https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:33:33 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2114/rapture-is-imment-are-you-ready https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2114  
            I am very strongly led to believe the rapture is very imminent, any day at anytime at all, so I cannot strongly enough advise all of you to get your hearts right with Jesus by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any Sin /iniquity/ uncleanness in your heart, mind etc and repenting of any and all right away, asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and your garments so that they are white, being washed by the blood of Jesus. I am a man, needing the blood of Jesus for cleansing as much as everyone else, and believe me I am doing the same thing. This repenting is a continuous process, not one time thing, I have found that I myself have been repenting several times throughout the day. I know that it will be God's grace and mercy ONLY that I make the rapture, not anything I do, I am aware of grace alone being what saves, and not works lest any should boast, but also faith without works is dead so I am sharing this with everyone, in the hopes that a few, even one, would wake up in time , and repent, for the remaining time here is very short.
            I post this for I deeply care for people and DO NOT want anyone to miss the rapture and find themselves left behind to face the 7 year tribulations which will follow the rapture which will be pure a horrific time on earth, the most horrific ever, in fact, where you will have to hide in caves or in mountains, away from the evil people, be an absolute survival expert, which many are not and absolutely refuse to take the mark of the beast(666). You wouldn’t be able to buy or sell anything, work, eat and so on, and most likely you’ll be killed for it, but that is far better than ending up in the lake of fire for eternity, as all who take the mark of the beast will.  Even that will not be enough for many as most people, in fact will not survive the judgments that God will pour out on the world in this time period. It will make today's evil world seem like a day in paradise in comparison. I very strongly suggest reading the book of Revelation chapters 6 through 18 which tell you specifically what sort of events and judgments the world will see during this tribulation period.
 
Rapture related scriptures:
 (1Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
 
(1Coorinthians 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.
 
(1Thessolonians 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:
 
(1Thessolonians 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.
 
God wants to keep us from this tribulation by His love and mercy Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  The implication of this verse is obvious:  If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR Revelation 3 verse 10.
 
Now I have a very special warning message to all those  lukewarm Christians to repent and be on fire for Jesus or Jesus will surely spit you out of the rapture(see verse 16, below) and you will go through the seven year tribulation as it says in Revelation 3 14-22. ALL TOO MANY are in this condition the Holy Spirit warned me this AM. WAY TOO MANY LAODICEANS today. REPENT NOW and be on fire for the Lord before it is too late!! Here are the verses in Revelation chapter 3 concerning the Laodicean church:
 
(Rev 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
 
(Rev 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
 
(Rev 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
 
(Rev 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
 
(Rev 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
 
(Rev 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
 
(Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 
(Rev 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
 
(Rev 3:22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
To sum up you MUST be ready for this rapture, AND be on FIRE for Jesus, not lukewarm but loving Jesus with ALL Your heart, mind soul as commanded in the bible, in several places in both the old and new testaments. If you need to receive the Lord please pray the following prayer (backsliders can also use this prayer to repent, recommit your lives  and return to Jesus Please do so before it is too late)
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Here are 10 steps to help you
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by chance you are reading this after the rapture all is not lost, just pray to accept Jesus as savior/recommit to Him, and whatever else you do DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beat and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND)]]> Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:58:34 -0330 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2062/after-the-rapture https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2062 The Holy Spirit has led me to write this to give some idea of some of the events likely to happen immediately after the rapture on the earth, especially, so people see the chaos, lawlessness, and mayhem that will take place. I want to encourage people to live godly lives and above all to seek Jesus with all their heart, mind and soul, repenting daily, so the Holy Spirit can cleanse you to ensure being taken in the rapture, by His grace and mercy. God is gracious and merciful too to give the rapture for a way out and escape for His people to escape the seven year tribulation period. The things that I write about below are revelations from the Holy Spirit, the bible, and various videos and movies I have watched and things I have read. I pray that God will use this document to open your eyes. I have no wish that ANY should miss the rapture at all, and neither does God!! I am no prophet at all but always want to seek and do the Father’s will, as Jesus commands us all to do, and to always draw nearer to Him.
            The rapture, when it happens, will be a very sudden, instant thing. When the Father tells the Son (Jesus) to get His bride, the angels will blow the Trumpet and Jesus will shout a command, “COME UP HITHER!! ” or something identical in meaning. Then, all of the sudden, the dead in Christ will rise first, then all of those who are ready at that time will suddenly rise up to meet them in the air, vanishing, along with all children. It will lead to unbridled and unimaginable Chaos on ALL the earth as many of the ones taken in the rapture will be driving cars, busses, trains, flying trains, doing surgery, repairs, construction and many other vital and important tasks on this earth. One second they will be on earth, doing their things then the next, not. The chaos will be due the fact that there will be innumerable numbers of suddenly driverless cars, trains, busses, and pilotless planes, which will all no doubt crash into other vehicles, run off the road, derail and so on. As a result of these crashes many, many other people will be killed and there will be A LOT of damage done in these crashes, and any fires that will no doubt result from them. The injured in such incidents will largely be left to fend for themselves as the remaining emergency services will NO DOUBT be completely overwhelmed by the flood of calls of accidents and the like, and  also about missing persons that will result from the rapture. Also they will  be very short staffed as no doubt many emergency staff, police, firemen, ambulances, doctors and such will be taken in the rapture, or killed, or themselves injured in the post rapture mayhem and cannot get to their work places  or otherwise find themselves unable to work their jobs!! Also, due to the crashes, and abandoned vehicles the roads will no doubt be impassable for quite some time. Of course, there will be mass panic among the remaining people in cars who, even if they did not get hurt or killed in the many accidents they will find it very hard to get about, seeing how the roads will likely by blocked by abandoned, driverless vehicles and finding them also will be unnerving to say the least, as most will not have a clue as to why there is no driver there. There also will be dazed, crazed people searching for their missing friends/relatives milling about further adding to the confusion.
            Due to all the massive damage, casualties, and mayhem there will be mass panic and lawlessness without doubt. There also will be bands or gangs of looters and robbers and other evil people and son on who will take full advantage of the massive chaos to rob others of their possessions, be it the raptured or even those who miss the rapture, and are left behind. There will be a massive increase in the numbers of robberies, murders, rape and all other crime for that matter. The people will also be taking advantage of the police inability to respond to all this, as well. After all a lot of the police will be looking after their own, having to deal with the same issues, and no doubt some of the police will have gone up in the rapture. The damage worldwide from rapture related crashes and such will no doubt be in the trillions (maybe even quadrillions) of dollars(American), from ruined cars, trucks even destroyed houses and such. Another big thing that will happen is that loved ones who miss the rapture will be bewailing and wondering what happened to their husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter who were taken in the rapture. They will bewail their loss and mourn them as though they had died suddenly and  without any warning. It will be in a sense they did, they will be just as missing to them. If you had someone die unexpectedly for whatever reason you know that feeling, except many will have several suddenly missing, and this will apply to everyone remaining on the planet after the rapture.
            The governments of the world, when  faced with all the devastation that the rapture caused, and the mass lawlessness and  that come as a result of  the rapture, will no doubt institute national martial law- in fact I figure  most if not all governments worldwide will institute martial law to help restore order, and to clean up all the mess left behind after the rapture and all the related looting, pillaging, wars as well as deal with the panicked people who do not understand why all the disappearances happened, and more. This they will  all these do but this of course is the perfect lead up and leads in to the one world government and one world order headed by the beast/antichrist and the false prophet and so on. The Antichrist will doubtless say that only he can provide the leadership to restore things back to normal after all the chaos and lawlessness. The martial law and new world order coming after the rapture will be very dictatorial, as it will need to be to restore law and order, to stop the roving gangs from looting, pillaging and all. Of course any dissidents to this government will be rounded up and put in the prison camps, or even killed.
            Meanwhile there will be wars, even more so than before and eventually a false peace, even the Antichrist signing a peace treaty with Israel, which according to God’s word leads to sudden destruction that leads into the seven year tribulation period, with all of its horrendous judgments against the ungodly in three sets of seven: the seals, the trumpets, and the vial/bowls. Also, immediately after the rapture, people will become much  selfish, too, they are slowly now, but this will very much more so after the rapture, and the tribulation period, due to the fact that food will be so hard to get, and expensive, and other reasons, not the least of which the removal of much of the Holy Spirit, which itself will remove much of the restraint holding back the evil, rage, and selfishness that would otherwise take place now  if He was not there to provide restraint (increase in rage, greed, violence, and so on, even families will tear each other apart as survival instinct self preservation and selfishness take over) .
            If, for some reason (I cannot understand you would even want to be here after the rapture ) you plan on being here after the rapture, even now I suggest isolating yourself away from ANY and ALL population centers, such as the cities, get a LOT(several years worth, if at all possible) of non perishable food and  bottled water, get things like outdoor survival gear, water purification equipment, clothes for all weather ,buy(if needed) and read up any and all survival skill books. This will give you the best chance of survival afterwards, being away from civilization alone, or perhaps with a few other survivalists. You would know what the edible and poisonous plants are in the wild, about animals, building shelter and so on. Do NOT believe or trust the government and the news media about what they say about all the sudden disappearances, as no doubt they will blame it on a massive terror attack or massive alien abduction, or some other equally preposterous story which they will push forcefully on the then likely very gullible(and panicked and distressed) people who WILL NOT UNDERSTAND why their loved ones, be it their children, parents, spouses, friends) have simply and very suddenly gone missing out of thin air for seemingly to them no reason. When you see reports on the news and other sources of mass disappearances of people, crashes, and other mayhem, know that the rapture has happened and NOT believe any other story that the media and government may create  to placate the  no doubt panicked masses left behind!! Stay save and away from people and civilization if at ALL possible and whatever else you do, absolutely DO NOT EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, either (or you will go to hell, then the lake of fire for all eternity). I cannot strongly suggest getting right with Jesus to make the rapture- you want NO PART of the post rapture chaos, believe me,  but the choice is yours. Both God and I respect a person’s free will to choose what they think is best for them.
            In total contrast to those who miss the rapture and are left behind, the people who DO indeed make the rapture will be taken up to heaven immediately after the call, will be shown around heaven, and spend the time of the tribulation and up to when Jesus takes the bride back down to the battle of Armageddon. During this time you will go to the bema judgment seat to see what rewards you may/may not have reaped while on the earth by His grace/mercy(see 1 Corinthians 3). Also you will take part in the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). It will be the perfect pleasant time, full of happiness and joy beyond description while people here suffer and struggle. You will be able to do all that you enjoy, work at things you enjoy, be around happy people, and most of all spend time with the Lord Jesus. God will wipe away any and all tears we might have, too(regret, especially). For more on life on heaven, I suggest looking up testimonies of heaven on YouTube.com from people who had near death experiences or visions from which they came back and provided testimony of their experiences. I have watched them and can say from them heaven is an amazing experience like nothing this earth has to offer!!!
            To sum up I want to be clear that I am sharing this so that people see the stark contrast between making the rapture and being left behind. The only way to make it is to know Jesus as your savior as He is the ONLY way to heaven. If you don’t know Him and want to know Him to make the rapture please pray this prayer with me: Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture: 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place,  all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to  to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!
 ]]> Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:01:50 -0330 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2051/james-personal-life-testimony-for-all-to-enjoy https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2051
 
            Introduction In the early morning of March 10, 2013 the Lord instructed me to do my testimony and share it for His glory, to show all how He worked in my life, even though I did not know Him for much of the time, until relatively recently. He worked in my life by only His grace and mercy many times to greatly lessen many of the messes that I got myself into by my own poor choices and actions. I had many, many challenges growing up, some caused at least in part due to the fact that I had Asperger’s syndrome, something I did not know for certain that I had until September 2007,when I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist, even though I had an inkling as early as 1999, when I was chatting with a mother with an autistic son on America Online, my ISP at that time. The Asperger’s syndrome had these challenges/symptoms for me(Asperger’s generally gives different people different things): I had ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder),  at least traits of OCD- obsessive compulsive disorder, perhaps I could have been even diagnosed with it in fact, but never was, I know now God’s mercy and grace alone protected me there against such a diagnosis. I was and still am to a degree either really passionate about something or the exact opposite, not caring  or totally against the idea, not wanting any part of it. I was a “black and white” person- it had to be either polar extreme,absolutely NO middle ground whatsoever!!! I still have some tendencies there; the Lord is working on this too at the moment. I often mad mountains out of molehills that is fussing a lot about very small matters (such as being unhappy when someone beats me to a task I enjoy doing, even if said task is but a few moments. Also I found a lot of interest in studying very picky subjects from time to time. I also was much too hasty with what I said, often never really thinking before blurting something out, which often led to many rebukes but little worse(I still have to watch out against that) I was blessed by being good with numbers. Those are the main symptoms; I may have left a few lesser ones out. I admit another thorn I have in my side is that I tend to be too unassertive, and am not led to say things when people are trampling on me, which has often hurt me in my life. I do not like to create strife but there are times where I needed to be more assertive and such. Most strife I cause is mainly due to the fact that I don’t think before I speak/act; I can be much too spontaneous in those areas. The Lord has helped but I still need maturity in many areas, I admit.  
            Early childhood years and schooling 1967 to 1986
            I was born in 1967 to protective parents, and I lived in a sheltered environment. I know in hindsight that they knew I had issues, but they never would know what I was diagnosed with. My parents never went to church at all that I could remember, and seemed to live quiet secular lives during all the years of my life. I was born in Harrisburg, Pa, moved to Lemoyne shortly after I was born and then at 5 years old I moved to Camp Hill where I would stay past my mother’s death until 2003, a bit over 30 years of my life.
My mother stayed at home all my life, only trying once or twice to work after I was born or do other things. She never volunteered anyway- it seemed to never enter in her mind to do so. Both of my parents were overprotective, which in some ways was a blessing as it helped keep me from falling into the wrong/bad crowds at school. My mother was strong willed and I couldn’t even do some basic care stuff until much later than many people. For example she cut my nails and toes until I was like 14, made my bed until 18, and I never really washed my own clothes until I was in my 30s!  My school also was very small, graduating class of like 69, so those two definitely were mercies shown by God. I got to kindergarten where my ADHD came out when  I wandered continually around the classroom(28 students), which was extremely disruptive, so I did not attend normal school until fifth grade but went to a special education school, for those challenged. They never did diagnose my real problem as too little was known about Autism/Asperger’s back then. I believe this also was a mercy/blessing of God as it enabled me to be in much smaller classes than regular school would have been. When I was normalized in 5 th grade, my school was but two doors away, two minutes walking time- another mercy of God. When I was in high school, even then it was maybe four or five blocks’ walk away, maybe 1/3 of a mile. I was always close to my schools for much of my education. In part because of some of my issues and obsessions, I was picked on and bullied rather severely during the school years, especially severely between about seventh and about tenth grades.  A lot of this picking on and verbal bullying can leave severe emotional scars which can be much worse even than being in physical fights, of which I was in very few: another mercy of God there, without any doubt. I never considered myself an overly aggressive type anyway in that regard. God also helped heal the emotional scars from these incidents, as well. I had several other incidents during my school years where God’s mercy and love saved me from far worse consequences for my own poor, fleshly decisions actions which may well have deserved far more severe consequences than what happened, but I did not receive them. I could have been left behind at a band trip, because I got lost and separated from the group, who looked for and found me  been far deeper in debt to a record store/my parents after ordering far too many record albums at once(I never worked in school) , even gone to jail or a juvenile institute(for sexual abuse- holding women’s hands in the libraries pretending to see their rings, this in hindsight my mother took part blame for herself though admitting she held my hand too long in my life, but also I know this was my Apserger’s obsessiveness coming out there too, also in the record ordering thing. God in His mercy and grace, even though I did NOT know Him at that time, protected me in a way that kept the adverse consequences to a bare minimum. In my senior year of high school that I was able to attend a band festival, a spring band trip, and even graduate was due to God’s grace as I struggled more with my school work and classes that year. This was due to the harder and more challenging classes that I took that year, some college level, my own attention deficit disorder, and poor study habits. My teachers all during my high school school never knew I had ADHD, they only said that I often failed to work up to my potential, but seeing they did not know I had ADHD, never knew why.  Even then somehow I knew it was God protecting me and showing me a lot of mercy and grace that I did not deserve at all, but I never accepted His son until much, much later. I did, by God’s mercy and grace, manage to graduate High school in June of 1986
            Adult working and college years to my mother’s death Fall 1986 to May 2001
            In the fall I spent about 1 and ½ approximately semesters- August 1986 to March 1987 going away to school and a local state university- Shippensburg Pa. It was due to a number of reasons, my disabilities, my in assertiveness/inability to speak up about more than one thing that was wrong and other factors that this college away was real struggle for me that mercifully it did not last too long. It did have a few blessings, and enjoyable moments, such as being in the bands and participating in their activities. It was God’s mercy in a way that I went back home to be with my parents again. My parents upon my returning home had me examined by a doctor and, fearing mono, I even went part time to a mental hospital in 1987 into maybe 1988. They never did diagnose my Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, or even the obsessive compulsive one, or anything else for that matter, but let me continue to receive some treatment with them. I am not sure, except some social skills what it really helped me. Yet it was a bit of a blessing and all. I would get a job in June 2006 working as a courtesy clerk/parcel pick up at a local supermarket (2 blocks away). Also I would go to Harrisburg(Pa) Area Community College off and on for the 5 years or more from fall 1987 to 1992 then again in1997 and 1998. I would get a general studies degree at the local Community College, again but God’s grace and mercy alone, for I struggled with those classes, too due to ADHD and also a tendency to give up on hard classes and other things too easily. It is really hard to learn in anything, however, when your mind flies from one thought to the next as it did then, and you cannot focus at ALL on what the professor was saying. It is only God’s mercy and grace that I got anything out of any of these classes. Other than school and work I had a fairly quiet and uneventful time (no drugs, alcohol and the like).After working I largely watched TV to relax in my room, and read or listened to music, etcetera .I did not want to be with my parents for they often would have loud disagreements downstairs, that I wanted no part of(this was most of my life, in fact). I would collect various items during that time period: classical records, books, especially science fiction, and magazines, as I looked in vain to possessions like those rather than a relationship with God and His Son to fill the empty void in my life and my heart . It never worked, of course. In retrospect, foolishly, I thought it would fill my life and I spent many thousands of dollars trying to do this over the years. As also I look back now I realize that it really was NOT God’s plan for me to go to these secular schools for a secular degree at all. I was planning to move away from my family in 1999, somewhere in the Carolinas but the decline of my mother’s health back then prevented me from doing that. She would continue to decline in her health, becoming more dependant on others until she died in 2001. Perhaps it was a merciful thing too that it worked out that way as I don’t think I was ready then to move out. Interesting I prayed for mercy for my mother so her suffering on earth would end and I was heard, so she did not suffer at the end too long of a time. She was in intense pain too just before she died. Still another mercy from God, perhaps, as at least it ended her earthly suffering. A last note, at my workplace, a supermarket, there was a highly evangelical Christian female bagger and I actually did pray a prayer of salvation in approximately 1997, but I do not consider it genuine in hindsight as I do not feel I had the right motive at that time to do it (wanting to hold her hands mostly then), neither did my life change at all too much though in the 2000s, until 2007, although I had more people witnessing to me on social media and so forth. God was reaching out to me more and more, though, wanting me to be saved.
            After my mother’s death until my father’s death May 2001 until February 2006
            The death of my mother took a very severe toll on my father, and no doubt shortened his life, in my opinion. He was devastated by the loss of his wife and I know he badly missed her. He was never as happy afterward as he was when my mother, his wife, was around. Even though I questioned it at times based on what I saw they were close, and they were married almost 39 years at the time of my mother’s death. For me I just largely worked at the supermarket and just kept quiet and all. I did, however, experiment with being on my own from July 2003 and October 2004, moving from Pennsylvania to Hilton Head, SC for that time period before moving back to live again with my father until he died in 2006. My father was a big help in me sustaining myself with my job and all down there- I was able to transfer my bagging job there-the places in Pa in SC where I worked were then sister supermarkets under a big umbrella company- God’s provision was also shown in my life, through my father because a lot of the times there were not enough hours available to work in a week’s time to earn enough money to sustain oneself (wintertime I could be scheduled as few as one or two days) , except during summer: the store was near many timeshares which it relied on to get a lion’s share of its business. I also tried, and largely failed with internet marketing/MLM, getting very deep into debt, but a timely inheritance helped bail me out of that massive debt, again God’s great provision: the debt(credit card) was like $11,000 or so and the inheritance was for $15k. I say it was a failure thought I did have some success at it; my expenses far exceeded my earnings from my programs. I wasn’t doing this for righteous reasons at all but only for self, wanting to make a living as an internet marketer. When I cam back, at the end of October 2004, I watched my father’s health finally decline especially from about December 2005 on to his death. He had severe skin cancer, then a stroke on January 1, 2006, then it was downhill until he died in February 8, 2006. I am glad I was there in retrospect for that. Likewise I also prayed that the Lord would have mercy on my father as I knew after his strokes that he was not in it, and would be totally and utterly dependent on others for everything, and otherwise suffering, and that my father did not want to be a burden on anyone like that on anyone.
            My father’s death until my real salvation February 2006 to October 2007
            After my father died I stayed in Pa until late April. I did that to take care of, with my uncle’s help, of all sorts of paperwork and such after my father died, dealing with inheritance and the other matters that often result of someone’s death. I got an inheritance of my Father’s condo, and his car. I would then have my uncle sell off the condo after I moved to SC. I moved from Pennsylvania back to Hilton Head SC(with 70 boxes of magazines at the time of the move ,no less, then I got REALLY obsessive with my collecting of vintage magazines and blew through money from an insurance policy and a lot of my father’s inheritance in a matter maybe six to eight months. I figure between the insurance and inheritance I wasted close to 80 thousand dollars on vintage magazines, by the time I was finished with my purchases, I wound  up with close to 180 boxes, many very large and heavy of all different kinds of vintage magazines. I did not have any relationship with the Lord at the time and I feel like this was my way of compensating for my father being dead and no longer being present in my life, and in a way to take my mind off the pain of the loss and my grief (actually for both my parents, for that matter(I was closer to my parents by far than to almost all others).But even all those magazines could not fill the gnawing hole in my heart, no physical item could, but as I would learn later only a relationship with God and His Son. Needless to say, I got into a lot of trouble with my landlord over this very obsessive purchasing, and as a result he required me put all those magazines in a storage unit, because they were a fire hazard and a bug hazard. In retrospect, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be not evicted by him over my obsessive collecting and hoarding of these magazines back then in the summer/fall of 2006-and I believe  that also very much was God’s mercy and grace applied to that situation.  . I bought almost all these magazines off eBay, by  either winning auctions, or even directly from various sellers and there were days I had as many as ten or fifteen boxes outside my apartment, and more than just a few of those days. Eventually one of the store’s assistant managers, William Roberts would help me move from Hilton Head, SC to a farm where her mother lived in late April 2007. The farm was located outside of Kershaw, SC.  The rent was less than half of what is was in Hilton Head, SC and in the trailer which I rented (3 bedrooms) there was enough space to house my entire vast collection so I did not have to rent a storage space anywhere. Although the rent was much lower, in retrospect it was very fortunate for me that my uncle did not permit me spend all my inheritance on magazines as I might have done so otherwise without my uncle’s intervention to stop that. I needed this to make ends meet as largely my work schedule - at a much less busy store than on Hilton Head, SC- was limited to one day per week. William was an evangelical Christian, a Baptist, so was his mother so after some moths of patient witnessing they finally got me to go to a local Baptist church in Kershaw. I believe now this was large part of God’s plan for this move was to get me saved, to commit my life fully to the Lord Jesus.  This was Sunday October 14, 2007, when I went to the evening service at a church called Open Arms Baptist. I would go to a heaven and hell program on the following Saturday the 20 th of October in Hartsville, SC. What persuaded me to finally give my life was a story of a teenage girl who got into a bad relationship online, then was raped and murdered by this guy she met via the internet. She, as she had not accepted Jesus and was past the age of decision, was shown to wake up in hell(as did her murder, who was executed in the play and made no pretense to repent, and in fact he was VERY hard hearted STRONGLY opposing ANY and ALL attempts to evangelize him. I had started to read the bible a little bit before going to church then, and the play dramatization finally persuaded me to accept the Lord that very night. I felt like I myself was destined for hell had I not made the decision that night to accept Christ (recommit?) One of the ministers there at Hartsville prayed with me to do this. I don’t know for certain if this was a new salvation as I think it is, or a recommitment, if the Lord counted my 1997 prayer as genuine. Only He knows the truth!!
            Life in Kershaw,SC from October 2007 until move to North Carolina Fall 2009.
            From around September 2007 into 2009 people did in fact arrange to get me help in various ways for my condition, and it was around October when I finally got my diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. This opened the way for me to apply for disability income via Social Security, which I got after a year’s time and two tries. Also, in a show of God’s blessing I got almost a year of back pay of this Social Security, thousands of dollars. That is a show of God’s mercy and goodness for there are many who have to go through much tougher times to get this disability income. They are so paranoid of scammers and fakes that many people who need it are rejected and have to get a lawyer and take them to court. I wanted also to get a designated payee; because I did not myself with this money especially after all the money I had wasted buying magazines! William was my first designated payee (Harrietta Turner and Teresa Wiggins were the others). Also, earlier in the year, in spite of the help of my inheritance I was able to get on EBT/food stamps. These stopped once I was approved for the disability income. All this was due to the persistence of William’s mother, Bobbie Taylor, who really cared for me. God moved her to pity my condition. I would never have done all this on my own, nor could I have(and God knew that). William also used me to help him in some things, too, such as help him move to Columbia. His one twin daughter moved to be with her grandmother, too, in February 2008, and I also helped her move too. She had been visiting from time to time beforehand but then she stayed there about 13 ½ months total. God used her to finally break my reclusive habits, staying to myself most of the time and get out and socialize with other human beings. Also the counseling and therapy at Camden’s(SC) mental health department helped achieve that end, as well. Meanwhile, I was going to church very regularly, reading the bible and praying every day, too, so I started to have a closer relationship with God at that time. I would go to three different churches at the same time in 2008 the main Baptist one (Open Arms), to where I was initially invited by my friends then. In about March, I would find out about a full Gospel church, called The Cross and the Sword, and also a month or less later a Holiness church, Gum Springs Holiness. As the Gospel church had a Tuesday night service and the holiness church had a Sunday afternoon service I was able to go to all three of them. Plus even bible studies that Cross and Sword had in people’s homes. God wanted to give me a large dose of preaching and teaching at that time for I was indeed a newbie Christian and it did help. He also wanted to show me differing church beliefs, too, and they were different from one another. All three churches were very small, rarely having more than 20 at any service, except for special occasions, like a singing. At that time I also heard about Andrew Womack ministries in Colorado, with his anointed teaching though it was never in God’s plan for me to go to school there as I had though: He would have different plans for me going to school. In 2009, in fact I did go to school for a comparative religion class in the spring and a bible school class in the summer, both of which were at a Midlands Technical School in Columbia SC(at different campuses, though). I also went on a number of spiritual retreats at varying places, mostly in North Carolina. I sold most of my magazines to help pay for these retreats, but still kept some of them. These retreats were in the Spring to the early fall(April to September of 2009). During the one at a Buddhist biased place(Southern Dharma) I actually had Jesus appear to me at night in a vision. I enjoyed the one called quiet place too, it was not far as it turns out from where I moved to actually. These helped me grow in spirit. I also enjoyed Mepkin Abbey in SC. I enjoyed the Quiet Place in Bakersville, NC the most. I was doing an activity with them at a church in Spruce Pine when I found an ad for Harrietta’s Stonehaven in the local paper. This was God’s way of telling me time to move to NC. By the middle of October of 2009, the move was complete. Another blessing of 2009 was going to a church in Fort Mill, SC, at first on Friday nights with another pastor then several times on Sunday to see the morning services. What a spirit filled church that place was! You could definitely feel the strength of the Holy Spirit there, without any doubt. It was over an hour from where I lived at that time but I felt  it was well worth the drive to attend those services.
            My stay in North Carolina 2009 through 2010
            The main purpose of going to Stonehaven was to help Harrietta do things around the place, outdoors, indoors, and whatever  else was needed. I was there, after all, in answer to an ad looking for volunteers and wanted to hold true. Harrietta was a blessed woman very mature in the faith where I had my own issues and immaturities. Still, things worked okay due to God’s grace and mercy. The winter of 2009-2010 was a challenge too with much snow and ice, doing a lot of tree damage(especially with a Christmas Day 2009 Ice storm), but thanks to help from a neighbor, I got through. This is still another example of God’s mercy, goodness and provision. Come spring there was help to clean up the place from a local church which I went to at that time. This was something called Operation Inasmuch, based on the Matthew 25:40 bible verse. Another incident worthy of note was that I found a card in Harrietta’s car that I do not believe was there by accident. God intended that for me. It was a card for New Life Bible School led by Norville Hayes in Cleveland Tennessee. New Life had a summer program of 4 weeks which I signed up for which was a real blessing to attend. There were classes by various teachers in the morning then a bit of study in the afternoon, I also served at the soup kitchen nearby most days. The church services and all were pretty good, too. Also God delivered me from having to take Strattera, a prescription ADHD medicine, that I had been taking  for about 18 months, and used supplements instead for the purpose of mitigating my ADHD symtoms. Further in the spring God also started to witness and tell me about the pretrib rapture more so than beforehand. He led me to Tim La Hays prophecy study bible, and also brought Robert Bennet, someone who is strongly pretrib to the retreat. Even before back from the school in Tennessee,I wanted more and more for a much longer and more intense school to learn more about God, His word and ways, and to serve, and after a while of searching different schools and internship opportunities, I found someone from one of the internships who referred me to Youth with A mission, as they had good experience with them. When I looked up Youth with A mission online I found that they had a discipleship training school was exactly what I wanted to achieve the goals I had in mind. It meant that I would have to move away from Harrietta’s Stonehaven, and I never been back since to that retreat where I lived for almost 15 months. I miss Stonehaven, too, as it is beautiful. God really blessed Harrietta with a wonderful location, big main house, wonderful views, and beautiful land. God also provided for my needs too as I had unexpected car repairs(transmission, leaky seal late in December of 2010, perhaps as a failed bid of Satan to stop me from going to the DTS school? Thankfully I was able to sell off almost all of the remaining magazines from my collection to help pay for my trip there and help pay expenses too. Another blessing of provision was a $200 donation from a church member to help with expenses, too. The time at the retreat was a blessed time of service and growth in Christ, ending January 4, 2011 when I left for Colorado.
Youth with a Mission Discipleship training school lecture and outreach
            This started in January 2011 and I am thankful God gave me the strength to drive nearly 1700 miles to western Colorado from western North Carolina, over four days, though the fourth was only a few hours of driving. Once I got there I found things to be different in that this is the first time outside of perhaps summer 2010, where I lived in true community. We lived, studied, and did work duties, and basically everything important together. People also did not know each other, either at the start of the class. I am thankful for God’s grace and kindness there for I was rather MUCH older than the other students: I was 43 and the other students were all between 18 and 21. It was a very small class, only five other students. The weekdays were highly structured and intense with classes during the morning, each week had a different teacher and that teacher taught their own separate topic(one of the teachers came as far away as Austrailia!), and the classes/lectures themselves were often preceded by worship or intercession. After lunch there was approximately a two hour period of work duties, things that needed to be done maintain the base, such as cleaning or splitting firewood. There was physical training(exercise) in the afternoons twice a week, then prayer about the outreach destination as the Holy Spirit led. There was  some homework and projects too, like book reports, but still there was ample time for the students to fellowship with each other. The makeup and structure of this is able to provide opportunity for a VERY rapid growing and maturing in one’s relationship with God over the space of five or so months. God closed the door for the entire group to go to Pakistan for the summer outreach- their visa applications were all rejected, and He opened the door to go to Nepal for the rest of the group. However, God said an unmistakable manner that I was NOT to go with the rest of the group. Instead, He had me go to a ministry that helps people in the bondage of drugs and/or alcohol. In March the school had a teacher issue where one teacher could not get her card in time to the US, and it worked out with another’s health issue and all that we had to go to Texas for five days, for a week of lectures. When it was announced God said He wanted me to go do the School of the Bible there in the fall!! He may have even set up all these circumstances in my life to that end. Isn’t it awesome how He sets up things so that His will is done in our lives?
            In April, I went from Colorado to western Washington, to Vancouver, a city of 200,000 just north of Portland, across the river there. It was another 1100 mile journey but this time over only two days. God gave me the strength to drive there in that little space of time, and get there safely. The  is a highly structured and high accountability program where the students study God’s word the bible, do chores, pray, and do afternoon work duties, even having evening classes and activities. There is very little free time apart perhaps from weekends and even there they want everyone together, for accountability purposes. It is a good idea considering their backgrounds. The place is aptly named Freedom House, for God has used them to set free many men from the bonds of alcohol and drugs, often fully restoring and healing broken families and relationships, too in the process. The place is an amazing display of God’s power, love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness in these men, who also go out and help the local community with things, both in Vancouver and Portland (they are pretty much one and the same, only separated by the river. It was such an awesome and very eye opening experience seeing God do His work to and through these men. As with the DTS lecture, this is an opportunity for men to grow very rapidly through him through the students’ year long program (I was there 8 weeks). A few even go on to a second year, too, as like an intern where they then can go on and be a mentor to the first year students there. As one might expect, one has to be broken, family falling apart or even threatened with or even going to jail at the time of entering the program. Indeed the program has saved many men from having to serve a jail sentence and or losing their family. As stated the program is all about God’s mercy, grace, love, and all poured out on those broken men in bondage to drugs/alcohol. He then gave me the strength to drive all the way back safely to western Colorado which is where I started my summer.
Summer 2011
            The last couple of weeks I basically stayed and helped with outdoor tasks at the Cimarron, Colorado YWAM base, removing pebbles from the ground, weeds and other similar outdoor chores. All the snow was gone from the ground by the time I got back, for a change, even though I was told it snowed several times  there during May, which is not the usual thing but maybe once or twice, but not several times. The base in Colorado has an elevation of  8,600 feet above sea level so it can snow almost at anytime of the year there(very rare,however, in the summer months but I did see flurries there, and a small accumulation at higher elevations while I was there in late June)! While there during those weeks God showed me His plans for me that summer- six weeks of mission building YWAM Chico California, formerly the Richardson Springs hotel, which is where I went immediately after graduating the DTS on the 24 th of June. I left for California on the 25 th of June. I thank God for strengthening me and keeping myself and my car safe during the 1000 mile drive to California during that time period. I miss the base in Cimarron, Colorado as it was the prettiest place I ever stayed in my life, God really made that area so beautiful, yet, as with Harrietta’s place He has not led me to go back there, either, as of yet.
            The mission building is this: one works during the day about nine to five approximately, with a half hour of devotional/study time beforehand too. I was working in the housekeeping department with a very friendly woman named Felicia. The base, in a canyon in Chico, California was beautiful but rather rugged and all, and hilly. Evenings and weekends are free time for mission builders to relax or do whatever that needs to be done.  During this time period, a busy one, I was able to find out that I was indeed accepted to the School of the bible. A  real blessing on July 17 th 2011 was being taken to Redding, Ca to go to Bethel church, which is a very spirit filled church. I went to both morning and evening services that day. Also, I went on a mission/service trip for 13 days in August to an orphanage in Baja California. Such trips by the base are normally one week about, but by God’s grace I was able to extend the trip by another full week, and the following Saturday I returned to the US, spending the weekend in San Diego and set off for Tyler, Texas from San Diego, California. God through His provision provided all costs of travelling for all of my adventures in 2011. He also kept me safe doing all the driving that was involved in all this travelling throughout the country. He put hedges of protection around me for all of these various travels.
The School of the bible YWAM Tyler Daysprings
            Towards the end of August, the school of the bible started up. I was involved in it from approximately August 24, 2011, when I arrived in Tyler to June 23, 2012, when I flew to Florida. This is a very intensive school, which studied the bible in a very thoroughly, as well as other related topics, such as sin and salvation. They even covered topics like government and economics from a biblical standpoint. The school has three outreaches, one fall, one spring, and one in the summer. The first of the outreaches is a pastoral shadowing, church tour session; the second was a teaching one where students got the chance to teach the word themselves, the third was both teaching/ ministry one, and slated to be much longer than the other two. The school is very intense, again with classes in the morning, work duties/chores after lunch, but more homework this time. In the morning, before classes there was prayer, worship or a Greek class. Aside from homework, weekends/evenings are free, but the homework can be a lot, some projects taking hours to do. This is especially so of the final New Testament epistle project the student presenting a full epistle with a long written report AND a 30-60 minute oral presentation in front of the class. Other major projects that were in the school included a prophet’s project and a study on the book of Proverbs.
            When it came time to pray about the options to go to the first outreach trip, which was basically to go somewhere and learn about the functioning of a church and especially its leadership, Florida, as well as Ohio, and personal churches were options available for that outreach. I was led to go to Florida, then little dreaming what would happen after the school(at the time I went to Florida in November 2011, I thought I would be going to Africa in 2012, specifically to Zambia). Where I went on the outreach is maybe 80 or so miles away from where I am now to the north, but a long ways from Texas- about a twenty hour drive. Due to God’s grace and mercy we made it(same applied March 2011 with the trip from Colorado to Texas, about the same time on the road). In Florida we shadowed the pastors who helped us learn much about what they do, about what goes on at the church and other things. We had interviews with most all of the leadership of the church, Coastal Life. I stayed in a fellow student’s condo myself with him and his family. We stayed there through the Thanksgiving break as well, finally returning to Texas the weekend afterwards. This school, as well as the DTS in the spring had one on ones where a student was paired with a staff member for meetings from time to time. In the DTS it was weekly though this one was less, as it was a much longer school though it was often as needed. Furthering into 2012, God started to give signs that I in fact was to NOT go to Zambia in the summer, even though I was able to sell my car, which paid off the remaining tuition from the school, which was nearly $6000(as the school is long, it is cheap for a near one year school and included not only tuition but room and board as well, at many colleges, 6000 dollars wouldn’t come close to paying a years tuition fees, at some you’d be lucky to get 12 credit hours, so I am so thankful for finding such education at a bargain rate. In December/early January we were asked to pray to see where we were led to go on my spring outreach, this time the Lord led me to go on the Mexico team. This trip was in early March. I went with a larger group like 8 other students or so(the class had like 21 students more or less, much bigger than the DTS) . I was able to teach at a church service in Monterrey, Mexico on the first Sunday night, as well as give a testimony of what happened to me when in school of 8 th graders in El Coyote- a tiny village several hours south of Monterrey. One of the students, from Columbia served as a translator for all the others. The trip was a blessing too though it involved a lot of driving, and waiting at the border as well. Back from that God closed the door to the idea of going to Zambia, then He showed me this crusade thing on facebook, which very much interested me. I then in late March early April got in contact with Teresa Wiggins, the president of WAAOM, We all are one ministry. I thought for a time I would go to New England with the team but He closed that door, as well, and also other doors, like mission building, as well as further schools. He wanted me to go to Florida immediately after the end of the school in late June. He opened that door too, for her husband Kevin is not at all one just to let just anyone in their home, in this case a condo. He is very loving, but also protective of her, and won’t let any harm come to her. God therefore also had to intervene and move on him to let me come, and that is exactly what God did. So I finished up the school and prepared to go there. There also were other blessings well worth mentioning: on six Friday nights scattered during the school I went with other students to a night of worship in Dallas at Christ for the Nations, also went witnessing in Dallas in December 2011, and to the Esther call in April 2012. The school of the bible was a blessing.
Teresa Ann Wiggins
            In late June I flew from Texas to Florida(I had to, as I had sold my car long before), to live with Teresa and Kevin, to help the former prepare for the then coming crusade to reach out to people in the eastern part of the US. Teresa is a very, very mature Christian woman with many, many spiritual sons who are pastors, evangelists and other leaders throughout the United States and many other areas of the world. The Lord also had another treat for me then- in July I was able to go to Haiti for 3 and ½ weeks to visit some of her spiritual sons there. Just before going the Lord opened up a bigger three bedroom condo in the next building and while I was in Haiti the move took place. Through various ways God provided the high cost of the move, over six thousand dollars all told, mainly in rent- the new place requiring first, last and security(as well as paying the old places rent), plus there were other fees such as cleaning. Through His mercy and grace all was provided for. He is good like that always. He also provided all of the monies needed for the people to apply for visas, and send all the documents to them, all of this was expensive, running many thousands of dollars, but God provided for that. Sadly after all of the trouble ONLY ONE was accepted, Andrew from Kenya, out of over 40 who applied!! All of the others were rejected for one or another reason, mainly for not having been to the US before as Andrew of Kenya, had and had returned. A big reason for all the rejections is that many foreigners when they get to the US don’t ever come back, and stay here illegally. Of course then since they cannot trust them to come here and not go back to their host nation they won’t accept them. All this made Teresa so depressed that she wanted to cancel the crusade unless the Lord would let at least one to come through. I will add that the people here in this country had other things to do and weren’t able to help with the crusade either. So, when Andrew came off we went on the crusade. It wasn’t what we though it would be for He had his own agenda and would later admit in repentance that He had gotten ahead of the Lord and done his own will by going to conferences and such. The time was NOT blessed for him, and I put it here in my testimony as a warning to all to NOT get ahead of the Lord’s timing or will.
            One more thing that I want to add, I thought at the time of the end of the school of the bible, I thought I’d be with Teresa until just after the crusade and then move onbut I was wrong , for I am here as of March 2013,more than five months after the end of the crusade. I always seek God on all things but now I strongly believe this is a permanent move to a permanent home, up until the rapture happens, which I believe is imminent and could be anytime, any day. I am expecting the rapture with great anticipation this year, 2013. God is using Teresa and the situation I am in to mature and grow me in Christ, that the work is not  finished, and I know that He will finish this work before He comes back to rapture His bride. I pray earnestly every day that by His mercy and grace I am counted worthy to go on the rapture, for the rapture is something I absolutely DO NOT want to miss. I need His mercy and grace every day, as do all of us.  He has given me two Facebook like pages: FISH Faith in Serving Him, and The Rapture is Imminent, Are You ready?(please see links at bottom)  He gave my facebook accounts to post scripture, share video and photos well as answer messages. I also am an admin at Ken Rich’s site Indiegospel.org. Another good thing is that the move has grafted me into a nice size family seeing is that Teresa has 4 living daughters and six (soon seven) grandchildren, a mother who is still alive, sisters and such. They are mostly in Plant City, near Tampa, about 3 ½ to four hours from here, in Pompano Beach, Florida. I was there, in Plant City, for 3 of the holidays in 2012.My heart is always to do His will, no matter what that might mean in my life.  If He gave me the strength to do so, I’d likely lay my life down for Him, if need be- after all He laid His life for me. For most, however that is NOT required, for some it can be. . I pray too that the rapture be soon, as strongly believe in a pre-trib rapture, and that His bride would wake up in time to make it. I pray all you who read this are rapture ready, praying to the Holy Spirit to show them any areas that are deficient and help them make amends so they are rapture ready and ready to go in the rapture Please read this on the rapture a page that  I wrote with the help of the Holy Spirit
https://www.facebook.com/# !/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039
Summary
            Doing the will of God is by far the most important thing by far in my life. There is absolutely nothing better than a strong healthy relationship with the Lord Jesus. Absolutely nothing can fill the hole in our spirit like He can, not people, animals nor all  the things in the world, as I had erroneously thought for so many years. He has been extremely merciful to me over all the years of my life, too, protecting me and shielding me from the consequences of poor choices to a large extent of many poor decisions of mine in my life. I think He was doing that largely just to call out to me. I say this in hindsight, for I was NOT seeking Him for much of the time. I must admit often I do not understand what God is up to in my life, though I just trust Him for I know it says that in His word that as much as the heavens are higher than the earth His ways and thoughts are higher than mine, so there are times that all I can do is trust. I know He has shut many a door in my life but when I look back at my life I know now that it was ALWAYS the best tfor me to not go there, do that, and so on.
            If after reading this you want to invite Jesus in your heart for a personal relationship with Him, believe me absolutely NOTHING this world has to offer can come remotely close to that, I invite you to pray this following prayer with me
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
God bless you and all yours. Thank you for reading this and I hope you enjoyed it.
Jay Dougherty jay30_pa@yahoo.com
Here are some links on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/#!/jay.dougherty.50
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804
https://www.facebook.com/FishFaithInServingHim
 
 
 
 ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:57:44 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2044/about-sin-and-salvation https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2044             Do you KNOW where you are going to go when you die- heaven or hell? Do you believe you will be raptured up when Jesus comes to get His bride,which can happen any day now? I really believe strongly that the rapture is imminent by the signs of the times, internationally the people falling away and becoming more selfish and less loving. I do NOT want anyone to miss the rapture, and end up going through the great tribulation period where it will be the most horrendous period in human history where most will NOT survive, or go to hell for eternity should they die before the rapture even occurs(without Jesus).
            The problem with mankind is that fact that EVERYONE, absolutely everyone is a sinner- it says so in the bible. The problem is with the sin and Adam and Eve, who were the father and mother of ALL mankind. God told them to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they had permission to and were encouraged to eat of ALL the other trees(genesis 2). Satan at that stage took on the guise of a serpent and then tempted Eve to eat the tree, and she fell for the temptation and at herself  and also she gave one to Adam, who also ate(in theory he could have refused the fruit from Eve but did not). Then they found out they were naked(because of disobedience), and were ashamed of their condition. They covered themselves and hid from God’s presence in shame. The following happened in Genesis 3
(Genesis 3:8)  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
 
(Genesis 3:9)  But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
 
(Genesis 3:10)  And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."
 
(Genesis 3:11)  He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
 
(Genesis 3:12)  The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
 
(Genesis 3:13)  Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
 
Note in the above, how all  they did was to  made excuses and blame others(Adam blamed Eve, who blamed the Serpent) but NEVER did repent or take responsibility for   what they had done. Because of this,and  owing to the fact that Adam and Eve were the first of mankind all following are then born into sin, and none are able to do righteous on their own.
 
(Rom 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
 
(Rom 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
 
            This created a problem for God who loves us, more than we can imagine His creation so very much, and it grieved Him very deeply that none was righteous. At first, He imposed a system of animal sacrifice- see the book of Leviticus on that. That did not work. He also tried making covenants with man directly. That idea failed as well.
            God, being a loving but just God did have to find SOME way to deal with Man’s evil and sin problem as these scriptures indicate
(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
 
(Galatians 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
 
(Galalatians 5:21)  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
In fact the book of revelation describes their sad eternal destiny
(Revelation 21:8)  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
 
These are the reprobate who never accepted the Lord Jesus, and quite possibly those who did and fell away completely
 
(Hebrews 9:27)  And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
 
(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
The above sets of verses give an idea just how serious God considers sin, and the dire consequences of being in sin are! In fact if one is not careful one can be hardened in sin and God can give them over to such things
(Romans 1:21)  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
 
(Romans 1:22)  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
 
(Romans 1:23)  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
 
In ways I myself was guilty of this, I knew of God before I was saved but sure did not glorify Him and lived for things. However God was persistent with me, and even though I resisted witnessing for a number of years, I would eventually surrender to it and cave in. It did take persistence and a number of different people to achieve that end.  The true hope of the sinner is God’s true love for Him which is expressed here
 
(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 
His love for us is why He gave us His only begotten son!
(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
 
Jesus would teach that he ALONE is the only way to the Father(and to heaven)
(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
Jesus is always seeking for people to come to him, as it says in Revelation chapter 3
(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
 
It is necessary for believers to be born again to see God, as it is explaned in John chapter 3
 
(John 3:3)  Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
 
(John 3:4)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
 
(John 3:5)  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
 
(John 3:6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
 
(John 3:7)  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
 
The act of being born again means accepting Jesus as your Savior, turning/repenting of your sins, and believing that God has raised Jesus from the dead
You yourself cannot earn this- one’s works are never, ever enough to cancel out the effects of our sins.
 
(Isaiah 64:6)  We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
 
After all God, being holy, expects us to be perfect to love Him with ALL strength, mind, soul, and such, as well as our neighbor as ourselves. This is all a gift of  His grace(and not our works)
 
(2Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
 
(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
 
(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
Faith is the key to pleasing God and to accept this gift of salvation
 
(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
 
 
(Hebrews 11:1)  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
 
Also faith is the only way to please God.
(Hebrews 11:6)  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
 
As it states the key to salvation is to confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believing by faith God has raised Him from the dead. Here are the verses from Romans 10
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
Such a powerful promise there that all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus shall indeed be saved. This is echoed here in the old testament
 
(Joel 2:32)  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
 
The following indicates it is God’s will for all to be saved and that Jesus comes as mediator between man and God:
 
(1Timothy 2:4) who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
(1Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
 
(2Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
 
 
 
To sum up, everyone has all fallen short of God’s glory but God has made a provision for all to come back to fellowship and relationship with Him through His only Son Jesus’ sacrificial act on the cross at Calvary. So why not just accept this free gift of grace, mercy and love from Your heavenly Father by  praying this following prayer with me now?
 
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Congratulations on making the biggest and wisest decision of your life. It is but the beginning. Always seek to draw closer to Jesus by praying, remember now He is your new and closest friend and by spending lots of time in the word. Be careful of all false doctrine and teaching but always trust the Holy Spirit which now indwells in you. Pray to see if you are led to a Christian church to be baptized by immersion, and please do it over, if just sprinkle baptized, for that does not count. The full baptism is an act symbolizing dying to one’s sins and coming up a new man in Christ, so it is important. Also ensures witnesses to your decision to commit to Christ.
Another thing you need to do is continually repent, ever day, after every time you might stumble, as you will, I can say that myself. I have stumbled and sinned but repented each and every time and God forgave me every time, for He is just to do so. I leave you with these scriptures to back up what I say:
 
(1Peter 5:8)  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
 
(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 
(James 4:8)  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
 
Lastly here is some excellent advice from the first epistle of John
 
(1John 1:5)  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 
(1John 1:6)  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
 
(1John 1:7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
 
(1John 1:8)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
 
(1John 1:9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
(1John 1:10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 
 Stay vigilant and rapture ready for the rapture will come as a thief in the night. Whether newbie Christian or old please consider and follow prayerfully these following steps- You DO NOT WANT TO MISS THE RAPTURE AND GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATIONS, which many won’t survive
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour.
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
**4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
 
If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture.  Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.
 
Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
Thank you for reading this, stay prayerful and rapture ready
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:00:25 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2041/salvation-and-backsliding https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2041             When one does accept the  Jesus as their savior and confesses Him as His personal Lord it is a very great understatement Satan is NOT happy. Until you had repented of your sins and accepted Christ as Lord and His sacrifice on Calvary you were Satan’s  so you must be on your guard to deal with temptations, persecutions and such that WILL INEVITABLY come from Satan, who wants you back. One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to bring up our past and to try to use that to tempt us to fall back into sin. He often will tempt us with the very things we did in the past and then repented of when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. I am going to share various scriptures and use texts warn you against falling away, and the consequence of doing so, but also how to get back in right relationship with God in case you have fallen pray to temptation.
           
This first set of scriptures indicates we were saved to do God the Father’s will, indeed the Holy Spirit said that is why we were created in the first place
(Matthew 7:21)  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
 
(Matthew 7:22)  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
 
(Matthew 7:23)  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
 
He can and will order those who practice lawlessness and evil to leave Him so beware! Be sure to stay with and follow His will.The above is the last thing you want to hear from Jesus at judgment!! This next passage indicates the consequences of following and doing His word or not
(Matthew 7:24)  "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:25)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:26)  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
 
(Matthew 7:27)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
 
The verses above are all the more reason to hear Him out and follow through by doing what is asked of you by Jesus
I want to give reassurance now that God will not let anyone enter into temptation they can’t handle and will give a way out:
(1 Corinthians 10:13)  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
As these next two scriptures indicate it can be a hard thing to not be tempted to fall back to old habits and such
(2 Peter 2:22)  What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."
 
(Proverbs 26:11)  Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
 
We are continually being tempted by the things which beset us in the first place and we must be vigilant in rebuking and refusing them so as  to not fall back into these old habits. We need God’s help, grace, and mercy each and everyday with this, in fact. It is only He that can break many of these things. These next verses illustrate that perfectly
(John 8:34)  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
 
(John 8:35)  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
 
(John 8:36)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
 
Just before those two verses Jesus shares the benefit of abiding in Jesus’ word
(John 8:31)  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
 
(John 8:32)  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 
A caution as Paul warned the Romans  we are NOT to abound in sin so that grace may also abound
(Romans 6:1)  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
 
(Romans 6:2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
 
Jesus, in Matthew offers this very stern warning against tempting and causing others to stumble and sin. It is such a strong word:
(Matthew 18:6)  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
 
(Matthew 18:7)  "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
Here are some verses to indicate what can happen when unclean spirits are driven out but I also believe it is a warning against falling away from the gift and grace.
(Matthew 12:43)  "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
 
(Matthew 12:44)  Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
 
(Matthew 12:45)  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."
            When someone falls away, often the last state of the person, I am led to believe can be worse than the first, they end up more into sin, addiction, are more heard hearted, and hardened against the truth.
 
Now here is a very stern and severe warning against falling away from grace in the book of Hebrews
(Heb 6:4)  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
 
(Heb 6:5)  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
 
(Heb 6:6)  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
 
(Hebrews 6:7)  For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
 
(Hebrews 6:8)  But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
 
(Hebrews 6:9)  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation.
 
Note the reassurance in the end. There is an even harsher warning in Hebrews 10 against deliberate and continuous sin after falling away
(Hebrews 10:26)  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
 
(Hebrews 10:27)  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
 
(Hebrews 10:28)  Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
 
(Hebrews 10:29)  How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
 
(Hebrews 10:30)  For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
 
(Hebrews 10:31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
God can and does pursue those who are fallen away, always seeking to reclaim them from Satan. He knows that it will be worse for them if the don’t ever turn back to Him and some people never do, sadly. Others do though and are restored to relationship with Him. After all God does not want the devil to pull away even one of His children, though sadly some are, some sadly never to return(these can become even harder of heart than a lot of unsaved!). Ultimately these verses in Romans 8 at the end tell the story well.
(Romans 8:31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
 
(Romans 8:32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
 
(Romans 8:33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
 
(Romans 8:34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
 
(Romans 8:35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
 
(Romans 8:36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
 
(Romans 8:37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
 
(Romans 8:38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
 
(Romans 8:39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Here are good verses from 1 John 1 concerning sin, restoration, forgivness and fellowship with Him
 
(1 John 1:5)  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 
(1 John 1:6)  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
 
(1 John 1:7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
 
(1 John 1:8)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
 
(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.
 
(1 John 1:10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 
 
 We must all beware of Satan and to trust God. Satan hates God and always seeks to undo anything and everything God has done.
 
(John 10:10)  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
 
(1 Peter 5:8)  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
 
To fight Satan’s tactics I cannot strongly suggest staying submitted and close to God
(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 
(James 4:8)  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
 
Do not be shy to ask for help when you need to, such as for prayer:
(Jas 5:16)  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
 
Once restored, or even if not fallen here is a nice scriptures to encourage you
(Heb 12:28)  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
 
(Heb 12:29)  for our God is a consuming fire.
 
God is a consuming  fire too, so love Him and trust Him. Here are some verses to encourage, and to hopefully strengthen you to trust God and prevent any falling away:
 
(Rom 12:1)  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
 
(Rom 12:2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
 
(Heb 12:1)  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
 
(Heb 12:2)  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
As I write this, I strongly believe we are in the end times, the very  last days, and the rapture is coming very, very soon, so I share the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The foolish ones are the ones who fall away and or become lukewarm and such. The wise ones do not. (Mat 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
 
(Mat 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
 
(Mat 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
 
(Mat 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
 
(Mat 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
 
(Mat 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
 
(Mat 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
 
(Mat 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
 
(Mat 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
 
(Mat 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
 
(Mat 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
 
(Mat 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
 
(Mat 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
 
Believe me you do NOT want to miss the rapture which the above parable is inferring, as well as the marriage of the lamb, so if you are backslidden, please repent and recommit so you do NOT miss the rapture. Jesus told the Ephesians who had fallen away this too in this following word in the book of Revelation:
(Revelation 2:4)  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
 
(Revelation 2:5)  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
 
This is a very stern warning from Jesus to the Ephesian Church and it applies to us today. I urge you to repent by praying this prayer with me and then trusting the Holy Spirit to help you stop doing whatever you were doing wrong:
Lord Jesus Christ,

I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. [Take a few moments to ask His forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience.] Please forgive me. I now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank You that You died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.
Thank You that You offer me forgiveness and the gift of Your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by Your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 51 is an excellent prayer of repentance.
 
Now, having repented I suggest reading this to help ensure being that much more rapture ready, the rapture which can occur at anytime is not anything you want to miss. You want no part of the great tribulation to follow the rapture.
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour.
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
**4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
 
If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture.  Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.
 
Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:05:25 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2035/repentance https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2035             I am now led to write something about repentance to explain why it is so important to keep repenting daily, and not be complacent about it or even in denial. Adam and especially Cain never really repented after their wrong doing. However kings David, Ahab, and Manasseh all did repent of their deeds. Ahab got a delay in one of the judgments that were pronounced against him by Elijah due to Ahab’s wickedness. Here is the scripture for this:
(1Kings 21:28)  And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
 
(1Kings 21:29)  "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house."
 
Here is the story of how Manasseh repented. It did take judgment and captivity but HE did in fact repent
(2Chronicles 33:11)  Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon.
 
(2Chronicles 33:12)  And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
 
(2Chronicles 33:13)  He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
 
He actually changed his mind and attitude and became somewhat good, after being arguably the most evil king of Judah. He undid a lot of the wickedness he did earlier, but sadly for Judah this repentance came too late and the damage had already been done with his supremely wicked reign earlier.
 
A very good place in scripture where consequences of repenting, not repenting, and falling away are explained is  in Ezekiel 18 it says that everyone will be responsible for their own actions, not of any of their relatives(or friends for that matter)
(Ezekiel 18:20)  The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
 
(Ezekiel 18:21)  "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
 
(Ezekiel 18:22)  None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.
 
(Ezekiel 18:23)  Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
 
(Ezekiel 18:24)  But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
 
Verse 30 in the same book and  chapter God encourages repentance again
 
(Ezekiel 18:30)  "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
 
In the New Testament John the Baptist first took up the message of repentance
(Matthew 3:1)  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
 
(Matthew 3:2)  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
 
Jesus when He came on to the same
(Mark 1:15)  and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
 
Jesus then states we are all in the same boat, no one is special we all need to repent. He uses two examples in these verses
(Luke 13:2)  And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
 
(Luke 13:3)  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
 
(Luke 13:4)  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
 
(Luke 13:5)  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
 
Just after the Pentecost the people on hand and asked what they should do and they were told to repent
(Acts 2:37)  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
 
(Acts 2:38)  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
The same is as true today as it was in the story of Acts. It is vital that we repent each and every day, especially as we get conviction from the Holy Spirit of any sin/wrongdoing that we commit . I do not advise being complacent and brushing this off. It will keep Satan away. It will ensure right standing with God who is ever merciful and not wanting any to perish. It can be the difference that will keep one out of Hell and keep one rapture ready. Also the one warning with letting a sin go, when it is found out, is that a little opening can open the floodgates, and can lead to one falling away. This will not happen all at once but it would be a gradual process that lasts weeks, or more likely months. You go from this mild thing then you do things more often as the temptations get stronger and you can no longer resist them, and it can go until one is totally fallen away, and as one sins their heart will gradually become harder and harder. At the end the state of them can be easily be worse off than at first.  I use this scripture of the unclean spirit to illustrate
(Luke 11:24)  "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
 
(Luke 11:25)  And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.
 
(Luke 11:26)  Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first."
 
When sin enters back into a person, they can become harder and worse off then before they accepted Jesus in the first place, so please do repent when convicted.
Here are two sets of verses from Hebrews to further strengthen that point:
 
(Hebrews 6:4)  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
 
(Hebrews 6:5)  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
 
(Hebrews 6:6)  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
 
(Hebrews 6:7)  For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
 
(Hebrews 6:8)  But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
 
(Heb 6:9)  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation.
 
(Hebrews 10:26)  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
 
(Hebrews 10:27)  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
 
(Hebrews 10:28)  Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
 
(Hebrews 10:29)  How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
 
(Hebrews 10:30)  For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
 
(Hebrews 10:31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
The last verse states accurately how it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God, when you might have repented beforehand.  The verses in Hebrews, I believe shoot down the concept of once saved always saved. I strongly dislike that notion too, for it breeds complacency, laziness, and lukewarm attitudes on the part of people who subscribe in it. They feel they don’t have to repent when they sin, and they also may push aside the conviction of the Holy Spirit when they do, and scoff and mock. We are warned in the bible to NOT grieve the Holy Spirit
 
(Ephesians 4:30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
 
And you DO NOT want to be counted by God as lukewarm, as you will miss or even be spit out of the rapture, even maybe not make heaven if you die before the rapture unless you repent of this condition and all sins as we are so strongly warned in the book of Revelation
 
(Revelation 3:14)  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
 
(Revelation 3:15)  "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
 
(Revelation 3:16)  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
 
(Revelation 3:17)  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
 
(Revelation 3:18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
 
(Revelation 3:19)  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
 
(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
 
(Revelation 3:21)  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
 
(Revelation 3:22)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
 
Note how the scripture encourages the lukewarm to repent and ideally become passionate again for the Lord. There also is another warning verse in Revelation, this time to the Ephesians:
(Revelation 2:5)  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
 
Sadly the first verses in Revelation 3 may well ring true about some churches today
(Revelation 3:1)  "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
 
(Revelation 3:2)  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
 
(Revelation 3:3)  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
 
(Revelation 3:4)  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
 
(Revelation 3:5)  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
 
(Revelation 3:6)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
 
These are dead, not just lukewarm. These are churches where the Holy Spirit is NOT welcome there in any way during the services. I have been to them myself. Largely most of them believe that miracles, tongues prophecy and the other acts of the Holy Spirit have ceased and are no longer for us today. These people are called cessationists and dispensationalists. It seems to me like many but not all denominations of the church believe this. I believe myself as do many others that the gifts of the Spirit are with us today, such as the miracles and so forth. This wrongful belief serves to drive the Holy Spirit out of their church services, and they feel dead as a result. You feel NO Holy Spirit presence in the church whatsoever in church at all, or only the tiniest amount. Of course any of these can be repented of and turn back to the love of Christ.
            To sum up it is never more critical in these last days to be in right relationship with God. I strongly suggest asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything at all, anything that is holding you from a right relationship with God, and repent of that as soon as possible to get fully right with him. We all stand ALONE in judgment to God at the end when we die, after death, or after rapture, and nobody will be there to help us (or accuse us). Also please pray this prayer with me, substituting I for we, as need be, if praying this alone:
We repent, O God most merciful; for all our sins;
for every thought that was false or unjust or unclean;
for every word spoken that ought not to have been spoken;
for every deed done that ought not to have been done.
We repent for every deed and word and thought inspired by selfishness,
and for every deed and word and thought inspired by hatred.
We repent most specially for every lustful thought and every lustful action;
for every lie; for all hypocrisy;
for every promise given but not fulfilled,
and for all slander and back-biting.
Most specially also, we repent for every action that has brought ruin to others;
for every word and deed that has given others pain;
and for every wish that pain should befall others.
In your unbounded mercy, we ask you to forgive us, O God,
for all these sins committed by us,
and to forgive us for our constant failures
to think and speak and act according to your will
 
Again, I want people to be rapture ready so please also prayerfully follow these steps to help you:
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour.
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
**4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
 
If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture.  Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.
 
Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
 
 ]]> Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:44:34 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2032/at-the-rapture https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2032 Here is a list of possibilities of where someone will find themselves when the rapture occurs The Holy Spirit wants me to do this to give a snapshot of the time period of the rapture and the first few minutes afterwards at various locations and so forth. I want to give some idea of what will happen at the diverse individual locations to give a picture of the chaos that will result just from the rapture itself, and people taking advantage of the situation. The purpose of this discussion is to enlighten people so they repent, make their relationship right with God, and by the mercy of God then are counted worthy to be taken up in the rapture of believers. I have absolutely NO WISH to see ANYONE miss the rapture and  to be left behind to face the chaos and destruction immediately afterward, which could last for many months, the shock and awe of suddenly missing relatives and friends, of which some folks could find themselves having many, then (if they survive the shock, awe, and Chaos the great tribulation period that is certain to follow the rapture, which is by far the worst time period that man will ever experience. Below, I am making a very thorough listing of what can very easily happen after the rapture so there can be no doubt of just how devastating this rapture will be for those who are left behind. I strongly advise getting your heart right NOW with Jesus as you want nothing to do with what is to follow the rapture!
 Awake, doing whatever they may be doing at that time(working, eating, shopping, etc) and ready to go in the rapture(that is judged worthy) They will hear the trumpet and Jesus say come up here, or something with the same identical meaning, and it then in a twinkling of an eye- it will be that sudden- they will be floating up in the air to meet everyone else there, go through the cosmos and be in heaven in a matter of under a minute. Without any doubt people will be in absolute shock at how rapidly this has happened, and I know for certain they will want to through themselves at Jesus’ feet in immense gratitude for being counted worthy to be taken in this rapture, and to escape all the mess and chaos on earth which will surely follow.
Asleep, in bed, but ready to go You will either awake at Jesus shouting and/or the trumpet or you could even just finding yourself floating up to meet Him, wondering what had happened. When you get to heaven you might even wonder if you had died, rather than being raptured, but when you look around and see all the other people, you will most likely realize the rapture has happened and that you were counted worthy to be taken in it, and as above likely want to fall at Jesus’ feet to show your gratitude.
At the home I envision one scenario where the woman calls for everyone in her family to come to the dinner(does not matter if it is breakfast or lunch, for that matter). Usually all her family will respond to her call in a very timely and prompt manner, knowing her cooking is good, and not wishing their food to get cold. One or more usually want to help, but she, being very independent, wants no help from anyone. This time she really goes all out to make the most wonderful meal they have ever tasted, but this time nobody responds at all. She tries again in a few minutes, but again no response. She does not understand what is going on at all and nobody is moving towards the dinner table. The family places such a high value of eating together, but for some strange reason after several calls still nobody will come to the dinner table, which is so well set up. She then decides to investigate to see why nobody is coming, and in each and every room where they were only moments ago , all she finds only empty clothes: the rest of her family and her guests for the meal have all just very suddenly vanished!! Needless to say she is in absolute shock and distraught over this sudden and unexpected development. The sumptuous meal she had spent perhaps many hours slaving over is suddenly forgotten about. She tries to call their cell phones and even the emergency service but nothing is of any avail. In fact she cannot call out on any telephone, landline or cell phone, at all, all the phone lines are completely jammed and flooded with many, many other folks calling each other and calling about all the missing people!! Some were hugging their loved one and all of the sudden they are hugging empty clothes for this loved one has also suddenly and inexplicably vanished! A lot of homes, also, after the rapture will be broken in by looters, pillagers, and even eventually people who have become desperate for food and supplies(there will be MASSIVE shortages for a long time after the rapture). Most valuables and all food will be stolen, people harmed, raped, killed, houses ransacked, set on fire, and destroyed, too as it will be a very lawless chaotic period after the rapture. The people who remain will also have a VERY hard time replacing what was stolen, too, what with all the chaos and lawlessness outside.
Driving  or riding in a car  The driver will notice at the rapture all of the sudden many vehicles around them sharing the road will go in ALL crazy directions, some running off the road, some crashing into other vehicles, or any median on the road others not doing so. A passenger will feel absolutely helpless if they happen to see their driver just vanish seemingly into thin air and their car careers off to crash into another vehicle, such as a car or even a semi truck, or run off the road into a tree or the median. Some of these people no doubt will die and go to hell, unless they can somehow repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior in that last instant of time, before they die of their injuries and it is accepted but many will not be able to, and will die lost. Survivors will no doubt stagger out, and look at their own vehicle and/or the vehicle that struck theirs and then see just sets of clothes where other people used to be, and others who like them are wondering what just happened to cause all this chaos and destruction. It will be very difficult to travel on, or anywhere because the roads will be clogged with many, many accidents, abandoned and driverless cars and trucks, often not able to be driven due to damage and also distraught people crazed by the sudden turn of events. Injured people in the crashes will be largely on their own to find any first aid help for their injuries that they sustained or  help for anything else, for that matter, as will those with damaged and disabled cars from all the wrecks resulting from all the suddenly driverless vehicles. As stated before calling for help on the accidents will largely be fruitless, seeing how the phone lines will be overwhelmed and totally jammed by callers reporting accidents, mayhem, injuries, missing people and so on, so much that every regular and cell phone service will be completely be overwhelmed, and crash. A lot of Internet service providers will likely see servers crash from the overwhelming demand for social websites like facebook, twitter, Skype and all social media websites as people who were left behind  look for their missing loved ones, friends, and family and talk to each other about what has just so suddenly happened, possibly even looking for emergency help such as police, fire, or medical that way. Imagine all the phone calls after the Heidi football game event(where the network suddenly stopped the game and went to the movie, and could/would not go back to the game, even though the other team would come back and win, prompting a flood of calls) and all others and then multiply that by many thousand fold to get an idea of what the phone companies will be up against, and remember then also that some of the phone employees and support  personnel will also likely have vanished too!
Riding on a passenger(or freight train, subway trolley)- Those who are riding on a passenger train will have various experiences. Firstly the people who are riding  on the cars will suddenly realize there are a lot of missing people who were with them. The train could hit driverless vehicles stuck on crossings and the like. Freight trains may hit them or be hit by driverless passenger trains as crews will suddenly vanish too. Trains which are driverless may eventually derail without folks to control them, creating further problems. No doubt people will be killed and injured in any collisions and derailments that result with the injured and trapped being on their own for finding help, with the phones jammed, too due to all the massive number of calls going on. Also, many trains will likely be ransacked and looted of valuables, especially including food, during the chaos, and some destroyed. Passenger and freight train service will be disrupted also for a while due to the conditions after the rapture, due to missing personnel, and blocked train tracks with all manner of debris
Riding in public transportation much like riding the train, there will be suddenly driverless busses and taxis which will crash into other vehicles, run off the road, and so on further adding to the mayhem created by all of the other events. A passenger may find the driver has vanished, and may even steal the taxi or the fare money(if the former is drivable still) or be killed/injured in the resultant crashes. Drivers will realize that passengers have disappeared suddenly , like when a taxi driver turns to collect his/her fare from a passenger but cannot for they have vanished(though they could take the clothes and so forth). They will find, as everyone else will, getting about to be almost impossible due to the chaos. As a result many of these services will be forced to close down for quite a while due to the chaos, lawlessness, and missing personnel, blocked roads, lawlessness and other reasons after this rapture happens.
Riding in an airplane, commercial or private. Any and all pilotless planes, because of the pilots and/or co pilots suddenly vanishing will eventually crash somewhere, very likely resulting in the death of most if not all passengers and crew remaining on board the aircraft, and no doubt death, injury, and destruction on the ground depending on exactly where the then pilotless plane crashes. Nobody at all on the ground will be safe as some planes no doubt will crash into buildings, cars, malls, and other areas where there are people. Also on board the plane people again will notice that several or even many passengers and crew will have disappeared suddenly, so panic there will set in as people will wonder what happened to their family and friends, even more so if they realize the plane is about to crash, being pilotless . This could result in chaos, along with the looting, which could even result in more planes crashing from having pilots being killed, injured, or otherwise incapacitated and unable to fly the plane. All this will further add to the mayhem created by all the other scenarios, ensuring that the emergency personnel, with depleted numbers themselves, unable to move around easily, and unable to communicate, are not able to respond in any way to many of these emergency situations that will develop. Due to the situation, for quite a while most every commercial flight will be canceled for a good while after the rapture, also many other air transport will be very severely impacted due to the missing personnel, chaos, and lawlessness, and to get a flight anywhere will cost a lot of money as any remaining pilots would likely charge a lot of money due to the severity of the situation and just the danger in flying then, and that there could be a lot of demand for the plane rides from wealthy business people and others who have a lot of money.
Factories and places where things are made or grown including farms, ranches, orchards At the rapture many employees at many different factories will just suddenly disappear and this will create a tremendous amount of chaos. Due to the people missing many steps may well be left undone, inspections missed, and even machines allowed to run out of control which could create a wide variety of bad outcomes, from the ruination of the items produced, the machines, killing and maiming left over workers, fires, and explosions which could damage and destroy the factory itself and even surrounding areas as there will not be sufficient people to fight the fires. Blocked roads will greatly hinder the distribution of goods from the factory as well as greatly hindering or even preventing help to get there to mitigate the differing incidents which will arise from the disappearing employees. There will be looting of the finished goods, and personal possessions, sabotaging of the machinery, and other things which will greatly add to the damage done. All the looting and destruction at the factory level will greatly hinder the recovery and restocking of ALL retail and wholesale businesses, many listed below (some not), further delaying their recovery from the mess. No doubt for weeks or even months after the rapture many, if not most factories, farms, orchards, ranches will be forced to shut down due to the lawlessness, inability of people to get to work, lack of people to work, and get to work due to transportation issues. In farms crops and animals will be stolen, and/or destroyed in the looting and mayhem, as well.  All these factors combined will ensure that the period following the rapture until clean up will be horrendous to live on anywhere in the world. It may get close to normal for a time after the clean up, but it likely will not ever be the same for those who miss the rapture.
Car, Truck, bus, boat and other transportation shops, sales and repair. As with other things there will be staff and customers disappearing suddenly, this can very easily occur in the middle of transactions, test drives, or any other time. This of course will lead to chaos. Any who see the people suddenly disappear will be fearing for their loved ones as they won’t know for real what exactly happened(the rapture) and likely panic and try in vain to contact them. There will likely be crashes with any driverless vehicles. Also, there will be theft and looting of the vehicles, and other valuable items, and likely gangs will smash at least some of what is not stolen. Law enforcement will be too burdened to really do much anything to put a stop to it,so  it will be lawless. Many vehicle dealers will most likely be forced to close for at least a while due to insufficient staffing, the lawlessness, and due to the damage that the looters and pillagers have done to the dealership which will likely take a while to fix, as well as the need to restock, repair and replaced the things that were either stolen and/or destroyed.
Gasoline, fuel stations, convenience stores and other similar businesses will also be affected in varying ways. Employees and customers will all suddenly vanish making everyone else very afraid. When they try in vain due to the jammed phone services to contact their loved ones to see if they are okay, and still around, they will indeed panic, as would anyone who suddenly does not know what is up with their family and so on. The fuel station will be vulnerable to being crashed into by driverless vehicles, looting and sabotage. There  can be explosions too, as the fuel is highly flammable, and some gas stations will likely be destroyed by these incidents, whether they happen at the rapture due to driverless vehicles or afterwards during the looting and pillaging which will most surely follow. The convenience stores will likely be looted bare, too, of most all items inside, and the gasoline will be stolen, and quite likely some will even try to make the storage pumps explode to add to the damage and destruction at hand.  The looters will know that the police won’t really be able to stop the looting, and even those fires may be allowed to burn for quite a while, due to lack of firemen, their inability due to blocked roads to get there, and even fear from all the lawlessness. It will also be a long time for things to return to a semblance of normalcy due to the difficulty of resupplying the fuel, and merchandise being sold, the lack of people to run the stores, and just due to the fact that some stations will be destroyed as a result of the chaos resulting from the rapture.
Hotels, resorts, casinos, retreats, golf courses and so on These also will be affected by the sudden disappearance of both staff and guests, which will lead to some panic on the remaining guests as they will wonder what just happened to the other people. Again in varying ways parking lots and other places where people travel will become dangerous places with the suddenly driverless cars, carts and the like. It will also be much harder to get any services as many people who render services, masseuses, manicures, and on down the line will have disappeared, or just not be able to get to the place of work due to the roads. Any restaurants and other places where food is sold and served will no doubt be looted and stripped of all the food that they have. Stores will likely face severe looting and destruction as well, due to the lawless anarchy that results from the rapture. Some places no doubt will be forced to shut down permanently due to staffing shortages and people not being able to get there, or at least temporarily until things are restored, the damages repaired,and for  any stores and restaurants  to get repaired or rebuilt, restocked and resupplied to replace what was stolen in the looting, or destroyed by vandalism.
At the supermarket- Of course supermarkets will not be immune from all the chaos, either. There will be driverless cars crashing and being a menace to pedestrians in the parking lot, customers and employees will suddenly vanish. Customers will try to pay a cashier who vanishes, and likewise so will many shoppers. The store will become that much more short staffed than they already are, lengthening lines, even some managers will disappear, too. Of course, due to the mayhem, a good many people most definitely will take advantage of the situation to leave the store without paying for their groceries at all. They will also loot the shelves of their merchandise, also smashing things, and any vanished peoples’ possessions. No doubt after the reality of the situation sets in panicky people will in no doubt flock to the stores and strip all the shelves bare hoarding needed and unneeded foods, water, really everything, and not caring for any other people other than themselves. This will no doubt lead to rioting over the lack of food availability, as many will no longer be able to get the food and necessities that they need to survive , and the stores won’t be able to be supplied either due to the clogged roads with many abandoned vehicles, and the general lawless condition then in the world making travel extremely dangerous and the smashed infrastructure. This also will likely lead to price gouging as some people will take full advantage of others’ peoples needs and can easily get away with charging whatever they please for needed basic food and supplies, if they choose to sell at all. Of course anyone runs the risk of being killed and having their stuff stolen too, so folks will need to be very careful in such ventures. Here too you will see people wailing over the suddenly missing relatives and friends, and calling for help to the police and others will not help any either, and most likely be impossible, due to phones being out of service, and flooded due to demand . A lot of supermarkets will close down at least for some time after the rapture as they will find it impossible to get supplies until things are cleaned up and roads are made safe to get supplies delivered to them again, and until any damage they sustain from all causes is cleaned up, and if need be the store rebuilt, if it was destroyed, as no doubt some will be.
At the shopping mall As with the supermarket situation, there will be crashing driverless vehicles in the parking lot, and inside the mall many shoppers and employees alike will suddenly vanish leaving behind their clothing and possessions. Other people in the mall will no doubt run amuck, looking for their suddenly missing loved ones who were with them moments ago but just suddenly disappeared, trying to call people on their  cell phones, but failing to reach them or even complete that or any other phone call, then panicking about them,  and also there will other folks taking advantage of the situation by looting, pillaging and stripping the stores, including the food court, bare of most, if not all of the merchandise that they sell, smashing and burning things, and robbing and maiming each other as it will be absolute chaos here too. Employees will walk off jobs, too in some cases, to preserve themselves even, though some may not. These looters all will know it will be  then impossible to call for police or other forms of assistance and even if it were possible most likely the police will be too overwhelmed by other more pressing matters to get there, or even too scared to try to. Of course, all the abandoned vehicles on the roads will likely prevent help from getting there as well Indeed some of the more evil police will be joining in the rioting and mayhem, too. Malls also will likely close down for some time after the rapture to recover from all the damage due to looting and the chaos they sustain, and also for stores to get restocked after much of their inventories will be taken by the looters.
At restaurants, Suddenly, many people in any restaurant will instantly vanish- both employees and the dining patrons in the restaurant at the time of the rapture, again leaving only their clothes and possessions behind where they were. A cook will call out that food is up but the server to whom it belongs will not respond to the cook’s call that the food for an order is done, also the server will wait for food from the kitchen, but the order will not be completed and the server will go back only to find that the cook has vanished suddenly. Servers will try to serve tables their meals only to find out some or all of the people sitting there who ordered the meals have suddenly vanished. As the reality  of what has just happened sets in people will panic and some will leave without paying for their food, servers may also walk off the premises, as well as cooks. Also some people will loot the restaurant for food, items, money, whatever they can carry, as well as vanished peoples’ clothes and even each other. There too people will frantically search for any and all missing loved ones, in vain, leading to more panic and distress.  Most likely not long after the rapture it will be very hard to get service and cooking at the restaurant, or even to recognize it for what it is due to the looting and destruction that will result. As before, people will be on their own to face the resulting mayhem, and cannot expect any help to come. Some restaurants will close down permanently as they no longer have sufficient staff to run them anymore and almost all will find it impossible to get the food and other supplies needed to run the restaurants and other restaurants will need to close temporarily until the situation improves and they recover from any and all damage they sustain.  
At a department store much the same story- driverless cars crashing in the parking lot, mayhem on the inside, as both employees of the stores and the customers who are at inside the store and in the parking lot suddenly will vanish. People will of course here as all places wonder what happened to their loved ones, family, and friends, creating panic and fear among the people there (and everyone else for that matter). Some people will take full advantage of the sudden  chaos and will start looting, stealing, and smashing things and basically carrying off anything that they can manage to take with them. Also a lot of other merchandise will be smashed and destroyed as there won’t be anything or anyone around to effectively prevent the wholesale theft, looting, vandalism, arson, and other forms of pillaging and looting which will be sure to erupt. Likely it will be quite a while before they are able to restock merchandise stolen and destroyed and repair all the merchandise, repair damage and so on because of  the lawlessness and people not being able to get around at all due again mainly to the clogged highways and so forth.
Specialty shops, arts, crafts, services(salons, barbers,) flea markets, auctions and similar : The same things will happen here with people disappearing suddenly from the auctions, flea markets, shops, and service shops and others, left behind, will wonder where everyone went so suddenly and the piles of clothes being left around. As a result people will panic as a result, trying frantically but futilely to contact the missing loved ones. If the vendors, crafters and other such people disappear then many of the stores will likely close and never reopen again, as there will be nobody else to run them correctly. Many places will also face much looting, pillaging and damage too as people will ransack and take anything and everything  of any value now they know that there is nothing really to prevent them from doing just that. Any food stands will in particular be hard hit with the looting from panicked people needing supplies. Again it will be a long time before a semblance of normalcy returns to these places, too, as well as all the others, due to the looting and difficulty on many levels to replace the merchandise stolen and destroyed, and repair all the damage done by the looting and pillaging.
Realtors, attorneys, accountants, DMV and other necessary fee based services These too will not be immune from all the effects of the rapture, and with people suddenly vanishing, many of these services will no doubt cease to be offered as in a number of cases there will not be enough to offer them, or if they don’t stop entirely they will be greatly hindered for the lack of personnel and other things. The courts will also be adversely affected as the personnel there will disappear, too. The various offices will be hit with looting and as a result records and other important documents will likely be destroyed in the mayhem and all. All of the above will make it impossible for courts and other places similar to function in their normal ways, which will adversely affect many other aspects of life. Many courts and offices that offer such services will be forced to close for a long time after the rapture, weeks, months, even some permanently all due to the various bad effects that will happen after the rapture (looting, pillaging, destruction, clogged roads, lawlessness, lack of staff, and more).
At the doctor’s office very suddenly doctors, nurses, patients and staff will just disappear, even if it happens in the middle of a procedure or test. Imagine a doctor doing a physical or a nurse doing a blood pressure exam and the patient vanishes, or being in a procedure and the doctor and/or the nurse suddenly vanishes. It will lead to chaos and panic among those left behind. People again will be wondering where everyone went so suddenly leaving only their clothes behind.  Some doctor’s offices will be forced to cease functioning all together and close as their doctor, nurses, and or other staff simply will not be there to handle the day to day needs of an office. The remaining offices won’t be able to function due to the reduction in the number of offices and large number of patients needing care for injuries sustained in accidents, rioting and such during the rapture. Also due to the blocked roads, lawlessness, and chaos many staff just won’t come out to the offices anymore for a while.  No doubt, because of all the above reasons some doctor’s offices who are fortunate enough to remain open or reopen will charge outrageous fees for care, taking full advantage of the chaotic situation, and lack of other options to the would be patient.
                   At the hospital(both physical and mental)  In the general hospital, and the mental one, many patients, doctors, nurses, and other staff and volunteers will all suddenly vanish, even  including those who might be involved  in performing surgery  or other  medical procedure on a patient  at the time of the rapture. A patient could easily wake up after his anesthesia wears off to find that the doctor has vanished and the others around also vanished, his surgery not completed, with the incision still open and surgical instruments left inside him. This will lead to great pain from that, and other complications, and no doubt some patients will die as a result of this situation as there won’t be really anyone to finish the surgery, to help remedy the situation with the patient or enough anesthesia to go around. Of course patients being operated on will also suddenly disappear much to the remaining doctors’ and other staff’s shock and disbelief. There will also perhaps be looting and such of valuables again, people taking advantage of the chaos. Food especially will be stolen from the kitchen. Also hospitals will be overburdened perhaps by new patients seeking care for injuries and such related to the rapture and the accidents and mayhem with it, further straining the situation there with its already depleted staff. Mental patients will get loose and escape their hospitals where they had been staying for treatment of their various conditions, looting and further adding to the mayhem everywhere. The mental hospitals will also be depleted in staff and struggle to care for their patients, including new ones who go insane over the various situations related to the rapture(missing loved ones and such). As a result no doubt many patients will die because the hospitals will no longer have the staff needed to care for them adequately. The same situation will happen at nursing homes, who also no longer will have enough staff to care for their often needy patients some of whom are not capable of doing anything for themselves and are completely dependent on others for ALL their needs. In many cases those people will not be available for them, or cannot get to them, and for those and other reasons, there will be people dying for lack of care in nursing homes as well.
                        In prisons and jails Much the same things that are happening elsewhere will also happen in every prison and jail , at the same time.  Many guards and no doubt a good many prisoners will just simply vanish suddenly. Other prisoners and guards will take advantage of the chaotic situation by running around the prison and freeing other prisoners from their cell, rioting, attacking the remaining guards, leaving the prison, and menacing the general public as if they did not already have enough difficulty to deal with considering all the other events happening at the same time. A lot of the staff and prisoners course will be wondering about their families too, and friends, especially those who might be missing. The disappearances among guards will make it that much harder for a short staff to keep discipline and order among the remaining prisoners. As things settle down, there may well be a sharp increase in the prison inmate population as some folks are finally brought to justice for crimes committed during the rapture and especially its immediate aftermath, and it will very likely also be many dissidents of the new government tossed there, too.
At the dentist’s office As before, as with the other situations, dentists, hygienists, nurses, other staff, and patients will all just simply suddenly disappear all at once, and some no doubt in the middle of procedures, too. This will leave patients without their care giver, and the caregivers without their patients. Imagine having a root canal or a filling when the dentist caring for you just vanishes, maybe the nurse also, the reverse will happen too, when the patient cared for vanishes. There may be some looting and destruction on the premises, too, during the lawless period. Some dental offices will be forced to stop operating and close, due to no longer having the staff required to run it effectively , and the dental  offices who do manage to remain open, or reopen after repairs and restoration  may price gouge for there will be as much or more demand for dental services but perhaps much fewer trained personnel and dental offices to meet the needs of the population .
At a sporting event, concert, play, and similar There will be chaos, as fans, players, actors, musicians and others all just suddenly disappear, and depending on timing there may well be many crashes and chaos in the parking lot. It is possible there will be mass panic among the remaining people there due to the sudden disappearances, depending on how many there are and so forth. For sure the people will notice all the sudden disappearances, as they will no matter where they may be at the time of the rapture. They will be filled with great fear and want to check up and see if their loved ones, friends and family are okay or if they too disappeared, panicking when they cannot get through. This will only aid the clogging, flooding and overwhelming of all phone carriers, cell or media. The internet will likely also be very swamped too as people flood to the social media sites, perhaps just those go down, but maybe also all news and related sites as well.  There can be a stampede out of the stadium, concert venue, or wherever the people may be at the time where people can get trampled to death at the exits. Other people will no doubt take full advantage of the lawlessness to loot, pillage, and so forth. Of course all who are in such a sporting event will find it very difficult, if not impossible to get back to their homes due to the clogged roads and such from accidents and so forth.
Most all sporting events, concerts, plays, operas, ballets and entertainments will likely be cancelled for weeks, months, or in some cases permanently after the rapture due to the lawlessness, looting of art, music instruments, and other relevant stuff, destruction of the premises, disappearance of other unavailability of performers. When these events do come back the government will strongly control what is presented as well, due to its them dictatorial bent, to spread propaganda no doubt, so the free availability of these events will likely be gone forever at the rapture(hopefully there are some exceptions, if albeit few in number).
Phone and emergency services will be taxed to the breaking point and overwhelmed, to the point of the circuit breakers and servers flooding and ceasing to work, completely shutting most phone and internet systems down, for several reasons: the sudden disappearance of a good many of their staff, the overwhelming and sudden flood of calls that will suddenly come in reporting missing people, injuries, accidents, looting, theft, murder, rape, pillaging, and other lawless activity, as well as the usual accidents and emergencies. Due to the roads being blocked by abandoned driverless and disabled vehicles it will be very difficult if not impossible for ambulances, fire trucks, police cruisers to get about on the roads, it will be very difficult  impossible for police, fire,  or ambulance services to get to people on the roads and or get them to the hospitals. The staff will find it very difficult or impossible to report to work as well at the police stations, fire stations, and wherever else they need to work. It will be rather lawless for a while so it will also be very dangerous to go anywhere in most any city or even town as there will be no doubt gangs of thugs out there, robbing, looting, pillaging, killing and other things. As a result then fires will be allowed to burn themselves out and many who have medical emergencies will die without help or have to find some other way to get themselves to hospitals, and or other care, which no doubt themselves will be very overburdened with patients.
Other services such as mail, cable, power, heating, air conditioning.  Again, as before much of the staff of these services will simply just vanish at the rapture, which will put much strain on the already burdened services. It will be impossible for post offices to function due to short staffing, and people not able to get there. There will be no mail for a long time for the roads are clogged with disabled driverless vehicles and no doubt the mail carries will not feel safe due to the gangs of thugs delivering the mail. There will doubtless be shortages of mail carriers too, due to many of them disappearing at the time of the rapture. Cable and DSL internet and TV will also find themselves short staffed and unable to cope with the demand for repairs, and also find it hard to get out and about for a while due to the roads and the lawlessness after the rapture. Some repair places will even be forced to shut down permanently due to lack of staffing due to people vanishing. There will likely be some power outages due to driverless cars, trucks, and busses hitting and knocking over the telephone booths, and maybe due to problems in power plants being allowed to happen due to their sudden short staffing due to people vanishing. Other evil people may even try to sabotage power plants especially nuclear plants too, fully knowing that law enforcement will not be able to easily stop them from this sabatoge. Also one problem in one area can lead to many problems everywhere, by what is known as a domino effect. The staffing shortage will greatly add too such an effect as there will not be the personnel around as now to try emergency stop gaps, nor will people be able to communicate with others who might be able to stop the problem from getting completely out of hand.  Any and all of the power outages, damage and other things will take far longer to repair and restore due to the roads being clogged and just the general lawlessness of the area meaning it will be very unsafe for repair crews to get out and do their duties, to restore all the lost power, phone service, internet connections and so on. Also, there won’t be nearly as many people who are trained to do such repairs as before because many who are will have been taken in the rapture. So those who are left without power, heat, phone, water, internet and other service should expect to be out of the service for a very long time, at least a few months, until all the services can be repaired and restored.
News and media- Again, News and media will be affected as many reporters, typists and all positions in there will have people just disappear from them. The media too will have difficulty getting about and getting their stories, due to the phone lines jammed and overwhelmed, internet service will be slow or most likely non existent perhaps for quite a while after the rapture due to all the problems that the rapture creates. Also the news will focus on all the events relating to the rapture, the lawlessness, the looting, the pillaging, which will probably sustain it all the more, and create even more panic leading people to loot food from anywhere they can find it, and hoard it, and some will price gouge, charging extortionate rates for these needed commodities, taking advantage of the situation, unrest and anarchy. Most of all the media will be speculating on the reasons for all the mass disappearances of people, countless millions of people, including all children, worldwide. Due to the secular nature of most all of the mainstream media, they will never, I repeat never, ever mention anything that these sudden disappearances had anything whatsoever to do with any rapture, or anything related to that. I myself saying one of perhaps two things: massive terrorist attacks are responsible for the deaths and disappearances of the millions by maybe some new unexplainable weapon which is supposedly able to destroy the body but not the clothes, or a sudden very massive alien abduction and attack which itself has caused all of the millions of people to disappear suddenly. It could be some of both, too, or even some new theory the invent to try to explain off all the disappearances without telling the real truth behind them. Perhaps there may be a few alternate sources who have some lukewarm Christians who missed the rapture unfortunately will be able to work out the truth and figure what exactly happened and actually try to get the message out, but no doubt they will be quickly silenced by the government and others in denial for even suggesting that there was a rapture. I would strongly suspect many folks would scoff at , mock and disbelieve any messages telling the real truth that the rapture had occurred and that they had blown it and missed the rapture. A few in the media may also point out that this rapture was of the bad people going to hell, not of the good people to heaven. No doubt the One world church will bring that point out to the fullest.
Church, religion churches too will be affected as many pastors, deacons and other leaders vanish suddenly and parts or whole congregations will also vanish. Some churches may though be largely unaffected, particularly dead or luke warm churches, of which sadly there are all too many. Some spirit filled churches on the other hand will be largely or even totally wiped out, having few or no members after the rapture. A personal wish is that churches would teach more on the rapture but few seem to do so. Many churches these day seem to be more interested in tickling peoples ears and otherwise pleasing them to fill their offering buckets rather than getting them saved and prepared to go in the rapture which could be anytime. If the rapture should happen during a church service there will be people who are left behind scrambling to find out what happening to their loved ones, friends and family, further adding to the phone congestion and causing panic to spread in the remaining congregation at the service, in all likelihood ending the service, especially since the Holy Spirit also will have largely vanished from the church at the moment of the rapture. Of course, as stated, the big thing missing in churches after the rapture is the presence of the Holy Spirit. This will make many other churches just simply feel completely dead, without any of His energy, as some do nowadays, but even much more so then than the “dead” (mostly denominational) churches today. Also some of the churches will cease operating for lack of congregation, pastors, elders, staff, and also the inability for people to get there due to roads being blocked, also the lawlessness, and some church buildings will be severely damaged or even destroyed as well as having stuff stolen during the looting and pillaging after the raptures. Not even graveyards and cemetaries will be spared from the looting, nothing will be.
Social media websites such as facebook, twitter, YouTube, and others. If somehow there is any internet service even briefly before it goes out for a while due to being overwhelmed by demand, sabotage, hacking, other damage, and/or government censorship, which WILL happen later so the governments can control exactly what people can and cannot say and view online, so they can try to control what people think, believe and so on. Some might be able in any brief window, if there are lukewarm people who miss the rapture to state that the rapture happened and for people to repent, accept Christ as Savior and Lord and not to take the mark of the beast unto death, and also bemoaning that they blew it and missed the rapture, knowing fully well they have ONLY THEMSELVES to blame for NOT being ready(the foolish virgins). There may well be posts even attacking and blaspheming God by people who do not understand why they were not taken in the rapture and they would wrongly blame God for the things that they had plenty of time, control, and more than enough warning to change before the rapture. They will of course be without excuse but that won’t stop some from being angry. Sadly some will be so mad that they cheerfully accept the mark and help persecute the ones who do get saved. Much of these posts, videos, and accounts of those who point out the rapture happened and that they blew it will likely be quickly removed from the social media sites as governments will not want people seeing the truth. They may however let some of the posts venting anger towards God remain on the sites, especially if those posts further their own agendas to the one world government and such. Indeed the antichrist and the government will use these sites eventually for their own evil purposes, to further their propaganda and to identify dissidents and any new Christians- renewed luke warm Christians who missed the rapture so they can arrest, torture and even kill them. I am sure people will also be betrayed to the government by the social media sites as well.
Anarchy and selfishness/self preservation in general As far as selfishness goes you have seen nothing yet. People today while becoming more and more selfish and unloving are actually in relative terms very, very loving compared to what the people will be like after the rapture, especially immediately afterward  in all  the chaos and anarchy which is to follow. Immediately afterwards there will be massive and widespread looting, pillaging, rape, murder and many other crimes as law enforcement will be greatly handicapped by the situation and the evil people will take full advantage of the situation. Some of the looting will of course be for  self preservation out of  total desperation as people strip all food out of supermarkets, groceries, restaurants, farms, even stealing from each other out to get food so they do not starve to death.  After the rapture, families will betray each other to the government, even by false accusation, to get revenge for some real or imagined offense or to help preserve themselves as food and basics will be that much harder to come by, and likely the government will offer food and other assistance in exchange for information and location of its enemies. The Holy Spirit largely will leave the earth with the raptured church so there also won’t be its restraint on people to help curb their evil instincts, as there is now, before the rapture of the church . This will further increase the chaos and crime that will abound after the rapture. I can imagine there will likely be even some degree of cannibalism because people will get that  desperate to find food since stores and restaurants will have had their shelves stripped bare by looters and other desperate people will NOT be able to resupply their needs due to transportation being choked off and the general lawlessness of the situation, as well as many if not most of the factories, orchards, warehouses, and farms being looted, pillaged, and destroyed in the chaos after the rapture. People if desperate enough will eat anything at all just to have food in the belly.
Aftermath Of course, the big challenges of the aftermath will be the restoration of law and order in society, ending the chaos and anarchy which will be prevalent for a while, and restoring and repairing all of the massive  damage done because of the looting, pillaging, crashes in the aftermath of the rapture, a process that could take many months or even years to do. Imagine big disasters like the Japan and Haiti Earthquakes, Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, and all of the others but on a fully global scale, with NO populated areas being spared. Add to that the disappearance of countless millions of folks who might otherwise be called upon to help with this massive clean up of truly epic proportions. Other people will no doubt be in hiding, incapacitated and/or unwilling to do anything to help the restorative process. Global damages due to vehicle, bus, and plane crashes, looting, and pillaging alone could be well  over one quadrillion dollars, or even one quintillion dollars, a staggering and unimaginatively , thousands millions or even billions the scope of Hurricane Katrina, because the damage will be on a fully global scale, not confined to a single region like the hurricane was, and sparing no land whatsoever. There will also be wars too, perhaps at the same time further complicating and delaying the post rapture recovery. Because of the massive and widespread scope of the lawlessness, looting, pillaging, and all the massive damage done, and the need to recover from all the damage and restore normal life as much as possible, martial law will be almost certainly be instituted by almost every government worldwide(if it has not already been instituted, curfews established, and many able bodied people will likely be drafted into helping with the massive clean up process. Due to the global nature governments worldwide will also need to unite to help each other recover from all the damage and destruction. This will enable the anti-Christ and the false prophet to really reveal themselves fully to the population and then do deceptive miracles and  lying signs and wonders, leading the remaining populace to believe that they care and are there only to help them recover from all the mess from the rapture.. There may well be a relative period of peace and safety where a treaty with Israel is signed but then sudden destruction of the tribulation period will come, in the form of the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments. These three sets of judgments will create damage on a scale far, far worse that what will happen after the rapture, and kill the majority of the survivors of the rapture, and its chaos.
Summary. In summary this will be terrible for those who miss the rapture and are left behind to face the chaos. I listed many, many examples to give a very strong idea of what will happen immediately after the rapture. If I missed something know that it too will be affected by the suddenly vanishing persons, the looting, pillaging and general lawlessness that will follow the rapture until some semblance of normalcy returns, most likely not until some months afterwards. Some will be so distraught over all the missing friends and family that they will commit suicide- another evil aspect of the rapture for those left behind.  Know that life will be completely and largely irreversibly changed, turned up, in total upheaval for quite a while afterwards until somehow some normalcy returns, but most likely NOTHING will ever be the same ever again. The only remote possibility of possibly escaping any degree of the chaos and mayhem to any small degree is to be in the country far, far away from any city or any town and be there for a long time, and even that is absolutely no guarantee of safety as people will become extremely desperate, panicky and frantic due to the food shortages, and also wanting to escape the utter chaos and anarchy that almost every city or town will most certainly become, and themselves come out to the country looking for food, loot or even to create mayhem. Desperate people resort to desperate things, doing anything at all for food, etc.  It will be every man, woman, child, animal for themselves, and I do not assume that families won’t fall apart and kill and even eat each other, even, as the instinct for self preservation such as the need to eat will overcome any family ties or friend bonds. Also without much of the Holy Spirit’s influence there won’t be anything to stop all the evil from happening.
To sum up I want to be absolutely and completely clear that I am sharing this so that people see the stark and massive contrast between making the rapture and being with Jesus in heaven and missing it and being left behind on earth to face the mess and chaos, and then, the tribulations which will be so bad to make the post-rapture chaos  seem as nothing by comparison. The only way to make it is to know Jesus as your savior as He is the ONLY way to heaven. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and want to know Him(and He you) in order to make the rapture please pray this prayer with me:
 Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:
 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!
 
Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
  ]]> Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:59:51 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2024/seven-mercies-testimony https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2024 Here are seven really outstanding examples in my life I want to especially point out of my life separate from my own full testimony see link to that here https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/personal-testimony/10200273845382367
 where God particularly showed great mercy, love, forgiveness and grace in each one of these seven locations, people, and life events I am going to go show these events and situations one at a time to show you how loving God really is. One situation often led to another, and had situations in them where God was extra merciful.
 


Hilton      Head landlord, job

I moved to Hilton Head Island in 2003, and I was able to transfer my supermarket job to a sister company who was then owned by the same parent company as the parent company whom I worked for in Pennsylvania. That in of itself was a blessing as the new place I was to move to was no less than 720 miles away from where I was living with my father(just us two my mother died two years earlier to this move). Now Hilton Head Island is not normally a cheap place to live, because of all of its many resorts and golf courses. Yet I was able to find a place- a room, to be sure, to rent for only 350 dollars a month! Another mercy of God. I made it well through the summer, then my hours were badly cut at work, because of the tourist nature of the area, and come fall as the tourist business slows so does the store. My father would help me through this tough period, more mercy. An inheritance helped pay off things(not my father, however, but a great aunt). I stayed until the end of October 2004 when I moved back to my father’s condo in Carlisle, Pa. Another mercy there was the fact that I was able to get out of a year lease 9 months early, sure I had to pay the rent(with my Father’s help) but in a few months time I did get the majority back as another tenant rented the place in a few months. God’s provision and blessing were shown in that example.
 In April of 2006, I would move back to Hilton Head, this time to a larger apartment which was significantly more expensive, but as my father had died then recently(February 2006) I was in no difficulty for money due to an insurance policy and soon, an inheritance which consisted of a car and in a few months, money from selling the condo he bought in late 2003/early 2004, the money was a real blessing that could have lasted a long time, except that I wasted it!! Even though I left my second year’s lease way early, the landlord rented to me a bigger and nice place, in the same building- 2 bedrooms, this time. This too was a mercy of God because he did not have to rent to me again considering that I had essentially broken the lease 9 months early, but he did. Perhaps even a bigger mercy was that the landlord did not evict me after I had so obsessively collected so many vintage magazines like that so fast. He had every right to evict me after a while there, for old magazines are a very severe fire hazard(the house where I rented could have burned down) and also paper can attract bugs, rats and other vermin. He merely made me put much of it in a rented storage shed, but I know it was the mercy of God only that he did not evict me.
A last mercy in Hilton Head Island was the fact that I met a manager at the store where I worked for who seemed to really care for me. In the second time I was there he worked with his mother to help me move up to where their farm is in northern South Carolina, and that is exactly what happened in late April 2007, when my lease was up in Hilton Head, SC. He also helped a lot with the move, which was very, very hard considering by that time I had nearly 200 boxes of vintage magazines(I had wasted much, if not most of my inheritance on them, thankfully my uncle intervened and prevented me from wasting the rest of it on my at that time obsession.)


William      Roberts and his family, especially his mother and daughter

In May I settled down in the farm which really is out in the country in Kershaw SC. I went down to talk to William’s mother, Bobbie Taylor, then, and she did get to know me and she seemed to get some better idea of what exactly was wrong with me, the attention deficit disorder and all, and she resolved to try to help me. First she helped get new license plates and licenses for both me and my car. She also resolved to get me mental health help for me and to even see if she could get me on disability. She was gentle, yet firm. I resisted but she knew what was best for me, and God put it on her heart to care for me in those ways. Meanwhile while all this was going on, William himself, when he was visiting there (he would still live in Hilton Head for another almost year then) would witness to me, trying to get me to go to church with him, and after about five months of trying with persistence and patience would finally succeed in getting me to go to a Sunday evening church service on October 14, 2007 with him and his daughter who was then there visiting. That night they announced a presentation for the church to go to(those who wanted to the following Saturday the 20 th . I also started reading the bible for really the fist time in my life at that time. At the presentation, after hearing of the truth, that there was a good chance that had I died prior to that night I would have ended up in Hell(from the info on the presentation) I decided to give my life over to the Lord and accept His biggest mercy to all mankind- His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross at Calvary. I know I prayed a prayer of salvation 10 years before this, but I don’t feel it counted, for I know now I did not do it with the right motivation of heart, neither do the fruits of my behavior show that. If anything I became even more resistant and hard to the gospel in the 2000s until close to that time.
After that God did show mercies, first I got food stamps and some help and counseling that I needed, then in the fall of 2008, I got approved for disability on my second try, God’s mercy and handing in my diagnosis for Asperger’s syndrome/ADHD was enough. I know it was mainly God’s mercy and grace for I know people who are far worse off cannot get on the disability roles or not without going to far more lengths, even suing in court, to get these disability benefits. I did though get approved for Medicaid earlier. Until getting approved for the disability, I had to rely on my remaining inheritance to pay rent, utilities (which were MUCH lower than Hilton Head, SC), necessities and to a lesser degree, food. I a very fortunate thing, in retrospect, however, that my uncle did step in while I was in Hilton Head, SC and stop me from wasting ALL of my inheritance because of my magazine obsession , for without his intervention I could have very easily come close to doing that and I would likely not have had enough money to get by on work, which was one day, about five hours per week. That was yet another display of God’s mercy. After accepting Christ that night, God started drawing me closer to Him, speaking to me, making promises, and cleaning me up of my sin and unrighteousness, a process lasting to this day. He has used His word, churches, bible studies, schools, retreats, and other methods to do all that, preparing me for the rapture to come. At one of those retreats, which I paid for by selling most of my huge collection of magazines(provision for them) I saw an ad for a volunteer at a Christian retreat in the North Carolina mountains, Stonehaven. I visited, and loved it, and then made plans with its owner, Harrietta to move there permanently in late September/October of 2009.


Harrietta      Turner and Stonehaven

By late October of 2009, I had settled in there to Stonehaven, to help Harrietta with its care inside and out. Harrietta helped me also in many things, like getting all my car stuff transferred to NC, becoming her designated payee for Social security, which she did until summer of 2012 well after I left. She also was a mother figure to me, much more mature in the faith than I was then, and even I am now. She pointed out some of my deficiencies and I know that God used her for some of my growth. She did not hesitate to chastise and correct me, often by sending email which was and still is her strength of communication. This was helpful, but I do know that God will chasten and correct those he loves, and He used her that way (and still does use others in my life for that purpose). I had some relationship issues with her disabled son, but mercifully she did not kick me out of Stonehaven due to that. God also brought some people there to aid my growth, and a summer school, which made me so much hungrier for Him. The winters are not real easy there but God by using others as need be helped make sure I always had enough, and was able to get out. In the spring God delivered me from having to take a prescription ADHD medication and had me take vitamin supplements instead, which I felt were more effective and these would help me focus during my schools ahead of me then.  In the fall God put me in contact with someone who had a good experience with Youth with a mission, YWAM, and used that to prompt me to go look online to research what they offered and I found that the discipleship training school was just what I wanted then, for growth, and for service. I really became strongly servant hearted when with Harrietta, though often not to mature about things, however.


YWAM      Discipleship Training School

He gave me traveling mercies first of all thought the school to travel from North Carolina to Colorado, then also to go on the outreach phase too. He also helped with provisions to deal with a car issue just before I left, for needs and both tuition and outreach fees. This school is intense with separate speakers each week teaching different topics, intercessory prayer, worship, and many other communal activities, so it is a perfect opportunity to grow deeper and more mature very quickly with one’s relationship with God. Again God put me with certain people for His purposes to be achieved in my life – the head of the base, David Horn, and two teachers who would play a role with my outreach. Also the students and other staff were friendly too, and helped me grow more. There was an speaker difficulty which in turn would lead to an unexpected trip to Texas, which is what God used to tell me He wanted to do #6, the school of the bible, which happens to be in Tyler, as well. When after the class’ visa application for their outreach was rejected to Pakistan, the group decided to go to Nepal, God said told me I was not to go with them, and He used these teachers to set up a substitute outreach for me. He knew I was nowhere near spiritually ready for such a demanding and long trip, and if I had gone it would have not been good for me, and there would have been an excellent chance I could have been sent home early, which would have ended it for YWAM for good, and I don’t know if there might have been some other adverse consequences from that situation, which thankfully and mercifully never happened.
I did go to a place in the Pacific Northwest, in Vancouver, Washington, which is aptly called Freedom House, for the outreach, and this definitely was the right place for me to go. This is a live in facility whose purpose is to free men from the bondages of drugs and alcohol, which often freed them from prison sentences and restored family to the men, as well as freed them from bondage. It is a very structured program with a very high level accountability but that has to be expected considering the type of people that they get as students. Days do very fast there and there is a lot to learn. They also want to go out and evangelize and witness to others while they do work for them, during the afternoons. Again, God did set up people for me there to help my growth further, as well as use the teaching for that purpose. There was two extra weeks which I spent in Colorado doing some outdoor chores and such, before everyone came back for the debriefing week, and graduated, save one who was indeed sent home early. She did come back though for the week of graduation however to repent for all wrong doing, I admire her courage to do so. I am thankful in hindsight for the outreach change for God used that to get me through so He could do other things in my life, including the next one, a mission building trip


Summer      2011 Mission building and trip to orphanage

Once the school was over I drove from Colorado to California, thanks Lord again for traveling mercies, to stay six weeks to do mission building and service. Here too He had people there for me to work with, especially a woman named Felicia, who was almost always with me as I did my weeks of mission building service. I believe this in ways was a blessing to her as well, as it gave her practice dealing with someone who had Asperger’s syndrome. The work done was in the housekeeping department, which meant cleaning/vacuuming all manner of rooms, windows, and objects , and she taught me to be a bit more thorough in what I did, and to try to keep focus(which is harder with ADHD). At the end of these six weeks mission building an opportunity which I was working on before opened so I could participate in a mission trip to an orphanage in Baja. He also gave me the opportunity to extend it to two weeks so I could go from there straight to the school of the bible. God’s travelling mercies covered me for the whole trip from Chico, to San Diego, from there to the orphanage and back to San Diego, and from San Diego to Texas. God also made provision for all the costs involved, gas, motels, food, the mission trip fee, even for some spending money during the trip. He also had some of His people be a help facilitating the various aspects of the trip, especially having to take a bus from the orphanage to the Mexican border, getting me through the border and to the hotel in San Diego where I would stay for two nights after the orphanage trip was done and prior to going to Tyler, Texas.


The      school of the bible

I am very thankful for God’s travelling mercies for my safe trip to Tyler, Tx from San Diego as well as provision to get there, and for the tuition and all outreach fees. Selling the car helped greatly, and God provided a buyer for that in 2012, early. It did not take too long to sell it either. As with the other cases God once more had put people in my path there- both students and staff- who cared about me, helped look after me, helped me grow too in Him, and blessed me. I did not need my car anyway for there was always someone-one of the students or staff willing to take me with them when I needed something, or let me enjoy something with them, which blessed me. This school is a very intensive study of the bible over almost a full year. Considering its duration the tuition is very reasonable, as it also includes room and board. There were two outreaches during the time of the school and God made provision and travelling mercies for both of them, one to Florida, and one to Mexico. Little did I know when I went to Florida in November that I would be going there on a more permanent basis in a little more than nine months from when I first went, but I know even then God had it all planned out just like that. He did not allow me to go through with my first plan, to go to Africa full time and long term at the end of the school as He knew I wasn’t ready spiritually, and even more importantly it would most certainly have resulted in my social security disability income being cut off and stopped(something I would find out late summer/fall 2012). Thank You Lord for Your mercy in preventing that from happening, so I am still on Social Security disability income. After my second outreach to Mexico God changed my plans for summer several times, first changing my plans for outreach to New England, then He told me to forsake my summer outreach all together and go to Florida to help Teresa for the crusade immediately after the school lecture was done in June, and not after the summer outreach in late July. He also stopped me from going mission building and going to other schools, and, up to now, still has done that. I found out about Teresa through one of her spiritual sons on Facebook, where I found out about the crusade, and all, and, always wanting people to be saved however it may look, found myself wanting to come for the crusade.


Teresa      and Kevin Wiggins

On Saturday June 23, 2012 I flew from Tyler Texas to where I still am, 9 months after that date. God had to work hard to even get me here in Florida to begin with. Her husband, Kevin, is a private man, and also rather protective of his wife, Teresa, whom I feel he loves so deeply(one would be hard pressed to find a happier and closer couple in marriage then they are- their relationship is VERY special). He moved on both Kevin and Teresa that I should come here, apparently permanently, too. I was figuring at the time that I first came here, that I would be here until just after the crusade and then I would go on to something else, but that has been far from the case, indeed. I helped Teresa to get all the visa applications out for the crusade late June and July so the people could mail it in and we hoped at that time be approved. Sadly only one did. Perhaps some of it was mercy even from God for some of these people would eventually prove to be evil and Teresa has removed those form her ministry outright. Still, He was kind enough to provide one so the crusade could go forward. The crusade, after all, was the lure that God had used to draw me to Florida and Teresa in the first place, anyway. Teresa is far more mature than I am in the faith, and she has a wonderful testimony of many powerful experiences with the Lord. The Lord has used her all the time I have been here to mature me in Christ in very significant ways, and no doubt will continue to do so while I am here. She has just the right combination of firmness and love(all from the Lord) to promote this growth in me. She also allows me to serve some around here, while other places might not let me do the same thing.
In July and August, I took a trip to Haiti, I guess more of a social trip than anything else where I met some of Teresa’s spiritual children, and the orphans there. God protected me very thoroughly throughout so I never really felt the evil spoken of there. I know I was kept in a very strong hedge of protection. It did help wake me up to see how well off Americans really are, due to the fact that the large majority of Haitians do not have many things Americans take for granted like washers and dryers, air conditioners, not even showers. They cannot drink their tap water and they basically seem to use a lot of bottled water. It was a very eye opening trip and experience to say the least. Yet, the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are a happy and friendly people, even though they lack so much that Americans take for granted. Americans are often a lot more self-centered and even snobby by comparison.
More of God’s mercy- He put me with a good extended family- Teresa having 4 daughters, a surviving mother, a sister all in Plant City, and a few elsewhere. I have visited these several times. God has told me it was His plan to graft me into this family, out of His love(plus many spiritual sons(and a few daughters) scattered in various parts of the world, some of whom I communicate with on facebook, even a few times on Skype. The ones who I visited with in Haiti are part of this spiritual family.
On the crusade, Teresa promised the Lord she’d go on it even if only one of the applicants made it, and that is exactly what happened, only one made it(the others all had their applications for visas rejected). She would not have gone, in fact if everyone would have been rejected; had that happened, I myself would have been wondering why I was led there, but by God’s mercy it all worked out and the crusade happened in October. God had great mercy throughout the more than2000 total mile trip from Florida to Virginia and back to Florida,  giving us many travel mercies all along the way for the trip was made with a car with very bald tires(yet there was no blowouts or flats) and with an air conditioner that was on its very last legs but still worked when needed. Also God made sure we had enough provision for food, gasoline, and motels, and even arranged some encounters with other people.
The final mercies- I was at first somewhat bored due to the unstructured life, as I was used to a highly structured life being a YWAM student and all. However, he gave me more and more to do online, posting and sharing videos photos and scripture on Facebook. Then He opened the door to volunteer for Ken Rich’s Indie Gospel on the computer. Then in January of 2013 He put it on Teresa’s heart to run a site called FISH, Faith in serving Him a link to the page on facebook is here for all to check out: https://www.facebook.com/FishFaithInServingHim
She also let me invite her facebook friends to like this new website too, which helped it grow fast. In February, the Lord really put it on my heart stronger by far than EVER before that the rapture will be pretrib, first having me write some notes to share and then having me open a second like page on Facebook and Here is a link to it
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804
Also in February the Lord also put on my heart that I needed to lose weight and lose it badly. He has led my in a successful effort at that. I do not wish to lose my health.
All of the above have kept me busy and I feel as if I am serving the Lord’s purpose at last. I really believe this is my last place before the rapture, which is imminent (for a variety of reasons, for one I wouldn’t have opened the above site, and also He has been revealing to me things in scripture about how soon the rapture will be, especially in the New Testament. He also has been having me watch videos in YouTube for further instruction on this. He has closed every door that might have had me leave here for somewhere else for good, or even for a few months’ time. He knows what He is doing so I just need to trust Him for what is best. He has closed doors many times in the past for He knew that what I might have wanted at the time was not at all the best for me, could have even been disastrous for me, going really badly and I know He knows the best for me now, has always known, and will ALWAYS know. So I thank Him for wisely closing all doors, and options I wrongly pursue. In the not too distant future I strongly believe God is going to do a tremendous act of mercy- perhaps arguably second only to the cross- in power, scope, and strength- I am referring to the rapture of the believers before the tribulation period begins with all of its judgments on the wicked.


In the      future- the Rapture!

I am very strongly led to believe the rapture of believers is God’s mercy for mankind, for those who accept His son and pray to Him daily, so they can escape the great tribulation period- that seven year period which is described especially in the book of Revelation from chapters 6 to 18.  I have studied those chapters, and believe me I want NO PART of what that is prophesied to happen then. It will be so unbelievably terrible. If you do not believe me, study those 13 chapters of revelation yourself. Because of that, I pray that God by His mercy and grace will count me worthy to escape all the calamities to come, by His mercy and grace, not by anything that I do, even though I am trying my best to stay within His will, it is so important for me to stay in His will,alas, but not without stumbling, and making mistakes  for I am not perfect like He is. God is so gracious to forgive me every time I repent, and I repent often, and am always praying for Him to cleanse me and mature me so I don’t make those mistakes any more! I want to avoid mistakes and any sin because I want my garments to be white, spotless, and pure, so that I am always found ready for the wedding supper of the lamb, and that God has nothing against me that might cause me to miss the rapture. I also know that this is ONLY something He can do. Only the blood of Jesus can make and keep these all pure so that I can make it to the marriage supper of the lamb. I need to be very humble at all times and diligently, urgently repent as often as needed, but He does ALL of the rest, continuing to purify me, making sure that my garments are spotless and without wrinkles as He wants them to be. I also want to reach out to others and pray that they would do those same steps.
Conclusion and summary
            I have done this testimony to show God’s tremendous mercy in these seven incidents, to show just how much love, mercy and grace He has shown me, a sinner. I want you to know that He loves you too, and wants to extend mercy and grace to you, as well, for I do not wish ANYONE to be left behind to face the tribulations. Therefore if you do not know Him and want a relationship with Him, please pray this prayer with me
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
For more on the rapture I suggest reading this, longer discussion of the mayhem immediately after the rapture
https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?sk=info&edit=eduwork&ref=update_info_button#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039
 
or this
https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?sk=info&edit=eduwork&ref=update_info_button#!/notes/jay-dougherty/rapture/10200126232612140
 
God bless you and yours
Jay Dougherty
Jay30_pa@yahoo.com]]> Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:02:38 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2021/forgiveness-and-unforgiveness https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2021  
The Holy Spirit has lain on my heart to do a discussion of forgiveness and forgiving especially when people have offended us. A person is never, ever happy when he holds a grudge against someone, refusing to forgive them of their transgression, holding it against the offender(s), even if the offender repents of the transgression they committed. Unforgiveness is like a very heavy burden to carry around all the time. Satan has control over anyone while there are in any state of unforgiveness (which is why he often torments people with transgressions of another, bringing them back to their minds, often over and over again, in the hopes that the person develops unforgiveness and the hardness which often comes with unforgiveness. This hardness will then often lead people out of a relationship with God.
I plan on using scripture to further discuss this.
            I will first touch on offenses and such, including temptation
 
(Matthew 18:7)  "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
 
Try not to be the cause of such
 
(Matthew 18:6)  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
 
Luke chapter 17 also hits the same point but goes further:
(Luke 17:1)  And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
 
(Luke 17:2)  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
 
(Luke 17:3)  Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
 
(Luke 17:4)  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
 
Yes, we are indeed allowed to, and should  rebuke and chastise those who offend us, with the idea of showing the offender their wrongdoing, ideally in the hopes that they apologize, repent and turn from doing it anymore, but must we must forgive the offender  if s/he repents by presumably apologizing for his/her actions or words. We should really forgive the offender even if they do not repent, to avoid the evil consequences of unforgiveness.
Matthew 18 also says similar things on this subject
(Matthew 18:15)  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
 
(Matthew 18:16)  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
 
(Matthew 18:17)  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
 
We ourselves are to make an effort to make amends if we know or find out if we offend against anyone as this following scripture states
(Matthew 5:23)  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
 
(Matthew 5:24)  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
 
 
 
Note the set procedure to follow if someone offends to you, three times are they to be approached, always seeking repentance of the offender. God values everyone.
 
Peter goes up and asks Jesus about how many times should someone offend/sin against us and we are to forgive him? Seven times?
 
(Matthew 18:21)  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
 
(Matthew 18:22)  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
 
No, we are not just to forgive an offense only seven times, but vastly more than seven times, but four hundred ninety at the least, and actually unlimited forgiveness is implied for who exactly is going to count out exactly seventy times seven or 490 transgressions against them ? I don’t think too many people would, and Jesus wants unlimited forgiveness to the offender anyway. It does not necessarily mean to hang out with them, but forgive them. Jesus then goes on to tell this parable:
 
(Matthew 18:23)  "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
 
(Matthew 18:24)  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
 
(Matthew 18:25)  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
 
(Matthew 18:26)  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
 
(Matthew 18:27)  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
 
(Matthew 18:28)  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'
 
(Matthew 18:29)  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'
 
(Matthew 18:30)  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
 
(Matthew 18:31)  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.
 
(Matthew 18:32)  Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
 
(Matthew 18:33)  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'
 
(Matthew 18:34)  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
 
(Matthew 18:35)  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
 
            This is such a powerful parable. The one slave begs to be given mercy over a huge debt to his master (10,000 talents many millions of dollars nowadays) and is given reprieve and forgiven this massive debt. It is representative of our sin debt to God, something so big we cannot hope to pay it off ourselves(in all truth our sin debit to God would be far, far  greater then 10,000 talents but this is an illustration, no money of and by itself could ever, ever pay off our sin debt to God). Then this guy finds another slave who owes him much, much less, 100 denari, just a relative handful of dollars, yet he would NOT forgive him of the lesser debt!! This second story is representative of someone who refuses to forgive someone else of a transgression against him, but holds a grudge The first slave was reported to his master, who was told the whole story about what happened. The unforgiving slave was then cast into debtor’s prison until his debt could be paid (forgiveness of him by the master was revoked because of his unforgiveness towards his fellow slave. Indeed he is called a wicked servant. Jesus goes on to warn the same thing will happen to us if we fail to forgive anyone offending us.
 
Look at the Lord’s Prayer and what comes afterward
(Matthew 6:9)  Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
 
(Matthew 6:10)  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
 
(Matthew 6:11)  Give us this day our daily bread,
 
(Matthew 6:12)  and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 
(Matthew 6:13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
 
(Matthew 6:14)  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
 
(Matthew 6:15)  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 
It speaks us forgiving our debtors, those who transgress against us. Also the warning to forgive others is given again, for as the bible says if we forgive others our Heavenly Father will forgive us, but also if we fail to forgive others neither will our heavenly father forgive us.
Also the Lord’s prayer in Luke :
(Luke 11:2)  And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
 
(Luke 11:3)  Give us each day our daily bread,
 
(Luke 11:4)  and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."
 
Note how it also speaks how important for us to forgive all who are not indebted to us. Look at these two verses in the book of Luke
(Luke 6:36)  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
 
(Luke 6:37)  "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
 
We are not to judge or condemn, as unforgivness can be both of them but to forgive so we are forgiven ourselves.
 
The warning to forgive others is also given in Mark:
(Mark 11:25)  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
 
(Mark 11:26)  [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]
 
Again it states we must forgive others so God, the Heavenly Father can forgive us our transgressions. This warning is given in the epistle of Colossians
 
(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
 
This to the Ephesians
Ephesians 4 31, 32



Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you
In summary the bible commands us repeatedly to be forgiving of one another when we offend each other. Our salvation will depend on it, for our Heavenly Father really cannot justly forgive us our sins if we go hold grudges and unforgiveness against others. It is pure hypocrisy for us to want forgiveness from God for our transgressions yet not forgive others of their transgressions against us. In truth our transgressions to God are so much more than anything people can ever do to us. Look at how Jesus was on the cross and how forgiving he was then:
(Luke 23:34)  And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
 
Look at how he forgives those for crucifying him, a most horrible and protracted death! Before he was hung on the cross, He was flogged, beaten and otherwise shamefully handled yet He forgave ALL his tormentors their offenses and willfully. Almost always offenses that people refuse to forgive each other for are MUCH, much less than what happened to Jesus, even though the might seem to the offended to be as bad or worse at the time.
            If you are caught in unforgiveness please pray to God for grace and mercy to help you deal with any unforgivness against anyone- such a feeling is of Satan, who wants to keep you that way. He is the one who torments you with past offenses by calling them to mind over and over again, reminding you how terrible the offense was and the offender was. Fight against him, and read the scriptures to resist this in the Name of Jesus
 
(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 
(James 4:8)  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
 
Resist Satan’s unforgiveness and all- it is from him. I also suggest if it is necessary to be humble and to get the help of others to pray for you and with you too on this issue of unforgiveness :
 
(James 5:16)  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
 
(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 
(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
 
(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
 
Please do all you can to forgive others for whatever they might have done to you in the past, no matter how grievous and severe the offense(s) might have been. It will bring you peace and clarity of mind, and save you from many troubles for those who carry grudges hurt themselves, are much more subject to sickness, disease and other things. And remember, as Jesus warned many times in scripture God the Father cannot justly forgive you of your sins without you forgiving all of the others. It is something to remember. I have struggled a little in the past, but I know God has helped me forgive all my offenders (people who teased me, my parents, all others). It is NOT worth it to carry ANY grudges, trust me. I have my peace now because I have made a conscious decision to forgive all those who may have offended me and to rebuke Satan for continuously bringing up and tormenting me with all these offenses, which he has done to me. Most of the time these were insignificant and meaningless yet they can be so magnified in our minds.
Also please pray this prayer with me to help you with this:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that you love me so much. Help me to love myself the way you want me to. I forgive myself for the things I have done that have hurt you or anyone else at all. My desire is to forgive all those who have hurt or offended me. Please help me to forgive them. Help me to love them as you love them. I pull down all strongholds in my mind that are keeping me from forgiving in the Name of Jesus. I cast down every imagination, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and I bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Now Lord Jesus, as the Captain of my salvation these thoughts are your prisoners, please take them away. I thank you that you are faithful to take them away and not let them return. Father, help me to forgive people the way Jesus forgave them. He forgave me before I even committed the sin. So, help me to be like Jesus, willing to forgive ahead of time. Help me to come to the place in my Christian walk where I let things go when people hurt me, offend me, or do anything against me. Help me not to allow unforgiveness to gain any kind of hold on my mind or heart. Help me to keep my thoughts only on good things, NEVER on evil or fleshly things. I rebuke all of those negative thoughts in the Name of Jesus, commanding that they depart my brain NOW. I apply the blood of Jesus to my mind and to every thought that I have. Help me to cleanse my mind, from all the things that lead to death, so that I may serve you. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen
 
God bless you and yours
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:26:52 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2016/wake-up-friends-rapture-and-end-times-are-coming https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2016 I have been strongly led to write this, seeing as how due to various factors that the rapture and, later the end times tribulations are due to happen anytime. Firstly some verses about the imminent, any day rapture:
(John 14:1)  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
 
(John 14:2)  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
 
(Joh 14:3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:51)  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
 
(1 Corinthians 15:52)  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
 
(1Corinthians 15:53)  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:15)  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
 
According to the following verses the rapture must happen before the Anti- Christ can be revealed for the Holy Spirit must be taken out of the way, for He hinders the Anti-Christ and His evil, preventing them from appearing
(2 Thessalonians 2:3)  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:4)  who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:5)  Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:6)  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:7)  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:8)  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
 
(2 Thessalonians 2:9)  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
 
 
These are verses relating to the rapture. Here are the ways people often are nowadays – even Proverbs 30 describes it well, too many fit it nowadays
(Proverbs 30:11)  There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
 
(Proverbs 30:12)  There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
 
(Proverbs 30:13)  There are those--how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
 
(Provers 30:14)  There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
 
How aptly it describes a lot of people today. So much selfishness in the world now. This is backed up by scripture in 2 Timothy 3
(2 Timothy 3:1)  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
 
(2 Timothy 3:2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
 
(2 Timothy 3:3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
 
(2 Timothy 3:4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
 
(2 Timothy 3:5)  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
 
(2 Timothy 3:6)  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
 
(2 Timothy 3:7)  always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
 
All the things in Matthew 24, also Mark 13 and Luke 21 are indeed happening now:
(Matthew 24:3)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"
 
(Matthew 24:4)  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.
 
(Matthew 24:5)  For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.
 
(Matthew  24:6)  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
 
(Matthew 24:7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
 
(Matthew 24:8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
 
The world is definitely in the birth pains of the end times- I have no doubt in writing of this. Church services  and especially the mainstream media say little to nothing about it. The best place of finding out information and end times related news is actually certain channels on YouTube. I am not sure if Godtube and others may also have things. This is unfortunate because many believers are kept, even perhaps willfully by some agents, in the dark on these very important matters. Look at what the prophet Hosea says about the lack of knowledge:
 
(Hosea 4:6)  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
 
The churches and their leaders will be held accountable for this. Alas there are also far too many people who want their ears ticked too and to not really hear the truth on things
 
(2 Timothy 4:3)  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
 
(2 Timothy 4:4)  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
 
Churches are only too willing to oblige these people so as to not scare people off about messages of the truth. Also many get into worldly things as well. They after all do NOT want their offering baskets- their income- to dry up at all but want it to keep flowing in.
 
(1 Timothy 6:9)  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
 
(1 Timothy 6:10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
 
Sadly, for many of these reasons churches have indeed lost their first love- Christ(and getting people saved, and help for the needy). Look at what Jesus says to the Church at Ephesus who did the same thing:
 
(Revelation 2:1)  "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
 
(Revelation 2:2)  "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
 
(Revelation 2:3)  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
 
(Revelation 2:4)  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
 
(Revelation 2:5)  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
 
(Revelation 2:6)  Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
 
(Revelation 2:7)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'
 
Another set of verses that I am led to apply to the modern church scene is the church of Sardis as described in Revelation 3:
(Revelation 3:1)  "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
 
(Revelation 3:2)  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
 
(Revelation 3:3)  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
 
(Revelation 3:4)  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
 
(Revelation 3:5)  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
 
(Revelation 3:6)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
I myself have been in churches where I can feel very little or no Holy Spirit energy. Indeed many churches, especially at the denominational ones, do not even welcome Him today. They also believe miracles and the other deeds of the spirit like healing, prophecy, and tongues have ceased and were relegated to the days of the Apostles. That wrongful belief actually drives away the Holy Spirit, making the church feel dead.
All these and the powerful influence of the world, such as TV, movies, and violent video games, often can make for lukewarm Christians. Lets all see what the Lord Jesus says about the lukewarm in the Church of Laodicea:
(Revelation 3:14)  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
 
(Revelation 3:15)  "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
 
(Revelation 3:16)  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
 
(Revelation 3:17)  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
 
(Revelation 3:18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
 
(Revelation 3:19)  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
 
(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
 
(Revelation 3:21)  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
 
(Revelation 3:22)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
 
Yes, the Lord promises to spit the lukewarm out of His mouth, unless they repent. He does indeed rebuke and chasten, and I am thankful for that, for that is a good way to get spiritual growth and maturity. It can be painful, but it is also said in truth, no pain, no gain.  I am led strongly to believe there will be many, many who needlessly miss the rapture just because they are lukewarm and will be left behind to face the tribulation period. This is a big reason why I am writing this, hoping some will wake up, repent, and get on fire for the Lord, and not to be lukewarm.
            As things are, the people will be caught off guard and the Lord will come as a thief in the night and take many greatly by surprise. Please read what it says in Matthew 24 about what is happening today it fits really well
(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
 
(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
 
(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
 
(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
 
(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
 
(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
 
(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
 
(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
 
(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
 
(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'
 
(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
 
(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
 
(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
And, for emphasis, repetition in the bible means that something is important and worthy to put emphasis on, please look at Luke 12
(Luke 12:34)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
 
(Luke 12:35)  "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
 
(Luke 12:36)  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
(Luke 12:37)  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
 
(Luke 12:38)  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
 
(Luke 12:39)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
 
(Luke 12:40)  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
 
(Luke 12:41)  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"
 
(Luke 12:42)  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
 
(Luke 12:43)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Luke 12:44)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Luke 12:45)  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
 
(Luke 12:46)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
 
(Luke 12:47)  And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
 
(Luke 12:48)  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
 
Also Luke 17
(Luke 17:26)  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
 
(Luke 17:27)  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
 
(Luke 17:28)  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,
 
(Luke 17:29) but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--
 
(Luke 17:30) so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
 
(Luke 17:31)  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
 
(Luke 17:32)  Remember Lot's wife.
 
(Luke 17:33)  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
 
(Luke 17:34)  I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.
 
(Luke 17:35)  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."
 
(Luke 17:36)  [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.]
 
Here is another parable foreshadowing even the wedding supper of the lamb
(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
 
(Matthew 22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
 
(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'
 
(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
 
(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
 
(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
 
(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
 
(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
 
(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
 
(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
 
(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
 
(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
 
(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."
 
We MUST be sure we are NOT the one without the garment!! So wake up and be careful. That is an excellent parable of today.
Also my last scripture of this thing is the parable of the ten virgins also in Matthew, but this time chapter 25, speaking of the rapture and the wedding of the lamb:
(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
 
(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
 
(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
 
(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
 
(Matthew 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
 
(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
 
(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
 
(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
 
(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
 
(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
 
(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
 
There are just way too many foolish virgins this day, those who have let the cares of the world dominate them. I strongly urge them all to all repent and not allow that to happen to them as their plight will be identical to the foolish virgins in the parable; they will be shut out of the supper- the marriage supper of the lamb. That means they will miss the rapture and be left behind to face the seven year tribulation period, which will be the most horrible time of all on this earth. Instead be as one of the wise virgins who preserves her oil, by repenting every day as often as needed and seeking Him always for all things, also rebuking any and all forms of temptation from the flesh and/or Satan.
            I share a link of what is up at the rapture https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039
Also I recommend reading this https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/the-rapture-is-imminent-are-you-ready/206251099517699
Here is an excellent like page on the rapture
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804
To sum up I want to be absolutely and completely clear that I am sharing this so that people see the stark and massive contrast between making the rapture like the wise virgins in the parable and being with Jesus in heaven and missing it like the foolish virgins and being left behind on earth to face the tribulations which will be so bad, the worst period ever. The only way to make it is to know Jesus as your savior as He is the ONLY way to heaven. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and want to know Him(and He you) in order to make the rapture please pray this prayer with me:
 Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:
 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!
 
Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:15:22 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2013/accountability-to-god https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2013             I am led to write this to remind us all that we are accountable to God, specifically the Lord Jesus for all we do in our life on this earth, so we can do it all for His glory and honor, for He created us for that purpose.
 
(1 Corinthians 10:31)  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 
(Colossians 3:23)  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
 
(Colossians 3:24)  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
 
Since we are serving the Lord Jesus we may as well……
(Philippians 2:12)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
 
Philippians 2:13)  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
 
(Philippians 2:14)  Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
 
(Philippians 2:15)  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
 
As these verses say the Father has given all of this judgment to the Son, Jesus
(John 5:22)  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
 
(John 5:23)  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
 
We all are judged when are we judged?
(Hebrews 9:27)  And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
 
(Hebrews 9:28)  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
 
The verses say we are all judged at least at our death, for we are appointed to die, but it speaks of Christ appearing again, to save those who eagerly await Him- the rapture of the believers, which, by current events and the way society is going, is imminent.
What kind of judgments are there? Here is the judgment of the lost, by Jesus, one that absolutely no man wants to have any part of- the great white throne judgment of the unbelievers
 
(Revelation 20:11)  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
 
(Revelation 20:12)  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
 
(Revelation 20:13)  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
 
(Revelation 20:14)  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
 
(Revelation 20:15)  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
 
Yes, anyone whose name isn’t found in the book of life will indeed be thrown into the lake of fire. The one way to be sure of being in the book of life is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior(see bottom for a sinner’s prayer).
            Believers too will face judgment; nobody escapes it, saved or unsaved- the saved people’s judgment however comes at the judgment seat of Christ
(2 Corinthians 5:10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
 
These verses give a good idea of what might happen at that judgment-
(1 Corinthians 3:11)  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:12)  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
 
(1Corinthians 3:13)  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
 
(1Corinthians 3:14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
 
(1Corinthians 3:15)  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
 
In the above all of these works represent good deeds done to others, serving them. I am led to believe whether they are accounted as gold silver, or precious stones, means they are done with a selfless and pure motive, intended to show love to others, and be completely unselfish. The wood, hay and straw represent good deeds done with poor motivation, often self exalting motives. God knows all things and looks into our heart always and knows why we do things, so lets do things for pure motivations so that they survive this trial by fire, for our wrongful motivated things absolutely won’t they will be consumed in this trial, and we will lose as a result(loss of would be rewards).
We are also very accountable for what we speak, and will have to give an account for all our careless words to Jesus Himself(we should repent though now if we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of having spoken carelessly):
(Matthew 12:36)  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
 
(Matthew 12:37)  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
 
 
 
Here are other examples of accountability in different parables:
One the poor manager who is about to be fired:
(Luke 16:1)  He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
 
(Luke 16:2)  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
 
(Luke 16:3)  And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.
 
(Luke 16:4)  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'
 
(Luke 16:5)  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
 
(Luke 16:6)  He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
 
(Luke 16:7)  Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
 
(Luke 16:8)  The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
 
(Luke 16:9)  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
 
(Luke 16:10)  "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
 
(Luke 16:11)  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
 
(Luke 16:12)  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
 
(Luke 16:13)  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
 
The last verses have life application too, to be faithful in the little, and to be trustworthy, as it says you cannot serve God and money.
Here is a parable of  the minas which is accountability and a test of faithfulness to their master:
(Luke 19:12)  He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
 
(Luke 19:13)  Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'
 
(Luke 19:14)  But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'
 
(Luke 19:15)  When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
 
(Luke 19:16)  The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'
 
(Luke 19:17)  And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
 
(Luke 19:18)  And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'
 
(Luke 19:19)  And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
 
(Luke 19:20)  Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
 
(Luke 19:21)  for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
 
(Luke 19:22)  He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
 
(Luke 19:23)  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'
 
(Luke 19:24)  And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
 
(Luke 19:25)  And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'
 
(Luke 19:26)  'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
 
Here too is a parable in Matthew 25 too which is similar and has a similar meaning:
The it that was referred to in verse 14 is the Kingdom of Heaven:
(Matthew 25:14)  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
 
(Matthew 25:15)  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
 
(Matthew 25:16)  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
 
(Matthew 25:17)  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
 
(Matthew 25:18)  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
 
(Matthew 25:19)  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
 
(Matthew 25:20)  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
 
(Matthew 25:21)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
 
(Matthew 25:22)  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
 
(Matthew 25:23)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
 
(Matthew 25:24)  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
 
(Matthew 25:25)  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
 
(Matthew 25:26)  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
 
(Matthew 25:27)  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
 
(Matthew 25:28)  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
 
(Matthew 25:29)  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
 
(Matthew 25:30)  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
 
Ouch, the worthless servant is cast into the outer darkness, for being lazy with His maters possessions. Some take that to mean eternal hell, so we need to be careful with what we are entrusted to, to say the least. Others make different things out of it.
Look at the next example in the next set of verses of accountability, the National judgment and the sheep and goats one:
(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
 
(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
 
(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
 
(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
 
(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
 
(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
 
(Matthew 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
 
(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
 
(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
 
(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
 
(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
 
(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
 
(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
 
Powerful warning message here, those who take care of the little ones will be given eternal life, and those who do not will face eternal punishment- these verses say that everyone is accountable, and we must back up belief by deeds. These works though will come naturally by the power, strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit and are evidence of our salvation.
            My next scripture will be a reminder again that we will be accountable and judged by God
(Romans 14:8)  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
 
(Romans 14:9)  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
 
(Romans 14:10)  Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
 
(Romans 14:11)  for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
 
(Romans 14:12)  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
 
(Romans 14:13)  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
 
To avoid hell, outer darkness and to be raptured we must be sure to be saved for Jesus is the only way to heaven:
(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
We must confess and believe Jesus as Lord and God raised Him from the dead:
(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
 
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Rom 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Rom 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
So if after reading this  you want to a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus, please pray this prayer with me to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
For more on the rapture please see
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804 ?
 
I share a link of what is up at the rapture https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039
 
Also I recommend reading this https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/the-rapture-is-imminent-are-you-ready/206251099517699
 
Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:
 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!
 
Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
 
 
 
  ]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:51:48 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2007/the-tongue https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2007             I am led to write this to show you how powerful our tongue is, both for good and evil. On the good side what we say can build up and edify, even can help people accept the Lord Jesus, as their Lord and savior. Or it can tear down and destroy others when used maliciously. Almost all of my own teasing in school was indeed verbal- name calling and the like. That sort of misuse can really hurt badly, even more than a punch or a kick, and can easily leave long term scars. People who have been victimized by such bullying have been known to go as far as to commit suicide, and sometimes they need counseling to help them as well. Still, the Lord by His mercy and grace helped me endure many years of it. I am going to show by scripture many things relating to the tongue, its use, and our need to bridle it, yet also our need to use it wisely to speak along with the benefits of so doing.
First up is Matthew 12 Jesus’ words here:
(Matthew 12:33)  "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
 
(Matthew 12:34)  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
 
(Matthew 12:35)  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
 
(Matthew 12:36)  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
 
(Matthew 12:37)  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
 
Powerful message delivered by Jesus Himself to make the fruit good or bad, not both, and that we are accountable for all careless words that we speak and that we will be both justified and condemned by what we speak so we need be careful about what comes out of our mouths
Next is a passage in James 3 which speaks very well about bridling the tongue:
(James 3:2)  For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
 
(James 3:3)  If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
 
(James 3:4)  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
 
(James 3:5)  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
 
(James 3:6)  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
 
(James 3:7)  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
 
(James 3:8)  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
 
(James 3:9)  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
 
(James 3:10)  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
 
(James 3:11)  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
 
(James 3:12)  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
 
Here is another good scripture from James:
(James 1:26)  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
 
One of my problems that I have struggled with is that I tended to be very hasty to speak, very often not thinking before blurting things out, which is a foolish thing indeed. I have had this during most all of my life, but the Lord is definitely helping me with that issue currently. Here is a proverb that addresses the matter well:
(Proverbs 29:20)  Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
 
I need also to heed the advice in the book of James, to be slower to speak than I sometimes am!
(James 1:19)  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
 
Here is a pair of proverbs that are very good to heed. These two proverbs also speak of bridling the tongue and even a fool who can manage to do is considered wise.
(Proverbs 17:27)  Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
 
(Proverbs 17:28)  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
 
Here is some good advice from the epistle to the Ephesians about putting aside evil talk and  just speak things fit for encouragement and building up. Evil words tear down, in fact, not build up
(Ephesians 4:29)  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
 
(Ephesians 4:31)  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
 
Here are some good proverbs on the tongue- the first one again reminds us of the importance of bridling the tongue
(Proverbs 21:23)  Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
 
It is important to watch what we say to keep us out of trouble. Here is a proverb that compares rash words to sword thrusts
(Proverbs 12:18)  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
 
Here is a word to encourage a gentle tongue
(Pro 15:4)  A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
 
Yet another verse from James, encouraging us to NOT speak evil against one another:
(Jamess 4:11)  Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
 
Here are some words from the book of Leviticus:
(Leviticus 19:16)  You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
 
(Leviticus 19:17)  "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
 
A good word of encouragement in the epistle to the Colossians
(Colossians 4:6)  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
 
More good advice from the book of Colossians about not speaking badly to one another
(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
 
(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
 
(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
 
Here are more proverbs from chapter 12 about the tongue
(Proverbs 12:13)  An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
 
(Proverbs 12:14)  From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
 
Yes we can be snared by transgressions of our lips so we must always be very careful with what we say yet we also can be satisfied with the fruit of our mouths too.
 
Here are two more good proverbs from chapter 18, especially important that it reminds us that both death AND life are in the power of the tongue so be careful what you say indeed:
(Proverbs 18:20)  From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
 
(Pro 18:21)  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
 
Here are some more proverbs concerning the tongue in chapter 15
(Proverbs 15:1)  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
 
(Proverbs 15:2)  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
 
(Proverbs 15:23)  To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
 
Here is some good advice in 1 Peter again reminding us to keep our tongue from evil and deceit
(1 Peter 3:10)  For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
 
Here is another set of Proverbs in chapter 10 extolling the virtue of a wise tongue but warning against the foolish use of the tongue
(Proverbs 10:19)  When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
 
(Proverbs 10:20)  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
 
(Proverbs 10:21)  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
 
Sound advice on the tongue from two different Psalms
(Psalm 34:13)  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
 
(Psalms 37:30)  The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
 
Here is a verse of what we all indeed need to do around everyone and not just our enemies
(Psalms 39:1)  To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence."
 
Proverbs 13 verses 2 and 3 have both a promise and a stern warning about the use of the tongue
(Proverbs 13:2)  From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
 
(Proverbs 13:3)  Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
 
Again, the warning is to be careful of what we speak, and we need to guard our mouth but it also makes a promise of the too of eating what is good from the fruit of our mouth
Here is a warning not to repeat matters, or gossip:
(Proverbs 17:9)  Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
 
A similar but even sterner warning is found in Proverbs 20
(Proverbs 20:19)  Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
 
The one in Proverbs 20 says not to associate with a babbler look at what is said in Proverbs chapter 25 about gossiping your neighbor’s things at what can happen when one does such a thing:
(Proverbs 25:9)  Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,
 
(Proverbs 25:10)  lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.
 
Another good proverb in chapter 11 not to gossip but to keep something confidential
(Proverbs 11:13)  Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
 
Another soft tongue Proverb, from chapter 25
(Proverbs 25:15)  With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.
 
Here is a word of encouragement and warning too in the book of Ephesians:
(Eph 5:4)  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
 
Here is a  verse from Psalms to pray for wisdom to come out of one’s mouth
(Psa 19:14)  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
 
Yes, indeed, that is my prayer, too, for my mouth, that what I speak is acceptable to the Lord, that I repent as soon as I know something is not, and also that the words not be hasty, that He break all my hastiness of speech from me. Please read the verse and pray this prayer for tongue bridling:
P1:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
(Psalm 141:3)  Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Enable me to bridle my tongue when I am tempted to say things that I will later regret or things that I don’t necessarily mean. Teach me to say what you would say concerning all situations, and help me to know that when I respond in silence that silence is not a bad thing. Even Your son, Jesus, responded here, that I understand that bridling the tongue is a practice of true Christianity because your Word says in James 1:26 that If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.


In Jesus’ name,
Amen
 
And here is a prayer to speak wisely:
Heavenly Father,
We will give thanks to you LORD, for you are good; your love endures forever. Your redeemed people will say of you LORD —
Yes, our God redeemed us from the hand of the enemy, you gathered us from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. We cried out to you LORD in our troubles, and you delivered us from our distress. Your daughters thank you for hearing our cries; we thank you for redeeming us from the pit. We love because your first loved us…We thank you for loving us so much that you Father gave us your one and only son Jesus Christ to die for our transgressions and sins. We will love our neighbor as our self, repent quickly, and forgive mercifully. We ask for your protection from evil one, help us not to be led away by temptation. Your word of truth teaches us; If our heart is wise, then your heart will be glad; your inmost being will rejoice when our lips speak what is right. We will seek for wisdom and understanding; we will seek it like seeking for treasure. Your daughters will not let their heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of you LORD. In doing so there is surely a future hope for each of your daughters and our hope will not be cut off. We will listen … and be wise, and keep our heart on the right path. We thank you for your word of truth, we will meditate on it day and night so that in the scriptures we will find hope, and our hope will not be cut off; We will be strong and courageous through your divine wisdom in the scriptures. We thank you for all your provision. We thank you for the victories you give through Jesus. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
 
Jesus through His Holy Spirit helped me write this Jesus loves you and would just love a relationship with you. Here is a prayer you can pray with me if you do not know him, or want to come back to Him, if backslidden
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Jesus loves you and cares for you, wanting a relationship with you. God bless you and yours
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:29:01 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2000/the-greatest-gift https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/2000             I am led to write this to speak about the greatest gift of all, from God, and it is not from any man, or of or from this world in which we live. The world and people give good things but what is given in this gift is far, far more valuable than anything close to what man can give, be it houses, cars, money, clothes and so on, although it is a truth that all gifts come from above as stated here, anyway
(James 1:17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
 
And another verse with a similar meaning to the book of James from Matthew
(Matthew 7:11)  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
 
The Heavenly Father loves us so much, that He really wants to give this gift.
These verses start to speak of the gift from above, from heaven
(John 1:12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
 
(John 1:13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
 
(John 1:14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 
Of course the above verses talk about Jesus, the one who came, lived with us, and then was the gift.
Unlike man’s gifts which often can be useless, and not of much of any value this one has great value for we all have need of it because of what is said in these verses
 
(Romans 3:9)  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
 
(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
 
(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.
 
(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
 
This verse reminds us of the consequence of sin but also of the greatest gift of all, at the same time.
(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
So you see how that this gift is so extremely useful to all mankind that God would do something out of His love and mercy to set us free from this sin, and our sinful nature and He did because He is so loving and merciful.
Here is some more on this, from Romans chapter 5
(Romans 5:6)  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
 
(Romans 5:7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
 
(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 
(Romans 5:9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
 
Again the need is shown but also is how God provided for the need
(Rom 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 
(Romans 3:24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
 
(Romans 3:25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
 
(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
(Romans 3:27)  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
 
(Romans 3:28)  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
 
(Romans 3:29)  Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
 
(Romans 3:30) since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
 
(Romansans 3:31)  Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
 
Why would God do such a thing, as send His Son to die for us as His gift to us? He loves us so much that He would do this. His love is that great, and perfect.
 
(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
 
This is more about the unspeakable gift from God in the book of Ephesians
(Eph 2:4)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
 
(Eph 2:5)  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
 
(Eph 2:6)  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
 
(Eph 2:7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
 
(Eph 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
 
(Eph 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
(Eph 2:10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
These verses show just how inexpressible the gift really is, and how good it is
(2 Corinthians 9:13)  By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
 
(2 Corinthians 9:14)  while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
 
(2 Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
 
Here is some more on the free gift again from Romans 5
(Romans 5:15)  But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
 
(Romans 5:16)  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
 
(Romans 5:17)  For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
 
(Romans 5:18)  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
 
(Romans 5:19)  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
 
(Rom 5:20)  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
 
(Romans 5:21)  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Here is a verse from John 4 on the gift
(John 4:10)  Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
 
We do need faith to accept this free, for indeed the gift is from God
(Hebrews 11:6)  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
 
The whole purpose of this greatest gift from Gpd is to restore our relationship with God so then it was said that Jesus was the ONE way to go to God, and that was through Him:
(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
(John 14:7)  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
 
We need to worship God in spirit in truth for He is a Spirit
(John 4:24)  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
 
Of courses Jesus does go to seek all this, hoping we believe in Him
(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
 
The gift I speak of is the gift of our salvation, which in of itself brings other gifts with it, like the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. There is also the gift of eternal life which Jesus speaks of here
(John 4:13)  Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
 
(John 4:14)  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
 
More  on this here in John 6
(John 6:40)  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
 
(John 6:41)  So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
 
(John 6:42)  They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"
 
(John 6:43)  Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
 
(John 6:44)  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
 
(John 6:45)  It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--
 
(John 6:46)  not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
 
(John 6:47)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
 
They all found Jesus words hard to believe but all those who believe in Jesus have eternal life.
 
Here again we are promised eternal life Jesus again is speaking in John 10
(John 10:28)  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
 
(John 10:29)  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
 
The verses that are key to taking this gift in Romans 10, dealing with Salvation the key to getting the greatest gift, from God
(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
 
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
This eternal life is the most precious gift ever offered which Jesus paid so dearly for by dying for all of our sins on the cross to restore our relationship and to get us the eternal life, as well as restoring the right relationship with God, getting the blessings from God too. All of this is the greatest gift of all then, the relationship, fellowship, peace and blessings with God in life here as well as eternal life in heaven with God afterwards, after people die, or go to heaven in the rapture.  So if you are ready to accept the greatest gift of all time that which God is so willing to freely give to you all you need to do is pray this prayer with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Now you have gotten yourself a gift far more precious that anything this world can offer, be it cars, money, houses, people, anything, so congratulations. Also you have a friend that wants a deep relationship with you, so pray every day, and often. Read God’s word to get ever closer to Him. He is so good and is mercy is ever enduring.
There is another part of this gift too- Jesus will return soon to take His bride away- so they don’t have to go through the great tribulations which are His judgment on an evil world(as well as a final call for people to repent) so if you want to be taken up in this rapture as a part of this gift be sure if you don’t know Him to use the prayer and prayerfully consider all the following:
 
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour.
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
**4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
 
If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture.  Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.
 
Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:40:15 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1997/raises-from-the-dead-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1997                                     Raised from the dead a bible study



As I start to write this, it is around Easter and Christians celebrate that holiday as a remembrance to when Jesus Himself rose from the grave again after being crucified 3 days earlier. I am led to do one where I use the different examples of being raised from the dead. This is a thorough study, hitting the different aspects of it. I want to let the scripture and such so comments will be relatively minimal.

The first one I use is Elijah and the widow’s son

(1 Kings 17:17)   After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.



(1 Kings 17:18)   And she said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!"



(1 Kings 17:19)   And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed.



(1 Kings 17:20)   And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?"



(1 Kings 17:21)   Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again."



(1Kings 17:22)   And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.



(1 Kings 17:23)   And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives."



(1 Kings 17:24)   And the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."



Elisha had two instances one in 2 kings 4 where he also raised a woman’s son

(2 Kings 4:18)   When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.



(2 Kings 4:19)   And he said to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."



(2 Kings 4:20)   And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.



(2 Kings 4:21)   And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out.



(2 Kings 4:22)   Then she called to her husband and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."



(2 Kings 4:23)   And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath." She said, "All is well."



(2Kings 4:24)   Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you."



(2 Kings 4:25)   So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite.



(2 Kings 4:26)   Run at once to meet her and say to her, 'Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?'" And she answered, "All is well."



(2 Kings 4:27)   And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."



(2 Kings 4:28)   Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'"



(2Kings 4:29)   He said to Gehazi, "Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child."



(2 Kings 4:30)   Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.



(2 Kings 4:31)   Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."



(2 Kings 4:32)   When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.



(2 Kings 4:33)   So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.



(2 Kings 4:34)   Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.



(2 Kings 4:35)   Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.



(2 Kings 4:36)   Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son."



(2 Kings 4:37)   She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.



The other story was just after Elijah died, and was buried.

(2 Kings 13:20)   So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.



(2Kings 13:21)   And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.



And here is the prophecy in Ezekiel 37 of the dry bones

(Ezekiel 37:1)   The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.



(Ezekiel 37:2)   And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.



(Ezekiel 37:3)   And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."



(Eze 37:4)   Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.



(Ezekiel 37:5)   Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.



(Ezekiel 37:6)   And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."



(Ezekiel 37:7)   So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.



(Ezekiel 37:8)   And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.



(Ezekiel 37:9)   Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."



(Ezekiel 37:10)   So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.



(Ezekiel 37:11)   Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.'



(Ezekiel 37:12)   Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.



(Ezekiel 37:13)   And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.



(Ezekiel 37:14)   And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."



Here Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead

(Luke 7:11)   Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.



(Luke 7:12)   As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.



(Luke 7:13)   And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."



(Luke 7:14)   Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."



(Luke 7:15)   And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.



(Luke 7:16)   Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"



(Luke 7:17)   And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.



Jesus raises Jairus daughter from the dead in Mark

(Mark 5:23)   and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."



(Mark 5:24)   And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.



(Mark 5:35)   While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"



(Mark 5:36)   But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."



(Mark 5:37)   And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.



(Mark 5:38)   They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.



(Mark 5:39)   And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."



(Mar 5:40)   And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.



(Mark 5:41)   Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."



(Mark 5:42)   And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.



(Mark 5:43)   And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.



Here is another account of it in Matthew

(Matthew 9:18)   While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."



(Matthew 9:19)   And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.



(Matthew 9:23)   And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,



(Matthew 9:24)   he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.



(Matthew 9:25)   But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.



(Matthew 9:26)   And the report of this went through all that district.



Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, though Lazarus was dead four days:

(John 11:1)   Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.



(John 11:2)   It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.



(John 11:3)   So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."



(John 11:4)   But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."



(John 11:5)   Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.



(John 11:6)   So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.



(John 11:7)   Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."



(John 11:8)   The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?"



(John 11:9)   Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.



(John 11:10)   But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."



(John 11:11)   After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."



(John 11:12)   The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."



(John 11:13)   Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.



(John 11:14)   Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,



(John 11:15)   and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."



(John 11:16)   So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."



(John 11:17)   Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.



(John 11:18)   Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,



(John 11:19)   and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.



(John 11:20)   So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.



(John 11:21)   Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.



(John 11:22)   But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."



(John 11:23)   Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."



(John 11:24)   Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."



(John 11:25)   Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,



(John 11:26)   and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"



(John 11:27)   She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."



(John 11:28)   When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."



(John 11:29)   And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.



(John 11:30)   Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.



(John 11:31)   When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.



(John 11:32)   Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."



(John 11:33)   When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.



(John 11:34)   And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."



(John 11:35)   Jesus wept.



(John 11:36)   So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"



(John 11:37)   But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"



(John 11:38)   Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.



(John 11:39)   Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."



(John 11:40)   Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"



(John 11:41)   So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.



(John 11:42)   I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."



(John 11:43)   When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."



(John 11:44)   The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."



(John 11:45)   Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,



Peter raises Dorcas from the dead in Acts

(Acts 9:38)   Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."



(Acts 9:39)   So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.



(Acts 9:40)   But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.



(Acts 9:41)   And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.



(Acts 9:42)   And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.



(Acts 9:43)   And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.



And here was someone that Paul raised from the dead

(Acts 20:8)   There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.



(Acts 20:9)   And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.



(Acts 20:10)   But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."



(Acts 20:11)   And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.



All the preceding people who were raised died again. This is not so for Jesus who went back to Heaven still alive to become King of Kings and Lord of Lords sitting by the Heavenly Father as an intercessor for all of us.

Here is the account of the rising of Jesus in Mark

(Mark 16:1)   When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.



(Mark 16:2)   And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.



(Mark 16:3)   And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"



(Mark 16:4)   And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back--it was very large.



(Mark 16:5)   And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.



(Mark 16:6)   And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.



(Mar 16:7)   But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."



(Mark 16:8)   And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.



(Mark 16:9)   [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.



(Mark 16:10)   She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.



(Mark 16:11)   But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.



(Mark 16:12)   After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.



And in the gospel of Luke

(Luke 24:1)   But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.



(Luke 24:2)   And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,



(Luke 24:3)   but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.



(Luke 24:4)   While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.



(Luke 24:5)   And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?



(Luke 24:6)   He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,



(Luke 24:7)   that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."



(Luke 24:8)   And they remembered his words,



(Luke 24:9)   and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.



(Luke 24:10)   Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,



(Luke 24:11)   but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.



(Luke 24:12)   But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.



(Luke 24:13)   That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,



(Luke 24:14)   and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.



(Luke 24:15)   While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.



(Luke 24:16)   But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.



Here is the account in the gospel of John

(John 20:1)   Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.



(John 20:2)   So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."



(John 20:3)   So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.



(John 20:4)   Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.



(John 20:5)   And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.



(John 20:6)   Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,



(John 20:7)   and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.



(John 20:8)   Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;



(John 20:9)   for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.



(John 20:10)   Then the disciples went back to their homes.



(John 20:11)   But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.



(John 20:12)   And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.



(John 20:13)   They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."



(John 20:14)   Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.



(John 20:15)   Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."



(John 20:16)   Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).



(John 20:17)   Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"



(John 20:18)   Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.



Then there is the story of the two prophets in   Revelation

(Revelation 11:7)   And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,



(Revelation 11:8)   and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.



(Revelation 11:9)   For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,



(Revelation 11:10)   and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.



(Revelation 11:11)   But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.



(Revelation 11:12)   Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.



(Revelation 11:13)   And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.



At this stage there will be no more death as it says in Revelation:

(Revelation 21:3)   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.



(Revelation 21:4)   He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."



Before the events of Revelation 11, the dead in   Christ shall be raised first as said in the scripture

(1Thessolonians 4:13)   But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.



(1 Thessalonians 4:14)   For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.



(1 Thessalonians 4:15)   For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.



(1Thessalonians 4:16)   For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.



(1Thessalonians 4:17)   Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.



(1 Thessalonians 4:18)   Therefore encourage one another with these words.



Also here in 1 Corinthians 15

(1Corinthians 15:26)   The last enemy to be destroyed is death.



This is the end of death, and at the point where everyone is raised from the dead, and the unsaved judged

(Revelation 20:11)   Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.



(Revelation 20:12)   And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.



(Revelation 20:13)   And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.



(Revelation 20:14)   Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.



(Revelation 20:15)   And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.



This is the victory over death for the saved.

(1 Corinthians 15:51)   Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,



(1 Corinthians 15:52)   in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.



(1 Corinthians 15:53)   For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.



(1 Corinthians 15:54)   When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."



(1 Corinthians 15:55)   "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"



(1 Corinthians 15:56)   The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.



(1 Corinthians 15:57)   But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.



(1 Corinthians 15:58)   Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.



In the end death and Hades end up being thrown in the lake of fire, along with anyone who does not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior which gets someone in the book of life and raptured too, though many will be saved during the tribulation period. I have no wish for anyone to end up in the lake of fire for eternity or even miss the rapture so, please why not pray this prayer with me?

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life. Amen.

Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:

1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).



2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.



3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).   Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.



4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the   book of Revelation in particular)   until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.   This will help keep you from temptation and sin.   JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!



5. Do something for the Lord.   (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)



6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.



7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)



8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.   ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.   PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.



9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.



10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:



"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.   It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return. Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.   Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.   Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.   Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.   Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.   In Jesus' mighty name, Amen



If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!



Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be






]]> Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:04:37 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1994/greed-and-coveting https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1994             Now the Lord wants me to do a bible study,discussion and teaching on greed and coveting, and how bad and evil they are both towards man and in the sight of God, and how much grief they have caused people who practice those things which are so evil to God. This discussion will include how it affected various different people in the bible, and such, as well as scriptures which speak out against greed.
First I will put in the applicable commandments here, using Exodus
(Exodus 20:15)  "You shall not steal.
Greedy people indeed often steal from others(often by cheating them)
(Exodus 20:17)  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
 
I will add my comment to say that it is VERY unloving to your neighbor to covet anything of theirs,no matter what(who) it might be. Next up is the story of Achan, his greed and the consequences of it for both Israel as a nation and Achan, and even his family. When someone sins it almost always affects other people, not just oneself alone.
(Joshua 7:1)  But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.
 
(Joshua 7:2)  Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.
 
(Joshua 7:3)  And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."
 
(Joshua 7:4)  So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai,
 
(Joshua 7:5)  and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
 
Because of his greedy action Israel was defeated in their first attempt to take Ai, and forced to flee! Then they found out what was up and the following scripture follows
Achan was found out and taken and the following resulted
(Joshua 7:18)  And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
 
(Joshua 7:19)  Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."
 
(Joshua 7:20)  And Achan answered Joshua, "Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did:
 
(Joshua 7:21)  when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
 
(Joshua 7:22)  So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.
 
(Joshua 7:23)  And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD.
 
(Joshua 7:24)  And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
 
(Joshua 7:25)  And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
 
(Joshua 7:26)  And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.
 
Achan confessed his actions that his covetousness and greed cause him to do this evil, and they found the items that he had taken , then they executed him and his family by stoning and burning for his misdeed. This is a good scriptural example of the evil consequences of greed.  The next one comes in 1 Samuel with Eli’s sons
(1 Samuel 2:12)  Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.
 
(1 Samuel 2:13)  The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
 
(1 Samuel 2:14)  and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
 
(1 Samuel 2:15)  Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw."
 
(1 Samuel 2:16)  And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force."
 
(1 Samuel 2:17)  Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
 
Their greed was involved in taking, stealing, if necessary by force by the offerings intended for the Lord for themselves. It would result in evil consequences for the sons, Eli, and even Israel which are detailed in 1 Samuel chapters 3 and 4 with the deaths of Eli and his sons, and the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines including the capture of the ark of the covenant.
Next, there is a verse saying how Samuel’s sons were also evil and greedy which made the children if Israel clamor for a king so much the more.
(1 Samuel 8:3)  Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
 
His sons were corrupt and as such the people demanded a king in this verse. The next example is Saul and the people when they went up to destroy Amalek at the Lord’s command, executing judgment against them. They were meant to destroy all but they did not…….
(1 Samuel 15:9)  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
 
Against the Lord’s will they did this. Saul made excuses blaming others but never really did repent of this evil deed, so the Lord basically took away His anointing from Saul and wished that He had not anointed Saul king.
The next example in 2 Kings chapter 5 comes after Naaman’s healing of his leprosy. Elisha, knowing this healing was of God would accept nothing of it- refuting greed but look at what his servant Gehazi does, succumbing to greed and what happens to him:
(2 Kings 5:20)  Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
 
(2 Kings 5:21)  So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?"
 
(2 Kings 5:22)  And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'"
 
(2 Kings 5:23)  And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.
 
(2 Kings 5:24)  And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
 
(2 Kings 5:25)  He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."
 
(2 Kings 5:26)  But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
 
(2 Kings 5:27)  Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
 
For his greed Gehazi and his all of decedents were cursed with leprosy for their greed.
Now here are two accounts of Jesus and the vendors in the temple- one is in John 2
(John 2:13)  The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
 
(John 2:14)  In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
 
(John 2:15)  And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
 
(John 2:16)  And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."
 
(John 2:17)  His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
 
Here is the other account in Matthew
(Matthew 21:12)  And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
 
(Matthew 21:13)  He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."
 
Here in Mark 11
(Mark 11:15)  And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
 
(Mark 11:16)  And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.
 
(Mark 11:17)  And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
 
I am thinking that the episodes in Matthew and Mark are in a different year, later,  than the one in  John. John happened just after his baptism,at the beginning of His ministry and the ones and Matthew and Mark occurred just before His crucifixion, when He approached Jerusalem the last time at the very end of His earthly ministry. In Mark and Matthew anyway, implied greed was at the temple by comparing it with a thieves den. I guess it is not impossible that they could be at the same time but the placement in the gospels argues against it. These episodes combined with the stories in Samuel indicate that the greed in the temple has been around for like over 1,000 years for the situation with Eli was before even Saul became king. Here is a verse also to support the continual greed in the temple
(Jeremiah 6:13)  "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.
 
(Jeremiah 8:10)  Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.
 
(Hosea 4:8)  They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.
 
(Hosea 4:9)  And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
 
My last example of greed in the bible is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in acts chapter 5 where they sold a piece of land and brought part of the proceeds to the apostles but implied they brought the full price:
(Acts 5:1)  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
 
(Acts 5:2)  and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
 
(Acts 5:3)  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
 
(Acts 5:4)  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
 
(Acts 5:5)  When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
 
(Acts 5:6)  The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
 
(Acts 5:7)  After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
 
(Acts 5:8)  And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
 
(Acts 5:9)  But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
 
(Acts 5:10)  Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
 
(Acts 5:11)  And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
 
These two were struck down dead, for they had lied to the Holy Spirit(and men) about the fact that they had not brought to the apostles the full price of a piece of land and had implied that they indeed had brought the full price of the land. The scripture also states that they conspired together to do this evil act, so both were punished.
I am going to go to teachings against greed now.
I am starting with a verse from Psalms- often the greedy want nothing to do with God.
(Psalms 10:3)  For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
 
(Micah 2:1)  Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.
 
(Micah 2:2)  They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
 
Here is a proverb
(Proverbs 28:25)  A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
 
Here are two more indicating the problems of those who want unjust gain,
(Proverbs 1:19)  Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
 
(Proverbs 15:27)  Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
 
Greedy people can use unequal balances in order to cheat and rip off people, by making a product that they are buying heavier than it really is to charge them more money, or what they are selling or bartering seem less in weight than it is. Both are tactics vendors can use to cheat their customers, and as such they are abomination to the Lord.
(Proverbs 20:10)  Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
 
(Proverbs 20:23)  Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
 
Jesus reminds us in Matthew that nobody can serve two masters, God and money
(Matthew 6:24)  "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
 
Here are warning stories against greed in Luke 12
(Luke 12:13)  Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
 
(Luke 12:14)  But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"
 
(Luke 12:15)  And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
 
(Luke 12:16)  And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
 
(Luke 12:17)  and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
 
(Luke 12:18)  And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
 
(Luke 12:19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'
 
(Luke 12:20)  But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
 
(Luke 12:21)  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
 
The one guy asked Jesus to intervene to make his brother share the inheritance with him(Jesus wouldn’t then tells the parable of the rich fool, warning that those who lay up treasure for themselves are NOT rich toward God.
 
In Luke 16 is a parable with moral of a manager who was fired for wasting possessions yet is commended for his wisdom at the end:
(Luke 16:1)  He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
 
(Luke 16:2)  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
 
(Luke 16:3)  And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.
 
(Luke 16:4)  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'
 
(Luke 16:5)  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
 
(Luke 16:6)  He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
 
(Luke 16:7)  Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
 
(Luke 16:8)  The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
 
(Luke 16:9)  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
 
(Luke 16:10)  "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
 
(Luke 16:11)  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
 
(Luke 16:12)  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
 
(Luke 16:13)  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
 
Here is a warning in 1 Corinthians 5
(1Corinthians 5:9)  I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--
 
(1Corinthians 5:10)  not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
 
(1Corinthians 5:11)  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
 
Here is a warning that the greedy are among those people who will not inherit the kingdom of God- beware and repent of any greed that the Holy Spirit might convict you of(see below for prayers to help with that)
(1 Corinthians 6:9)  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
 
(1 Corinthians 6:10)  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
 
Sadly there are both greedy people and swindlers today, and too many of them. Here is a good word from 1 Timothy
(1 Timothy 6:9)  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
 
(1 Timothy 6:10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
 
Sadly all the increased greed warned against often has these and other side effects
Here is a word from proverbs in Chapter 30 reflects by-products of greed
(Proverbs 30:11)  There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
 
(Proverbs 30:12)  There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
 
(Proverbs 30:13)  There are those--how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
 
(Proverbs 30:14)  There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.
 
(Proverbs 30:15)  The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough":
 
And this is reinforced with this scripture from 2 Timothy which has a very similar message
(2 Timothy 3:1) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
 
(2 Timothy 3:2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
 
(2Timothy 3:3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
 
(2 Timothy 3:4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
 
(2 Timothy 3:5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
 
(2 Timothy 3:6)  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
 
(2 Timothy 3:7) always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
 
Here in James is a warning about why we don’t have, and often God does not answer our prayers because He knows we want something of Him for the wrong reason.
(James 4:1)  What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
 
(James 4:2)  You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
 
(James 4:3)  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
 
He knows all, so we cannot hide our wrongful desires from Him at all.
Here is some good advice though in the book of Hebrews to be free from love of money and to be content with what we have.
(Hebrews 13:5)  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
 
(Hebrews 13:6)  So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
 
To sum up, greed is a very evil thing that has caused needless grief and sorrow for all those afflicted by it, be it the greedy people themselves or the people who are victimized by the greedy persons. Often times greedy people tend to be very selfish, only interested in their own wants and desires and not caring who they might hurt to achieve them.
Here is a prayer to fight greed so please pray it with me
Father, You are a gracious and generous Father who bestows on us bountiful gifts and sufficient supplies to meet our every need. When we get our eyes off that which we have and set our heart’s affections on material things that we don’t have we can easily struggle with envy, discontentment, and jealousy which leads to an ungrateful attitude. Thank you for the extras that we enjoy in life, but we especially thank You for the essentials that we experience such as salvation, eternal life and endless hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Keep our focus on the hallowed manger scene instead of the hollow mall setting as we celebrate another Christmas this year. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.
 
Here is a prayer to repent of greed and a love for money so pray as needed and or led by the Holy Spirit, using I for we if needed
Heavenly Father, You are God and there is no other. As it is written, you ‘look to the ends of the earth, and see everything under the heavens.’ Nothing escapes your notice dear Lord. You sit enthroned above the circle of the earth, as the prophet Isaiah wrote, ‘and you stretched out the heavens like a canopy and spread them out like a tent to live in.’ We praise your glorious name. We repent for greed; we repent for ill gotten gain; we repent for the love of money and agree with your word that says the ‘love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.’ Forgive us Lord for any and every selfish thing we have done in relationship to money; for coveting someone else’s things, for jealousy, for identity rooted in possessions rather than in your presence and for every single way we have sinned against you in this area. We are sorry Lord and ask for your forgiveness and healing.
As you forgive and heal us, we also ask that you would do the same for our nation in this area of commerce. We stand in the gap for your healing light and presence. We thank you God that those who trust in you will never be disappointed. Our eyes are on you Lord, and together we stand on your word, ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’ We thank you Lord for hearing our heart cry, for your forgiveness and for your help. In Jesus name, amen.
If you feel convicted by the Holy Spirit over greed, covetousness, or anything else for that matter, and/or you feel the need to cry out to the Lord Jesus to come into your heart to cleanse and forgive you and want to commit or recommit your life to Him, for He loves you so much, and wants you to be saved, and wants to set you free of both greed and coveting as only He can, please pray this prayer with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen. ]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:19:53 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1992/deeds-of-the-flesh https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1992             These are deeds done often in a very selfish and unloving manner to please our own desires, and are done without any consideration to what it might cost others in any way whatsoever. Of course these actions and deeds may be fun and enjoyable at first but then conviction and guilt often set in afterwards. This conviction lets one know that they have done wrongly in gratifying the desires of their flesh, and then they must decide whether to repent or not of their deed. I know that when I stumble like this, I almost always do repent when the Holy Spirit convicts me and/or I am corrected by others of the misdeed
This proverb though it talks about something else is accurate also with this topic of gratifying the flesh
(Proverbs 20:17)  Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
 
So too can gratifying the cravings and desires of one’s flesh can be sweet and pleasing to the person as he/she does the deed, and as such it can be very hard to shake off, but vert often guilt and conviction come afterward, representing the mouth of gravel. This scripture also makes a similar point
(Revelation 10:9)  So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."
 
(Revelation 10:10)  And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.
 
The deed can seem sweet in the mouth as it is done, and as such enjoyable but afterward your belly is indeed bitter often with guilt and shame over one’s deed. Then all I can do is repent of the misdeed, and pray that the guilt will leave, which it usually does. Nobody at all is perfect either  for all do wrong and please our flesh and its selfish desires. Look at what it says in Romans 3
(Romans 3:9)  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
 
(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
 
(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.
 
(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
 
(Romans 3:13)  "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
 
(Romans 3:14)  "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
 
(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 
Indeed as it indicates here in Genesis 6 the deeds of the flesh largely were the cause for the wiping out by the flood of the pre-flood generations who were living at the time, save Noah and his family, who found grace and mercy in God’s eyes.
(Genesis 6:5)  The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
 
(Genesis 6:6)  And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
 
(Genesis 6:7)  So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
 
(Genesis 6:8)  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
 
(Genesis 6:9)  These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
 
(Genesis 6:10)  And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
 
(Genesis 6:11)  Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
 
(Genesis 6:12)  And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
 
(Genesis 6:13)  And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
 
The evil deeds of the flesh also without doubt figured in being a prime reason for many other judgments God inflicted on man in the old testament and even up to now. I am going to explore however what the new testament says on the deeds of the flesh and what to do about it.
Here is a good work in Mark 14
(Mark 14:38)  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
 
This word is in first Corinthians saying that no tempatation will be to great to endure and that God will give a way of escape so that it is bearable.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
 
James says thatc
 temptation comes from the flesh and not from God
(James 1:13)  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
 
(James 1:14)  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
 
(James 1:15)  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
 
(James 1:16)  Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
 
In Romans chapter 7 here are these two verses
(Romans 7:5)  For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
 
(Rom 7:6)  But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
 
And also these verses later on
(Romans 7:14)  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
 
(Romans 7:15)  For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
 
(Romans 7:16)  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
 
(Romans 7:17)  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
 
(Romans 7:18)  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
 
(Romans 7:19)  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
 
(Romans 7:20)  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
 
(Romans 7:21)  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
 
(Romans 7:22)  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
 
(Romans 7:23)  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
 
(Romans 7:24)  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
 
(Romans 7:25)  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
 
Here is a good discussion in Romans 8 about living in flesh and in the spirit
(Romans 8:3)  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
 
(Romans 8:4)  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
 
(Romans 8:5)  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
 
(Romans 8:6)  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
 
(Romans 8:7)  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
 
(Romans 8:8)  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
 
(Romans 8:9)  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
 
(Romans 8:10)  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
 
(Romans 8:11)  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
 
(Romans 8:12)  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
 
(Romans 8:13)  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
 
(Romans 8:14)  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
 
In 1 Corinthians it states we are but infants in Christ if we follow our flesh (especially too much) for being fleshly is a strong indication of immaturity.
(1 Corinthians 3:1)  But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:2)  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
 
(1 Corinthians 3:3)  for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
 
Here too is a powerful discussion in Galatians chapter 5 about the deeds of the flesh and their consequences (as well as the deeds of the spirit)
(Galatians 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
 
(Galatians 5:17)  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
 
(Galatians 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
 
(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
 
(Galatians 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
 
(Galatians 5:21)  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 
(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
 
(Galatians 5:24)  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
 
(Galatians 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
 
(Galatians 5:26)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
 
Ephesians gives good advice about what to do about dealing with fleshly desires
(Ephesians 5:3)  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
 
(Ephesians 5:4)  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
 
(Ephesians 5:5)  For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
 
(Ephesians 5:6)  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
 
Even more so Colossians 3, this is what we all need to do to overcome the deeds of the flesh; there is some very good advice here:
(Colossians 3:1)  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
 
(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
 
(Colossians 3:3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
 
(Colossians 3:4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
 
(Colossians 3:5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
 
(Colossians 3:6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
 
(Colossians 3:7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
 
(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
 
(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
 
(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
 
(Colossians 3:11)  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
 
(Colossians 3:12)  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
 
(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
 
(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
 
(Colossians 3:15)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
 
(Colossians 3:16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
 
(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
 
Romans 6 is an excellent chapter on sin and fleshly works
(Romans 6:1)  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
 
(Romans 6:2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
 
(Romans 6:3)  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
 
(Romans 6:4)  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
 
(Romans 6:5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
 
(Romans 6:6)  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
 
(Romans 6:7)  For one who has died has been set free from sin.
 
(Romans 6:8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
 
(Romans 6:9)  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
 
(Romans 6:10)  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
 
(Romans 6:11)  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
 
(Romans 6:12)  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
 
(Romans 6:13)  Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:14)  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
 
(Romans 6:15)  What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
 
(Romans 6:16)  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
 
(Romans 6:17)  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
 
(Romans 6:18)  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:19)  I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
 
(Romans 6:20)  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:21)  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
 
(Romans 6:22)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
 
(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
If we do catch others partaking of the deeds of the flesh we should rebuke and correct them for their deeds in love,  because it says this in James:
(James 5:19)  My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
 
(James 5:20)  let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
 
And Luke encourages correction of others forgiving them when they repent of their wrongdoing:
(Luke 17:1)  And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
 
(Luke 17:2)  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
 
(Luke 17:3)  Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
 
(Luke 17:4)  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
 
Yes, it is important to forgive the others their trespasses too, even if they do many times in one day as is possible.
Also this is said in Matthew 18 says a similar message gives other good advice.
(Matthew 18:15)  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
 
(Matthew 18:16)  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
 
(Matthew 18:17)  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
 
(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 
(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
 
(Mat 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
 
Yes, it is very possible we need to seek others prayer help to die to these desires especially when they are really strong. The verses above in Matthew say that, and this verse in James speaks to the power of praying for one another and confessing to one another.
(James 5:16)  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
 
I am  putting in a prayer to help you overcome the deeds of the flesh, so please prayu this with me.
Dear Heavenly Father, I realize that I have been trying to live the Christian life in the flesh by my will and my power. I have tried to train my flesh, but have failed. I now realize that I can't train the flesh; therefore: I purpose...
to make no provision for      the flesh,
to bring the flesh under      subjection,
to take off the old man      and put on the new,
to deny the flesh,
to mortify the members      of the flesh,
to reckon the flesh      crucified,
and to live an exchanged      life.

Today, I choose by the grace of God to forsake my life and to follow Jesus. Amen.
 
If as a result of reading this you decide a tug on your heart to commit your ways to Jesus, or to return to Him as a result of backsliding due to the fact that you have done too many deeds of the flesh and have fallen away, please pray this prayer with me, to commit and or recommit your life to Jesus, who loves you more than any person can
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Also remember the words that Jesus Himself spoke in John 8 about setting people free from all chains of sin, the flesh and so on.
(John 8:31)  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
 
(John 8:32)  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 
(John 8:33)  They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
 
(John 8:34)  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
 
(John 8:35)  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
 
(John 8:36)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
 
God bless you and yours.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:45:44 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1990/salvation https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1990 I am now led to do a bible study discussion on Salvation, our needs for it, its purposes, and benefits to us. God loves people that He wants to save us from our own bad and selfish ways, so that we might serve and glorify Him. Sin has separated us from a relationship with Him, and salvation restores that relationship. God is always after a relationship with man, His creation, for He wants that to be so.  This verse of scripture, in 2 Peter 3 says God does not want any to perish but for all to reach repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
 
And these verses from 1 Timothy say that God wishes all to be saved in fact, through the Lord Jesus:
(1 Timothy 2:3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
 
(1 Timothy 2:4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
(1 Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
 
(1Timothy 2:6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
 
 God does give us free will to serve whosoever we may choose to be saved and serve God or not, according to Joshua
(Joshua 24:15)  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
 
 I myself have chosen serve the Lord, and to obey Him to the best of my fleshly ability, repenting for my failures as I need to.. Now, I will show by scripture why exactly everyone without exception needs salvation, because we can do not do anything right on our own, with our own strength as it says in scripture:
In Isaiah 64 is written this:
(Isaiah 64:6)  We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
 
(Isaiah 64:7)  There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.
 
And in Romans
(Romans 3:9)  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
 
(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
 
(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.
 
(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
 
(Romans 3:13)  "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
 
(Romans 3:14)  "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
 
(Romans 3:15)  "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
 
(Romans 3:16)  in their paths are ruin and misery,
 
(Romans 3:17)  and the way of peace they have not known."
 
(Romans 3:18)  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
 
We all do wrong it says but also it goes on to say later
(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 
Look at what it says in Romans 6 about the wages and consequences of  our sin
(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
The death spoken of here is eternal death, separation from God in the lake of fire (see Revelation 20)
Here in Isaiah 53 it says(this is a prophecy of Jesus)
(Isaiah 53:4)  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
 
(Isaiah 53:5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
 
(Isaiah 53:6)  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
 
And to continue on with the discussion on Jesus back in Romans chapter 3……
(Rom 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
 
(Romans 3:25)  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
 
(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
Look at what God did for us as stated in Romans 5
(Romans 5:7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
 
(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 
(Romans 5:9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
 
In Ephesians chapter 2 there is a good discussion on Salvation and remember this is God’s gift of grace to us, and not anything we did for or by ourselves
(Ephesians 2:1)  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
 
(Ephesians 2:2)  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
 
(Ephesians 2:3)  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
 
(Ephesians 2:4)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
 
(Ephesians 2:5)  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
 
(Ephesians 2:6)  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
 
(Ephesians 2:7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
 
(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
 
(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
(Ephesians 2:10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
Also here is a statement on God’s love for and toward us- here(as other places God sent His son to be a sacrifice for our sins.
(1 John 4:9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
 
(1 John 4:10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
 
Now look at what Jesus Himself says on the subject. First I want to go to the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus.
(John 3:1)  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
 
(John 3:2)  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
 
(John 3:3)  Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
 
(John 3:4)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
 
(John 3:5)  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
 
(John 3:6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
 
(John 3:7)  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
 
(John 3:8)  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
 
(John 3:9)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
 
(John 3:10)  Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
 
(John 3:11)  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
 
(John 3:12)  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
 
(John 3:13)  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
 
(John 3:14)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
 
(John 3:15)  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
 
(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
 
(John 3:18)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
 
(John 3:19)  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
 
(John 3:20)  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
 
(John 3:21)  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
 
Jesus says we MUST be born again, both of the flesh AND of the spirit to see the kingdom of God, then also it is explained God so loved the world to give His only begotten son so that anyone who believes would be saved, for God wants the world to be saved. Anyone who does not believe is already condemned. Later in the same chapter John the Baptist says this concerning Jesus and His mission, and himself (John):
(John 3:30)  He must increase, but I must decrease."
 
(John 3:31)  He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
 
(John 3:32)  He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
 
(John 3:33)  Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
 
(John 3:34)  For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
 
(John 3:35)  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
 
(John 3:36)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
 
This verse in John 5 also gives a key to Salvation, to believe in Jesus and His word
(John 5:24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
 
Jesus speaks further about His purpose on earth in John 6
(John 6:35)  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
 
(John 6:36)  But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
 
(John 6:37)  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
 
(John 6:38)  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
 
(John 6:39)  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
 
(John 6:40)  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
 
In John 8 Jesus said He came to set us free from the burden of sin
(John 8:31)  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
 
(John 8:32)  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 
(John 8:33)  They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
 
(John 8:34)  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
 
(John 8:35)  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
 
(John 8:36)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
 
Then the bible goes on to the purposes of our salvation and all, and not to be ashamed of the gospel
(2 Timothy 1:8)  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
 
(2 Timothy 1:9)  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
 
(2 Timothy 1:10)  and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
 
Also look at what it says in Romans that we are not to be ashamed of the gospel in any way
(Romans 1:16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
 
(Romans 1:17)  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
 
Jesus further speaks of Himself here about salvation in John 10
(John 10:7)  So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
 
(John 10:8)  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
 
(John 10:9)  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
 
And in John 11
(John 11:25)  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
 
(John 11:26)  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
 
Then Jesus said that nobody can even come to the Father except that they come by Him:
(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
Jesus said to the Laodiceans in Revelation that He indeed is seeking too
(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
 
Here are a lot of the benefits and purposes of being saved discussed in this scripture in Ephesians
(Ephesians 1:3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
 
(Ephesians 1:4)  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
 
(Ephesians 1:5)  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
 
(Ephesians 1:6)  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
 
(Ephesians 1:7)  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
 
(Ephesians 1:8)  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
 
(Ephesians 1:9)  making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
 
(Ephesians 1:10)  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
 
(Ephesians 1:11)  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
 
(Ephesians 1:12)  so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
 
(Ephesians 1:13)  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
 
(Ephesians 1:14)  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
 
The real reason for salvation is to do the Father’s will as Jesus states in Matthew 7
(Matthew 7:21)  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
 
(Matthew 7:22)  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
 
(Matthew 7:23)  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
 
It also is important to listen to Jesus and what He says to you and heed His words, as it is compared to people in the scripture below:
(Matthew 7:24)  "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:25)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:26)  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
 
(Matthew 7:27)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
 
Here is a passage in Romans 13 to go along with the above reminding us about love
(Romans 13:10)  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
 
(Romans 13:11)  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
 
(Romans 13:12)  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
 
(Romans 13:13)  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
 
(Romans 13:14)  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
 
Also here is a passage in Philippians 2 about working out salvation with fear and trembling
(Philippians 2:12)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
 
(Philippians 2:13)  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
 
(Philippians 2:14)  Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
 
(Philippians 2:15)  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
 
(Philippians 2:16)  holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
 
This passage also shows God’s mercy and grace
(Titus 3:4)  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
 
(Titus 3:5)  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
 
(Titus 3:6)  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
 
(Titus 3:7)  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
 
(Titus 3:8)  The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Here is a good message in 1 Thessalonians 5 encouraging us to be sober and build each other up
(1Thessolonians 5:8)  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
 
(1Thessalonians 5:9)  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
 
(1Thessalonians 5:10)  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
 
(1Thessalonians 5:11)  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
 
How does somebody get the gift of Salvation? Here is a key passage in Romans 10 with a lot of answers. Faith and confession of the Lord Jesus are the keys, as well as believing God raised Jesus from the dead.
(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
 
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
We live in the end times so it is even more important to be saved than ever. I really do believe Jesus will come to rapture His bride very, very soon. Nobody knows when but the Father who is in Heaven, who will soon tell His Son to go get His children.
Any unsaved and backslidden people will miss the rapture and be left behind to face all the chaos and then the seven year period of the great tribulations which will be the most horrible period in the history of the earth. I want to be absolutely and completely clear that I am sharing this so that people see the stark and massive contrast between making the rapture and being with Jesus in heaven and missing it and being left behind on earth to face the mess and chaos, and then, the tribulations which will be so bad to make the post-rapture chaos  seem as nothing by comparison. The only way to make it is to know Jesus as your savior as He is the ONLY way to heaven. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and want to know Him(and He you) in order to make the rapture please pray this prayer with me:
 Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:
 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and Luke warmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
 
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
 
If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!
 
Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ]]> Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:28:34 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1984/seven-blessings-testimony https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1984             God has now placed on my heart to testify how He has blessed me with all the things I need and so very much more. I have listed seven areas in particular that I have been blessed with during my lifetime. I did not include mercy as one of the blessings, even though God has been so merciful to me during all my life. In fact, I did a separate testimony on how He has been so merciful to me during my life. Here is a link to it for you to read that particular testimony
https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/seven-mercies-in-my-life-testimony/10200335690688461
This testimony deals with seven other areas and things in which He has blessed me during my lifetime.
1 Provision, including food, housing, and all other necessities
I have been blessed all my life that I have never lacked anything important, be it food, clothes or other items. Even though my parents they did not make large  amount of money made certain  that I never had any lack or had any need for anything critical all the while I lived with them, and even beyond while I lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina. God by His grace and mercy enabled my father to earn enough income to pay for the house, cars, food and even some fun things that my family had, such as a television and vacations that the family took during the summer months. Generally most months we as a family ate out at least twice- one lunch and one dinner(on vacations the family ate out for ALL meals). My parents diligently for years saved money also so that I would have enough provision saved up for education, and then a first car when my college education did not work out for me as they had initially planned it. Then they helped me attend a local community college, but even that did not go greatly well, but still they paid for most of the classes that I took there. I did though reimburse for some classes that I did not do well on. They let me stay there past the death of my mother, helping me there with provision as my supermarket bagger job never would have provided enough income for me to live on my own, with the rent food, and other costs so they helped me by letting me live with them until they both died, my mother died in 2001,my father died in 2006. I did try to move out on my own in 2003 and 2004, but ended up moving back at the end of October 2004,as that never really worked out for me, and in hindsight I realized that God wanted me to be around when my father died in 2006. My father helped make the difference financially so I could live on my own during those 15 months, as I did not get enough hours of work during much of the year to pay my rent, food and other bills. My father did die in 2006, and soon after he died, and with the financial help of my inheritance from my father’s death, I was sole heir, I moved away from Pennsylvania this time for good. I haven’t been back to Pennsylvania since I moved  then in late April 2006. The inheritance that I got from my father’s passing helped me make ends meet for a number of years, especially 2007 and 2008, before  would get on disability, and may have helped me financially for a much, much longer time period, except the fact that I squandered so much of it on vintage magazines, which I collected particularly obsessively in 2006, after my father’s death. It may have been partly a mechanism to cope with it, seeing that I was not really saved yet, but still I wasted many tens of thousands of dollars on the magazines. However God had another way to help me survive: disability ssi income, which I still am receiving each and every month as I write this in 2013. He had to act decisively in His mercy so I could get it, moving on the people who I was living with at the time in South Carolina in 2008 to help me apply for the disability and other benefits and help, and, in the fall of 2008, I succeeded in getting this monthly social security disability income. This was a real blessing from God for people who are much worse off than I am often have much more trouble getting this SSI income from the government, if they even succeed in getting it at all. Even before, they also helped get me on food stamps/ ebt, so I could more easily afford groceries. I was strongly led to go seek and to get a designated payee for social security, seeing as how I could not trust myself with this income because I had wasted so much of my inheritance on old magazines. I did NOT want to take ANY chances of this money being wasted by any obsession of any kind on my part. I still do have this payee and I am thankful for it, for I still do not trust myself fully with this financial blessing from God, and much prefer having someone else to look after my disability income. God has been good to me to provide different payees depending on where I live at a given time. This income also largely helped pay for school classes during the years 2009-2012 through different places, too. I sold my car thinking I would move overseas to Africa, I was thinking Zambia, permanently in 2012, but that never happened, but God has seen it that I do not need my car anyway. I don’t really want to drive either. Up to now God has seen my provisions met, now having me with a family with someone who is blessed with a really good job, and also a caring woman who let me come there- Teresa Wiggins. Even with me there they can get out and see their family in Plant City, go out on meals, and so on. God has really been good to me in my life for provision.
2  God’s protection in my life
            As with provision, I have been well protected from all evil during all my life. He put me with very protective parents who kept me successfully from interacting with any really bad fellow students and peers during High school. Also for a number of reasons, including my disability (Asperger’s syndrome which my parents never knew I had) I was somewhat marginalized in school which also helped keep me away from that kind of evil. In the evening I largely spent time in my room on my own, as my parents were strong willed and would argue very frequently over small things, and I wanted to stay out of their disputes. It meant though I did not get out much so that helped to kept me away from the bad people. All of my schools and work places during my life were within easy walking distance or very close driving distance, except when I went to college in the 80s and 90s. All were safe to live at in good neighborhoods so there was little danger there; almost all of the places where I resided were quiet areas. God also protected me strongly from other people’s malice and evil for I was teased quite a bit in High school for the sake of my disabilities, and due to the fact that many students were better off financially that I was, or my  family. Also God looked to keep me safe during college too from that.  Students can be rather merciless in that regard. Beyond my parents God has also put me with people who did protect me from much harm that otherwise could have happened to me.  Most of all God protected me against myself, my sometimes poor decisions, and my own stupidities and obsessions at all times during my schooling, work, and life and so on. He has been so good, faithful and very merciful to me by doing that. I will not go into a lot of detail here but I will direct you to my regular personal testimony which has much more on that. A link to it is here
https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/personal-testimony/10200273845382367
As well as all of the above God protected me by wisely choosing good and safe places for me to live, work and study. He also protected me during my many travels during my life wherever I may have gone, near and far, so that most of my travel was largely without incident or accident. I have been through God’s mercy and protection free from major disease and accidental injuries, so thank You Lord for Your protection that way too. Outside of when I was about six, I have never been to a hospital for a few hours at a time, and I give thanks for His protection on that.
3 Places
            God ensured I that I lived in rather quiet and peaceful locations all during my life. All were safe and away from all the difficult neighborhoods that cities largely contain. The large majority of my life- almost 31 years- I was in the one place in Pennsylvania, apart from when I went away to college August 1986 to March 1987, and even then I was not too far away from there, about 40 miles. The first few years of my life I was a few miles away, before the main place and from 2003 on I moved quite a few times, to various places, in several different states. The place that I lived in most of my life was in a small town, with everything we could need such as groceries and clothes and all the other supplies was within a five to fifteen minute drive away from the house. This made things very convenient and errands were relatively easy to do. Most doctors, dentists, and the like were also very close by, I walked to many of my doctor’s and dental appointments, as they were very close to the house. After I moved away in 2003, and then again in 2006 back to where I was in 2003, I found that the place in Hilton Head, SC  and every other place I that I would later move to be very peaceful and enjoyable to live in. The one place where I lived in 2003, 2004 and 2006 and 2007 was within a few minutes walk to a beach- on Hilton Head SC. The next place I was at I rented a trailer on a farm in a very rural area in Northern South Carolina, which was about 8 or so miles to the nearest town, Kershaw. If one needed to go to a larger place for more varied shopping such as a Wal Mart, or counseling, then it was necessary to drive 25 miles or so to Camden, SC for those shopping and services, which are available only in larger towns. However it was worth it in many ways for this was most likely the most peaceful location I ever lived at during my life. I stayed there a little under 2 1/2 years In 2009 during  the fall, in late September and October, God had me move to North Carolina for 15 months to help out at a Christian retreat center in western North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge mountains, which was very, very beautiful and it had a view in the backyard for many miles, as the place was on the top of a ridge. This was one of the prettiest place I stayed, (there or the place, Cimarron, where I was at for three months in Colorado in the start of 2011, early January to early April. After being there in NC, I was with Youth with a mission in various places from 2011 and 2012, up to late June of 2012. I was in Colorado for the Discipleship training school lecture, Washington for the DTS outreach, California volunteering at a base and Texas for the school of the bible. The Colorado and California places were the nicest of the group. In late June 2012 the Lord moved me to south Florida at Pompano Beach where I have been up to now. Florida has been nice place, it is fairly quiet, and it does not get cold at all, not even during the winter (about 40 for a low is all it gets, which is much warmer than any other place I have been).When I first came to Florida, I thought the Lord would have moved me on by now to somewhere else by now, but that has not been the case. He does however know where it is best for me to be at any given time and I am just going to trust Him completely with that.
4 Education
            During the time I was in both primary and secondary schools, even to some degree in college, I was blessed with small classes led by teachers who really did care about my success in academics. The caring of the teachers about my success was a real help to me to get through all the years of my schooling. During 5 th and 6 th grades, I was at a school literally two doors down from the place where I lived at that time. The  high school that I attended- for graces 7 to 12 was only a few blocks walk away, approximately a 15 minute walk , so I fortunate in that I did not have to rely on any busing or other transportation to get back and forth to school, apart from perhaps a few activities. I did have some activities however during my school years (band, and chorus which added to the interest, as well as being a part of the American Field Service. The last one was a blessing from God as I happened to be wandering around the hallway at the time of a meeting in 8 th grade and I was invited in. Band also was a blessing since I could attend the football games, participate in concerts and even go on several trips.  I would stay with the club through graduating High school. I managed to get good schooling even with my ADHD and graduated high school, but only through God’s mercy and grace, for it was a struggle at times. I really struggled a lot with college too due to that, but in hindsight realize that a regular education was not part of God’s plan for my life. I would end up going back to schools again in 2009, taking bible related classes at a technical school, one comparative religion, and the other on the bible. In 2010, I would go to a four week summer school program in Tennessee which was indeed a real blessing, having wonderful teachings during the week, being able to serve in a soup kitchen and being around friendly students. The teachings made me so much hungrier to learn about God, so during the fall of 2010 I searched for internships and programs that could satisfy this thing. A contact with a woman led me to Youth with a mission and its discipleship training school. That itself was a big blessing because for 12 weeks I learned various aspects about God from different instructors, living in close quarters with the other students at that time and functioning on a beautiful base in western Colorado that I feel in ways was the prettiest place I have ever stayed at. It was pretty intense and those weeks went fast, for there were classes all five weekdays during the morning as well as intercession and worship. Work duties followed during the early afternoon, as did physical training twice per week. Most evenings were free time, though, but a few had classes, if an instructor could not teach on say Friday morning I learned even more on the 8 week outreach phase at a faith based facility intended to help the Lord break the chains of alcohol and drugs off its male students. It is a very effective program and its students have very powerful testimonies of God’s mercy in their lives, and also many families were restored as a result of the program. It was a very intense program with activities all seven days of the week, although the weekends are more relaxed and not as intense. They needed to be highly structured and accountable as the students there had been struggling with drugs and alcohol before they joined the program. The last school I have been in was the school of the bible in Tyler, Texas, from August 2011 to June of 2012. This was a very intense program which included a very detailed study of the bible for almost ten months. It also was intense with classes again Monday to Friday mornings, work duties after lunch and a good bit of homework to do for the evenings, though many days, I often could finish with it by dinner and as a result have the evening off to relax. This school was easily the best of all the schools I had taken in my life. It had various intercessory prayer and other activities as well all during the week.
5 fun, educational, and mission trips
            All my life I have been blessed with many fun trips of different types and purposes , but especially so in 2011 and 2012. While I was growing up my parents saw to it that we had a family vacation for several days to a week or more mainly to areas like Virginia, Washington DC and the like. When I was young the family went to Florida twice- once to see Walt Disney World in Orlando, and then the second time to go to Miami and the keys. When I was older the family went to Canada several times, mostly to Montreal and Quebec as my parents enjoyed those cities and the sights that they had. This was mainly when I was in my school years, then those slowed and stopped especially after my parents health declined. The family did take a few day trips every now and then, too. My school activities enabled me to take several trips also, to go to football games to play, to go to festivals and parades in different locations in my 9 th through 12 th grade school years, and also God blessed me with enough talent to make district band and participate in that during my junior and senior years in high school. Later in my life I took personal trips too, collecting and going to flea markets and yard sales especially in the late 80s and 90s as I enjoyed that then, also eating out. God saw to it I had provision to do it too, so I was blessed. My personal vacations in that time period were to Charleston, SC in 1999 and 2002, then Hilton Head in 2003, to which I would move for a season. Later on I would go with my SC friend from the Kershaw area on several trips to help him do things to various locations-mainly in 2008 and 2009. Also in 2009 I did a quite a number of spiritual retreats to draw closer to the Lord, these being financed by the sale of my vintage magazines. I also had a man’s retreat in the fall of 2010 which was fun and I was able to serve in the kitchen for a few days before the retreat. 2011 during the schools had several little trips- day long or so. One week the DTS went to Texas which is when God spoke to me about the school of the bible, and also the whole trip to California in summer was a blessing, I served in housekeeping department also in August I 2011 I went from there on a mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico, in Baja California, where I served in various ways in and out. The school of the bible in 2011 had an outreach to Florida in November where I learned about how a church functioned, as well as other side trips including one witnessing, and three to a night of worship in Dallas at Christ for the Nations. 2012 brought another outreach for the school of the bible, this time to Mexico, also several more trips to Dallas for the night of worship, and a prayer event. After my move to Florida, I was blessed with a trip to Haiti, several trips to see Teresa’s family in Plant City. There was a week plus long crusade in the fall of 2012, too, which is what God used to cause me to move to Florida. This crusade went from Florida to Virginia and then back. God made sure we had enough provision and made it the whole trip despite bald tires. He also showed a rainbow to us  in front of the car on the way out, which was very encouraging, showing that He would be with us on the journey. In 2013 the trips to Plant City continue (indeed, I write this in Plant City).
6 relationships with other people
            The Lord has blessed me over all my life with many, many other people who cared a lot about me. The first of those of course were my parents who loved me and guided me as I grew up. I was blessed also with caring teachers and instructors throughout my educational process grade school, high school, college and beyond. I had caring people at work, too, when I worked at supermarkets and restaurants. God was in control of all this. I do want to acknowledge however some of the most caring of all of the people that God has blessed me with particularly in the last few years. The first of those was William Roberts,a manager at bilo who helped me move to where his mother’s farm was, where the rent was much less(and in many other ways also two of his family, particularly Lindsay his one of his two daughters and his mother, Bobbie Taylor. She was one of no less than three spiritual mothers that the Lord has blessed me with. In 2007 William’s mother had enough patience to put up with my constant visits and she also had the determination to get me the help I needed then, even though I resisted some. She got me the new licenses, then she was able to get me on food stamps in late 2007 to help with food costs. She also was very patient with rent too, as my uncle had to pay it from my inheritance as I was not able to afford it working 5 hours per week. Eventually I was able to get on disability SSI income as well. She also helped make sure that I had the counseling and such that I needed.  The daughter, Lindsay, was used by God to break me of my reclusiveness when she came to live with her grandmother from 2008 and 2009. She did this in more than one way, from inviting me to be there for some dinners and taking me with her son to a local park, to help me exercise and all. The next person who would figure large in my life was the owner of a Christian retreat that I would go to in western NC, which was called Stonehaven, Harrietta Turner. I had found her in an ad in a Christian newspaper when I was on a spiritual retreat in North Carolina in the summer of 2009. The ad was looking for a volunteer but God opened up the door for me to go there for 15 months. It was a real blessing for me though, seeing that Harrietta was much more mature of a Christian woman than I was at the time, and she did counsel me in various ways which helped my growth in the faith. She cared for me, too, and I was blessed to know her. She also helped me when she could, getting me help and taking me occasionally to appointments and all, and in other ways blessing me. I was with YWAM for 2011 and the first half of 2012 before meeting someone via facebook in early April 2012 while still at the school of the bible who has really blessed and helped me grow a lot  in faith and in other areas, while I have been with her. I would then move with her at her condo at the end of June 2012 and have stayed with her and her husband there to this day. She is Teresa Wiggins who is the president of a ministry called We All Are One Ministry. She also is a very mature Christian, who really loves the Lord with all her heart and has a powerful personal testimony of healings and many visits from the Lord Jesus both in person and via dreams and visions and a very, very special relationship with God. She has worked with me on things and God has used her to counsel and advise me to reduce in ways a lot of the obsessiveness with my condition, Asperger’s syndrome. He has blessed her with a very loving husband, Kevin. They are blessed more than a lot of people, being able to visit family who are four hours away from them on a rather regular basis- often monthly, if not more. She knows very well who her blessings come from, and so do I. God has given her the patience she needs to deal rightly with my little failures and to correct me for them as needed, so that I might learn from those erroneous ways. I praise Him and give thanks to Him for that, for He knows well that is exactly what I need now to grow more in Him.
7 Salvation, Redemption, relationship with the Lord.
            My most powerful blessing of all the blessings that God has given me is the very relationship that I have with both the Lord Jesus and the Father. The relationship with Him, complete  with the peace that He alone can give, and the love that only He can give and  show, being perfect, is far bigger than all six of the other blessings that I have described combined. How can anything, anyone, or any place on this earth that He can give me in blessing even in the remotest way compare to Jesus, and a relationship with Him? There is nothing at all on this earth that can compare at all to a relationship with Jesus, as He is so perfect, unlike the things of the earth. Even before I got saved God made sure my needs were met and intervened in my life in many ways in His mercy and grace, preventing me from suffering consequences that I often deserved due to the poor choices that I made. After I got saved I realize how powerful this relationship with Jesus really is. He has spoken to me repeatedly about how He has intervened in my past life, so I might share that fact with others that they might know His love to them. I love His word in the bible and all the wonderful other things He has put in my life. He has gifted me with various diverse spiritual gifts, and He has used various people and situations in my life to help me grow closer to Him at various stages of my life. He sent me to various churches, retreats and other forms of teaching to further help me grow ever closer to me. He speaks to me each and every day, many times, giving me instructions of things to do for Him, other instructions, reproof when I grieve and displease Him when I yield to my flesh or otherwise do something stupid. I am glad He does, for it does give me opportunity to repent of those incidents which restores peace for He is oh so forgiving of my failures and I also pray for wisdom for I don’t want to make these mistakes at all, but I do want to please the Lord at all times. He did indeed die for me, the ultimate sacrifice  so I want do all I can to please Him at all times, as best as I can, but I fully know that I am absolutely nothing without Him. I am so thankful for all of what He has done in my life, all the love He has showed me, the provisions, the relationships and so on. There is absolutely no love like His love, as it is so perfect. As I write this the Lord has told both me and Teresa that we are indeed in the very last days and that the rapture is coming almost at any time- the rapture indeed is a big blessing because it enables His people to spend at least seven, if not more years with Him in Heaven completely avoiding all the mess and chaos that will come to the earth both immediately following the rapture and during the seven year tribulation period which will be the most horrible period that the earth has ever known which also will occur sometime after the rapture of the believers.
Here is a link to describe what can happen immediately after the rapture
Future: Rapture I conclude this blessing testimony with the following discussion of the rapture:
https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039
also read below for this future blessing which the rapture will be for all believers, and how others can still get in it, if this is read before the rapture happens and what to do if you read this after the rapture
                                  THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT!!! ARE YOU READY????
 
            I am very strongly led to believe the rapture is very imminent, and could happen any day at anytime at all. Nobody knows the exact time for the rapture but the Father God Himself. I cannot strongly enough advise all of you to get your hearts right with Jesus by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any Sin /iniquity/ uncleanness in your heart, mind etc and repenting of any and all items brought to your mind right away, asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and your garments so that they are spotless, being washed by the blood of Jesus. I am a man, needing the blood of Jesus for cleansing as much as everyone else, and believe me I am doing the same thing. This repenting is a continuous process, not just a one time thing; I have found that I myself have been repenting several times throughout the day. I know that it will be God's grace and mercy ONLY that I make the rapture, not anything I do, I am well aware of the fact that grace alone being what saves, and not works lest any should boast, but also faith without works is dead so I am sharing this with everyone, in the hopes that a few, even just one person, would wake up in time, and repent, for the remaining time here is very short.
            I post and share this document for I deeply care for people and DO NOT want anyone to miss the rapture and find themselves left behind to face the 7 year tribulations which will follow the rapture which will be pure a horrific time on earth, the most horrific ever, in fact, where you will have to hide in caves or in mountains, away from all the evil and very selfish people, be an absolute survival expert, which many are not and absolutely refuse at all costs to take the mark of the beast(666).As a result of your refusal to take this mark, you won’t be able to buy or sell anything, work, eat, live in a normal way, and so on, and most likely you’ll be killed for it, but that is far better than taking the mark and ending up in the lake of fire for eternity, as each and every man and woman  who take the mark of the beast will end up in the lake of fire, where there will be absolutely no rest from their torment night or day(Revelation 14).  Even doing all the precautions, hiding by getting away from all population centers and into the mountains, and so on may not be enough because many if not most people, in fact will not survive the judgments that God will pour out on the world in this time period, in the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments as well as the judgment and destruction of the daughter of Babylon. All these events are described in good detail in the book of Revelation in chapters 6 through 18, which I strongly advise all to read. Here is a link an excellent animated video of the entire book of revelation for you to watch
 

 
 
 The tribulation period of seven years absolutely will make today's evil world seem like life in paradise by comparison. I very strongly suggest reading the book of Revelation chapters 6 through 18 which tell you specifically what sort of events and judgments the world will see during this tribulation period.
 
Rapture related scriptures:
 (1Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
 
(1Coorinthians 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.
 
(1Thessolonians 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:
 
(1Thessolonians 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.
 
God wants to keep us from this tribulation by His love and mercy Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  The implication of this verse is obvious:  If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR Revelation 3 verse 10, so it is IMPERATIVE to stay close to the Lord in these last days. 
Now I have a very special warning message to all those who are lukewarm Christians to repent of this condition and to be on fire for Jesus or Jesus will surely spit you out of the rapture(see verse 16, below) and you will go through the seven year tribulation as it says in Revelation 3 14-22. There are FAR TOO MANY are in this condition the Holy Spirit warned me this AM. There are FAR TOO MANY LAODICEANS today. Please REPENT NOW of your lukewarmness and be on fire for the Lord before it is too late and you miss the rapture as a result of your being lukewarm!! Here are the verses in Revelation chapter 3 concerning the Laodicean church:
(Rev 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
 
(Rev 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
 
(Rev 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
 
(Rev 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
 
(Rev 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
 
(Rev 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
 
(Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 
(Rev 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
 
(Rev 3:22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
Summarizing, you MUST all be ready for this coming rapture, AND be on FIRE for Jesus, and not be at all lukewarm but loving Jesus with ALL Your heart, mind and soul as commanded in the bible, in several places in both the old and new testaments. If in case you need to receive the Lord please pray the following prayer (backsliders can also use this prayer to repent of their sin and lukewarmness and recommit their lives, and return to their first love, Jesus. Please do so NOW before it is too late)
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
Here are 10 steps that can be of help to be ready for the soon to come rapture:
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
If, by an unfortunate chance, you are finding yourself reading this testimony after the rapture has happened, and you find that you have missed it, everything is not lost by any means, just please pray immediately to accept the Lord Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, repenting of anything  and everything that you have done that has caused you to miss the rapture, especially such things as being lukewarm and whatever else you may do during that time absolutely DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beast means you are essentially married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet,  ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- so again you must avoid taking this mark AT ALL COSTS you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, you will have to hide, living in the forest and away from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed for refusing the mark. If you do die for refusing to take the mark of the beast, if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint and martyr spoken of in the book of revelation. I cannot strongly stress the point enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what!!!! It will be well worth it to lose everything and everyone in this world, including your life so as  to not have to spend all eternity in hell and the lake of fire, where again there will be never any rest on your torment day or night.
 
Here is a video link for after the rapture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
 
And a link to another facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/good-book-on-tribulations-and-end-times-please-share-aslo-video-link/10200133756520233
God bless you and yours ]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:50:04 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1980/miraculous-provision-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1980             I am led to do a bible study of various instances where the Lord made miraculous provision for His people in various situations, circumstances and in various ways, all to show how merciful and loving He can be to His people.
My first situation is the water situation- the lack of water to be precise, in Exodus 17 at Horeb where Moses struck the rock with his staff and water came out:
(Exo 17:1)  All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
 
(Exodus 17:2)  Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
 
(Exodus 17:3)  But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
 
(Exodus 17:4)  So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me."
 
(Exodus 17:5)  And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
 
(Exodus 17:6)  Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
 
(Exodus 17:7)  And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
 
They indeed did get their water but they did complain a lot about it. Next up is a very similar situation in Numbers 20 where the people of Israel again complained about the lack of water.
(Numbers 20:1)  And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.
 
(Numbers 20:2)  Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
 
(Numbers 20:3)  And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!
 
(Numbers 20:4)  Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?
 
(Numbers 20:5)  And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."
 
(Numbers 20:6)  Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
 
(Numbers 20:7)  and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
 
(Numbers 20:8)  "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
 
(Numbers 20:9)  And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
 
(Numbers 20:10)  Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"
 
(Numbers 20:11)  And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
 
(Numbers 20:12)  And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."
 
(Numbers 20:13)  These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
 
Note Moses’ disobedience to the Lord here where he again struck the rock as he did in the Exodus story when he was instead supposed to speak and command the rock to yield its water. This act of disobedience and unbelief cost Moses and Aaron the chance to enter the Promised Land with the rest of Israel. This is a warning to us on two ways- one- the Lord does not always use the exact same methods to achieve the same results. Also we should always obey and do what he tells us to do and believe and not get into presumption and do things the way we did last time. It may be different this time around.
The next story I will go to is Elijah in 1 Kings 17- there are two miraculous provisions here- one with ravens and then one where God would multiply the mother’s last oil and flour so that they would not run out for a long time
(1 Kings 17:1)  Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
 
(1 Kings 17:2)  And the word of the LORD came to him:
 
(1 Kings 17:3)  "Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
 
(1 Kings 17:4)  You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."
 
(1 Kings 17:5)  So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan.
 
(1 Kings 17:6)  And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
 
(1Kings 17:7)  And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
 
(1 Kings 17:8)  Then the word of the LORD came to him,
 
(1 Kings 17:9)  "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you."
 
(1 Kings 17:10)  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink."
 
(1 Kings 17:11)  And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
 
(1 Kings 17:12)  And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."
 
(1 Kings 17:13)  And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.
 
(1 Kings 17:14)  For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
 
(1 Kings 17:15)  And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.
 
(1 Kings 17:16)  The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
 
According to the story I understand this was for at least a year, the Lord took care of His prophet Elijah during the 3 ½ year drought at the time.
In 2 Kings 4 the oil was multiplied for a woman from a little bit.
(2 Kings 4:1)  Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
 
(2 Kings 4:2)  And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?" And she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."
 
(2 Kings 4:3)  Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
 
(2 Kings 4:4)  Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside."
 
(2 Kings 4:5)  So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her.
 
(2 Kings 4:6)  When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing.
 
(2 Kings 4:7)  She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest."
 
This is an example of a financial provision with the miraculous multiplication of the oil, and then the oil was then sold to raise money needed to pay off debts and for them to live off of.
Another story which is later in the same chapter, here God multiplies a food offering to feed 100 men with leftovers:
(2 Kings 4:42)  A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat."
 
(2 Kings 4:43)  But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" So he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'"
 
(2 Kings 4:44)  So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
 
Here is the feeding of the four thousand people story by Jesus on Seven loaves of bread :
(Mark 8:1)  In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,
 
(Mark 8:2)  "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
 
(Mark 8:3)  And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away."
 
(Mark 8:4)  And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?"
 
(Mark 8:5)  And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."
 
(Mark 8:6)  And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.
 
(Mark 8:7)  And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
 
(Mark 8:8)  And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
 
(Mark 8:9)  And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.
 
It says this in Matthew about the number of people that were fed in this miracle and that it also included women and children
(Matthew 15:38)  Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
 
Note also that there were no less than seven baskets of leftover bread and fish despite feeding so many people!!
Here is the gospel of John account of the miraculous feeding of the 5000 men, again there were women and children in this miracle:
(John 6:1)  After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
 
(John 6:2)  And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
 
(John 6:3)  Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
 
(John 6:4)  Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
 
(John 6:5)  Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"
 
(John 6:6)  He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
 
(John 6:7)  Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."
 
(John 6:8)  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,
 
(John 6:9)  "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"
 
(John 6:10)  Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
 
(John 6:11)  Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
 
(John 6:12)  And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."
 
(John 6:13)  So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
 
(John 6:14)  When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
 
Here is the feeding of the 5000 as it is written in the gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 14:13)  Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
 
(Matthew 14:14)  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
 
(Matthew 14:15)  Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
 
(Matthew 14:16)  But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
 
(Matthew 14:17)  They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
 
(Matthew 14:18)  And he said, "Bring them here to me."
 
(Matthew 14:19)  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
 
(Matthew 14:20)  And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
 
(Matthew 14:21)  And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
 
Note that there were also women and children to be fed as well as the five thousand men. Also there were 12 baskets of left over bread and fish this time. It really is amazing what God does for His people.
Back to the old testament here is a story of how God drives an Assyrian army away so His people may eat and buy food in the middle of a famine:
(2 Kings 7:1)  But Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria."
 
(2 Kings 7:2)  Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, "If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" But he said, "You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
 
(2 Kings 7:3)  Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die?
 
(2 Kings 7:4)  If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die."
 
(2 Kings 7:5)  So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there.
 
(2 Kings 7:6)  For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us."
 
(2 Kings 7:7)  So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.
 
(2 Kings 7:8)  And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.
 
(2 Kings 7:9)  Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household."
 
(2 Kings 7:10)  So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, "We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were."
 
(2 Kings 7:11)  Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household.
 
(2 Kings 7:12)  And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, "I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'"
 
(2 Kings 7:13)  And one of his servants said, "Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see."
 
(2 Kings 7:14)  So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see."
 
(2 Kings 7:15)  So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.
 
(2 Kings 7:16)  Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
 
(2 Kings  7:17)  Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him.
 
(2 Kings 7:18)  For when the man of God had said to the king, "Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,"
 
(2 Kings 7:19)  the captain had answered the man of God, "If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And he had said, "You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
 
(2 Kings 7:20)  And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.
 
The final miraculous provision in this study is in Exodus 16 where the people were provided both manna, which is bread from heaven, and quail the entire time that they were  in the wilderness- 40 years! This is the most remarkable miracle of all, in my opinion, because it involved far more people(a couple million maybe, all the people of Israel) over such a very long duration of time- 40 years, and not one time only thing as some miraculous provisions are:
(Exodus 16:1)  They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
 
(Exodus 16:2)  And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
 
(Exodus 16:3)  and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
 
(Exodus 16:4)  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
 
(Exodus 16:5)  On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."
 
(Exodus 16:6)  So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
 
(Exodus 16:7)  and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?"
 
(Exodus 16:8)  And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him--what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD."
 
(Exodus 16:9)  Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, 'Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'"
 
(Exodus 16:10)  And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
 
(Exodus 16:11)  And the LORD said to Moses,
 
(Exodus 16:12)  "I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"
 
(Exodus 16:13)  In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp.
 
(Exodus 16:14)  And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.
 
(Exodus 16:15)  When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
 
(Exodus 16:16)  This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.'"
 
(Exodus 16:17)  And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less.
 
(Exodus 16:18)  But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.
 
(Exodus 16:19)  And Moses said to them, "Let no one leave any of it over till the morning."
 
(Exodus 16:20)  But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
 
(Exodus 16:21)  Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.
 
(Exodus 16:22)  On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses,
 
(Exodus 16:23)  he said to them, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.'"
 
(Exodus 16:24)  So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it.
 
(Exodus 16:25)  Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.
 
(Exodus 16:26)  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none."
 
(Exodus 16:27)  On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.
 
(Exodus 16:28)  And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?
 
(Exodus 16:29)  See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day."
 
(Exodus 16:30)  So the people rested on the seventh day.
 
(Exodus 16:31)  Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
 
(Exodus 16:32)  Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'"
 
(Exodus 16:33)  And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations."
 
(Exodus 16:34)  As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept.
 
(Exodus 16:35)  The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
 
(Exodus 16:36)  (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.)
 
 We serve a wonderful and mighty God who is able to provide in all these wonderful ways, and in many others. He is a God who longs after a relationship with each and every person. These miracles are all testimonies of His power, but also of His mercy and grace. For the purpose of having the relationship with all mankind He sent His Son Jesus to die for you on the cross, for all your sins, and those of all mankind for that matter, the same Jesus who fed the 4000 and 5000 men. If you hunger for a relationship with Jesus please pray the following prayer with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
He is still a God of miracles today as in these stories for the bible says He does not change. God bless you and yours.
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:13:38 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1977/seven-life-applications-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1977             I am feeling led to write a note with seven different scripture teachings from the bible designed to help you live a better and more productive, happier, life with less stress and temptation from everyone, as well as much more peace. Also, these tips should help relationships with others, including family. The Lord loves you and wants you to be happy
 be careful of what we say
            We need to be very carful of what we say and to bridle our tongue as this scripture says, because our tongue can both lift people up or tear them down.
(James 3:2)  For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
 
(James 3:3)  If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
 
(James 3:4)  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
 
(James 3:5)  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
 
(James 3:6)  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
 
(James 3:7)  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
 
(James 3:8)  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
 
(James 3:9)  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
 
(James 3:10)  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
 
(James 3:11)  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
 
(James 3:12)  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
 
(James 3:13)  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
 
(James 3:14)  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
 
(James 3:15)  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
 
(James 3:16)  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
 
(James 3:17)  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
 
(James 3:18)  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
 
We must be careful not only what we say of course but what we do each days as to be peaceable and gentile, and loving and not be into jealousy or selfish ambition as the following scripture says.
2 we must be careful of all that we do
            We must ALL be carful of what we do in our lives as this scripture talks about doing good works and avoiding the dead works of our flesh and our self
(Colossians 3:1)  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
 
(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
 
(Colossians 3:3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
 
(Colossians 3:4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
 
(Colossians 3:5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
 
(Colossians 3:6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
 
(Colossians 3:7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
 
(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
 
(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
 
(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
 
(Colossians 3:11)  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
 
(Colossians 3:12)  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
 
(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
 
(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
 
(Colossians 3:15)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
 
(Colossians 3:16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
 
(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
 
These 3 verses in 1 Corinthians 10 reinforce the point of doing all that you do for God’s glory
(1Corinthians 10:31)  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 
(1Corinthians 10:32)  Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
 
(1Corinthians 10:33)  just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
 
Also don’t do things for personal, selfish, reasons but that others may be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3     do things impartially with grace and Faith without works is dead James
            This chapter 2 in the book of James discusses things about doing things with grace, mercy and not partial to anyone….
(James 2:1)  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
 
(James 2:2)  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
 
(James 2:3)  and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"
 
(James 2:4)  have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
 
(James 2:5)  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
 
(James 2:6)  But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
 
(James 2:7)  Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
 
(James 2:8)  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
 
(James 2:9)  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
 
(James 2:10)  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
 
(James 2:11)  For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
 
(James 2:12)  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
 
(James 2:13)  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
 
(James 2:14)  What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
 
(James 2:15)  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
 
(James 2:16)  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
 
(James 2:17)  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
 
(James 2:18)  But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
 
(James 2:19)  You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!
 
(James 2:20)  Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
 
(James 2:21)  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
 
(James 2:22)  You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
 
(James 2:23)  and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God.
 
(James 2:24)  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
 
(James 2:25)  And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
 
(James 2:26)  For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
 
He makes such a strong case for the fact that faith must be accompanied by good works, in the spirit to be truly valid.
4    works of the flesh and of the spirit
            This one starts by reinforcing some of the scriptures about the law, above in James and reminds us to do the works by the spirit and not in the flesh for those who do things in the flesh consistently will NOT inherit the kingdom of God- so beware.
(Galatians 5:1)  For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
 
(Galatians 5:2)  Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
 
(Galatians 5:3)  I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
 
(Galatians 5:4)  You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
 
(Galatians 5:5)  For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
 
(Galatians 5:6)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
 
(Galatians 5:7)  You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
 
(Galatians 5:8)  This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
 
(Galatians 5:9)  A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
 
(Galatians 5:10)  I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
 
(Galatians 5:11)  But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
 
(Galatians 5:12)  I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
 
(Galatians 5:13)  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 
(Galatians 5:14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Galatians 5:15)  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
 
(Galatians 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
 
(Galatians 5:17)  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
 
(Galatians 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
 
(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
 
(Galatians 5:20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
 
(Galatians 5:21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 
(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
 
(Galatians 5:24)  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
 
(Galatians 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
 
(Galatians 5:26)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
 
5   put on full armor of God to resist Satan and his attacks
            Here is a strong bit of scripture reminding us to put on God’s whole armor so as to withstand all the different and varied the attacks of Satan, including his fiery darts, which he loves to cast at believers
(Ephesians 6:10)  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
 
(Ephesians 6:11)  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
 
(Ephesians 6:12)  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
 
(Ephesians 6:13)  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
 
(Ephesians 6:14)  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
 
(Ephesians 6:15)  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
 
(Ephesians 6:16)  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
 
(Ephesians 6:17)  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
 
(Ephesians 6:18)  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
 
And also the Lord says that no temptation will ever be so strong we cannot resist it with His help, and He will also always give a way out so that the temptation is bearable:
(1Corinthians 10:13)  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
 
6   loving one another.
            This is the love chapter in the bible which reminds us do everything having love as the primary motive  for all that we think, say, and  do . Love is totally selfless. This chapter describes what love is fully, and that we are nothing without love.
(1 Corinthians 13:1)  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:2)  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:3)  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:4)  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
 
(1 Corinthians 13:5)  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
 
(1Corinthians 13:6)  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:7)  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:8)  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:9)  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
 
(1 Corinthians 13:10)  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
 
(1Corinthians 13:11)  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
 
(1Co 13:12)  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:13)  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
 
Jesus says this about love in John 15
(John 15:13)  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
 
That of course is the ultimate sacrifice and I have heard stories of it. This could be a soldier throwing himself on a grenade that others are not hurt or killed by its blast or giving the last seat of a lifeboat or helicopter to others, then ending up losing his life in whatever disaster that may be at hand.
 
Doing things in love is so key, for God is love.
born again/salvation
This is the key scriptures to being saved to be born both of the flesh and of the spirit, that God loves  us so much He sent His son, all that is stated in John 3
(John 3:1)  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
 
(John 3:2)  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
 
(John 3:3)  Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
 
(John 3:4)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
 
(John 3:5)  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
 
(John 3:6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
 
(John 3:7)  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
 
(John 3:8)  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
 
(John 3:9)  Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
 
(John 3:10)  Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
 
(John 3:11)  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
 
(John 3:12)  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
 
(John 3:13)  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
 
(John 3:14)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
 
(John 3:15)  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
 
(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
 
(John 3:18)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
 
(John 3:19)  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
 
(John 3:20)  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
 
(John 3:21)  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
 
God did indeed send His son to be a light to the world so that all who love Him can be saved and have eternal life. Paul in Romans then states we must confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead for salvation
(Rom 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
 
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
Yes, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. If there is anything that you have read here that has made you want to know the Lord personally, to commit Your life to Him, confessing Him as your Lord and Savior, so you can be with Him in Heaven, and to know the peace that passes all understanding. Please pray this prayer with me for salvation or recommitment to come to a relationship which is like no other, I know that for myself.
 
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank You Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank You Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank You Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.]]> Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:55:29 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1974/love-one-another-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1974             I am led to do a study on love, doing all in love, and especially loving one another.  First I will focus on commandments and such that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. People today are becoming increasingly selfish and arrogant, and therefore unloving towards their neighbors, opposite of what God commands. Nobody is perfect not even ourselves, and we (myself included) find it needful to apologize and repent of careless (my case often also thoughtless and spontaneous) words and deeds
Here is the commandment in the book Leviticus
(Leviticus 19:18)  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
 
Jesus Himself mentioned the two commandments included loving ones neighbor as ourselves as well as loving God with all our strength and our mind:
(Matthew 22:37)  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
 
(Matthew 22:38)  This is the great and first commandment.
 
(Matthew 22:39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
 
(Matthew 22:40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
 
This point is driven home further in Romans chapter 13 where the point is driven home about loving one another.
(Romans 13:8)  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
 
(Romans 13:9)  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Romans 13:10)  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
 
This point is further backed up by what is written in James 2
(James 2:8)  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
 
(James 2:9)  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
 
Here is the love chapter in 1 Corinthians which really drives home so forcefully the idea of love, and I believe it is the selfless love one for another.
(1 Corinthians 13:1)  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:2)  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:3)  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:4)  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
 
(1 Corinthians 13:5)  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
 
(1 Corinthians 13:6)  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:7)  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:8)  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:9)  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
 
(1 Corinthians 13:10)  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:11)  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:12)  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:13)  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
 
Here is another verse in 1 Corinthians to be strong but let all that we do be in love
(1 Corinthians 16:13)  Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
 
(1 Corinthians 16:14)  Let all that you do be done in love.
 
Here is a word in 1 Peter about loving one another from a pure heart:
(1 Peter 1:22)  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
 
Here is another word in 1 Peter stressing the idea of loving one another:
(1 Peter 4:8)  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
 
(1 Peter 4:9)  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
 
Here is a set of verses to for brotherly love to continue:
(Hebrews 13:1)  Let brotherly love continue.
 
(Hebrews 13:2)  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
 
Here are two verses from Romans chapter 12 about love being genuine
(Romans 12:9)  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
 
(Romans 12:10)  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
 
Take a look at what Jesus says in this verse about loving:
(Luke 6:35)  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
 
Here in John 13 are two verses about the new command Jesus gives us to love one another
(John 13:34)  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
 
(John 13:35)  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
 
As Jesus said people will know we are His disciples if we love on another. Jesus then reinforces this commandment in John 15
(John 15:12)  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
 
(John 15:13)  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
 
(John 15:14)  You are my friends if you do what I command you.
 
(John 15:15)  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
 
(John 15:16)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
 
(John 15:17)  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
 
Here are a few verses from Galatians 5
(Galatians 5:13)  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 
(Galatians 5:14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
 
Love also is one of the fruits of the spirit:
(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 
(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
 
Here are a couple of verses in Ephesians encouraging us to walk in love
(Ephesians 5:1)  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
 
(Ephesians 5:2)  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
Here are some good words about encouraging others loving each other in Hebrews 10 to encouraging us to good works.
 
(Hebrews 10:23)  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
 
(Hebrews 10:24)  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
 
(Hebrews 10:25)  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
 
Look at what John says about loving one another in 1 John 3. He has a very strongly worded message here.
(1 John 3:10)  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
 
(1 John 3:11)  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
 
(1 John 3:12)  We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
 
(1 John 3:13)  Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
 
(1 John 3:14)  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
 
(1 John 3:15)  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
 
(1 John 3:16)  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
 
(1 John 3:17)  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
 
(1 John 3:18)  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
 
(1 John 3:19)  By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
 
(1 John 3:20)  for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
 
(1 John 3:21)  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
 
(1 John 3:22)  and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
 
(1 John 3:23)  And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
 
(1 John 3:24)  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
 
A big command from God is that we love one another. He reinforces the message in chapter 3 with this message in chapter 4 of 1 John
(1 John 4:7)  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
 
(1 John 4:8)  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
 
(1 John 4:9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
 
(1 John 4:10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
 
(1 John 4:11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
 
(1 John 4:12)  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
 
(1 John 4:13)  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
 
(1 John 4:14)  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
 
(1 John 4:15)  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
 
(1 John 4:16)  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
 
(1 John 4:17)  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
 
(1 John 4:18)  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
 
(1 John 4:19)  We love because he first loved us.
 
(1 John 4:20)  If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
 
(1 John 4:21)  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
 
These two verses in 2 John further reinforce the teachings throughout this discussion, that loving one another is a commandment from God
(2 John 1:5)  And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another.
 
(2 John 1:6)  And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
 
Here is the parable of the Samaritan which is the perfect example of a person showing love and care to someone he just first met, and again reminds us it is our duty to love neighbor as our self:
(Luke 10:25)  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
 
(Luke 10:26)  He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"
 
(Luke 10:27)  And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Luke 10:28)  And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
 
(Luke 10:29)  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
 
(Luke 10:30)  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
 
(Luke 10:31)  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:32)  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:33)  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
 
(Luke 10:34)  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
 
(Luke 10:35)  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
 
(Luke 10:36)  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
 
(Luke 10:37)  He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
 
In these verses Paul commends the Thessalonians for doing their loving one another and encourages them to do it the more:
(1 Thessalonians 4:10)  for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:11)  and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:12)  so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
 
And also here in 2 Thessalonians
(2 Thessalonians 1:3)  We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
 
The final set of scriptures is a list of things we can do to help love one another and God and also grow in faith as well, all from 1 Thessalonians 5
(1 Thessalonians 5:8)  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:9)  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:10)  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:12)  We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:13)  and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:15)  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:16)  Rejoice always,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:17)  pray without ceasing,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)  Do not quench the Spirit.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:20)  Do not despise prophecies,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)  but test everything; hold fast what is good.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:22)  Abstain from every form of evil.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:24)  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
 
Here is a prayer to God with the goal to help us to  love one another as the bible commands us to so please pray with me:
 Father, I'm praying myself and all those who read this teaching, and all their families as well:
Help us love each other as we love ourselves. May the Holy Spirit, who has poured Your love into our hearts, give us Your selfless love, for our love falls far short of the mark. (Matthew 22:39; Romans 5:5)
May those who are married have Your perfect love especially for each other and their children. May every child be considered as Your reward, to be loved and nurtured and taught how to live lives that are obedient and pleasing to You. May we as a family be united in love. (Galatians 5:22a; Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 6:4b; 1 John 3:21–22; Colossians 2:2a)

May we submit ourselves to one another—considering others more important than ourselves, putting the others' interests ahead of our own. Help us to treat each other the way we would want to be treated in every circumstance. (Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3b–4; Matthew 7:12)

May our relationships be built on these principles—for if they are, what could ever come between us? You always know what's best!
In Jesus’ Name I/we pray Amen.
 
Jesus always commands us to love one another but He also loves you more than you can know or even imagine it and longs to know you personally and have a personal relationship with you. If the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart to invite Jesus into/back into your heart please pray the following prayer of commitment or recommitment with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
God bless you and yours
 ]]> Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:54:55 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1970/pride-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1970             I am led to do now a bible study on pride- first I will use five examples of pride from the bible. There also is much pride active today, and I have seen it where people act superior to all others in how they behave. It could include cutting into traffic, not letting others merge, cutting in line, going in an express lane with far too many items, an others. As I believe these are the last days this situation is getting worse and will not get better.
The first example in the bible is one of a communal group pride- where the people who at that time all spoke with the same language and all lived in the same area conspired to build a city and a tower up to haven to make a name for themselves, that is to make themselves famous. Even though they did it all in the wrong motivations their story is in the bible read from generation to generation as a warning against their pride.
(Genesis 11:1)  Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
 
(Genesis 11:2)  And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
 
(Genesis 11:3)  And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
 
(Genesis 11:4)  Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
 
(Genesis 11:5)  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
 
(Genesis 11:6)  And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.
 
(Genesis 11:7)  Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech."
 
(Genesis 11:8)  So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
 
(Genesis 11:9)  Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
 
God put an end to that plan, and also spread out the people all over the world which was His will for mankind.
The next example is David’s census of the people at the end of his reign. A census in and of itself is not sinful, but one of wrongful motives often in fact is sinful ,and  many commentaries say that David was tempted by Satan and did the census on a prideful motivation which stirred the wrath of God:
(1 Chronicles 21:1)  Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
 
(1 Chronicles 21:2)  So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number."
 
(1 Chronicles 21:3)  But Joab said, "May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?"
 
(1 Chronicles 21:4)  But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem.
 
(1 Chronicles 21:5)  And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword.
 
(1 Chronicles 21:6)  But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
 
(1 Chronicles 21:7)  But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.
 
(1 Chronicles 21:8)  And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."
 
(1 Chronicles 21:9)  And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
 
(1 Chronicles 21:10)  "Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'"
 
(1 Chronicles 21:11)  So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Choose what you will:
 
(1 Chronicles 21:12)  either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me."
 
(1 Chronicles 21:13)  Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
 
David’s act of pride caused Israel to be very severely punished though commentaries also say there were other factors involved in the severity of the punishment. This passage does give an indication of how God detests pride
The third example of pride was King Uzziah who was a successful king until he succumbed to his pride. The story is in 2 Chronicles 26
(2 Chronicles 26:1)  And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:2)  He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:3)  Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:4)  And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:5)  He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:6)  He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:7)  God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:8)  The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:9)  Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:10)  And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:11)  Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:12)  The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:13)  Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:14)  And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:15)  In Jerusalem he made engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:16)  But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:17)  But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor,
 
(2 Chronicles 26:18)  and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God."
 
(2 Chronicles 26:19)  Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:20)  And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:21)  And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:22)  Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote.
 
(2 Chronicles 26:23)  And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." And Jotham his son reigned in his place.
 
            This story shows even more clearly how God detests pride- the king was struck with leprosy as his pride caused him to usurp the priest’s duty and to sacrifice where he should not have done.
In Daniel chapter 4 is a powerful story of how no less a man than King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was extremely prideful, then God really humbled him and, and then after Nebuchadnezzar was punished and then Nebuchadnezzar repented of his pride he had his kingdom restored and praised God
(Daniel 4:1)  King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!
 
(Daniel 4:2)  It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
 
(Daniel 4:3)  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
 
(Daniel 4:4)  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
 
(Daniel 4:5)  I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
 
(Daniel 4:6)  So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
 
(Daniel 4:7)  Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
 
(Daniel 4:8)  At last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods--and I told him the dream, saying,
 
(Daniel 4:9)  "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.
 
(Daniel 4:10)  The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
 
(Daniel 4:11)  The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
 
(Daniel 4:12)  Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
 
(Daniel 4:13)  "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.
 
(Daniel 4:14)  He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
 
(Daniel 4:15)  But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
 
(Daniel 4:16)  Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.
 
(Daniel 4:17)  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'
 
(Daniel 4:18)  This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
 
(Daniel 4:19)  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!
 
(Daniel 4:20)  The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
 
(Daniel 4:21)  whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived--
 
(Daniel 4:22)  it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
 
(Daniel 4:23)  And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,'
 
(Daniel 4:24)  this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,
 
(Daniel 4:25)  that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
 
(Daniel 4:26)  And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.
 
(Daniel 4:27)  Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
 
(Daniel 4:28)  All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
 
(Daniel 4:29)  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
 
(Daniel 4:30)  and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"
 
(Daniel 4:31)  While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,
 
(Daniel 4:32)  and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
 
(Daniel 4:33)  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.
 
(Daniel 4:34)  At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
 
(Daniel 4:35)  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
 
(Daniel 4:36)  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
 
(Daniel 4:37)  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
My fifth and last example is in the very next chapter was where Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar saw what all happened to his father yet he too lifted his heart against God and pride and this happened
(Daniel 5:1)  King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
 
(Daniel 5:2)  Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
 
(Daniel 5:3)  Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
 
(Daniel 5:4)  They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
 
(Daniel 5:5)  Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
 
(Daniel 5:6)  Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
 
(Daniel 5:7)  The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
 
(Daniel 5:8)  Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
 
(Daniel 5:9)  Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
 
(Daniel 5:10)  The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, "O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.
 
(Daniel 5:11)  There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father--your father the king--made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
 
(Daniel 5:12)  because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation."
 
(Daniel 5:13)  Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.
 
(Daniel 5:14)  I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
 
(Daniel 5:15)  Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.
 
(Daniel 5:16)  But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
 
(Daniel 5:17)  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
 
(Daniel 5:18)  O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
 
(Daniel 5:19)  And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.
 
(Daniel 5:20)  But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.
 
(Daniel 5:21)  He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.
 
(Daniel 5:22)  And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
 
(Daniel 5:23)  but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
 
(Daniel 5:24)  "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
 
(Daniel 5:25)  And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.
 
(Daniel 5:26)  This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;
 
(Daniel 5:27)  TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;
 
(Daniel 5:28)  PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
 
(Daniel 5:29)  Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
 
(Daniel 5:30)  That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.
 
(Daniel 5:31)  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
 
Belshazzar was dealt very harshly as he saw all what happened to his father but it made absolutely no impression on him in any way and he did the same things his father did until this judgment fell unto him. These five stories show well how God opposes pride but I am going to continue with some verses which shows how God feels about pride and the proud
(James 4:6)  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
 
And this verse also reminds us of the same idea:
(1 Peter 5:5)  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
 
(1 Peter 5:6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
 
God really does resist the proud
Here are the words of Jesus on the matter
(Matthew 23:12)  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
 
(Luke 14:11)  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
 
Exalting oneself is pride indeed and God will humble you. Those who humble themselves will indeed be exalted
Here is another scriptural example of a king Hezekiah being proud then humbling himself again so that no harm comes. Repentance is always a good thing
(2 Chronicles 32:25)  But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.
 
(2 Chronicles 32:26)  But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
 
Here is a warning against pride in Isaiah
(Isaiah 2:11)  The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
 
(Isaiah 2:12)  For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low;
 
Here is a verse in Ecclesiastes
(Ecclesiastes 7:8)  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
 
Here is a series of seven proverbs that deal with the topic of pride
Proverbs_8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
 
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
 
(Proverbs 16:5)  Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
 
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
 
Proverbs 21:24  "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.
 
(Proverbs 26:12)  Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
 
Proverbs 29:23  One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
 
These seven all are effective warnings against pride and that it has evil consequences for those who get trapped in it, it will bring him low, and they can be worse than a fool. As such, it is a good thing to do is to repent of pride and be rid of it as soon as possible. I add a prayer to help you do this, so please if you need to pray this with me:
God, as one of your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, help me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)O God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. (Titus 3:2)Faithful Father, thank you for giving us more grace. You oppose the proud but give grace to the hunble. (James 4:6)Father, like Mary, help my soul to glorify You and my spirit rejoice in You my Savior, for You have been mindful of the humble state of Your servant (Luke 1:46-48)God, through the power of your holy spirit, help me to live in harmony with others, be sympathetic, love as a brother or sister, be compassionate and humble. (1 Peter 3:8)Father, you have told me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than myself. (Philippians 2:3) Right this moment, I confess all selfish ambition and vain conceit to You. Forgive me for so often considering myself better than others. Help me look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. Please give me an attitude the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:4-5)Father, in your word, You define who is wise and understanding among us: The one who shows it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13)Father, in your word, You define who is wise and understanding among us: The one who shows it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)Father, thank you for the assurance that humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)Father, help me to clothe myself with humility toward others, because You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5) I will never live a day that I am not in need of your grace, so please help me maintain an attitude that welcomes it. Thank you In the mighty Name if Jesus I pray Amen
 
The Lord Jesus also loves you and wants a special relationship with you. I would want people to be humble and to ask them into their hearts so He can be their Lord and Savior, for He does love you so, and strongly wants a saving relationship with you. Please do pray this prayer with me for that relationship
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
God bless you and yours.
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:27:22 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1968/purposes-of-jesus-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1968 Of course as the prophet Isaiah states so well prophesying his major purpose in chapter 53 of his book which is a prophecy of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior:
(Isa 53:1)  Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
 
(Isa 53:2)  For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
 
(Isa 53:3)  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 
(Isa 53:4)  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
 
(Isa 53:5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
 
(Isa 53:6)  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
 
(Isa 53:7)  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
 
(Isa 53:8)  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
 
(Isa 53:9)  And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
 
(Isa 53:10)  Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
 
(Isa 53:11)  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
 
(Isa 53:12)  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
 
He did many other things besides that, and Jesus still has yet to do some of things the bible speaks about. He lived a sinless life to be an example for us , He left us wonderful teachings in his sermons and in His parables to teach us how to live our lives, then of course He went to the cross for all of our sins, so we can be reconciled to the Father in Heaven. He plans to come back to rapture the church away from the tribulations and then will judge all of mankind for its deeds, as a just and perfect judge. I plan to explore all of those topics.
Jesus Himself explains His purpose for coming and being on the earth in these parables that He told in Luke chapter 15
(Luke 15:1)  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
 
(Luke 15:2)  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
 
(Luke 15:3)  So he told them this parable:
 
(Luke 15:4)  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
 
(Luk 15:5)  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
 
(Luk 15:6)  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
 
(Luk 15:7)  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
 
(Luke 15:8)  "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
 
(Luke 15:9)  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
 
(Luke 15:10)  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
 
(Luke 15:11)  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.
 
(Luke 15:12)  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.
 
(Luke 15:13)  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
 
(Luke 15:14)  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
 
(Luke 15:15)  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
 
(Luke 15:16)  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
 
(Luke 15:17)  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
 
(Luke 15:18)  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
 
(Luke 15:19)  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'
 
(Luke 15:20)  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
 
(Luke 15:21)  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
 
(Luke 15:22)  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
 
(Luke 15:23)  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
 
(Luke 15:24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
 
(Luke 15:25)  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
 
(Luke 15:26)  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
 
(Luke 15:27)  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'
 
(Luke 15:28)  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
 
(Luke 15:29)  but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
 
(Luke 15:30)  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'
 
(Luke 15:31)  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
 
(Luke 15:32)  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
 
Also in these  verses in Luke 19 tell of Zacchaeus, how he sought Jesus, and the results of his seeking Jesus
(Luke 19:1)  He entered Jericho and was passing through.
 
(Luke 19:2)  And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
 
(Luke 19:3)  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.
 
(Luke 19:4)  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
 
 
(Luke 19:5)  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."
 
(Luke 19:6)  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
 
 
(Luke 19:7)  And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
 
(Luke 19:8)  And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."
 
(Luke 19:9)  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
 
(Luke 19:10)  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
 
Zacchaeus diligently sought out Jesus, and note how Jesus states His purpose here.
A big thing He did on this earth was to teach man about how to live. He wants us to live in love and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Here is the exchange between Jesus and a lawyer
(Luke 10:25)  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
 
(Luke 10:26)  He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"
 
(Luke 10:27)  And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Luke 10:28)  And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
 
(Luke 10:29)  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
 
(Luke 10:30)  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
 
(Luke 10:31)  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:32)  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:33)  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
 
(Luke 10:34)  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
 
(Luke 10:35)  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
 
(Luke 10:36)  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
 
(Luke 10:37)  He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
 
Jesus would often prophesy His fate in the gospels, as He did with these verses
(Matthew 20:17)  And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
 
(Matthew 20:18)  "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
 
(Matthew 20:19)  and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."
 
He knew all along that was His purpose on this earth, to die for us to atone for our sins so our relationship with God could be restored. This is all briefly summarized in 1 Corinthians 15, including His resurrection and appearances
(1 Corinthians 15:1)  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
 
(1 Corinthians 15:2)  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:3)  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
 
(1 Corinthians 15:4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
 
(1 Corinthians 15:5)  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:6)  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:7)  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:8)  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:9)  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:10)  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:11)  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
 
In the Same chapter He makes promises too of the resurrection and also rapture of all believers, and how death has lost its sting, being defeated by Jesus’ resurrection
(1 Corinthians 15:51)  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
 
(1 Corinthians 15:52)  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:53)  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:54)  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
 
(1 Corinthians 15:55)  "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
 
(1 Corinthians 15:56)  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:57)  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:58)  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
 
The rapture is spoken of also in 1 Thessalonians, as well as the above
(1 Thessalonians 4:13)  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:14)  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:15)  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
 
(1 Thessalonians 4:18)  Therefore encourage one another with these words.
 
And also by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24, where He makes prophecies of the rapture and the end of days:
(Matthew 24:30)  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
 
(Matthew 24:31)  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
 
(Matthew 24:32)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
 
(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
 
(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
 
(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
 
(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
 
(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
 
(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
 
(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
 
(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
 
(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
 
(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'
 
(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
 
(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
 
(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
A similar and also very stern warning is given in Luke 12 by Jesus
(Luke 12:35)  "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
 
(Luke 12:36)  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
 
(Luke 12:37)  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
 
(Luke 12:38)  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
 
(Luke 12:39)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
 
(Luke 12:40)  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
 
(Luke 12:41)  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"
 
(Luke 12:42)  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
 
(Luke 12:43)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Luke 12:44)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Luke 12:45)  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
 
(Luke 12:46)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
 
(Luke 12:47)  And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
 
(Luke 12:48)  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
 
This also is another parable warning people to be ready for Jesus in the parable of the five wise and foolish virgins
(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
 
(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
 
(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
 
(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
 
(Matthew 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
 
(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
 
(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
 
(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
 
(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
 
(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
 
(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
 
Here is another parable on a similar note, so let us be found worthy and not as his original guests or the guy without the wedding garb
(Matthew 22:1)  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
 
(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
 
(Matthew 22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
 
(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'
 
(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
 
(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
 
(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
 
(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
 
(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
 
(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
 
(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
 
(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
 
(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
 
(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."
 
We are to be ready for this and not as the five foolish virgins, the ones who proved unworthy or the one who was at the hall without any wedding garment. After this will come judgment, for everyone, this is Christ’s final purpose, as all people be they saved or unsaved will face this judgment. Everyone is accountable to Christ for all that is done in or by our bodies in this earth.
Here are the verses that say it is Christ’s duty to be the judge
(John 5:22)  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
 
(John 5:23)  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
 
 First is for the unsaved, this at the great white throne judgment at the very end, where those not in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire:
(Revelation 20:11)  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
 
(Revelation 20:12)  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
 
(Revelation 20:13)  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
 
(Revelation 20:14)  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
 
(Revelation20:15)  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
 
Also for believers too so be careful
(2 Corinthians 5:9)  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
 
(2 Corinthians 5:10)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:11)  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:12)  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
 
(1 Corinthians 3:13)  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
 
(1 Corinthians 3:15)  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
 
And also for groups too, or whoever this judgment in Matthew 25 refers to, and people should take this as a warning to do things for the poor and needy as well, for whatever we do for the least one of the brethren we do for Jesus, and whatever we fail to do for the least one of the brethren we also have failed to do for Jesus
(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
 
(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
 
(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
 
(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
 
(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
 
(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
 
(Mat 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
 
(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
 
(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
 
(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
 
(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
 
(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
 
(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
 
I will conclude and wrap this study up by saying that you definitely do not want to be in any of these evil situations listed above for Jesus loves you more than You know, and also by posting this about the rapture, too, which does duplicate some of the scriptures, but that is for emphasis for the rapture is too important and you absolutely DO NOT want to miss it:
 
                                  THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT!!! ARE YOU READY????
 
            I am very strongly led to believe the rapture is very imminent, and could happen any day at anytime at all. Nobody knows the exact time for the rapture but the Father God Himself. I cannot strongly enough advise all of you to get your hearts right with Jesus by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any Sin /iniquity/ uncleanness in your heart, mind etc and repenting of any and all items brought to your mind right away, asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and your garments so that they are spotless, being washed by the blood of Jesus. I am a man, needing the blood of Jesus for cleansing as much as everyone else, and believe me I am doing the same thing. This repenting is a continuous process, not just a one time thing; I have found that I myself have been repenting several times throughout the day. I know that it will be God's grace and mercy ONLY that I make the rapture, not anything I do, I am well aware of the fact that grace alone being what saves, and not works lest any should boast, but also faith without works is dead so I am sharing this with everyone, in the hopes that a few, even just one person, would wake up in time, and repent, for the remaining time here is very short.
            I post and share this document for I deeply care for people and DO NOT want anyone to miss the rapture and find themselves left behind to face the 7 year tribulations which will follow the rapture which will be pure a horrific time on earth, the most horrific ever, in fact, where you will have to hide in caves or in mountains, away from all the evil and very selfish people, be an absolute survival expert, which many are not and absolutely refuse at all costs to take the mark of the beast(666).As a result of your refusal to take this mark, you won’t be able to buy or sell anything, work, eat, live in a normal way, and so on, and most likely you’ll be killed for it, but that is far better than taking the mark and ending up in the lake of fire for eternity, as each and every man and woman  who take the mark of the beast will end up in the lake of fire, where there will be absolutely no rest from their torment night or day(Revelation 14).  Even doing all the precautions, hiding by getting away from all population centers and into the mountains, and so on may not be enough because many if not most people, in fact will not survive the judgments that God will pour out on the world in this time period, in the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments as well as the judgment and destruction of the daughter of Babylon. All these events are described in good detail in the book of Revelation in chapters 6 through 18, which I strongly advise all to read. Here is a link an excellent animated video of the entire book of revelation for you to watch
 

 
 The tribulation period of seven years absolutely will make today's evil world seem like life in paradise by comparison. I very strongly suggest reading the book of Revelation chapters 6 through 18 which tell you specifically what sort of events and judgments the world will see during this tribulation period.
Here are some rapture related scriptures:
 (1 Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
 
(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.
 
(1Thessolonians 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:
 
(1Thessolonians 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.
 
God wants to keep us from this tribulation by His love and mercy Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  The implication of this verse is obvious:  If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR Revelation 3 verse 10, so it is IMPERATIVE to stay close to the Lord in these last days. 
Now I have a very special warning message to all those who are lukewarm Christians to repent of this condition and to be on fire for Jesus or Jesus will surely spit you out of the rapture(see verse 16, below) and you will go through the seven year tribulation as it says in Revelation 3 14-22. There are FAR TOO MANY are in this condition the Holy Spirit warned me this AM. There are FAR TOO MANY LAODICEANS today. Please REPENT NOW of your lukewarmness and be on fire for the Lord before it is too late and you miss the rapture as a result of your being lukewarm!! Here are the verses in Revelation chapter 3 concerning the Laodicean church:
(Revelation 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
 
(Revelation 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
 
(Revelation 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
 
(Revelation 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
 
(Revelation 3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
 
(Revelation 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
 
(Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 
(Revelation 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
 
(Revelation 3:22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
Summarizing, you MUST all be ready for this coming rapture, AND be on FIRE for Jesus, and not be at all lukewarm but loving Jesus with ALL Your heart, mind and soul as commanded in the bible, in several places in both the old and new testaments. If in case you need to receive the Lord please pray the following prayer (backsliders can also use this prayer to repent of their sin and lukewarmness and recommit their lives, and return to their first love, Jesus. Please do so NOW before it is too late)
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Here are 10 steps that can be of help to be ready for the soon to come rapture:
1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).
 
2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.
 
3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.
 
4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!
 
5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)
 
6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.
 
7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)
 
8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.
 
9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
 
10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
 
Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:
"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others
who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen
If, by an unfortunate chance, you are finding yourself reading this testimony after the rapture has happened, and you find that you have missed it, everything is not lost by any means, just please pray immediately to accept the Lord Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, repenting of anything  and everything that you have done that has caused you to miss the rapture, especially such things as being lukewarm and whatever else you may do during that time absolutely DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beast means you are essentially married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet,  ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- so again you must avoid taking this mark AT ALL COSTS you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, you will have to hide, living in the forest and away from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed for refusing the mark. If you do die for refusing to take the mark of the beast, if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint and martyr spoken of in the book of revelation. I cannot strongly stress the point enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what!!!! It will be well worth it to lose everything and everyone in this world, including your life so as  to not have to spend all eternity in hell and the lake of fire, where again there will be never any rest on your torment day or night.
 
Here is a video link for after the rapture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be
 
And a link to another facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jay.dougherty.50?ref=tn_tnmn#!/notes/jay-dougherty/good-book-on-tribulations-and-end-times-please-share-aslo-video-link/10200133756520233
 
God bless you and yours
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:18:49 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1964/parables-of-jesus-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1964 This bible study covers the main parables of Jesus. Parables were such a big tool for Jesus to show a lot of us how to live. I believe they were perhaps Jesus’ biggest teaching tool. Jesus in Matthew 13 explains the reasons why He made such use of parables in His teachings in the following verses:
(Matthew 13:10)  Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
 
(Matthew 13:11)  And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
 
(Matthew 13:12)  For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
 
(Matthew 13:13)  This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
 
(Matthew 13:14)  Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.
 
(Matthew 13:15)  For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'
 
(Matthew 13:16)  But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
 
(Matthew 13:17)  For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
 
 The parables in Luke chapter 15 are used by Jesus to tell us largely why He was sent by His father: to seek and save the lost:
(Luke 15:1)  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
 
(Luke 15:2)  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
 
(Luke 15:3)  So he told them this parable:
 
(Luke 15:4)  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
 
(Luke 15:5)  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
 
(Luke 15:6)  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
 
(Luke 15:7)  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
 
(Luke 15:8)  "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
 
(Luke 15:9)  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
 
(Luke 15:10)  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
 
(Luke 15:11)  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.
 
(Luke 15:12)  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.
 
(Luke 15:13)  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
 
(Luke 15:14)  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
 
(Luke 15:15)  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
 
(Luke 15:16)  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
 
(Luke 15:17)  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
 
(Luke 15:18)  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
 
(Luke 15:19)  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'
 
(Luke 15:20)  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
 
(Luke 15:21)  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
 
(Luke 15:22)  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
 
(Luke 15:23)  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
 
(Luke 15:24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
 
(Luke 15:25)  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
 
(Luke 15:26)  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
 
(Luke 15:27)  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'
 
(Luke 15:28)  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
 
(Luke 15:29)  but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
 
(Luke 15:30)  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'
 
(Luke 15:31)  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
 
(Luke 15:32)  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
 
In Matthew 13 Jesus tells several very important parables and gives explanations for two of them. The first of them is the parable of the sower:
(Matthew 13:3)  And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
 
(Matthew 13:4)  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
 
(Matthew 13:5)  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
 
(Matthew 13:6)  but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
 
(Matthew 13:7)  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
 
(Matthew 13:8)  Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
 
(Matthew 13:9)  He who has ears, let him hear."
 
Here is Jesus explanation of the parable of the sower
(Matthew 13:18)  "Hear then the parable of the sower:
 
(Matthew 13:19)  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
 
(Matthew 13:20)  As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
 
(Matthew 13:21)  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
 
(Matthew 13:22)  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
 
(Matthew 13:23)  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
 
The above is such an important parable seeing as how it concerns God’s word and witnessing to the lost, as well as people getting a hold of the word and understanding it. Some will get it and flourish while others will not.
 
Here is the important parable of the wheat and the weeds
(Matthew 13:24)  He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
 
(Matthew 13:25)  but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
 
(Matthew 13:26)  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
 
(Matthew 13:27)  And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'
 
(Matthew 13:28)  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
 
(Matthew 13:29)  But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
 
(Matthew 13:30)  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
 
Here is Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the wheat and weeds
(Matthew 13:36)  Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."
 
(Matthew 13:37)  He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 13:38)  The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
 
(Matthew 13:39)  and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
 
(Matthew 13:40)  Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.
 
(Matthew 13:41)  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
 
(Matthew 13:42)  and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
(Matthew 13:43)  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
 
This parable has also end times connotations being that the wheat are the good people and the weeds are evil people will be thrown into the furnace- a mention of the lake of fire, and the righteous will shine in Heaven
Jesus then gives several other good mini parables which all teach the high value of the kingdom of God.
(Matthew 13:31)  He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
 
(Matthew 13:32)  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
 
(Matthew 13:33)  He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
 
(Matthew 13:44)  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
 
(Matthew 13:45)  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
 
(Matthew 13:46)  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 
(Matthew 13:47)  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
 
(Matthew 13:48)  When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.
 
(Matthew 13:49)  So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
 
(Matthew 13:50)  and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
(Matthew 13:51)  "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes."
 
(Matthew 13:52)  And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
 
The parables explain in different ways some of the real value and attributes of the kingdom of God. It is to be sought after like a Jewel of price beyond value, worth sacrificing all to get it. The parable of the fish reinforces the teaching of the parable of the wheat and tares for it has the same meaning.
The following two parables communicate the idea we are absolutely not to fritter away the things that God has blessed us with but use them for His glory
The first of these is the parable of the minas:
(Luke 19:12)  He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
 
(Luke 19:13)  Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'
 
(Luke 19:14)  But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'
 
(Luke 19:15)  When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
 
(Luke 19:16)  The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'
 
(Luke 19:17)  And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
 
(Luke 19:18)  And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'
 
(Luke 19:19)  And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
 
(Luke 19:20)  Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
 
(Luke 19:21)  for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
 
(Luke 19:22)  He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
 
(Luke 19:23)  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'
 
(Luke 19:24)  And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
 
(Luke 19:25)  And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'
 
(Luke 19:26)  'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
 
(Luke 19:27)  But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'"
 
The consequences for wasting things are to lose what it is, while those who are diligent are very well rewarded for their diligence. Here is another parable with a very similar meaning
(Matthew 25:14)  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
 
(Matthew 25:15)  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
 
(Matthew 25:16)  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
 
(Matthew 25:17)  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
 
(Matthew 25:18)  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
 
(Matthew 25:19)  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
 
(Matthew 25:20)  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
 
(Matthew 25:21)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
 
(Matthew 25:22)  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
 
(Matthew 25:23)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
 
(Matthew 25:24)  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
 
(Matthew 25:25)  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
 
(Matthew 25:26)  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
 
(Matthew 25:27)  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
 
(Matthew 25:28)  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
 
(Matthew 25:29)  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
 
(Matthew 25:30)  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
 
Now here are some more end times parables. Here is a parable that alludes to the wedding supper of the lamb because it involves a great wedding feast:
(Matthew 22:1)  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
 
(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,
 
(Matthew 22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
 
(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'
 
(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
 
(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
 
(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
 
(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
 
(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'
 
(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
 
(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.
 
(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
 
(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
 
(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."
 
Here is another version of this parable of the wedding feast in Luke:
(Luke 14:15)  When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
 
(Luke 14:16)  But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
 
(Luke 14:17)  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
 
(Luke 14:18)  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'
 
(Luke 14:19)  And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'
 
(Luke 14:20)  And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
 
(Luke 14:21)  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
 
(Luke 14:22)  And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
 
(Luke 14:23)  And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
 
(Luke 14:24)  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
 
Same idea, those who were initially invited proved themselves unworthy, refusing his invite for various, often rather worldly and seemingly unimportant reasons. We must avoid making the same mistake ourselves and to accept such an invite by our faith in the Lord Jesus
Here is another good one which is the parable of the five wise and foolish virgins
(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
 
(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
 
(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
 
(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
 
(Matthew 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
 
(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
 
(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
 
(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
 
(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
 
(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
 
(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
 
(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
 
Here is another strongly worded last days parable to keep us aware and watchful
(Luke 12:35)  "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
 
(Luke 12:36)  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
 
(Luke 12:37)  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
 
(Luke 12:38)  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
 
(Luke 12:39)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
 
(Luke 12:40)  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
 
(Luke 12:41)  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"
 
(Luke 12:42)  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
 
(Luke 12:43)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Luke 12:44)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Luke 12:45)  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
 
(Luke 12:46)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
 
(Luke 12:47)  And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
 
(Luke 12:48)  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
 
These verses in Matthew also point out the above parable, but I also provide the verses before which further fill it out, and also speak of the end, including the rapture of the believers:
(Matthew 24:30)  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
 
(Matthew 24:31)  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
 
(Matthew 24:32)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
 
(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
 
(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
 
(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
 
(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
 
(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
 
(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 
(Matthew 24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
 
(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
 
(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
 
(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
 
(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
 
(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
 
(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
 
(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'
 
(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
 
(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
 
(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
 
Here Jesus uses a parable to answer a question of who is my neighbor that I need to love: the parable of the good Samaritan
(Luke 10:25)  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
 
(Luke 10:26)  He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"
 
(Luke 10:27)  And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Luke 10:28)  And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
 
(Luke 10:29)  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
 
(Luke 10:30)  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
 
(Luke 10:31)  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:32)  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
 
(Luke 10:33)  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
 
(Luke 10:34)  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
 
(Luke 10:35)  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
 
(Luke 10:36)  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
 
(Luke 10:37)  He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
 
The final parable for this bible study of parables is a warning that Jesus will indeed hold us accountable for all that we do to help the least of the brethren, such as the poor, and also if we fail to do so. It is all in the sheep and goats parable of Matthew 25
(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
 
(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
 
(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
 
(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
 
(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
 
(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
 
(Matthew 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
 
(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
 
(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
 
(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
 
(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
 
(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
 
(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
 
(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
 
You want to be one of the sheep who is commended for his actions and not one of the goats who is punished for eternity for his selfish and unloving inaction. This parable shows the fact that faith without works is dead(as it also says in the book of James).
Jesus loves you, and He put the parables there so you can learn all about Him and what to do and to not do in life, and His purpose on the earth, which namely is to save the lost. He wants you to be prepared for the end times and the rapture too. He most of all is longing and wanting a relationship with everyone. If you do not know Him or are feeling the need to recommit yourself to Him, please pray the following prayer with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
Thanks for reading these parables of Jesus. May God bless you and yours.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:53:21 -0230 https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1957/life-application-bible-study https://indiegospel.net/james-j-dougherty/blog/1957 I want to be sure that people are careful and mindful of the purposes of our being saved. I also want people to be mindful of their Christian walk, too, that they do all things to glorify God. I hope people find this encouraging. It is pretty long but this is intended as a bible study so it can be done over bit by bit, as there is A LOT of scripture included. I am going to start this discussion and study in Ephesians chapter 2, which states how we were dead by our trespasses but God saved us by His grace and mercy :
(Ephesians 2:1)  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
 
(Ephesians 2:2)  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
 
(Ephesians 2:3)  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
 
(Ephesians 2:4)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
 
(Ephesians 2:5)  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
 
(Ephesians 2:6)  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
 
(Ephesians 2:7)  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
 
(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
 
(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
(Ephesians 2:10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
(Ephesians 2:11)  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--
 
(Ephesians 2:12)  remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
 
(Ephesians 2:13)  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
 
(Ephesians 2:14)  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
 
(Ephesians 2:15)  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one peace,
(Ephesians 2:16)  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
 
(Ephesians 2:17)  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
 
(Ephesians 2:18)  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
 
(Ephesians 2:19)  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
 
(Ephesians 2:20)  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
 
(Ephesians 2:21)  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
 
(Ephesians 2:22)  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
 
The next place I am going to go is 2 Peter chapter 3 where He does say the Lord wants all to come to repentance but he also says that people are to live holy lives as much as we are capable of(we all are imperfect, however)
(2Peter 3:8)  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
 
(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
 
(2 Peter 3:10)  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
 
(2 Peter 3:11)  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
 
(2 Peter 3:12)  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
 
(2 Peter 3:13)  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
 
(2 Peter 3:14)  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
 
(2 Peter 3:15)  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
 
(2 Peter 3:16)  as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
 
The first six verses in 1 Timothy 2 say that God wants all to be saved and come to the truth about the Lord Jesus.
(1 Timothy 2:1)  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
 
(1 Timothy 2:2)  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
 
(1 Timothy 2:3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
 
(1 Timothy 2:4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
(1 Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
 
(1 Timothy 2:6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
 
The next verses from Romans 3  say there is no distinction between any we are all guilty of sin, but Jesus also came to justify all and this is by faith and NOT by works(which strengthens what is said in Ephesians
(Romans 3:21)  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
 
(Romans 3:22)  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
 
(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 
(Romans 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
 
(Romans 3:25)  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
 
(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
(Romans 3:27)  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
 
(Romans 3:28)  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
 
(Romans 3:29)  Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
 
(Romans 3:30)  since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
 
(Romans 3:31)  Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
 
Romans chapter 6 stresses the fact that while we are indeed under grace we are not to continue to live in sin that grace may about, but do our best, since we have been crucified with Jesus as the text says:
(Romans 6:1)  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
 
(Romans 6:2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
 
(Romans 6:3)  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
 
(Romans 6:4)  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
 
(Romans 6:5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
 
(Romans 6:6)  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
 
(Romans 6:7)  For one who has died has been set free from sin.
 
(Romans 6:8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
 
(Romans 6:9)  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
 
(Romans 6:10)  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
 
(Romans 6:11)  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
 
(Romans 6:12)  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
 
(Romans 6:13)  Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:14)  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
 
(Romans 6:15)  What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
 
(Romans 6:16)  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
 
(Romans 6:17)  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
 
(Romans 6:18)  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:19)  I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
 
(Romans 6:20)  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
 
(Romans 6:21)  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
 
(Romans 6:22)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
 
(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
We are saved for good works, and it is not easy for in this passage in Matthew 7 we are reminded to take the narrow way and not the broad road, to beware of false prophets, to stay within God’s will and to hear His word
(Matthew 7:13)  "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
 
(Matthew 7:14)  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
 
(Matthew 7:15)  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
 
(Matthew 7:16)  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
 
(Matthew 7:17)  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
 
(Matthew 7:18)  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
 
(Matthew 7:19)  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
 
(Matthew 7:20)  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
 
(Matthew 7:21)  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
 
(Matthew 7:22)  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
 
(Matthew 7:23)  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
 
(Matthew 7:24)  "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:25)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
 
(Matthew 7:26)  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
 
(Matthew 7:27)  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
 
Through God’s grace and mercy it is all possible of course. He is good and His mercy lasts forever.
Next up is a warning in Galatians 5 is to walk by the spirit and to not satisfy the desires of the flesh, for we are under the grace of God:
(Galatians 5:13)  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 
(Galatians 5:14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
 
(Galatians 5:15)  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
 
(Galatians 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
 
(Galatians 5:17)  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
 
(Galatians 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
 
(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
 
(Galatians 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
 
(Galatians 5:21)  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 
(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
 
(Galatians 5:24)  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
 
(Galatians 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
 
(Galatians 5:26)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
 
Here is a similar message in Colossians 3 to put off the deeds of the flesh and to do the deeds of the spirit, in love.
(Colossians 3:1)  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
 
(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
 
(Colossians 3:3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
 
(Colossians 3:4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
 
(Colossians 3:5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
 
(Colossians 3:6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
 
(Colossians 3:7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
 
(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
 
(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
 
(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
 
(Colossians 3:11)  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
 
(Colossians 3:12)  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
 
(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
 
(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
 
(Colossians 3:15)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
 
(Colossians 3:16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
 
(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
 
This last verse is also stated in another way  1 Corinthians 10 in the first of these three verses. It is important to do all for God’s glory
(1 Corinthians 10:31)  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 
(1 Corinthians 10:32)  Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
 
(1 Corinthians 10:33)  just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
 
Here is a good word from 1 Peter exhorting all to humble themselves and to beware of the devil for he seeks to devour anyone he can:
(1 Peter 5:6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
 
(1 Peter 5:7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
 
(1 Peter 5:8)  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
 
(1 Peter 5:9)  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
 
(1 Peter 5:10)  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
 
(1 Peter 5:11)  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
 
In this verse James also exhorts to resist the devil
(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 
Don’t be afraid to ask prayer from others, confessing
(James 5:16)  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
 
As these verses say in Matthew say do it in a group, so that the prayer be more powerful, Jesus is there when two or three are gathered in His name:
(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 
(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
 
(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
 
Also remember what 1 John 1 says about confessing and not confessing our sins to God. Remember too God wants to forgive and cleanse us from sins and unrighteousness
(1 John 1:5)  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 
(1 John 1:6)  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
 
(1 John 1:7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
 
(1 John 1:8)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
 
(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.
 
(1 John 1:10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 
That is a powerful promise that He is faithful to forgive us of the sins that we confess and cleanse us too.
I also include the first five verses of 1 John 2 to strengthen and reinforce these scriptures
(1 John 2:1)  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
 
(1 John 2:2)  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
 
(1 John 2:3)  And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
 
(1 John 2:4)  Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
 
(1 John 2:5)  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
 
Be careful to put on the whole armor of God each day as well as instructed to do so in the book of Ephesians chapter 6
(Ephesians 6:10)  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
 
(Ephesians 6:11)  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
 
(Ephesians 6:12)  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
 
(Ephesians 6:13)  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
 
(Ephesians 6:14)  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
 
(Ephesians 6:15)  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
 
(Ephesians 6:16)  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
 
(Ephesians 6:17)  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
 
(Ephesians 6:18)  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
 
 
The fourth chapter of the Philippians has some good advice to not be anxious about nothing and focus on what is good.
(Philippians 4:4)  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
 
(Philippians 4:5)  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
 
(Philippians 4:6)  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
 
(Philippians 4:7)  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
(Philippians 4:8)  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
 
(Philippians 4:9)  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
 
(Philippians 4:10)  I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
 
(Philippians 4:11)  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
 
(Philippians 4:12)  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
 
(Philippians 4:13)  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
 
As does the fifth chapter in 1 Thessalonians with various exhortations
(1Thessalonians 5:9)  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:10)  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:12)  We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:13)  and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:15)  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:16)  Rejoice always,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:17)  pray without ceasing,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)  Do not quench the Spirit.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:20)  Do not despise prophecies,
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)  but test everything; hold fast what is good.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:22)  Abstain from every form of evil.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
(1 Thessalonians 5:24)  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
 
There is more powerful advice here in Ephesians chapter 4 to put off our old self and be in the new self, not giving any room to the devil.
(Ephesians 4:17)  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
 
(Ephesians 4:18)  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
 
(Ephesians 4:19)  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
 
(Ephesians 4:20)  But that is not the way you learned Christ!--
 
(Ephesians 4:21)  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
 
(Ephesians 4:22)  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
 
(Ephesians 4:23)  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
 
(Ephesians 4:24)  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
 
(Ephesians 4:25)  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
 
(Ephesians 4:26)  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
 
(Ephesians 4:27)  and give no opportunity to the devil.
 
(Ephesians 4:28)  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
 
(Ephesians 4:29)  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
 
(Ephesians 4:30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
 
(Ephesians 4:31)  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
 
(Ephesians 4:32)  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
 
And always remember to do ALL in love or it does not count at all, as it so strongly says in 1 Corinthians 13- the love chapter of the bible
(1 Corinthians 13:1)  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:2)  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:3)  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:4)  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
 
(1 Corinthians 13:5)  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
 
(1 Corinthians 13:6)  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
 
(1Corinthians 13:7)  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:8)  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:9)  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
 
(1 Corinthians 13:10)  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:11)  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:12)  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
 
(1 Corinthians 13:13)  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Romans Chapter 8 has been put in to remind us that we are under the spirit, are to live under the spirit and NOT the flesh, and that absolutely NOTHING can separate us from His love.
(Romans 8:1)  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
 
(Romans 8:2)  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
 
(Romans 8:3)  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
 
(Romans 8:4)  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
 
(Romans 8:5)  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
 
(Romans 8:6)  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
 
(Romans 8:7)  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
 
(Romans 8:8)  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
 
(Romans 8:9)  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
 
(Romans 8:10)  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
 
(Romans 8:11)  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
 
(Romans 8:12)  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
 
(Romans 8:13)  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
 
(Romans 8:14)  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
 
(Romans 8:15)  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
 
(Romans 8:16)  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
 
(Romans 8:17)  and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
 
(Romans 8:18)  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
 
(Romans 8:19)  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
 
(Romans 8:20)  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
 
(Romans 8:21)  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
 
(Romans 8:22)  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
 
(Romans 8:23)  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
 
(Romans 8:24)  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
 
(Romans 8:25)  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
 
(Romans 8:26)  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
 
(Romans 8:27)  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
 
(Romans 8:28)  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
 
(Romans 8:29)  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
 
(Romans 8:30)  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
 
(Romans 8:31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
 
(Romans 8:32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
 
(Romans 8:33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
 
(Romans 8:34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
 
(Romans 8:35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
 
(Romans 8:36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
 
(Romans 8:37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
 
(Romans 8:38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
 
(Romans 8:39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
My last scriptures are for those who want to seek God’s love or to return to it, this is the scriptures of salvation:
(Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
 
(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
 
(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
 
(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
 
(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
Yes, all who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. I wrap this  all up with a salvation prayer for all those who want to come or return to the Lord I strongly suggest that you pray the following prayer with me:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
 
 
 ]]> Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:23:34 -0230