Are You Committed

                                                
 
 
                                                                                                 
Commitment is a popular word in religious circles. But don’t forget that commitment is a two-edged sword. When you commit yourself to God, you commit yourself to obey Him — with commitment comes responsibility.
 
What is Commitment?
 
In simplest terms, a commitment is “something pledged.”
 
A parent promises to give a child candy after dinner — that is a commitment. A girl promises to go on a date with a boy — that is a commitment. God promises eternal life to the faithful — that is a commitment.
 
Our Commitment to Jesus
 
Although the word commitment does not appear in the Bible, Jesus reveals our commitment as His disciples. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:26-27).
 
We must love Jesus above everything and everyone on earth — we must put Him first. Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matt. 16:24-26)?
 
Jesus’ Was Committed Upon Earth
 
Jesus requires a total, complete, sacrificial commitment from people who desire to be His disciples. But at the same time, Jesus has shown us the way to salvation by living the committed life He requires of us.
 
Jesus is therefore a sympathetic High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16), leaving us an example of total commitment to God, “Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in turn; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:22-23).
 
Thus, Jesus demonstrated commitment. He committed Himself to God by living righteously, and by suffering in order to bear our sins upon the cross — by His stripes we’ve been healed (1 Pet. 2:24).
 
Jesus Committed Himself to God in Death
 
With His last words and final breaths, Jesus committed Himself to God — complete and endless commitment while suffering on the cross.
 
Moments before giving up His spirit, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit” (Lk. 23:46). He committed Himself to God, who judges righteously (1 Pet. 2:23).
 
Jesus Has Shown Us The Way
 
Jesus has shown us the way to salvation. “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9) — “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
 
We’re committed to either Jesus or the world.
 
To whom are you committed? Are you committed to Christ? Have you entrusted yourself to God?
If I’m committed to God
I’ll put Him first.
I’ll serve Him in everything I do.
I’ll entrust myself to Him and His judgment.
I’ll busily work in His kingdom, without distraction from the world.
I’ll trust Him, rather than worry about things I can’t control.
I’ll cast my cares upon Him, and trust Him to deal with my problems.
I won’t be afraid to die — God will take care of me, and my loved ones.
I’ll live in heaven for eternity.
 
God Bless!
 
 
 


Gods Power In Weakness

 

Lets start by looking at the source of our strength which is the Word of God—the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written word, the Bible.

It’s vital that our minds be renewed through scripture, giving us an understanding of God’s perspective of our weakness. But victory through weakness doesn’t occur by mere head knowledge. Scripture is alive! It possesses power! (Hebrews 4:12) This power comes through the Spirit of Christ—the Holy Spirit.

“This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life” (Psalm 119:50, AMP).

God designed his word to do a work in our lives. He allowed our weakness to occur in order to draw us to Him—that we might look to HIM and receive His strength. He becomes our strength when we remain in Him and His Word remains in us.

These scriptures about weakness and God’s strength are a great place to begin. Meditate on them and let the Holy Spirit renew your mind and fill you with His power and perspective. But don’t stop with these verses—expand from them into the rest of scripture.

This is our comfort and consolation in our affliction and weaknesses—that His word has revived us and given us life and strength and power!

Scriptures About Weakness and Strength

Exodus 15:2 (ESV)

The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

1 Samuel 2:9 (NKJ)

He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
For by strength no man shall prevail.

2 Samuel 22:33    God is my Strength and power and he makes my way perfect.

1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually! (

Nehemiah 8:10 

…the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Psalm 18:1-3 

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 33:16

The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

Psalm 27:1 )

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psalm 31:24 

Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 61:1-4 (HCSB)

God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
I call to You from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
for You have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
I will live in Your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Psalm 73:26 (ESV)

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Psalm 84:5-7 (AMP)

5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 105:3-4 (AMP)

3 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek and require the Lord [as their indispensable necessity].

4 Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength…seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.

Psalm 147 (NASB)

5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons within you.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)

…in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. 

Joel 3:10 (ESV)

…Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

Hab 3:17-19 (AMP)

17 Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

Romans 8:26 (NKJ)

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (ESV)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2 Corinthians 12:5 (NASB)

On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.

2 Cornithians 12:9-10 (HCSB)

9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Ephesians 6:10 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (

Philippians 4:13 

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Hebrews 4:15-16

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Revelation 3:8 (HCSB)

8 I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.

  • God allows our weakness in order to draw us to Him. He becomes our strength when we remain in Him and His Word remains in us. > 
  • This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life. ~ Psalm 119:50 >
  • My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ~ Psalm 73:26 > 
  • I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer… Psalm 18:1-2 > 
  • Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! ~ 1 Chronicles 16:11 >
  • The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. Psalm 33:16 >
  • The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? ~ Psalm 27:1 > 
  • In quietness and in trust shall be your strength. ~ Isaiah 30:15 > 
  • Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ~ Joel 3:10 > 
  • God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect. ~ 2 Samuel 22:33 > 
  • Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ~ Ephesians 6:10 > 
  • I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. ~ Phil. 4:13 >
Remember to Pull from Gods word in the time of weakness and allow his word to empower you!
            
           God Bless!


What does the Bible say about busybodies.

 

Answer:
 
A busybody is a person who meddles in the affairs of others. Sometimes this meddling is under the guise of “helping,” but usually the “help” is unwelcome and uninvited. Busybodies are often people who are dissatisfied with the level of drama in their own lives and gain satisfaction by becoming involved in the problems of other people. Gossip is usually a staple of every busybody, but it is usually camouflaged as a “prayer request” or given under the pretense of asking for advice.

The Bible has strong words for busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:13). First Peter 4:15 warns us, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.” It is noteworthy that Peter lists meddling as prohibited right along with murder and theft. Busybodies within the church often camouflage their nosey meddling as compassionate concern. The difference between meddling and concern, however, is whether or not the intrusion is beneficial or productive in the lives of others.

Some people have difficulty recognizing themselves as busybodies, so a few questions can aid in determining whether or not attempts to “help” are in fact meddling. A potential busybody should ask him/herself the following questions:

1. Is this any of my business? (1 Timothy 5:13)
2. Has God given me this assignment? (Ephesians 6:19)
3. Am I qualified to involve myself with this? (Romans 14:10)
4. Is my true motivation to bring help, or do I only want to feel needed? (1 Corinthians 13:1)
5. How much of my “discussion” about the situation could be classified as gossip? (Proverbs 11:13)
6. What was the result the last time I intruded in a situation that was not my problem? (Proverbs 26: 11)
7. Has my opinion been sought by those involved? (Proverbs 27:2)
8. Am I motivated by love for this person or by a sense of my own importance? (1 Corinthians 16:14)
9. Am I basing my “help” on Scripture or on my own opinion? (Proverbs 16:25)
10. Do I respond with anger when my “advice” is not accepted or found to be flawed? (Proverbs 17:10)

The answers to these questions can help us determine whether our involvement in the affairs of others is, in fact, meddling. If we recognize that our real motivation is the enjoyment of being in the center of other people’s issues, it may be time to let God deal with that insecurity. It is important to remember that busybodies rarely think of themselves as insecure. If we find ourselves often embroiled in the secrets of others, it may be wise to seek the oversight of a trusted friend or pastor. An objective person can help clarify our motivations and keep us from becoming a busybody.
 
 
 
 
 


19 Reasons The Rapture Could Be In 2017

 
Remember Edgar Whisenant’s
88 reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988
?  
 

Whenever a Christian starts talking about signs and evidence for the nearness of the rapture you can be sure there is someone just aching to bring up this book as the be-all and end-all of the conversation.  “People have always tried to predict when Jesus will come back and every time they were wrong.”  They have a good point and it would be foolish not to address it.  You would think that if Whisenant found 88 reasons for the rapture to occur in September 1988, and his prediction failed, then for anyone in any subsequent year to attempt to do the same would be utter foolishness.  Predictions for Y2K, 2012, and the Shemitah were coupled with far fewer than 88 reasons.

I finally decided to read Whisenant’s book for myself, rather than rush to judgment and what I found was different than I expected.  What I would like to see in the Christian community, especially in the watching community, is far less rushing to judgment and more actual Bible study, research, and reliance on one another to learn what God is trying to communicate.

The first thing I noticed with Whisenant’s list is that many of the 88 reasons were not even specifically tied to the year 1988.  For example,

Reason 1 was that Jesus saying “no one knows the day or hour” did not necessarily prevent someone from identifying the year, month, or even week of the rapture or second coming.  At least here I think Whisenant makes a good point.  People have an emotional reaction against predictions because they feel like they’re bound to fail or they feel like Jesus was trying to say you can never figure it out.  What does the text itself actually say?  It says “no one knows the day or hour.”  Saying that no one knows the week, month, or year

is adding to the text.

Continuing on through his book…

Reasons 2-6 are the same story – general evidence that the rapture could be near and we might be able to figure it out, but nothing specifically about 1988.

Reason 7 was the first actual evidence Whisenant presents for a rapture in 1988: the final generation will be 40 years long, he says, because of the 40-year desert wandering and the 40 years between Jesus’ supposed crucifixion in 30 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  The rebirth of Israel was in 1948, which was the budding of the fig tree and 1948 + 40 = 1988.  We’ll call this Actual Reason 1.  I think his logic here has very obvious holes in it.  For starters, there is near-unanimous scholarly consensus that Jesus died in 31 AD or later.  His whole theory falls apart if Jesus died in any year but 30 AD.  Also, the only time the length of a generation is explicitly defined is in Psalm 90:1070 to 80 years.

Reason 8 is more of the same.  Whisenant quotes a single Jewish rabbi who said that 40 years after Israel’s rebirth would be a significant year because 40 is a common biblical number.  We’ll call this Actual Reason 1b

.

Reasons 9-11

are not specific to 1988 either, but at one point Whisenant argues that the Tribulation day counts given in Daniel and Revelation fit perfectly between the Day of Atonement in 1988 and the Day of Atonement in 1995.  First of all, the assumption is made that the Tribulation would begin and end on Yom Kippur.  That’s a faulty assumption at best.  Second, the assumption is made that the years 1988 to 1995 are the only years this would happen.  I’ve seen Tribulation day counts fit in many other seven year ranges (including of course 2017 to 2024).  It certainly doesn’t happen every time, but it isn’t that uncommon.  This isn’t sufficient evidence on its own.

Reasons 12 and 13: there was a worldwide peace movement in 1986 and 1987.  Thus 1 Thessalonians 5:3 would have to be fulfilled in 1988.  Here we have Actual Reason 2

.  The problem is that there have been worldwide peace movements for decades.  Even larger ones occurred in the 1960s.  Also, the 1980s peace movement wasn’t specifically known for chanting the exact phrase “peace and security” and it had little to nothing to do with Israel.

Reason 14 is a prime example of where Whisenant seems to be most misled.  Many of his reasons are similar to this one where they don’t have anything to do with 1988

.  They just describe some facet of biblical prophecy or some parable or the importance of this or that Scripture.  This reason, for example, is simply a description of Jewish wedding customs and the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Reason 15: 1995 was supposedly the end of a sabbatical cycle, as well as a Jubilee cycle.  He might have been right about it being the end of a sabbatical cycle if 1967 was also the end of a similar cycle, but that’s not unique to those years.  2002, 2009, and 2016 were also the end of sabbatical cycles.  Also, there is no indisputable way to identify the exact date of Creation (at least as of now) in order to make 1995 the 6,000th year since Creation.  Using the Masoretic text, Creation occurred anytime between 4004 BC and the 3960s.  The Jewish calendar shows Creation occurring several hundred years later.  I personally lean towards a Creation date in the 3980s or 3970s BC, but I could be wrong.  Actual Reason 3

.

Reasons 16-18 are just reasons why the second coming could not happen in 1988 and therefore the rapture could.  Strangely, we see an example here where Whisenant just bundles reasons together.  He labels this section as Reasons 16, 17, and 18, but only one reason is given: 1988 does not line up with the end of a Jubilee cycle.  Well the same is true for every 48 out of 49 years.

Reasons 19 and 20 are that the Israelites were promised a curse seven times worse if they disobeyed God.  I don’t want to go into the fine details, but too many assumptions to list are made in this reason.  In short, if you take 490 years x 7 and add it to when the Israelites supposedly entered the Promised Land (1436 BC), you get 1995 AD.  For starters, there is little to no agreement on the exact year of Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land, but the 1400s is generally regarded as the time.  Second, I’ve seen many people try to use the promise of a curse seven times worse in some pretty extraordinary ways, suffice to say there is little agreement on how this should be applied.  Some calculations put the terminal point at 1948 when Israel was reborn.  Actual Reason 4.

Reasons 21-23 were completely arbitrary.  The Bible likens the Tribulation to birth pains, so Whisenant takes the length of a gestation period (280 days), multiplies it by 7, converts it to years and adds it to when he thinks Jesus’ ministry started and voila – 1988.  This reason simply doesn’t belong in any list, but I’ll give Whisenant credit for specifically talking about 1988.  Actual Reason 5

.

Reasons 24-29 are all basically the same thing: taking the number of days Ezekiel was told to lie on his side (which represented years), subtracting the years Israel was in captivity, multiplying by 7 (for a punishment seven times worse that was promised if Israel didn’t repent), and arbitrarily adding the result to different periods of time at the beginning and end of Israel’s captivity, results in 1988 (according to Whisenant).  There is definitely something significant about the year count suggested in Ezekiel 4, but Whisenant does not present a scholarly case and makes a lot of faulty assumptions.  This will be Actual Reason 6.  If you want to see a bit more scholarly calculation, check out Chuck Missler’s take on this

, which puts the terminal point (indicating Israel’s restoration) in either 1948 or 1967.

Reason 30: Whisenant just repeats Actual Reason 5

again.

Reasons 31 and 32 are just a repeat of Actual Reason 6

.

Reasons 33 and 34: Whisenant arbitrarily adds 490 and 540 sabbatical cycles to when he thinks the Abrahamic covenant and Abraham’s death occurred (respectively) and gets 1988.  Actual Reason 7.  Problem is, no one knows the exact year for either event and there is not a single Scripture that says adding those particular year counts to those two events will achieve anything.

Reason 35 is basically the same as Actual Reason 6

, but it has even less biblical basis (at least in my opinion).  More unknowable assumptions are made.

Reason 36 was difficult for me to decipher.  I couldn’t understand the gist of what Whisenant’s point was – it seemed to just be a rehash of a few of the reasons already given about sabbath and Jubilee cycles and most of his dates are built on faulty assumptions.

Reason 37: a rabbi said that the Hebrew year for 1988 (5749) meant “Shemitah”.  This was probably a very good case of subjective judgment on the rabbi’s part and no clear reason is given why having the numerological equivalent of “Sabbath year” meant the rapture had to happen in 1988, since Sabbath years happen every seven years, but there we have Actual Reason 7.

Reason 38: the same rabbi said Hebrew year 5756 (1995) meant that “customs would change”, which in Whisenant’s mind meant the second coming would occur.  Actual Reason 8

.

Reason 39: a Christian archaeologist spoke at a conference in early 1988 and said he might have found where the Ark of the Covenant was stored.  Yep – that’s the only reason given here.  Actual Reason 9.

Reason 40

is actually no reason at all.  It’s just an explanation of why the Temple could be built quickly once the Tribulation starts.

Reason 41

is also not a reason.  Whisenant just speculates when the Temple will be built after the rapture occurs.

Reason 42: there was a solar eclipse on the Feast of Trumpets in 1988.  Actual Reason 10.  The problem is that the Bible says the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood before the Day of the LORD.  Not on the Day of the LORD, but before

.  Plus, this was only a typical annular solar eclipse and could only be seen over the Indian Ocean.

Reason 43: Mars was apparently the closest it had ever been to earth on the Day of Atonement in 1988.  Interesting, but the Bible never mentions this particular astronomical event, so there was no real reason to look for it.  Actual Reason 11

.

Reason 44

was basically another rehashing of the Ezekiel day/year count reasons he had already given, but he starts taking his year counts and Jubilees and arbitrarily adding them to the dates of other significant events in the Bible that were unrelated to the Ezekiel and Jubilee prophecies.

Reason 45: Whisenant believed Jesus’ ministry started in 28 AD and 40 Jubilees later would be 1988.  40 represents a period of testing.  Actual Reason 12.  This one actually makes sense and might be close to the truth.  The problem is, there is a lot of disagreement regarding what year Jesus’ ministry began.  28 AD is a good guesstimate.  I personally think the evidence favors 29 AD

.  In any case, we are never told 40 jubilees later the rapture would occur.  It’s still subjective.  There is also disagreement surrounding how to count Jubilees over a long period of time.  Should they be counted in 50s or 49s?  Should we use 365.25 or 360 day years?

Reason 46

was the suggestion that 50 Jubilees transpired between when Noah was told to build the Ark until Jesus’ ministry began.  Many problematic questions arise: how could Whisenant know the exact year Noah was told to build the Ark?  Why does it matter that 50 Jubilees transpired between that time?  How does this relate to 1988?

Reason 47 was that 70 Jubilees supposedly transpired between the Abrahamic covenant and 1988, less 430 years of Israelite captivity.  This reason runs into the same problems as Reasons 45 and 46: how could Whisenant know the exact year the Abrahamic covenant was given?  Was his starting point correct (1872 BC)?  How should the Jubilees be counted?  More subjectivity.

Reason 48: Whisenant repeats Reason 46

.

Reason 49

: a rabbi said the Messiah would come at the end of a sabbatical cycle.  That would make 2002, 2009, 2016, or about a hundred other dates equally applicable.

Reason 50 has no reason.  Whisenant just says that the Tribulation martyrs will be resurrected and raptured in 1995.

Reason 51: if 35 AD was a Jubilee then 1995 would be 40 Jubilees later.  Dozens of Whisenant’s reasons rely on the assumption that 28 AD was a Jubilee, so it’s strange he suddenly switches here.  It’s also strange he uses a year of no specific significance as his starting point, but here is Actual Reason 13

.

Reason 52

was about arbitrary year counts leading up to 35 AD and doesn’t have anything to do with 1988.  I think Whisenant is starting to go down a rabbit trail.

Reason 53 is a rehash of Reason 52

and other reasons.  Arbitrary numbers and faulty starting points.

Reasons 54 and 55 are more subjective date counts using a subjective source, the Chronological Bible

– and is basically a rehash of previous reasons.  If any dates in his source are off, basically the entirety of Whisenant’s book falls to pieces.

Reason 56: a psychic said a leader was born in the Middle East in 1962.  Yes, you read that correctly, a psychic.  Actual Reason 14

.

Reason 57: no reason for 1988 is given, but Whisenant changes on us and now says Jesus’ ministry began in 26 AD.  Hmm.

Reason 58: Whisenant repeats Reason 56.  The psychic said

.

Reason 59: the New Age Movement thinks their hero will appear in 1992 or thereabouts.  No source is given.  1992 would be kind of, roughly, maybe, possibly around the Abomination of Desolation, give or take six months.  Actual Reason 15

.

Reasons 60 and 61 are that communism was born in 1917 and 70 years later brings you to 1987/88.  Interesting that Whisenant strangely applies Psalm 90:10 to this situation.  Why would a biblical generation have anything to do with the birth of communism?  Jesus said the fig tree generation would not pass away (Israeli Jews), not the Mother Russia generation.  Actual Reason 16

.

Reason 62: an unidentified source in Washington says the Soviets are going to nuke the U.S. sometime between 1987 and 1993.  Actual Reason 17

.

Reason 63 is basically some subjective gematria leading Whisenant to believe Psalms 88, 91, and 94 correspond to 1988, 1991, and 1994.  The smoking gun?  In Hebrew, the number 88 means “pit”.  Or so says Whisenant.

Reason 64

was that the U.S. had become the world’s largest debtor nation.  While this was current news, I can’t in good conscience consider this an actual reason.  It doesn’t have anything to do with Israel or the rapture or Bible prophecy.

Reason 65

: Whisenant thought World War III would begin in October 1988.  No reasons are given.

Reason 66: Israel is important in prophecy.  Indeed, it is.

Reason 67

: the United States is like a Gentile Israel.

Reason 68 is a repeat of Actual Reason 1

.

Reason 69 is a repeat of Reason 67

.

Reason 70: from when the British conquered Jerusalem in 1917 to 1987 is 70 years.  Add in a 280 day gestation period and you get 1988.  Voila.  Actual Reason 18.

Reason 71: Whisenant repeats Reasons 9-11

.

Reason 72 is an exact repeat of Actual Reason 18

, but with a chart.

Reason 73: if the Babylonian captivity ended in 532 BC and you add 2520 years you get 1987/88, but no reason is given why you would do that or why Whisenant’s various assumptions were used.  And should we use 365.25 or 360 day years?

Reason 74 is a repeat of Actual Reason 12

.

Reason 75: Psalms 81-87 are joyful, but Psalms 88-94 are gloomy.  Actual Reason 19.

Reason 76 is a partial repeat of Actual Reason 3

plus an explanation of the six days = six thousand years theory.  I agree with him about the 6,000 + 1,000 years plan.

Reason 77

: knowledge will increase in the last days and we see knowledge increasing.

Reason 78

: there have been an unprecedented number of wars, famines, and earthquakes in the 20th century.  He mentioned 40 wars happening all at once – more that at any point before.  If only Whisenant could see our day!  We now have nearly 60 simultaneous armed conflicts and have witnessed major, world-altering earthquakes in the Indian Ocean, Haiti, Japan, China, Iran, Nepal, and Chile.  The first three killed a quarter million, 150,000, and 18,000 respectively.  It was also announced a few months ago that East Africa and Yemen are experiencing the world’s worst famine since World War II.

Reason 79

: earthquakes have been increasing.  Definitely!

Reason 80

: more famines than ever before.  Yep!  And even worse in 2017.

Reason 81

: false christs and false prophets appearing left and right.  Well, there are ten-fold more here in 2017 and the Tribulation hasn’t even started yet.

Reason 82: Benny Hinn said several hundred million people had AIDS.

Reason 83

: Abortion is off the charts.  And so much worse in 2017!

Reason 84

is a repeat of Reasons 9-11.

Reason 85

: astronomers discovered a void in the constellation of Orion.  Whisenant thinks Christians might be taken to that area after the rapture.

Reasons 86-88: the Bible teaches a pre-trib rapture.  Whisenant and I agree!

So there you have it.  

88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988 – or more precisely 19 Reasons Why Someone Thought The Rapture Would Happen In 1988

.  You have to remember that people sold cars and homes over this.  People left their jobs.  We need to study diligently and be ready when we see the signs converging (as I think we see this year), but we also need to be wise and prudent and occupy until He comes.

In summary, the infamous Edgar Whisenant book and pamphlet that pegged the date of the rapture to September 1988, actually contained only 19 unique reasons for a 1988 rapture:

1. A biblical generation is 40 years in length because the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and 40 years transpired between Jesus’ death in 30 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  See any problems with this?  Here’s three: first, the assumption that the length of Israel’s wandering defines a generation; second, the assumption that Jesus died in 30 AD; and third, the disregard of the only explicit definition of a generation given in the Bible: Psalm 90:10

.

2.

There was a peace movement in 1986 and 1987.

3.

1995 was the possible end of a sabbatical cycle.

4.

If Ezekiel 4 pertains to the end times and you take 490 years x 7 and add it to a possible entrance into the Promised Land of 1436 BC, you get 1995 AD.  What happened to excluding the Babylonian captivity?  How could he know 1436 BC was the starting point?  Should this be calculated using 365.25 or 360 day years?  Many assumptions were made.

5.

If you take the length of a gestation (280 days), multiply it by 7, and add it to a supposed start date for Jesus’ ministry of 28 AD you get 1988.

6. Arbitrarily adding some solar year calculations from Ezekiel 4 to assumed dates for the beginning and end of Israel’s captivity, results in 1988 – sort of

.

7.

A rabbi said that the meaning of Hebrew year 5749 (1988) was “Shemitah”.

8.

That same rabbi said that the meaning of Hebrew year 5756 (1995) was that “customs would change”.

9.

Ron Wyatt spoke at a conference in 1988 and said he might have found the Ark of the Covenant.

10.

There was an annular solar eclipse only visible over the Indian Ocean on the Feast of Trumpets in 1988.

11.

Mars was at its closest approach to earth on the Day of Atonement in 1988.

12.

The completion of 40 solar Julian/Gregorian Jubilees after Jesus’ ministry supposedly started in 28 AD landed on 1988.

13.

If 35 AD was a Jubilee year than 40 solar Jubilees later would be 1995.  Why does Whisenant suddenly switch when the Jubilees start since at least a third of his book is based on a 28 AD starting point?  Also, why does he pick an arbitrary year like 35 AD to start counting?  Many questions.

14.

A psychic said an important world leader was born in the Middle East in 1962.

15.

Some folks in the New Age Movement thought their hero would appear in 1992 or thereabouts.

16. If you add the Psalm 90:10

definition of a generation to 1917 when communism was born you get 1988.

17.

An unidentified person said the Soviets were planning to nuke the U.S. between 1987 and 1993.

18. If you add Psalm 90:10

‘s “70 years” to when the British captured Jerusalem in 1917 you get 1987.  Throw in a 280 gestation period for good measure and you get 1988.

19.

Psalms 81-87 are joyful, but Psalms 88-94 are gloomy.
So let me get this straight: you’ve got

Not Really 88 Reasons in 1988, the supposed computer glitch apocalypse on Y2K, Mayan Calendar mania in 2012, and Shemitah shenanigans in 2015, and those things somehow compare with what we’re watching transpire in 2017?

 I must be missing something here.

In commemoration of Whisenant’s 19 reasons, here are my [drum roll please]…


19 Reasons Why The Rapture Could Be In 2017

1. There’s a huge, undeniable sign in the sky right on, or one day after the Feast of Trumpets (see here, here, and here).  This sign is complicated and has lots of moving parts, yet fits together perfectly to fulfill a literal word-for-word reading of Revelation 12:1-2

.

2. Three separate studies

clearly demonstrate that this sign, at least to this level of precision, has never occurred before and will never occur again.

3. This sign appears to be directly connected to the rapture event (Revelation 12:5

).

4. The Bible says the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood before the Day of the LORD.  There was a total solar eclipse during a supermoon

exactly on the first day of the biblical calendar (Nisan 1) in 2015.  Then several months later there was a total lunar eclipse during a supermoon on the Feast of Tabernacles.  They were significant, historically unusual, in the proper biblical order, and preceding the Day of the LORD.

5.

If #4 doesn’t satisfy you, there will be a very rare total solar eclipse that traverses the entire United States just 33 days before the Revelation 12 Sign.  The United States is the world’s most powerful, influential, and prominent Gentile nation on earth.  It’s also the Gentile “melting pot” of ethnicities and cultures and host to the Gentile world body – the United Nations.  What better way to signify to the Gentiles that their revelry is coming to an abrupt end.  That leaves four or five weeks for a surprise blood moon to show up.

6. Then in 2024, seven years later (i.e. the length of the Tribulation), there is another

total solar eclipse traversing the entire United States from the opposite direction.

7. The only explicit biblical definition of a generic “generation” is Psalm 90:10, which defines it as 70 or 80 years.  When Jesus delivered The Parable of the Fig Tree and discussed the various signs of the end of the age He very clearly said this generation would not pass away until all of it would be fulfilled.  That would seemingly include His physical return – not only the rapture.  There is a general consensus among futurists and dispensationalists that the rebirth of Israel in 1948 constituted the budding of the fig tree (the fig tree being the symbol of the nation of Israel).  If that is indeed the case, then everything Jesus prophesied would need to be completed by 2028 at the very latest.  With Israel now in its 70th solar year since rebirth and having completed exactly 70 biblical/prophetic years on May 12, 2017, a Tribulation running from 2017 to 2024 would constitute 70 to 77 years since the fig tree budded – perfectly within the range and satisfying the generational requirement.  In 2012 Charisma News reported on the same thing: the President of the World Bible Society believes 2028 is the upper limit with a rapture no later than 2021

.

8. Jesus likened His return to the days of Noah.  In Genesis 6:3

God set a final probationary period on mankind of 120 years.  At the end of that time the Flood came and destroyed them all.  The modern prophetic scenario began in 1897 with the founding of the Zionist movement and a universal Jewish declaration of desire for a return to their God-given land.  Exactly 120 years later is 2017.

9.

The Revelation 12 Sign portrays the birth of a male child – a son of promise.  We believe this son of promise is probably the Church.  The first son of promise was Isaac who was born to Abraham when he was 100 years old.  Jerusalem fell to the British in 1917 and the British promised the Jews a future homeland.  Exactly 100 years later is 2017.

10.

While Israel was reborn in 1948, the mandate for its statehood came from the United Nations in November 1947.  Exactly 70 years later is 2017.  The Jews were in captivity for 70 years and as stated before, 70 years is the length of a biblically-defined generation.

11.

There were many Scriptures that prophesied the restoration of Jerusalem, which occurred in June 1967 when Israel recaptured their ancient capital.  The 50th year in the Bible is called a Jubilee – it is a year in which the land is restored to its rightful owners and 1967 appeared to be just such a year.  A Jubilee is also a year in which the captives go free.  However, a lot of Israel’s land is still missing and the Body of Christ is still in bondage to mortality on the earth.  Exactly 50 years after 1967 brings you to 2017 when Christians may escape captivity and return to their rightful home.  It may also be the year that Israel begins the painful and arduous process of reclaiming the rest of its land.

12.

In 1977 the modern peace process began, followed shortly by the Camp David Accords and the subsequent “Two-State Solution”.  Exactly 40 years later brings you to 2017.  “40” represents a time of trial and testing in the Bible.  The Israelites remained in the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience.  Jesus was tested for 40 days in the wilderness.  For the past 40 years the Jews have had to endure nearly complete international and political isolation, intifada after intifada, bombings, knife attacks, and countless threats of annihilation from Iran and other Muslim countries.  They’ve had multiple wars in Lebanon and Gaza and military campaigns in Syria and Iraq.

13. In 1987 The Temple Institute was founded in Jerusalem with the express purpose of rebuilding the Temple and restoring the Temple service.  They have since identified actual Levitical priests, rebuilt every necessary artifact, cut the Temple’s cornerstone, built the main altar, and even built a priestly school in Jerusalem for training the priests.  All they need is the go ahead and the Temple will get built.  Exactly 30 years later lands on 2017.  Priests had to be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Temple according to Numbers 4 and Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His own priestly service (Luke 3:23

).

14. The number 7 is the biblical number for completion and perfection and is used all throughout the final book.  7 stars, 7 angels, 7 lampstands, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, 7 hills, 7 kings, and a 7-headed dragon.  Like 1897, 1917, 1947, 1967, 1977, and 1987, 2017 also ends in a 7.  It also just happens to be Hebrew year 5777.  And that’s just where the craziness begins.  The Daily Crow and others have uncovered literally hundreds of extremely improbable alignments of the number 7 with 2017 – so much so that coincidence simply can’t account for it anymore.  You can read about some of those here and here

.

15. The prophetic setting described in the Bible that will occur at the end of the age is in place this year – seemingly every detail

.

16. The prophecies all leading up to the rapture of the Church and the beginning of the Tribulation seem to have all been fulfilled

 – even the minute details like the first crops of priests having finished training in 2017 and the reconstitution of the Jewish Sanhedrin.

17. An oracle in stone mentioned in Isaiah 19:19 points to the possible appearing of Christ in 2017

.

18. Popular culture is unwittingly screaming God’s sovereignty and pointing to major prophetic fulfillment in 2017 (see here, here, here, herehere, and here

).

19. The general expectation of the Church is supposed to be imminency, which means that as far as I’m concerned on this principle alone we need to expect and prepare ourselves for going home in 2017.  If it doesn’t pan out, well ok

, we were mistaken somewhere along the line despite dozens and dozens of signs and we’ll just move forward from there, but the Lord’s appearing is indeed imminent.

Note:

This list is not nearly exhaustive, I just picked some of the points that stand out to me the most.  What stands out to you?  Are there other signs I’m not considering here?

MARANATHA!



Christian Mothers

 

                        Proverbs 31:25-31
 
 
This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age
 
and nation. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband’s esteem and affection, to know his
 
mind, and is willing that he rule over her. 1. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage
 
for him. He is happy in her. And she makes it her constant business to do him good. 2. She is one that
 
takes pains in her duties, and takes pleasure in them. She is careful to fill up time, that none be lost. She
 
rises early. She applies herself to the business proper for her, to women’s business. She does what she
 
does, with all her power, and trifles not. 3. She makes what she does turn to good account by prudent
 
management. Many undo themselves by buying, without considering whether they can afford it. She
 
provides well for her house. She lays up for hereafter. 4. She looks well to the ways of her household,
 
that she may oblige all to do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her. 5. She is intent upon
 
giving as upon getting, and does it freely and cheerfully. 6. She is discreet and obliging; every word she
 
says, shows she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself,
 
but gives prudent advice to others. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, and shows itself
 
in the tongue. Her heart is full of another world, even when her hands are most busy about this world. 7
 
. Above all, she fears the Lord. Beauty recommends none to God, nor is it any proof of wisdom and
 
goodness, but it has deceived many a man who made his choice of a wife by it. But the fear of God
 
reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul; it lasts for ever. 8. She has firmness to bear up under
 
crosses and disappointments. She shall reflect with comfort when she comes to be old, that she was not
 
idle or useless when young. She shall rejoice in a world to come. She is a great blessing to her relations.
 
If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. But she leaves it to her own works to praise her.
 
Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we all
 
ought to regulate our judgments. This description let all women daily study, who desire to be truly
 
beloved and respected, useful and honourable. This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it
 
not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by his grace has
 
formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described.
 

God Bless.

 

 


A Servant Of God

servant-pic-2

 

 

 

A Servant of the Lord 
 
 
 
In order to glorify God, you must be a servant of God. Three years of Jesus’s life, was in servitude to God.

John 12:26

 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one  who serves me.

 The best way to prosper and get things going in your life, is to be a blessing to others. Servitude is a stepping  stone to promotion. Do it as unto the Lord. We serve God regardless of the outcome. How do we do this? Let’s  look at a servant’s heart.

 A true servant doesn’t demand attention.

 A true servant doesn’t demand reward.

 2 Timothy 2:24

 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

 The greatest gift that God gave us, is the servant heart of Jesus. Freedom to give and love.

 2 Timothy 2:26

 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to  do his will.

 In order to glorify God, you must be a servant of God. Three years of Jesus’s life, was in servitude to God.

John 12:26

 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one  who serves me.

 The best way to prosper and get things going in your life, is to be a blessing to others. Servitude is a stepping stone to promotion. Do it as unto the Lord. We serve God regardless of the outcome. How do we do this? Let’s look at a servant’s heart.

 A true servant doesn’t demand attention.

 A true servant doesn’t demand reward.

 2 Timothy 2:24

.24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful

 The greatest gift that God gave us, is the servant heart of Jesus. Freedom to give and love.

 

 

2 Timothy 2:26

26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

 

We have to fellowship with God and be cleansed in our minds and body. What are the qualification of a servant?

-Love God

-Obedience

-Submissiveness

-Lift Jesus up

-Having a good witness or testimony

 

We need to be filled with God’s word and his love.

 

Here are 5 principles of successful service.

  1. When you volunteer and do it unto the Lord
  2. Don’t compare yourself with other’s gifting
  3. Don’t exclude anyone. All ages matter!
  4. be committed in good and bad days.

Trust in God for the outcome.

 

Remember, your more like Jesus when you serve, then any other time in your life. Think of things you can do to lift Jesus up!



Renewing Your Mind!

 

 
bible
 
 
 
Sometimes, we can’t see our own sin and when it happens it can separate us from God. We all have blind spots in our lives. We must begin to ask God to show us in his word. how to change.

 

 1 Samuel 15:22-23

 

22 But Samuel replied:  Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
Saul had power and knowledge. His pride separated him from God. He did not deal with his heart and mind early.
This caused him a separation for the rest of his life.  Learning to make your heart right with God, is renewing you mind. If we read on, we see what happens to Saul and his life. Samuel and his regret for anointing  him king. Our choices affect everyone.

 1 Samuel 15:11

11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.

Pride tends to know more than anyone. It can place you above everyone and anything.  Sin of presumption, Let us look at Romans and see what the word says about renewing our mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Renewing of your mind is crucial for growth. We must condition our minds in the bible. Its up to you to reject or receive God’s truth.

 Ephesians 4:24

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Understand, it’s our job as people of god, to pray and read the word Put scripture in our heart and mind will change us. Pray in our spiritual language. If we do this we can increase in the power of Christ.  We simply cannot come, into a place of transformation unless we are willing to be fully renewed in christ.  Here are keys to stay in  renewed mind.

  1. A renewed mind exhibits humility
  2. A renewed mind gives you a deep desire to know the Lord
  3. A renewed mind is full of wisdom that reflects justice and righteousness
  1. A renewed mind is not self centered and has concerns for others.

James 3:13

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

*If you would like to here the full message please listen to the Renewed Mind or purchase CD

 


Jesus the Good Shepard

 

shepherd

 

 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he is the door of the sheep fold. A shepherd protects his sheep. Jesus has a vested interest in his flock. Why is he the Good Shepherd? He gave his life for you. He protects us and heals us and then when we stray, he will come find you. Let’s take a look at the man sitting at the pool of Bethesda….

 

John 5:1-3New International Version (NIV)

The Healing at the Pool

 

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.

 

 

Do you freight over the condition’s of your life? Has your faith withered? Sometimes, we stay in a mind set of discouragement, for such a long time, that we know longer see the value in ourselves, or what God can do. At times, we hang out with people that are “like minded,” just like us and we tend to get comfortable with the condition  of our predicament’s. Lets read on…

 

 

John 5:6New International Version (NIV)

 

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 

Jesus is asking an important question. Do you want to get well? It’s an important question, it would seem obvious that this man is laying at the pool to be healed but what is his excuse and what is yours?

 

John 5:7New International Version (NIV)

 

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

 

The pool of Bethesda means House of Mercy. The Good Shepherd is extending mercy to you. Sometimes we look at the wrong things. Yes, this was the pool of Bethesda and everyone is looking at the water, but the focus isn’t the water. It’s the true living water. Jesus standing before us, asking to heal us. Do you have expectancy of faith to believe?  People often have expectancy, but are looking at the wrong resources for help. Lets remember, we are dependent on God and he is the Living Water.

 

John 5:8New International Version (NIV)

 

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

 

There has to be an intense desire for change.  You must seek God for it. Jesus is the living word and when you cooperate with the word, it enables us to accomplish what we need to do. Just like this cripple man. We can do this, because of  God’s promises to us and faith enables us to say ,Yes. God wants you to believe in his supernatural power today.

 

***To hear the full message-tune into the sermon The Good Shepherd part2



I am The Good Shepard

 
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Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

How obedient would you be, if someone wanted to spit in your eye? In past times, spittle from a righteous man, was considered holy. This blind man new from ritualist knowledge this was true. But what he didn’t have, was experience-until the moment, he simply reached out and obeyed. You see, it doesn’t matter what your circumstance is, the Good Shepherd knows how to relate to you in your needs. In your own experience and knowledge of him. God has a commitment to you simply being in his presence ,is an opportunity for success. Lets continue…….

John 9:8-12New International Version (NIV)

 

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

God’s glory, is his manifested power. We have the ability to show others, what his glory can do. What is has done and will do? His presence being evident in our daily lives. So miraculous, that he gives light to our blind eyes. We then can see him, even in the hardest struggles and we see this, in the next verse when the priests take notice .

John 9:13-35New International Version (NIV)

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Jesus’s highest purpose is to free you from your despair, regardless of how it has been lost. The blind mans was cast out of the temple. No one wanted to be an outcast. But this is the greatest moment ever told….

John 9:35-38New International Version (NIV)

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

He became the temple of God on the inside and every one of us has the opportunity to have God living in us. He became the new testament believer he bowed and worshiped him. Jesus changed his life and Jesus can change your life. The blind man was a physical defect that only the living God could heal. You may have spiritual defects but God himself, can come in and heal your life. He can elevate you as his sons and daughters, as his word dwells in you. Temples of God made after his image for his glory.



Things We Have Through Grace.

 
Stock Image
 
Let’s follow the trail and see where it takes you. It will always lead you back to Jesus. In his grace we abide in daily.
1 Corinthians 15:10
 
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Unmerited favor is God’s grace, his merciful kindness that turns man to Christ.
Most Christians wrestle with grace. In this world that demands I owe you ‘s as a form of payment . We see that God is giving Grace freely and we can see this through, many examples in the Bible. We see In the book of Genesis, when God covers Adam and Eve’s, nakedness. Grace is a gift to be expected and accepted.
Ephesians 2:8
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Grace is the gift that cost’s you nothing. It is not work’s. Grace is like water from a hose. You simply accept it, like parched soil in a drought. Do you believe In the power of grace? You can become discouraged, looking at your life in natural terms. Just like the madman in the bible, who was plagued with a legions of demons. Jesus spoke the world and freed him from his oppression, because he loved him.
Romans 5:2
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[a] boast in the hope of the glory of God.Through the power of Grace, we have access to his kingdom, through God’s free gift. Take hold of Grace today.