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| − | == [[File:Page.png]] April's featured article<span style="font-size:85%; font-weight:normal;"></span> == | + | == [[File:Page.png]] May's featured article<span style="font-size:85%; font-weight:normal;"></span> == |
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| − | === Easter - When Was Jesus Crucified? === | + | === Satan === |
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| − | When purchasing a house or acreage one always takes the precaution of having it surveyed to insure against the unpleasant surprise of finding that half your new home has been built on your neighbour's property, or the dam is not on your land. To prove the accuracy of the map or plan of your purchase, the surveyor will first locate a government "trig" station or absolute, then fix one corner of your property from this constant as his datum post. And from this known fixed point he will accurately measure and confirm all the other boundaries of the site.
| + | Notwithstanding that both God and Christ together with prophets and apostles, present him in scripture as a real being, many in the professing church reject the absolute reality of Satan. They argue that he is an abstract force, a mythological part of man's growing up, and that to believe in his existence and personality is primitive, naïve and even superstitious. Others contend that the term Satan is simply the personification of evil influences in men's heart and that the language describing him in scripture is meant to be figurative, not literal. But we must accept scriptures at face value and not look for hidden meanings - let the scriptures speak for themselves (cp Eze 28:11-19). Here we learn the origin of Satan: he was created by God - an angelic being (cp Eze 28:12-14 with Col 1:16-17). When God created Satan he was the model of perfection, full of wisdom. He was bejewelled with every precious stone and was even piped to play music. God had appointed him guardian angel, …the anointed cherub that covereth. Covereth here means to hedge in , protect, and defend, fence in, cover over. Satan was perfect in his ways until his heart was corrupted by pride because of his beauty, and he then tried to usurp the throne of God (cp Eze 28:15-19 and Isa 14:12-15 with 1Ti 3:6). |
| | + | In Isa 14:12 God calls Satan "Lucifer", which means "Son of the morning, the light bearer". Lucifer became Satan after he tried to usurp God's throne. The name Satan means adversary, enemy, opponent; one who resists, obstructs and hinders that which is good. Satan is the adversary or enemy of God, Christ and all mankind (cp Psa 109:6; Zech 3:1-2; Lk 13:16; 22:3-4, 31; Ac 10:38; 2Cor 4:3-4; 1Th 2:18; 2Ti 2:26; 1Pe 5:8). In Ac 10:38, 2Ti 2:26 and 1Pe 5:8 here Satan is also called the devil, which means "accuser, slanderer". The devil is a malicious enemy of God's people, looking for ways to overcome them with temptation, persecution and discouragement (cp 2Cor 2:10-11). The devil is called the accuser of the brethren. He accuses them before God day and night (cp Rev 12:10). Satan is also called the God of this world in 2Cor 4:3-4; he will do anything to prevent the gospel being heard. Satan has blinded men to God's truth through the evil world system he has created with its cares, and temptations and desires, both moral and physical. Paul is not referring to Satan in 2Cor 4:4 as a god in the sense he is a deity, but because he is the one who controls unbelievers, and is the one they serve, whether they know it or not (cp Jn 8:44; Ro 6:16; 1Jn 3:8). |
| | + | Those who reject Satan as a real being, reject the Genesis account of man's fall from grace. They argue that it is allegorical, not literal (cp Gen 3:1-6). Those who reject Satan as a real being cannot accept as factual that a serpent actually spoke to Eve here and caused her to sin. Yet Paul the apostle, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, accepted it as factual (cp 2Cor 11:3). To reject the Genesis account of the fall is to reject the authority of scripture. Scriptures throughout teach that Satan is a real being-an angel, albeit a fallen one. |
| | + | The Genesis account of the fall is not teaching as some think, that Satan was transformed into the serpent, although he is called a serpent - among other names - elsewhere in scripture (cp Rev 12:9-15, 20:1-2). In Gen 3:1-6 Satan animated the serpent. We know it is so because God cursed him as well as the serpent for what happened (cp Gen 3:14-15). God is addressing two distinct and separate beings here. In Gen 3:14 He addresses the serpent, cursing him to henceforth crawl on his belly in the dust, which indicates that prior to this the serpent moved about in an upright position. In V15 God cursed Satan, pronouncing enmity between his seed - the children of the devil - and the seed of the woman, Jesus. This predicated the perpetual hostility between the children of the devil and the children of God (cp Mt 10:34-38; Jn 15:18-19; Jas 4:4; 1Pe 4:12-19; 1Jn 2:15-17; 3:8-13; 4:1-6). |
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| − | Ancient masons who built the great cathedrals first established the precise location of one point. Here they laid the cornerstone from which the whole structure was measured. In a recent teaching we learned that Christ is the head of the corner or capstone, from which the temple of the living God or Church is measured. Tonight we're going to revisit the last supper and crucifixion and drive in a few datum posts, or establish some constants, measured from the Absolute or "trig" station of God's Word to make sure the story we are believing is the mind of God, and not Roman Catholic traditions from our denominational past. Scripture has provided us with a series of FIXED days and FIXED dates we can plot on the calendar to determine the events which occupied the last week of our Lord's life on earth, and establish the precise day of His crucifixion. Throughout this lesson I ask you to bear in mind that the Hebrews reckoned their day from sunset to sunset instead of from midnight. We will set forth Jesus' activities as they might have happened in the week before Calvary.
| + | '''Continue Reading''' [[Satan]] |
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| − | I am not teaching this as doctrine and I may have some details out of order. This will help us to organise our thinking and paint an ordered picture in our own mind. After the resurrection of Lazarus was reported, the chief priests and Pharisees became concerned at the many following and believing on Jesus because of His Supernatural vindication. They feared for their exalted station over Israel, and their status with the Roman rulers. Caiaphas interposed with the solution: "It's expedient for the hierarchy, that one man should die for the people, to preserve the (religious status quo) of our nation" (John 11:47-57). To these Hebrews, any utterance of the high priest was regarded as inspired. Caiaphas had announced a conspiracy to have Jesus put to death by Rome; God used his tongue to prophesy. Thereafter Jesus hid himself from the Jews who were ordered to report any sightings of Him.
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| − | The Passover was approaching. This year Jesus was to be that Lamb (John 1:29-34), so He began making His way back towards Bethany which lies on the side of the Mount of Olives, eastward from Jerusalem. He had to be there by Nisan 10 as the Law required the lamb should be separated from the flock on that day (Exodus 12:3-6). It was to be kept in the home for the next four days to be examined for and protected from any blemishes. Jesus was separated and taken into the home of his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. From here He was presented to the people and their denominational religious leaders for examination, but even Pilate declared, "I find no fault in Him".
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| − | Nisan 7, our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset Jesus spent our Thursday night (Nisan 7) near Jericho, at the home of Zacchaeus the businessman (Luke 19:1-10). On Friday morning He preached the "parable of the pounds" and set off towards Jerusalem (Luke 19:11-28). Bypassing Bethany, they came to Bethphage, where He sent His disciples to fetch an ass and a colt (Matthew 21:1-7).
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| − | Jesus is followed by a multitude from the village rejoicing at the fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass".
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| − | Down in Jerusalem, however, nobody was expecting this Kinsman that Zechariah said would come in peace to be a ransom for their souls. Jesus entered the Temple courts where money changers were selling the Temple half shekel as they did at each Passover season. Every adult male must pay the annual ransom that furnished the continual burnt offerings and Temple necessaries. Jesus was that continual burnt offering. In righteous indignation He cast out the money changers who were making unjust profit, and overturned their tables. This was a full day's work and Jesus was exhausted when He arrived at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany on Friday night our time (Matthew 21:8-17; John 12:1).
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| − | Nisan 8, our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset John 12:1 takes us to Nisan 8. From Friday sunset until Saturday sunset our time. "SIX days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead". Jesus spent the Sabbath of Nisan 8 in the home of Lazarus and his sisters. Nisan 9, our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset After sunset and the close of the Sabbath "They made Him a supper; Martha served: but Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus and their guests" (John 12:2). This is the first of three banquets and two anointing (three in the Gospels, the first in Capernaum - Luke 7:36-50) in the four days before the crucifixion. Lazarus' sister, Mary anointed Jesus' feet in token of His burial (John 12:3-11).
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| − | The priests have become pretty testy by this time. They know where Jesus is, and people are going to Bethany not only to see Him, but the resurrected Lazarus who is the vindication of Jesus' ministry. They're plotting to kill both Jesus and Lazarus, because many are believing on Jesus through the testimony of Lazarus who is said to have had an important ministry, working in Britain and in France, founding the Church in Britain.
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| − | Now Jesus is about to give the nicolaitane priesthood of His day some curry. Great crowds had assembled in Jerusalem from all over the world, to observe the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread. These required a compulsory annual pilgrimage from all adult male Israelites. Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a colt. This time He will ride from Bethany (not from Bethphage) into Jerusalem, and in judgement, to proclaim the doom of the city and of the nation. John 12:12-19, "On the next day (Sunday, Nisan 9, our time), when they heard the news that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem (unlike his entry on the previous day which was unexpected), many pilgrims who had come to the feast took palm branches, and went to meet Him, crying, 'Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of the Lord'.
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| − | '''Continue Reading''' [[Easter - When Was Jesus Crucified?]] | + | |
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 May's featured article
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Satan
Notwithstanding that both God and Christ together with prophets and apostles, present him in scripture as a real being, many in the professing church reject the absolute reality of Satan. They argue that he is an abstract force, a mythological part of man's growing up, and that to believe in his existence and personality is primitive, naïve and even superstitious. Others contend that the term Satan is simply the personification of evil influences in men's heart and that the language describing him in scripture is meant to be figurative, not literal. But we must accept scriptures at face value and not look for hidden meanings - let the scriptures speak for themselves (cp Eze 28:11-19). Here we learn the origin of Satan: he was created by God - an angelic being (cp Eze 28:12-14 with Col 1:16-17). When God created Satan he was the model of perfection, full of wisdom. He was bejewelled with every precious stone and was even piped to play music. God had appointed him guardian angel, …the anointed cherub that covereth. Covereth here means to hedge in , protect, and defend, fence in, cover over. Satan was perfect in his ways until his heart was corrupted by pride because of his beauty, and he then tried to usurp the throne of God (cp Eze 28:15-19 and Isa 14:12-15 with 1Ti 3:6).
In Isa 14:12 God calls Satan "Lucifer", which means "Son of the morning, the light bearer". Lucifer became Satan after he tried to usurp God's throne. The name Satan means adversary, enemy, opponent; one who resists, obstructs and hinders that which is good. Satan is the adversary or enemy of God, Christ and all mankind (cp Psa 109:6; Zech 3:1-2; Lk 13:16; 22:3-4, 31; Ac 10:38; 2Cor 4:3-4; 1Th 2:18; 2Ti 2:26; 1Pe 5:8). In Ac 10:38, 2Ti 2:26 and 1Pe 5:8 here Satan is also called the devil, which means "accuser, slanderer". The devil is a malicious enemy of God's people, looking for ways to overcome them with temptation, persecution and discouragement (cp 2Cor 2:10-11). The devil is called the accuser of the brethren. He accuses them before God day and night (cp Rev 12:10). Satan is also called the God of this world in 2Cor 4:3-4; he will do anything to prevent the gospel being heard. Satan has blinded men to God's truth through the evil world system he has created with its cares, and temptations and desires, both moral and physical. Paul is not referring to Satan in 2Cor 4:4 as a god in the sense he is a deity, but because he is the one who controls unbelievers, and is the one they serve, whether they know it or not (cp Jn 8:44; Ro 6:16; 1Jn 3:8).
Those who reject Satan as a real being, reject the Genesis account of man's fall from grace. They argue that it is allegorical, not literal (cp Gen 3:1-6). Those who reject Satan as a real being cannot accept as factual that a serpent actually spoke to Eve here and caused her to sin. Yet Paul the apostle, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, accepted it as factual (cp 2Cor 11:3). To reject the Genesis account of the fall is to reject the authority of scripture. Scriptures throughout teach that Satan is a real being-an angel, albeit a fallen one.
The Genesis account of the fall is not teaching as some think, that Satan was transformed into the serpent, although he is called a serpent - among other names - elsewhere in scripture (cp Rev 12:9-15, 20:1-2). In Gen 3:1-6 Satan animated the serpent. We know it is so because God cursed him as well as the serpent for what happened (cp Gen 3:14-15). God is addressing two distinct and separate beings here. In Gen 3:14 He addresses the serpent, cursing him to henceforth crawl on his belly in the dust, which indicates that prior to this the serpent moved about in an upright position. In V15 God cursed Satan, pronouncing enmity between his seed - the children of the devil - and the seed of the woman, Jesus. This predicated the perpetual hostility between the children of the devil and the children of God (cp Mt 10:34-38; Jn 15:18-19; Jas 4:4; 1Pe 4:12-19; 1Jn 2:15-17; 3:8-13; 4:1-6).
Continue Reading Satan
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 Do you have a ministry or a business
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Do you have a called of God ministry where your whole purpose is to "feed the sheep", and God supplies your needs, or do you have books, tapes, videos, etc. that you SELL for a "donation", or just outright SELL, and your buyers supply your needs?
There is nothing wrong with being in business and selling things. However, if you are a church or any kind of "ministry", you may want to check your motive for how you are conducting the work of the Lord.
Remember the money changers in the temple where JESUS turned over the tables and threw them out. They were selling things in the "CHURCH". (God made it quite clear to us that we were not to charge for anything, that HE was our source.)
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| We feature articles by Words of Righteousness, check out the below to find out more.
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 Robertthompson.gif Sermons on the Paster's page www.wor.org
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| We also feature articles By David C. Pack see below to find out more.
By David C. Pack
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 Logo public dcp.jpg World Economic Collapse! – And You!
WHY Coming World Punishment! (Part 1)
20 Verses Christianity Ignores! (Part 1)
presented by David C. Pack
Millions of professing Christians assume they are being taught the truths of the Bible. Yet almost no one knows even the most basic teachings of God’s Word. Here are 10 Bible verses Christianity ignores or rejects!
Does God still heal today? Did such miraculous intervention end with Christ and the apostles? Is God now working through medical science? Should Christians ever seek doctors? If so, when—under what circumstances? What about public “faith healers”? Here is the plain truth about healing!
You Can Prove the Bible’s Authority
Many accept the Bible’s divine authority on faith, thinking it cannot be proven. Is what is often called the Book of books the Word of God? Or is it mere superstition—an uninspired work of men?
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| Christians are left with real questions in reference to Islam:
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What role if any did the teachings of the Qur'an play in the 9/11 attacks? What does Islam really teach? What about Jihad? Should Christians try to befriend our Muslim neighbors and share the gospel? If so, how? The title is Understanding Islam: A Christian Perspective. I would like you to watch it for free. Please forward this to all your friends!
Your free video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5fzeexxJno
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