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The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles. If Jesus and the first century Christians needed the Word confirmed with the miraculous (Heb. 2:4), then we do too. There is no scripture that says these miraculous signs have passed away.
Some people have interpreted "that which is perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10, as being the complete Bible. This has led them to believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Although God's Word is perfect (Ps. 19:7), it is not the "perfect thing" that is referred to here. 1 Corinthians 13:8 does say that tongues shall cease, but it will not happen until "that which is perfect is come."
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul says, "when that which is perfect is come, we shall see face to face."...
I HAVE WRITTEN ON THIS BEFORE BUT I FELT THE LORD WAS TELLING ME THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO HEAR THIS AGAIN, OR FOR THE FIRST TIME, SO HERE IT IS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOUNTAIN JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT IS TO REPRESENT WHAT EVER IS IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEEDS TO GO. JUST READ WHAT JESUS SAYS IN MATTHEW 21:21-22 "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
This either speaks literally of supernatural protection if we pick up a snake, or symbolically of protection in our fight against the devil. Since the other four signs in this list are literal, it is most probable that this means physically taking up snakes.
The apostle Paul experienced this supernatural protection from a viper when he was shipwrecked on the island of Melita (Acts 28:3-5). However, this is the only recorded example of this type of protection in the New Testament.
There is no record of the disciples picking up snakes just to prove they were believers. That would be tempting God (Lk. 4:9-12). This, as well as drinking any deadly thing, is a promise that if we pick up snakes accidentally or are...
HAVE YOU EVER READ THE DEFINITION OF "HOLY". I JUST LOOKED IT UP AND HERE IS WHAT I FOUND. "Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred." THIS IS OUR LORD. HE IS HOLY. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT US BEING HOLY? "Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly." ARE YOU HOLY?
This scripture has led many to believe that water baptism is a part of salvation and that the born-again experience cannot be a reality without it.
This same kind of thinking would make seeing Jesus a prerequisite for salvation, based on John 6:40.
It is faith in the redemptive work of Christ that produces salvation - not our actions. However, James writes that faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:20).
Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone; it must be acted upon.
This is what Mark is referring to when he speaks of baptism.
Water baptism is a command of Jesus and is the initial action taken upon believing. Mark's statement could be rendered, "He who believes with saving faith (i.e. faith that produces actions) will be saved." In this...
TO MOST OF US CHRISTIANS, I CAN'T SAY FOR ALL, HE IS GOD, THE SON OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR WHO DIED FOR US. HOWEVER, HE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE, BUT YOU GET THE POINT. NOW LET'S LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT HIMSELF.
In the same way that this commission is to every believer, not just to ministers, the command to baptize is also for every believer. It is proper for any believer to administer the ordinance of water baptism.
Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, yet there is no recorded instance where the believers did so. Instead, the instances of baptism that are recorded in the book of Acts, show people being baptized in the name of Jesus only.
Because of this noticeable difference, doctrines have arisen that teach there is no Trinity, and that unless water baptism is administered in the name of Jesus (only), with faith in the water baptism, a person cannot be saved. This is a false teaching that has...
IN STUDYING THIS MORNING, I CAME ACROSS THE WORD "PRIDE". I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE THINGS I DID AND THERE WERE THINGS I DID THAT I NOW SEE I WENT TO EXTREMES OVER. I WILL GIVE YOU THREE DEFINITIONS OF PRIDE. THIS FIRST ONE IS WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT NOT GO OVERBOARD. IT IS "A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect." THESE NEXT TWO ARE WHAT WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY ARE "Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness" AND "An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit". PROVERBS 16:18 PUTS IT THIS WAY, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
Every detail of every man's life, who has ever walked on the earth, has not impacted the world as much as the few recorded details of Jesus' life. Jesus was not just a man, He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16).
In Acts 10:38 Peter gives a very brief, yet descriptive summary of the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus was anointed with power and with the Holy Ghost.
He used this power to do good, not evil. This is one of the main characteristics of God and is one of the easiest ways to discern what is from God and what is from the devil. God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil. If it's bad, it's from the devil. If it's good, it's from God.
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I LOVE WHAT IT SAYS IN PSALMS 35:27 WHICH IS "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." ARE YOU PROSPERING? WE ALL SHOULD BE BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN US THE MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN. HE GETS NO PLEASURE FROM OUR ADVERSITY AND WHY SHOULD HE? AGAIN....HE HAS GIVEN US THE MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN PROSPER. I KNOW THIS IS DAVID THAT WROTE THIS PSALM BUT 2ND TIMOTHY 3:16-17 TELLS US THAT "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT ALL SCRIPTURE IS FOR US TODAY AS MUCH AS IT WAS TO THE JEWS BACK THEN.