Collapse - The End Of The Age Of Oil
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Christ in You
Virginia Berg
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity.
Oh, Thy Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
I was traveling over a very rough road, oh so bumpy, and we began to talk about the roads as they were many years ago when we traveled cross-country and there weren’t the fine highways there are today. Such bumpy roads! We just went from one rut to another in those days.
At this particular time we were [traveling] toward a little town where a friend lived where we were to spend the night. We couldn’t find our way and had stopped to ask directions. A farmer had given us the strangest directions and we missed the way. Again we found another one when we came to the next farmhouse. But he gave us those directions that we get sometimes:
“You go a little way this way to the right, and then turn left at the barn, and then you go just straight for a while till you come to a hill, and go up the hill, and then circle back for a ‘stone’s throw.’ And then turn left and go for a ‘stone’s throw’ again.” And he talked about a hill and a gray barn.
Well, there were a number of gray barns and there were a few hills, and a stone’s throw can mean a lot of things, and so again we missed the way. We traveled on for quite a little while, and then we found a very intelligent farmer. He was so kind, and we stopped to ask him the direction again.
He said, “You know, it would be very difficult to tell you in this part of the country, and some of the roads are not so good. Would it please you if I got in and just showed you the way?” We were so glad!
So he got in, sat down beside us, and then he would say [to] turn this way and turn that way, and so on. What a comfort it was. What a blessing.
It was a relief, we felt, as we just sat back and rested and let him guide us. And I thought how wonderful that that is the victory in the Christian life.
So many people say, “Why is it that some people claim to be Christians, yet they are not living the Christian life?” Well, it can never be lived in your own effort and in your own strength and by your own willpower.
God has a secret, and that secret is that Christ must come in and He must sit in the throne of your heart and tell you what to do and what not to do. He takes His place there and guides you from within.
The Christian life is just the life of another person lived through you, and that person is Jesus Christ. Now Paul tells about it in Colossians 1, that it’s a “mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!”1 He said the secret of it all is Christ in you. And that’s so true. We just do the yielding, we do the complete surrendering, and then He does the rest. He does the living of His life through you.
I had a preacher friend who had been preaching some years, and he said, “I’ll never forget the day it dawned on me that this indeed was a mystery, indeed a wonderful mystery! And it was revealed to me that it was Christ in me, that Christ really came in and lived out His life through me.”
Paul says in another place, Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” It’s not I, but Christ that liveth in me.
In another place Jesus said, “I have been with you but I shall be in you.” This surrendering, just yielding to Him and letting Him live out His life, reminds me of the story of the little girl, only five and a half years of age, who was telling at a testimony meeting how she got saved and how Jesus had come in her heart to live.
And the hair-splitting old elder, who just couldn’t think of a child like that knowing what she was talking about, came down front and said, “How do you know you’re saved?” And she said, “Well, I know that I asked Jesus to come in my heart and He did come in my heart.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, I know He’s there because He talks to me, and I know, I can feel Him there.”
So then the old elder thought he’d surely catch her with this, and he said, “Well, what would you do if Satan came to your heart to tempt you?”
“Why,” she said, “I would just send Jesus to the door! I wouldn’t do anything. I’d send Jesus to the door, and when Satan saw who lived there he’d say, ‘Excuse me, sir. I came to the wrong house.’”
The old elder turned away, very quietly this time; he had nothing more to say.
How true! When Christ comes into the heart to live, He’s living out His life through you, with you completely surrendering to Him. God’s Word tells us that it’s Christ in us, the hope of glory. He lives in you; let Him have His way! He’s still on the throne and He can be on the throne in your heart, and will change things.
From a transcript of a Meditation Moments broadcast, adapted. Published on Anchor April 2014. Read by Irene Quiti Vera.
1 Colossians 1:26–27.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity.
Oh, Thy Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
I was traveling over a very rough road, oh so bumpy, and we began to talk about the roads as they were many years ago when we traveled cross-country and there weren’t the fine highways there are today. Such bumpy roads! We just went from one rut to another in those days.
At this particular time we were [traveling] toward a little town where a friend lived where we were to spend the night. We couldn’t find our way and had stopped to ask directions. A farmer had given us the strangest directions and we missed the way. Again we found another one when we came to the next farmhouse. But he gave us those directions that we get sometimes:
“You go a little way this way to the right, and then turn left at the barn, and then you go just straight for a while till you come to a hill, and go up the hill, and then circle back for a ‘stone’s throw.’ And then turn left and go for a ‘stone’s throw’ again.” And he talked about a hill and a gray barn.
Well, there were a number of gray barns and there were a few hills, and a stone’s throw can mean a lot of things, and so again we missed the way. We traveled on for quite a little while, and then we found a very intelligent farmer. He was so kind, and we stopped to ask him the direction again.
He said, “You know, it would be very difficult to tell you in this part of the country, and some of the roads are not so good. Would it please you if I got in and just showed you the way?” We were so glad!
So he got in, sat down beside us, and then he would say [to] turn this way and turn that way, and so on. What a comfort it was. What a blessing.
It was a relief, we felt, as we just sat back and rested and let him guide us. And I thought how wonderful that that is the victory in the Christian life.
So many people say, “Why is it that some people claim to be Christians, yet they are not living the Christian life?” Well, it can never be lived in your own effort and in your own strength and by your own willpower.
God has a secret, and that secret is that Christ must come in and He must sit in the throne of your heart and tell you what to do and what not to do. He takes His place there and guides you from within.
The Christian life is just the life of another person lived through you, and that person is Jesus Christ. Now Paul tells about it in Colossians 1, that it’s a “mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!”1 He said the secret of it all is Christ in you. And that’s so true. We just do the yielding, we do the complete surrendering, and then He does the rest. He does the living of His life through you.
I had a preacher friend who had been preaching some years, and he said, “I’ll never forget the day it dawned on me that this indeed was a mystery, indeed a wonderful mystery! And it was revealed to me that it was Christ in me, that Christ really came in and lived out His life through me.”
Paul says in another place, Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” It’s not I, but Christ that liveth in me.
In another place Jesus said, “I have been with you but I shall be in you.” This surrendering, just yielding to Him and letting Him live out His life, reminds me of the story of the little girl, only five and a half years of age, who was telling at a testimony meeting how she got saved and how Jesus had come in her heart to live.
And the hair-splitting old elder, who just couldn’t think of a child like that knowing what she was talking about, came down front and said, “How do you know you’re saved?” And she said, “Well, I know that I asked Jesus to come in my heart and He did come in my heart.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, I know He’s there because He talks to me, and I know, I can feel Him there.”
So then the old elder thought he’d surely catch her with this, and he said, “Well, what would you do if Satan came to your heart to tempt you?”
“Why,” she said, “I would just send Jesus to the door! I wouldn’t do anything. I’d send Jesus to the door, and when Satan saw who lived there he’d say, ‘Excuse me, sir. I came to the wrong house.’”
The old elder turned away, very quietly this time; he had nothing more to say.
How true! When Christ comes into the heart to live, He’s living out His life through you, with you completely surrendering to Him. God’s Word tells us that it’s Christ in us, the hope of glory. He lives in you; let Him have His way! He’s still on the throne and He can be on the throne in your heart, and will change things.
From a transcript of a Meditation Moments broadcast, adapted. Published on Anchor April 2014. Read by Irene Quiti Vera.
1 Colossians 1:26–27.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Pensamentos Sobre as Realidades da Vida
http://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/pensamentos-sobre-realidades-da-vida/
De Maria Fontaine
Às vezes a nossa expectativa sobre viver para o Senhor é irrealista. Achamos que não deverÃamos ter problemas tão sérios, ou que eles deveriam desaparecer mais rápido, ou que não deverÃamos ter tantas lutas. Quando as coisas não estão transcorrendo tranquilamente, temos a tendência de nos condenar e censurar, ou achar que o Senhor não está atendendo porque não Se preocupa — ou porque fizemos algo errado.
Mas ajuda bastante termos uma abordagem diferente, lembrando que muitas vezes as batalhas e dificuldades fazem parte da vida. Assim é a vida. Todas as dificuldades, problemas e lutas fazem parte do nosso processo de aprendizagem, treinamento, crescimento, amadurecimento, fé, e de aprender a ter compaixão e saber suportar.
Muitas coisas na vida são uma luta, mas os desafios e obstáculos podem nos fortalecer se tivermos uma atitude positiva. Não aceite o sentimento de culpa do Inimigo, nem pensar que tem algum problema com vocês — ou com Deus –, porque a vida não é fácil nem tudo está dando perfeitamente certo!
Viver é difÃcil para todos os seres humanos. No entanto, é assim que aprendemos. Se nos concentrarmos em entender como o Senhor vê a nossa situação, e acreditarmos nas Suas promessas de vitória, Ele está sempre pronto para nos ajudar a passar por ela. Se recorrermos a Jesus, Ele nos garantirá que vale a pena travar as batalhas da vida, e as usará para nos fortalecer.
Quando está no meio de uma grande batalha, e o Inimigo faz o máximo possÃvel para confundi-lo ou anuviar o seu entendimento ou convencê-lo de que nunca vai ganhar a vitória então é melhor desistir ali mesmo, é quando precisa de muita fé para levantar a bandeira da vitória no espÃrito e declarar: “Eu já venci!” É exatamente o que precisa fazer para ganhar a vitória nas batalhas espirituais, e exatamente o que vai fazer você avançar espiritualmente e colocá-lo de novo em terras altas.
Não importa como você se sente, se não desistir, as maravilhosas palavras do Senhor e a sua verdade são fortes e poderosas o bastante para colocá-lo rumo à vitória. Basta apegar-se a elas, acreditar e agir de acordo. Eventualmente “verá aquilo em que acreditou”, e receberá a recompensa pela sua fé, a beleza das cinzas.
Seguem-se alguns pensamentos sobre as realidades da vida que espero lhe sejam úteis.
Fazer uma diferença custa
Todo grande santo, homem e mulher de Deus, e qualquer pessoa que fez a diferença no mundo, teve que se sacrificar imensamente no trabalho ou serviço ao Senhor.
Jesus disse:
“Se fossem estudar a vida dos homens e mulheres que nadaram contra a maré e fizeram grandes obras nas suas esferas de ação, veriam que levaram uma vida de sacrifÃcios. Não foi uma vida fácil. Eles faziam apenas o que era mais importante e preciso, usando bem o seu tempo de modo a pouparem forças e energia para o que era realmente importante. Eles eram dedicados a alcançarem suas metas, e passavam a maior parte do tempo pensando, experimentando, treinando, ensinando, motivando, agindo e fazendo o que fosse preciso para obterem êxito.
“Não se realiza nada grandioso de uma maneira simples, corriqueira e sem risco. Tudo que realmente vale alguma coisa na vida tem seu preço, e não é barato!”
Não está em mim
Nós não conseguimos. Cometemos erros. Somos apenas humanos. Mas quando depositamos nossa confiança nEle, então Ele pode cumprir o Seu plano para a nossa vida!
1 CorÃntios 1:28–31: “Mas Deus escolheu as coisas loucas deste mundo para confundir as sábias; e Deus escolheu as coisas fracas deste mundo para confundir as fortes. E Deus escolheu as coisas vis deste mundo, e as desprezÃveis, e as que não são para aniquilar as que são; para que nenhuma carne se glorie perante Ele.’”
Guerra espiritual
A verdade é que está sendo travada uma guerra espiritual, e participamos dela. O espiritual afeta o fÃsico, e vice-versa.
Ter fé é uma decisão consciente e de suma importância, mas só nós podemos tomá-la. Precisamos optar pelo caminho da fé, manter a visão celestial, ficar conectados à Palavra e lutarmos para manter os olhos espirituais abertos de modo a estarmos cientes do plano sobrenatural e mantermos a visão celestial. Isso nos ajudará a vermos as coisas com os olhos do Senhor e continuarmos fortes e inabaláveis nEle.
Todas as coisas mudam. Jesus nunca
Mesmo que tudo ao seu redor mude, Jesus não muda, e o Seu amor, desvelo e promessas são imutáveis.
David Brandt Berg: “Deus Se move. É um Deus em movimento. Nunca está parado. Está sempre indo, agindo, dizendo, efetuando mudanças em todas as esferas da Criação. Nunca está estático, exceto em relação a Si Próprio: ‘Eu Sou o Senhor e não mudo!’
Quanto ao resto, ‘Toda a montanha será abaixada; o que Ele exaltou será humilhado, e os lugares baixos serão exaltados. O que tem um coração contrito e humilhado será grandemente exaltado no tempo oportuno, até que o tempo não mais exista, e o reino do nosso Senhor tenha chegado, quando Aquele que governa com justiça julgará a terra e estabelecerá a paz eterna; e o Reino jamais cairá ou passará a outros.’ Permanecerá para sempre! E nós governaremos e reinaremos com Ele sobre a terra … ‘Porque as coisas visÃveis são passageiras!’ — existem apenas por um pouco de tempo, ‘ao passo que as invisÃveis são eternas.’”
Acontecem coisas difÃceis
Todo ser humano enfrenta dificuldades, coisas ruins, e provas na vida. Não é perfeito. Os erros das pessoas afetam você. A vantagem de viver para o Senhor não é que nada de ruim lhe acontecerá, mas sim que vai poder se beneficiar muito mais disso do que as pessoas que não conhecem o Senhor e não têm as respostas.
Cada pessoa passa por coisas difÃceis, até ruins, ou que não lhes deveriam ter acontecido, e que foram causadas pelos outros. Porém, é opção do indivÃduo permitir que essas coisas colaborem para o seu crescimento ou o deixem amargurado. O Senhor pode usar essas coisas para o bem na sua vida, se você Lhe permitir!
Temos que lembrar queos problemas acontecem pura e simplesmente porque estamos vivos. Quer você seja criança ou adulto, homem ou mulher, cristão ou ateu, haverão batalhas, tribulações e dificuldades, do contrário, não adquirirÃamos força de caráter.
A verdade nua e crua é que não são as circunstâncias que determinam o estado de alguém, mas a atitude dessa pessoa com relação a elas. Essa é a diferença.
Suas promessas infalÃveis
Peter Amsterdam: “O Senhor deu algumas promessas incrÃveis na Sua Palavra. O fato é que essas promessas são reais. Elas foram feitas pelo nosso Deus, que é honesto e nunca mente. Ele nos dá as Suas promessas porque quer nos ver animados contando com o futuro, e para sabermos que Ele está pensando no futuro e fazendo planos para o nosso bem, já tendo reservado coisas grandiosas para cada um de nós.
As promessas que fez em Sua Palavra são verdadeiras e concretas. No entanto, apesar de não serem falsas promessas, são condicionais. Elas dependem de cumprirmos a nossa parte do acordo. Mas se fizermos isso, é garantido que se cumpram — não forçosamente do jeito que queremos ou pensamos, mas no momento e na maneira de Deus.
Precisamos ter uma fé mais profunda para nos agarrarmos firmemente — nas nossas mentes e corações — à s promessas de Deus. Seria injusto limitarmos o que Deus quer fazer, por causa das limitações da nossa realidade, nos baseando no que já vimos e vivenciamos antes e no momento. O futuro é algo totalmente diferente, é outra história. Vamos dar a Deus uma chance de cumprir tudo o que disse que cumpriria! Nós Lhe damos essa chance e poder através de nossa obediência, fé e diligência em seguir aonde Ele nos guiar!”
Publicado originalmente em julho de 2009. Adaptado e republicado em abril de 2014. Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.
De Maria Fontaine
Às vezes a nossa expectativa sobre viver para o Senhor é irrealista. Achamos que não deverÃamos ter problemas tão sérios, ou que eles deveriam desaparecer mais rápido, ou que não deverÃamos ter tantas lutas. Quando as coisas não estão transcorrendo tranquilamente, temos a tendência de nos condenar e censurar, ou achar que o Senhor não está atendendo porque não Se preocupa — ou porque fizemos algo errado.
Mas ajuda bastante termos uma abordagem diferente, lembrando que muitas vezes as batalhas e dificuldades fazem parte da vida. Assim é a vida. Todas as dificuldades, problemas e lutas fazem parte do nosso processo de aprendizagem, treinamento, crescimento, amadurecimento, fé, e de aprender a ter compaixão e saber suportar.
Muitas coisas na vida são uma luta, mas os desafios e obstáculos podem nos fortalecer se tivermos uma atitude positiva. Não aceite o sentimento de culpa do Inimigo, nem pensar que tem algum problema com vocês — ou com Deus –, porque a vida não é fácil nem tudo está dando perfeitamente certo!
Viver é difÃcil para todos os seres humanos. No entanto, é assim que aprendemos. Se nos concentrarmos em entender como o Senhor vê a nossa situação, e acreditarmos nas Suas promessas de vitória, Ele está sempre pronto para nos ajudar a passar por ela. Se recorrermos a Jesus, Ele nos garantirá que vale a pena travar as batalhas da vida, e as usará para nos fortalecer.
Quando está no meio de uma grande batalha, e o Inimigo faz o máximo possÃvel para confundi-lo ou anuviar o seu entendimento ou convencê-lo de que nunca vai ganhar a vitória então é melhor desistir ali mesmo, é quando precisa de muita fé para levantar a bandeira da vitória no espÃrito e declarar: “Eu já venci!” É exatamente o que precisa fazer para ganhar a vitória nas batalhas espirituais, e exatamente o que vai fazer você avançar espiritualmente e colocá-lo de novo em terras altas.
Não importa como você se sente, se não desistir, as maravilhosas palavras do Senhor e a sua verdade são fortes e poderosas o bastante para colocá-lo rumo à vitória. Basta apegar-se a elas, acreditar e agir de acordo. Eventualmente “verá aquilo em que acreditou”, e receberá a recompensa pela sua fé, a beleza das cinzas.
Seguem-se alguns pensamentos sobre as realidades da vida que espero lhe sejam úteis.
Fazer uma diferença custa
Todo grande santo, homem e mulher de Deus, e qualquer pessoa que fez a diferença no mundo, teve que se sacrificar imensamente no trabalho ou serviço ao Senhor.
Jesus disse:
“Se fossem estudar a vida dos homens e mulheres que nadaram contra a maré e fizeram grandes obras nas suas esferas de ação, veriam que levaram uma vida de sacrifÃcios. Não foi uma vida fácil. Eles faziam apenas o que era mais importante e preciso, usando bem o seu tempo de modo a pouparem forças e energia para o que era realmente importante. Eles eram dedicados a alcançarem suas metas, e passavam a maior parte do tempo pensando, experimentando, treinando, ensinando, motivando, agindo e fazendo o que fosse preciso para obterem êxito.
“Não se realiza nada grandioso de uma maneira simples, corriqueira e sem risco. Tudo que realmente vale alguma coisa na vida tem seu preço, e não é barato!”
Não está em mim
Nós não conseguimos. Cometemos erros. Somos apenas humanos. Mas quando depositamos nossa confiança nEle, então Ele pode cumprir o Seu plano para a nossa vida!
1 CorÃntios 1:28–31: “Mas Deus escolheu as coisas loucas deste mundo para confundir as sábias; e Deus escolheu as coisas fracas deste mundo para confundir as fortes. E Deus escolheu as coisas vis deste mundo, e as desprezÃveis, e as que não são para aniquilar as que são; para que nenhuma carne se glorie perante Ele.’”
Guerra espiritual
A verdade é que está sendo travada uma guerra espiritual, e participamos dela. O espiritual afeta o fÃsico, e vice-versa.
Ter fé é uma decisão consciente e de suma importância, mas só nós podemos tomá-la. Precisamos optar pelo caminho da fé, manter a visão celestial, ficar conectados à Palavra e lutarmos para manter os olhos espirituais abertos de modo a estarmos cientes do plano sobrenatural e mantermos a visão celestial. Isso nos ajudará a vermos as coisas com os olhos do Senhor e continuarmos fortes e inabaláveis nEle.
Todas as coisas mudam. Jesus nunca
Mesmo que tudo ao seu redor mude, Jesus não muda, e o Seu amor, desvelo e promessas são imutáveis.
David Brandt Berg: “Deus Se move. É um Deus em movimento. Nunca está parado. Está sempre indo, agindo, dizendo, efetuando mudanças em todas as esferas da Criação. Nunca está estático, exceto em relação a Si Próprio: ‘Eu Sou o Senhor e não mudo!’
Quanto ao resto, ‘Toda a montanha será abaixada; o que Ele exaltou será humilhado, e os lugares baixos serão exaltados. O que tem um coração contrito e humilhado será grandemente exaltado no tempo oportuno, até que o tempo não mais exista, e o reino do nosso Senhor tenha chegado, quando Aquele que governa com justiça julgará a terra e estabelecerá a paz eterna; e o Reino jamais cairá ou passará a outros.’ Permanecerá para sempre! E nós governaremos e reinaremos com Ele sobre a terra … ‘Porque as coisas visÃveis são passageiras!’ — existem apenas por um pouco de tempo, ‘ao passo que as invisÃveis são eternas.’”
Acontecem coisas difÃceis
Todo ser humano enfrenta dificuldades, coisas ruins, e provas na vida. Não é perfeito. Os erros das pessoas afetam você. A vantagem de viver para o Senhor não é que nada de ruim lhe acontecerá, mas sim que vai poder se beneficiar muito mais disso do que as pessoas que não conhecem o Senhor e não têm as respostas.
Cada pessoa passa por coisas difÃceis, até ruins, ou que não lhes deveriam ter acontecido, e que foram causadas pelos outros. Porém, é opção do indivÃduo permitir que essas coisas colaborem para o seu crescimento ou o deixem amargurado. O Senhor pode usar essas coisas para o bem na sua vida, se você Lhe permitir!
Temos que lembrar queos problemas acontecem pura e simplesmente porque estamos vivos. Quer você seja criança ou adulto, homem ou mulher, cristão ou ateu, haverão batalhas, tribulações e dificuldades, do contrário, não adquirirÃamos força de caráter.
A verdade nua e crua é que não são as circunstâncias que determinam o estado de alguém, mas a atitude dessa pessoa com relação a elas. Essa é a diferença.
Suas promessas infalÃveis
Peter Amsterdam: “O Senhor deu algumas promessas incrÃveis na Sua Palavra. O fato é que essas promessas são reais. Elas foram feitas pelo nosso Deus, que é honesto e nunca mente. Ele nos dá as Suas promessas porque quer nos ver animados contando com o futuro, e para sabermos que Ele está pensando no futuro e fazendo planos para o nosso bem, já tendo reservado coisas grandiosas para cada um de nós.
As promessas que fez em Sua Palavra são verdadeiras e concretas. No entanto, apesar de não serem falsas promessas, são condicionais. Elas dependem de cumprirmos a nossa parte do acordo. Mas se fizermos isso, é garantido que se cumpram — não forçosamente do jeito que queremos ou pensamos, mas no momento e na maneira de Deus.
Precisamos ter uma fé mais profunda para nos agarrarmos firmemente — nas nossas mentes e corações — à s promessas de Deus. Seria injusto limitarmos o que Deus quer fazer, por causa das limitações da nossa realidade, nos baseando no que já vimos e vivenciamos antes e no momento. O futuro é algo totalmente diferente, é outra história. Vamos dar a Deus uma chance de cumprir tudo o que disse que cumpriria! Nós Lhe damos essa chance e poder através de nossa obediência, fé e diligência em seguir aonde Ele nos guiar!”
Publicado originalmente em julho de 2009. Adaptado e republicado em abril de 2014. Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.
The Resurrection: The Turning Point in History
http://anchor.tfionline.com/post/resurrection-turning-point-history/
A compilation
What mere human can choose his own birthplace? Or what mortal man can—or would—cause the officials of a foreign government to order his death by a terribly agonizing execution? How could anyone manipulate their bitter enemies to pay a specific price for their betrayal, mock and revile them as they are dying, much less cause a band of soldiers to gamble for their clothing and pierce their side after they’ve died, and cause a rich man to bury their body in his own personal tomb? Yet Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled not only these, but over 300 more specific predictions regarding His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Truly He was—and is—“unique” in every sense of the word!
Not one of the great recognized religious leaders—not Moses, not Buddha, not Confucius, not Mohammed—ever claimed to be God. True, some have been deified by their followers after they died, but none ever personally claimed to be deity.—That is, with the exception of Jesus Christ. In fact, He not only claimed to be the Son of God, God manifest in human flesh, but He convinced a great portion of the world that He in fact isGod’s Son.
There is no reason to doubt that after His death, something incredible happened which transformed His tiny band of dejected followers into a company of witnesses whom all the persecution of Imperial Rome could not stop. Downhearted and discouraged, their Lord cruelly crucified by His enemies, it looked to those disciples as if their hopes had died and their dreams had been shattered.
But three days after Jesus’ death, their faith was rekindled in such a dramatic manner that no force on earth was able to quench it! And that lowly handful of His original followers went on to tell the entire world the Good News.—That God not only sent His Son into the world to teach us His truth and show us His love, but also that Jesus suffered death for our sake, and then rose from the grave.—So that we who know and believe on Him never need to fear death again, for we are saved and on our way to heaven, thanks to Jesus.
The New Testament also tells us that Jesus personally appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses after His resurrection.1 This was the resounding message that His first disciples boldly proclaimed throughout the world: “God raised Him from the dead!”2—From “Who Is Jesus,” TFI
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Early Christianity was a “resurrection” movement through and through. … To preach the Resurrection is to announce the fact that the world is a different place, and that we have to live in that “different-ness.” The Resurrection is not just God doing a wacky miracle at one time. We have to preach it in a way that says this was the turning point in world history.—N. T. Wright
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Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith. It is the Christian faith.—George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury
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Think of it! God sent His own Son, the very Lord of heaven, the master of the universe, down to earth to become one of us. He was miraculously conceived in the womb of a humble and lowly virgin named Mary, and took on the form of human flesh just like ours. Therefore He was the Son of Man as well as the Son of God.
Jesus not only adapted Himself to our bodily form, but He also conformed to our human ways of life, customs, language, dress, and living so that He might understand us better and be able to communicate with us on the lowly level of our human understanding. He became a citizen of this world, a member of humanity, a man of flesh, so that He might reach us with His love, prove to us His compassion and concern, and help us understand His message.
He came down and lived like us, worked like us, had to sleep like us, eat like us, and do everything that we have to do. There were times when He was weary, tired, and footsore, when He was hungry and thirsty, sad and discouraged. He became one of us, and as the Bible says, “was tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.”3
Jesus spent His time going around everywhere doing good—feeding people who were hungry, healing those who were sick, cheering and comforting those who were sad and brokenhearted. He loved everybody, even the poorest of the poor, and those whom everybody else looked down on.
He never had any kind of religious buildings, denominations, or formal congregations. He simply went out and met people on the streets, by the seashore, in the marketplaces—wherever He could reach them—and shared His message of love with all who would listen to it. He befriended even the most despised and rejected members of society: tax collectors, drunks, prostitutes, and sinners.
His religion of love was so simple that He said, “You must become as a little child to receive it.”4
Jesus didn’t have to die on the cross. He said, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”5 He was the Son of God, and all the powers of the universe were at His disposal, at His command. He told His captors, “You could have no power over Me at all unless it was given to you from My Father. … I could lift My little finger and thousands of angels would immediately deliver Me from your hand.”6 He could have called on all the forces of heaven to slaughter His enemies, conquer Rome, and take over the world. But instead, He chose to lay down His life for you and me.
Why would the King of kings, the Lord of the universe, God in the flesh, allow himself to be captured, falsely accused, tried and condemned, whipped, stripped, and nailed to a cross like a common criminal? The answer is simple—because He loved you and me!
Three days after His lifeless body was buried, something happened that shocked His enemies and proved to all of His followers that He really was the Son of God: He rose from the dead, the victor over death and hell forever!
After His resurrection, He personally appeared to literally hundreds of His followers, encouraging, strengthening, and comforting them. He told them that He was going to return to be with His heavenly Father, but that He would always be with them in spirit, living in their hearts forever. He also gave His followers a wonderful promise, that one day, “I will come again.” The Son of Man shall “come in the clouds, with power and great majesty.”7—David Brandt Berg
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Against the background of the modern predicament, the traditional Christian hope of the resurrection takes on an even greater brightness and significance. It tells man that he is no orphan after all, but the personal image of the Creator God of the universe; nor is his life doomed in death, for through the eschatological resurrection he may live in the presence of God forever.
This is a wonderful hope. But, of course, hope that is not founded in fact is not hope, but mere illusion. Why should the Christian hope of eschatological resurrection appear to modern man as anything more than mere wishful thinking? The answer lies in the Christian conviction that a man has been proleptically8 raised by God from the dead as the forerunner and exemplar of our own eschatological resurrection. That man was Jesus of Nazareth, and his historical resurrection from the dead constitutes the factual foundation upon which the Christian hope is based.—William Lane Craig
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The entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection.—Billy Graham
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I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.—Charles Colson
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See, then, the power of His resurrection—it proves without a doubt the faith once delivered to the saints. Supported by infallible proofs, it becomes itself the infallible proof of the authority, power, and glory of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God … the power of our Lord’s resurrection is an evidencing power … a justifying power, a life-giving power, and a consoling power.—Charles H. Spurgeon
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The blessings of the Gospel are substantial facts and not mere theological opinions. As the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead was a plain visible matter of fact, such is the evidencing power of the resurrection of Christ, that when every other argument fails your faith, you may find safe anchorage in this assured fact. The currents of doubt may bear you towards the rocks of mistrust. But when your anchor finds no other hold, it may grip the fact of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This must be true. The witnesses are too many to have been deceived. And their patient deaths on account of their belief proved that they were not only honest men but good men who valued the Truth of God more than life. We know that Jesus rose from the dead—whatever else we are forced to question, we have no question on that score. We may be tossed about upon the sea in reference to other statements, but we step to shore again and find terra firma in this unquestionable, firmly established Truth—“The Lord is risen, indeed.”—Charles H. Spurgeon
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There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three.—Billy Graham
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Historical argument alone cannot force anyone to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. But historical argument is remarkably good at clearing away the undergrowth behind which skepticisms of various sorts have been hiding. The proposal that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead possesses unrivaled power to explain the historical data at the heart of early Christianity.—N. T. Wright
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It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.—Paul addressing Governor Felix, Acts 24:21
Published on Anchor April 2014. Read by Simon Peterson.
1 1 Corinthians 15:6.
2 Acts 13:30.
3 Hebrews 4:15.
4 Matthew 18:3.
5 Matthew 28:18.
6 John 19:11; Matthew 26:53.
7 John 14:3; Luke 21:27.
8 Proleptic (adj.): foreshadowing, anticipatory.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Things That Are an Abomination to God
The following is a list of things which are an abomination to God as found in the Bible. I will not make much commentation, but let the Scriptures speak for themselves.
Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Compare Leviticus 20:13) This is homosexuality.
1. Deuteronomy 18:10-12, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits,(This is what Reiki and other occult practices are actually doing.) or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD."
A. Passing through the fire is the literal sacrifice of children in a sacrificial fire.
B. Divination is one who claims secret knowledge, especially of the future. Sometimes it is translated witchcraft, and is used of false prophets. (Reiki claims to give you some secret knowledge that will give you healing powers and make your life better.)
C. An observer of times is one who pretends to foretell the future. Sometimes translated a soothsayer, or fortune-teller.
D. An enchanter is like someone who observes serpents (all have seen the flute player as he charms the snake).
E. A witch is one who uses witchcraft, a sorcerer.
F.A charmer is one who supposedly casts a spell.
G. A consulter with familiar spirits is one who consults an oracle for information.(Reiki calls it calling on your angel spirit helpers)
H. A wizard is a wise man, perhaps one who claims to be wiser than he is, and that he can do more than he really can.
I. A necromancer is one who claims to consult, or inquire with the dead.
2. Deuteronomy 25:16, "For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God." (In this context the Lord is speaking of weighing and measuring fairly and properly with weights and measures.)
3. Deuteronomy 27:15, "Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD." (Speaking of things to be worshiped, in other words, in today context it would mean the worship of material things instead of God).
4. Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look (pride), a lying tongue (a liar), and hands that shed innocent blood (abortionist/murderer), An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
5. Proverbs 3:32, "For the froward (perverse, devious) is abomination to the LORD:"
6. Proverbs 15:9, "The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but He loveth him that followeth after righteousness."
7. Proverbs 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:"
8. Proverbs 17:15, "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD."
9. Proverbs 24:9, "The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men." (This is speaking of mocking and scoffing at others.)
10. Proverbs 28:9, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
11. Ezekiel 18:12,13, "Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him." (Could this be the International Bankers?)
12. Ezekiel 22:11, "And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee had humbled his sister, his father’s daughter."
13. Malachi 2:11, "Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god."
14. Luke 16:15, "And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteem among men is abomination in the sight of God."
15. Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."
16. Leviticus 18:19-26, immorality, adultery, sacrificing children to Moloch, homosexuality, bestiality, etc.
17. Deuteronomy 20:18, the worship and service to false gods.
18. II Kings 23:24, "Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations"
