered the half-way death of the Roman flogging, followed by suffering final death by the excruciating Roman crucifixion. 

His body was placed in a tomb, and on the third day the Spirit of God raised His body from the dead. 

Over the next forty days Jesus showed Himself alive to many witnesses, then ascended up to heaven. 

On the Day of Pentecost, ten days after Jesus’ ascension, His Spirit returned as promised to fill the hundred and twenty disciples praying in the upper room in Jerusalem. 

On that day, the disciples of Jesus became the temple of God. 

(To be continued)

Happy Church Day!

 

IT'S SUNDAY

WE'RE BLESSED

PRAYED UP

FULL OF PRAISE

READY TO WORSHIP

LORD WE LOVE YOU

HAPPY CHURCH DAY!

The Gospel is a Message of Mercy

 

The Gospel is a message of mercy –

"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 KJV

Our Father, the Creator of the universe, made Himself a temple of a human body to be born, to walk among His creation, to die on a tree, and to rise from the grave the third day.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ... But he spake of the temple of his body." - John 2:19, 21 KJV

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

As the final sacrifice for our sins, He made peace between Himself and humanity.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

We receive God’s mercy by obeying the Gospel.

"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" - 2 Timothy 1:10 KJV

The Gospel is obeyed by repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

The Arm of the Lord

 

Throughout the Old Testament the arm of the Lord represents God's power, especially God’s redeeming power. 

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 

Then, Isaiah prophesied of the arm of the Lord bringing a much greater redemption. God would redeem all mankind out of the bondage of sin and death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)Andm

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16  

Because there was no man without sin to redeem man, God Himself would manifest Himself in flesh - the arm of the Lord revealed - to die for our sins, (Acts 20:28, 2Corinthians 5:19).

"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." - Isaiah 52:10 

When we read Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53, we see the arm of the Lord revealed is Christ.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ...He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:1, 3, 5 

In the New Testament, Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled.

"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" - John 12:37-38 

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias [Isaiah] saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" - Romans 10:16 KJV

Let us go unto the house of the Lord

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. - Romans 13:11 KJV

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. - Romans 13:12 KJV

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. - Acts 2:38 KJV

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. - Acts 2:39 KJV

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. - Acts 22:16 KJV

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25 KJV

Baptism of the Holy Ghost

 

From: Search For Truth Home Bible Study

Is Halloween a Device of Satan? What is Halloween?

 

Is Halloween a device of Satan? What is Halloween? 

It is a day when schools, preschools, and daycares take a day (a month?) to devote their activities to tales of witches and warlocks, of drawing pictures of black cats, full moons, ghosts and goblins. It is a day of carving out jack-o-lanterns, of candy and more candy. After school, when darkness arrives, it is a time of costumes and going door to door to neighbors and friends, children shouting, "Trick or treat" for candy and apples, trips through haunted houses, and parties. 

The stores fill up with sections devoted to Halloween costumes and masks, scary makeup, fake blood and eyeballs, plastic jack-o-lanterns, ghost figures, witches on brooms, and more.

Is this a “holiday” where Satan appears as an angel of light? 

Halloween has a history filled with evil and violence. 

Years ago, Druids, coming to the door of castles threatened families with satanic curses (“trick") unless the father and mother would surrender their virgin daughter as a sacrifice to Satan for the upcoming rituals on the night of Halloween. If they surrendered their daughter, a hollowed-out squash would be lit by their door. Candle light sending out beacons through the openings in the squash signaled that this home was not to be cursed: they had surrendered their child at the Druid’s threat.

Several years ago, the underground evil seeped up into the candy gathering ritual to the point where hospitals were offering x-rays of apples and candy to reveal hidden razor blades. This and the possibility of poison in Halloween treats lead to supervised neighborhood trunk and treat events.

Is there other evil going on the night of this satanic holiday today? Underneath the sugar-coated celebrations, there are deadly satanic activities going on.

There are numerous accounts from those that have previously been involved with satanism of the animal and child sacrifices on this night. The horror of this goes beyond one’s imagination. It is truly a night of darkness and evil spiritual activity going on in remote areas, hidden beyond the “innocent” revellings of the night.

Halloween is a time to be discerning, to not step over the line into the realm of being caught by Satan’s devices. It is a time to intercede in prayer for those involved in satanic activities, for those that are victims or potential victims of the sexual abuse and violence that is a part of satanic rituals.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Forgiveness of Sins by the Blood of Jesus Through His Name

 

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness of sins]." - Hebrews 9:22 KJV 

"For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. [for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD.[fn] It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. NLT]" - Leviticus 17:11 KJV

While the blood of animal sacrifices every year pushed ahead the sins of Israel, they could not take their sins away. 

"But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:3-4 KJV

It took our Heavenly Father manifesting Himself in flesh, born holy and without sin, to shed His blood for us so our sins could be taken away. He came in His name Jesus.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

Jesus told His disciples when He took the cup at the last supper before His death, that it was symbolic of the blood He was about to shed.

"For this is my blood of the new testament [the new covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Matthew 26:28 KJV

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began – baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Church! Doers of the Word

 

We need to not only hear the word of God but do it. 

At Mount Sinai, Israel said, “We will do.” Their willingness to obey God’s commandments brought them into covenant relationship with Him. 

"And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD." - Exodus 19:8

Jesus said, 

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." - John 14:15 

He then told his disciples after his death burial and resurrection that it is not good enough to simply believe the gospel, we must obey the gospel. He that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved. 

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:15-16

Peter also said we need to be baptized to be saved. 

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 3:21

Jesus said,

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:46-47 

Obeying the command of Jesus, Peter preached the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He then obeyed Jesus and preached how to obey the gospel - repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receiving the promised gift of the Holy Ghost. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

When the people believed Peter preaching the gospel on the Day of Pentecost, they asked,

"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" - Acts 2:37 KJV 

They were not hearers only; they were doers of the word. The same day there were added to the church about three thousand souls. 

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:41-42

The Keys to the Kingdom

 

When Peter realized that Jesus is God in a human body – “the Christ, the Son of the living God” – Jesus told him He would give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven and authority.

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:19 

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of the kingdom of God. (“The kingdom of heaven” is interchanged with “the kingdom of God” i.e. Mark 10:14, Matt. 19:14)

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5 

While Jesus made it clear we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God, he did not give specifics. Jesus gave Peter the keys as to how exactly we are born again. Peter revealed this on the Day of Pentecost after he received the Holy Ghost.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4 

When the people asked, “What meaneth this?” Peter preached the gospel, letting them know they had crucified their Messiah, the One they had been waiting for.

Then the people asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 

Peter made it perfectly clear what Jesus meant when Jesus said a man must be born of water and of the Spirit. The keys to the kingdom of heaven are to repent, to be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

We now understand what we must do.

The Bible Way

 

Paul prophetically warned the church of a tradition that would take the name of Jesus out of baptism and repace the NAME of JESUS with His TITLES Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (a trinity instead of One God). This happened in 325 AD with Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. It is BY THE NAME OF JESUS that sins are remitted (removed)! No wonder the Dark Ages soon followed.

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" - Colossians 2:8-10 KJV

The BIBLE way:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission ["forgiveness"] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

What is the Gospel?

 

What is the gospel?

Many say it is simply the good news.

What does the Bible say about the gospel?

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that he preached unto them the gospel, they received the gospel and they stand in the gospel. 

Paul wrote to them that they are saved by the gospel if they keep in memory what he preached on to them, unless they believed in vain. 

In vain means "without success or effect."  

When we believe the gospel there needs to be some action on our part or it is in vain

Paul then describes how he delivered to

them that which he also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Simply put, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

What action is required on our part to be saved by the gospel?

Paul wrote to the church at Rome saying that our action requires becoming dead to sin, burial with him by baptism, and raised up by the glory of the Father to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-23).

Peter made it very clear what we must do when he preached on the day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."  (Acts 2:38).

Just as Jesus said, we must be born of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5).

Jesus makes it very clear that it is not enough to believe the gospel. There must also be action on our part. We must obey the gospel. We must be baptized - born of water and of the Spirit. 

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:15-16  KJV

Here are some verses speaking about obeying the gospel: Romans 10:9-16, 1 Peter 4:17, 2Thessalonians 1:3-10.

The Original Plan of Salvation

 

Buried with Him in Baptism

*Photo from Exploring God's Word Bible study

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

It is interesting that the Hebrew word for “atonement” (Strong’s H3722) is the same Hebrew word that is translated as “pitch.” 

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch [H3722] it within and without with pitch." - Genesis 6:14 KJV

The word “atonement” means “to cover, to cover over,” “to cover sins, i.e. to pardon.” (Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon).

The interesting thing is that Apostle Peter spoke of Noah’s ark being a type and shadow of baptism. 

"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 3:19-21 KJV

We find that in water baptism in the name of Jesus that our sins are covered; we are pardoned; there is atonement.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD." - Exodus 30:10 KJV

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect... But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:1, 3-4 KJV

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come…neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

One God Jesus is His name

 

God is a Spirit (John 4:24). We are humans. God speaks to us in our human terms so that we can understand Him.

In the Old Testament, before God made Himself a body to live and die in (Hebrews 2:14), He was invisible (1 Timothy 1:17). Yet, speaking in terms that we could understand, He spoke of His arm (Deuteronomy 26:8), His eyes (Proverbs 15:3), His ears (2 Samuel 22:7), and so on.

We as humans understand that an arm speaks of strength and power (God is omnipotent), eyes speak of seeing (God is omnipresent – everywhere), and ears speak of hearing (God is omniscient –knowing all things). Each human feature used, communicates to us a feature of God’s Spirit.

In our humanity, we understand that while a man has numerous titles and features, a man is still one man. A man that has children is a father. A man is also a son. A man has the spirit of man. A man expresses himself by his word. A man has a name. With many titles and features, he is still only one man.

God through His creation is our Heavenly Father (Malachi 2:10). When God created a body of flesh to dwell in so He could be the necessary blood sacrifice for man's sin, He became the Son (Colossians 1:13-15). God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and He is holy (Psalm 99:9), so He is the Holy Spirit (1Thessalonians 4:8). God expresses Himself by His Word (Matthew 4:4). God's name is Jesus - His name above every name (Matthew 1:21, Ephesians 1:21-23). With many titles and features, God is still only one God (Ephesians 4:6).

Church!

 

Church! Exhorting one another!

Peter exhorted the people on the Day of Pentecost when he was preaching. 

After Peter preached the gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection ofJesus), he preached how to obey the gospel ( "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38)

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort [strongly urging], saying, Save yourselves from this untoward [crooked, perverse, wicked] generation." - Acts 2:40 KJV 

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote:

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [let us not neglect our meeting together], as the manner of some is; but exhorting [encouraging] one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day [of His return] approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV

In this day, we need exhorting!

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [urge] you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." - 1 Thessalonians 4:1 KJV

"I exhort [urge you] therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;" - 1 Timothy 2:1 KJV

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort [encourage] with all longsuffering and doctrine." - 2 Timothy 4:2 KJV

"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort [encourage] and to convince the gainsayers." - Titus 1:9 KJV [exhort – “instruct, teach” (Thayer’s)]

"But exhort [warn, encourage] one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13 KJV

 

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [urging] you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." - Jude 1:3 KJV

*Church locator for the United States: upci.org

Acts 2:38 Salvation

 

"Now when they heard this [the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" - Acts 2:37 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off [the gentiles], even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39 KJV

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward [crooked, perverse, wicked] generation." - Acts 2:40 KJV

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them [the church] about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 KJV

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42 KJV

Receiving the Word

 

 Satan does not want a person to be saved.If a person has made it into the kingdom of God by being born again of water and of the Spirit (Acts 2:38), satan does not want that person to grow up in Christ to become fruitful and used by the Lord in ministry. 

One way to keep a believer from growing in the Lord, is to keep them from the acknowledgment of sin in their life. 

 Sin is revealed by the Holy Ghost working in a person’s life and directing them in paths of righteousness and holiness. 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26 KJV

Sin is also revealed by the preaching of the word. 

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." - 1 Corinthians 1:21

Both of these ways make it clear to a person what things in their life are sin, allowing them to repent, turn away from these things, and to remove sin from their lifelif.Receiving the Word

If a person refuses to recognize something in their life as sin that has been revealed to them as sin, that sin is not repented of; it remains in their life. That person’s growth in the Lord is stifled. Their use in the kingdom is limited. They risk shutting the door for entrance into ministry and even on their  salvation. 

 According to the Bible, it is satan that takes away the preached word sown in a person’s heart. 

"And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." - Mark 4:15 KJV

How does satan take the word that was sown in their heart? By tempting and lying to a person, which can result in that person's rebellion, disobedience, lack of submission, pride, arrogance, being contentious, being offended at the word…

In the garden of Eden, the word of God was sown in Eve's heart. Satan came and said to her, "...hath God said...?"questioning God's Word. (Genesis 3:1). 

Jesus said the devil was a murderer and a liar from the beginning, which we see in the case of Adam and Eve. (John 8:44). The devil lied to Eve, resulting in her disobedience to God's word, which resulted in Adam's disobedience to God's word, which resulted in death coming upon man. (Romans 5:12).

 God calls the ministry His gifts to men. (Ephesians 4:8). 

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

The ministry is for the perfecting (maturing) of the saints (believers). The ministry is for the purpose of helping believers to grow up spiritually. The ministry is for equipping believers so they will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and not be deceived by false doctrines. The ministry is to teach believers to operate in love as one body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-16).