Pr. J.D. Farag - Prophecy Update

Notes from Pr. Farag 

Mid-East Prophecy Update – April 27th, 2014
- For today’s prophecy update I would like to talk about the prophetic significance of some recent and major developments concerning Israel.

- It seems in the last several weeks, especially this last week with it being Resurrection Sunday, much has happened as it relates to Israel.
 
- I’ll start with last Thursday, April 24th, and sort of work backwards to provide an update on what’s happened, then I’ll explain what it means.

I’ll draw your attention to this BBC headline, “Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal.” “Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation … Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said Mr Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27128902
 
Wednesday, April 23rd, The Balfour Post ran an article titled, “Jerusalem is not up for grabs.” “US Secretary of State John Kerry has blamed the sudden deadlock in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Israel’s plans to build additional apartments in a southern Jerusalem neighborhood... http://balfourpost.com/jerusalem-is-not-up-for-grabs/
 
Wednesday, April 16th, The Jerusalem Post reported on a Temple Mount riot in Jerusalem in which hundreds of Palestinians clashed with police. “Amid heightened tensions between Palestinians and Israelis as peace talks falter, … violence erupted Wednesday morning as soon as police opened the gate to the Temple Mount to visitors gathered from around the globe. … Following Wednesday’s riot – the third of its kind in less than two weeks – thousands of Jews from across the country and from abroad congregated at the nearby Western Wall to observe Passover.” http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Temple-Mount-riot-in-Jerusalem-Two-police-officers-lightly-injured-348620
 
Then there was this USA Today article titled, “Leaflet tells Jews to register in East Ukraine.” Here’s what they had to say, “Jews were handed leaflets that ordered the city's Jews to provide a list of property they own and pay a registration fee "or else have their citizenship
revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated…" Another news agency reported on it this way, “Concerns have been raised after a leaflet reminiscent of Nazi Germany was distributed in Donetsk demanding that Jews over 16 should register with the authorities.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/
 
- Be that as it may, let’s now turn a corner and take a look at what all of this means in terms of it’s prophetic significance related to scripture.
- While I realize this is fast becoming a firm grasp of the obvious, the entire world is against this little country of Israel reborn in May of 1948.
- In a sense, this is the quintessential battle between the giant Goliath of the entire world and the little David of Israel and that’s a good thing.
- The reason I say that is because the eerily similar parallels, which we’ve actually been studying in-depth Thursday nights, in 1 Samuel 17.
- Just as David, against all odds, was miraculously victorious over Goliath, Jesus, our greater than David, will be victorious over the enemy.
- And, this is evidenced in how David is a type of Christ, which is what I would like to briefly share with you in closing, if you wouldn’t mind.
 
DAVID JESUS SCRIPTURES
David was called God’s firstborn Jesus was the only begotten firstborn Psa 89:27, Col 1:15
David was born in Bethlehem Jesus was born in Bethlehem 1 Sam 16, 17:12 Ru 4:22, Mic 5:2, Mat 2:1
David was a shepherd of sheep Jesus is the good shepherd of people 1 Sam 16, John 10
David had a heart after God Jesus has the heart of God 1 Sam 16,1 Kin 11:4, John 5,10, Col 1, Phi 2
David was taken from a lowly place Jesus came from a lowly place 1 Sam 16, Mat 2, John 1:46, Isa 7:15, 53:2
David was anointed king Jesus is the anointed King of kings 1 Sam 16:13, 2 Sam 2.4, Ac 4:27, 1 Tim 6:15
David was not expected to be king Jesus was not expected to be the Messiah 1 Sam 16, John 7:27
David was sent to the battle by his father Jesus was sent to this world by the Father 1 Sam 17:17, John 3:16, 1 John 4:14
David was the 8th son of Jesse Jesus is the (new beginning) Son of God 1 Sam 16:10-11, 2 Cor 5:17, John 1:1-14
David brought bread to his brothers Jesus is the bread of life for His brethren 1 Sam 17:17, John 6:35
David was sent with 10 loaves and cheeses Jesus was sent to fulfill the law (“10”) 1 Sam 17:17-18, Mat 5:17
David had 3 brothers in the battlefield Jesus spent 3 days in the tomb 1 Sam 17:14, Mat 12:40
David is rejected and scorned by his brothers Jesus is rejected by His Jewish brethren 1 Sam 17:28-30, John 1:11, 7:5
David came to land Israel had lost Jesus came to seek and save what was lost 1 Sam 17:1-3, Luke 19:10
David heard Goliath challenge Israel Jesus heard the devil challenge and test Him 1 Sam 17:23, Mat 4:1-11
David is sent after 40 days to the battlefield Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness 1 Sam 17:16, Mat 4:1-11
David was Israel’s only representative in battle Jesus is our only representative against Satan 1 Sam 17:8-11, Rom 5:18-19
David answered to Goliath saying give me a man Jesus didn’t answer Pilate saying behold the man 1 Sam 17:10, John 19:5
David defeated the beasts of a lion and bear prior Jesus will defeat the beast both lion and bear 1 Sam 17: 34, Dan 7
David defeated the Philistine with only one rock Jesus will defeat Satan as the one and only Rock 1 Sam 17:50, Psa 78:35, 42:9, 89:26
David brought salvation with one rock out of five Jesus is our Rock of salvation by grace (“5”) 1 Sam 17:40-50, Eph 2:8-9
David kills 6 cubits high-6 armor-600 shekels weight Jesus kills the beast whose number is 666 1 Sam 17:4-7, Rev 13:15-18, 19:20-21
David uses Goliath’s sword to cut off his head Jesus kills with the sword from His mouth 1 Sam 17:51, Rev 19:21
David receives an inheritance and a bride Jesus is our inheritance and we are His bride 1 Sam 17:25, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 2 Cor 11:2
David frees Israel from slavery to the Philistines Jesus frees us from slavery to sin 1 Sam 17:9, John 8:36, Rom 8:2
David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem Jesus crushed the serpents head in Jerusalem 1 Sam 17:54, Gen 3:15, John 19:30
David won the victory was good news that’s spread Jesus won our victory the good news is spread 1 Sam 17:52-53, Mark 16:15, Phi 1:3-5
David had it asked about him whose son is this Jesus has it asked about Him whose son is He 1 Sam 17:55, Mat 22:42
Matthew 22:42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied.
1 Samuel 17:55 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is
this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

About Mr. Rob Bell. Kriya (Kundalini Yoga) and another Jesus

by Jean-Louis Mondon

.

Note from the author: I know that a lot has been written about Mr. Bell and Eastern spirituality. I just want to contribute with this post my first hand knowledge of the subject. 

I am trying to make it as simple as possible in order for the reader to understand and make up his/her own mind about spiritual teachings and subsequent practices incompatible and irreconcilable with biblical teachings. They have been promulgated, adopted and have been firmly established with their roots growing in all segments of western society in general and the church in particular. The result is: choking the true life of the Holy Spirit and producing progressive disease and death of the soul for those who adhere to them.   

Further Reading Here The Light Seed related posts written by this blogger.

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What Rob Bell teaches about yoga, meditation and the breath:

"Now from way back when our ancestors understood that there’s something divine about our breath. There’s something sacred and holy about the very act of breathing."

http://blogs.echurchnetwork.net/Assets/UserBlog/314/052905.mp3

http://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/why-is-rob-bell-teaching-eastern-spirituality/

 

What the Hindu Masters teach about Jesus: Jesus Christ and Kriya Yoga

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/The_Kriya_Yoga_Path_of_Meditation.aspx#.UKGE3YY_ehs

One of the essential goals of Paramahansa Yogananda’s mission was “to reveal the complete harmony and basic oneness of original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna; and to show that these principles of truth are the common scientific foundation of all true religions.”

To the public at large, Jesus propounded a simple philosophy of faith, love, and forgiveness. He spoke often in parables, pregnant with timeless morals. But to his close disciples he taught deeper truths, truths that have their correspondence in the deepest metaphysical concepts of the more ancient yoga philosophy.

  

The full understanding of Jesus’ original teachings — including the fact that he bestowed on his disciples the esoteric techniques of yoga meditation — is revealed in Paramahansa Yogananda’s in-depth  commentary on the Gospels:  

The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You.

2. Hong-Sau Technique of Concentration helps to develop one’s latent powers of concentration. Through practice of this technique one learns to withdraw thought and energy from outward distractions so that they may be focused on any goal to be achieved or problem to be solved. Or one may direct that concentrated attention toward realizing the Divine Consciousness within.

 

HONG-SAU TECHNIQUE 
Excerpts from a talk at 2004 Convocation by Brother Ishtananda

http://www.yogananda.com.au/pyr/pyr_hong-sau.html

 

Hong-Sau — 'I am He'

Hong-Sau is one of those great techniques of yoga for pinpointing the mind. Sri Daya Mata has praised Hong-Sau so much over the years and she says that whenever she has a few moments she practices.
Hong-Sau means "I am He"— "I am Spirit". 

 

“Hong” and “Sau” are sacred Sanskrit words that have a vibratory connection with the incoming and outgoing breath and they have a calming effect on the breath. Breath and mind are very much interrelated. Calm breath automatically brings about a calm mind. Restless breath creates a restless mind. Just observing the breath will quiet it down. Hong-Sau is a mantra. It is very simple – basics are simple! 

 

(24:42) In Yoga, one of the central tenets of Yoga is your breath needs to remain the same regardless of the pose. So whether you’re making the letter Q with your… whatever…or you’re just… in Yoga one of the things you learn right away is no matter how difficult the pose is, especially if you happen to have somebody from the Grand Rapids Ballet on the mat next to you, who can see their own back…um… this way… umm…

(25:10) it’s not how flexible you are, it’s not whether you can do the poses, it’s not how much you can bend yourself, it’s can you keep your breath (breathes in and out) consistent (breathes out) through whatever you are doing. And the Yoga Masters say this is how it is when you follow Jesus and surrender to God. Is it’s your breath being consistent. It’s your connection with God regardless of the pose you find yourself in. That’s integrating the divine into the daily. (breath)

And so that whatever you’re going through, you never lose (breathes in and out) consistent … deep… breathing.

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What the Bible and Jesus-Christ Teach:
Now let´s examine and consider carefully what God says about Himself in His creative, eternal, pure, indestructible, inerrant Word and His son Jesus-Christ who gave birth to Adam made of clay by blowing His breath into His nostrils.  
We have to be very careful to not attribute the miracles of Almighty God creator of the souls of all mankind to another source of occult wisdom and knowledge that is described in Genesis 3.

Evidently, Mr. Bell is not intimately familiar with Hindu teachings and practices. Maybe his knowledge is limited to reading books and practicing contemplative prayers handed down from the Catholic Mystics and the Desert Fathers. But one cannot plead ignorance when being confronted with the reality of spiritual bankruptcy based on the teachings of the Father of lies who leads his victims through the desert with no chance of finding their way out unless the Lord Jesus intervenes and rescues them by the power of His omnipresent Spirit. 
 

For further reading on a Desert Journey Click Here
(Written by the author of this blog) 

Judge for yourself which is true looking at the evidence provided in this post. But be aware, once the truth has been revealed to you, you are responsible to accept or reject it, and to perpetuate the lies or changing your mind about who Jesus-Christ is and what He did for mankind in general and for you in particular.  

1. Deuteronomy 32:39
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 

 Isaiah 43:10

 

2. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 43:25

 

3. American King James Version
I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 51:12

 

4. New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass,

John 8:24

 

5. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Revelation 1:18

 

6. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The Gun and Jesus-Christ

Reblogged from www.omegashock.com

As I read the stories of broken lives and stolen futures, my blood just boils. I want the kleptocrats in Washington, D.C. and the banksters in New York to pay. I want the pornographers and the pedophiles to pay. I want the corrupt judges and the corrupt lawyers to pay. I want the psychopaths running our intelligence services and corporations to pay. I want them all to pay.
I am white-hot at the evil that is happening, and the desire for vengeance boils in my blood. And, I would be seeking a way to be out there exacting that vengeance, …except for one thing.
Continue reading

Prophecies Of The Lord’s Death And Resurrection

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

• Holidays
• Past Featured
• Resurrection

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

He came into Jerusalem just like the prophecies said He would and the whole town lit up. Jerusalem was filling up with Passover pilgrims and they joined the locals in lining the steep street that led down from the top of the Mt. of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane and then across the Kidron valley to the East gate of the Temple. They laid their outer garments and branches from nearby palm trees across the street and sang,
“Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD (Psalm 118:25-26). Hosanna in the highest!”

This is the only day He ever let them do that. Always before He had told them to be quiet or had disappeared from among them. But on this day things were different. They were singing the Psalm reserved for the arrival of the Messiah and when the Pharisees told Him to stop them, He refused, telling them that nothing could stop this from happening (Luke 19:39-40). On this day He was fulfilling a prophecy from Daniel 9 as well as the one above from Zechariah 9.

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.” (Daniel 9:25)
A “seven” was a period of seven years. 7 sevens plus 62 sevens equals 69 sevens or 483 years. On the day He rode into the city it had been exactly 483 years since the Persian King Artaxerxes had authorized Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild it (Nehemiah 2:1-9). As Jesus approached the city He told the people that Jerusalem would be destroyed because their leaders didn’t recognize the time of God’s visitation (Luke 19:41-44).
His arrival made the religious leaders very nervous. Ever since He had raised Lazarus from the dead they’d been looking for a way to kill Him (John 11:45-53) and now He was here in their midst. They had to do something fast because everybody was talking about Him.   In desperation they agreed to let  one of His followers betray Him for money.
Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)

Jesus had reserved a room in which He and His disciples could observe the Passover, where He identified Judas as His betrayer (John 13:26). Immediately afterward Judas left to complete his act of betrayal. He would bring the soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane where he knew Jesus would be, and point Him out to them. The other disciples remained with the Lord and received His teaching on the New Covenant. It was shortly after sunset so the day had just begun. Before it was over, He would be arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced to death, executed and buried. All on Passover.
After the meal they sang a song. By tradition it was also part of Psalm 118.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:22-24).
It’s impossible to imagine how the Lord must have felt, knowing what was coming as He sang. Hebrews 12:2 says it was the joy set before Him that helped Him endure the cross. The source of that joy was the knowledge that He was redeeming us by paying the penalty for our sins. It took the life of a sinless man to rescue us from death and He considered the outcome to be well worth the price He had to pay. After the song they went out to the Garden of Gethsemane.

A little while later Judas arrived with the soldiers to arrest Him. Jesus convinced them to just take Him and let the others go. Only Peter and John followed behind Him while the others scattered. Earlier He had said this would happen, quoting Zechariah 13:7.
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the LORD Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”
When the chief priests made their deal with Judas they didn’t realize they would be fulfilling a prophecy from Zechariah 11 in conspicuous detail.
I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter (Zechariah 11:12-13)

The price was the same, the location of the transaction was the same, even the ultimate recipient was the same. After Judas had betrayed the Lord, he was filled with remorse. He returned the money by throwing it at the chief priests in the Temple (Matt. 27:5). This caused them a problem. They couldn’t take it back into the treasury because it was tainted. Since they were responsible for burying any travelers who died in the city, they used the money to buy a field they could turn into a burial ground. The man they bought the field from was a potter by trade (Matt. 27:6-7).
 
After trials before the High Priest and King Herod, Jesus was condemned to death. But the Jews had lost the authority to carry out an execution so they held Him over until they could see Pilate in the morning to make it official. Jesus spent the rest of the night alone in the darkness, shackled in a dungeon beneath the High Priest’s residence.
You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. (Psalm 88:8-9)
As Pilate listened to their accusations, he realized the charges were politically motivated and not legitimate. He decided to see if having Jesus scourged would satisfy them and sent Him to be beaten and flogged with whips.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4).

Pilate’s attempts to save Jesus failed, and after his offer to set Jesus free was rejected, he washed his hands of the matter and sent Him off to be crucified. During all this time, Jesus didn’t protest His innocence or offer any kind of defense. He knew He wasn’t dying for His crimes, but for ours.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:5-7)
By nine o’clock in the morning Jesus had been nailed to the cross and consigned to die the most agonizing form of death ever devised. They had offered Him some wine vinegar laced with gall to lessen the pain, but He refused it. He had told His disciples He wouldn’t drink wine again until the Kingdom had come.
They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. (Psalm 69:21)

He hung there for several hours slowly suffocating without complaining about the excruciating pain but then something happened that changed everything. Having taken upon Himself all the sins of mankind, He actually became the physical embodiment of sin (2 Cor. 5:21). The Father could no longer bear to look at Him and turned away. As He did He took the light from the world and at noon it became like night.
“And on that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight” (Amos 8:9)
Separation from His Father is something Jesus had never experienced and could not have anticipated, and it was so much worse than the physical pain that He finally cried out in anguish.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)
Psalm 22, written 1000 years earlier, is a first person account of what it feels like to be crucified and contains several details specific to the Lord’s ordeal.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;  you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. (Psalm 22:14-18)

Finally, after spending 6 hours in a consuming fog of pain that none of us will ever experience, He died. In the last act of His life, He asked for and received a drink of wine. He did this knowing that the work He had come to do had been completed. The Scriptures had been fulfilled. Having paid the price for our sins He knew the Kingdom of God had come to Earth. The drink of wine He took is our proof of this because He had sworn not to drink of the fruit of the vine again until it did (Luke 22:18). Then He said, “It is finished” and died (John 19:28-30). The price for all the sins of mankind had been paid in full. Light returned to the Earth.

A few hours later, the Chief Priests asked Pilate to allow the soldiers to hasten the deaths of the men being crucified. At sunset the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin and it was a special Sabbath on which no work could be done (Exodus 12:16). They wanted the men dead and off their crosses before the Sabbath began. Since crucifixion is ultimately a death by suffocation, breaking the men’s legs would prevent even their limited breathing and they would quickly die. When the soldiers came to Jesus He was already dead so they didn’t break His legs, but stabbed Him in the heart instead.
“(The Passover Lamb)must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. (Exodus 12:46)
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. (Psalm 34:19-20)
Typically, crucified men were denied burial. Their dead bodies were simply thrown on the city’s garbage dump where wild dogs consumed them. But one of the richest men in the area petitioned Pilate for the body of Jesus and laid it in his own tomb near the site of the crucifixion.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9)
But that was not the end of it. Three days and three nights later, before His body even began to decompose, He rose from the grave, fully and eternally alive.
You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (Psalm 16:10)

It was proof positive that His death had paid the full penalty due for the sins of mankind. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. It was also the unmistakable sign of Jonah. He was Israel’s Messiah.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10-11)
On the night of His arrest, Jesus had prayed that if there was any other way to redeem mankind, He wanted to be released from His commitment to die for us. Then He prayed that not His will but the Father’s will be done. (The Hebrew word translated knowledge above also means perception or discernment. The Lord perceived that His Father’s will was correct and chose to follow it rather than His own.)

This passage from Isaiah shows us that there was no other way. It was the Father’s will for the Son to die so we could live. But it was also His will that the Son be resurrected, because without the resurrection there would be no proof that they had been successful in redeeming us. This is why Paul said we have to believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead in order to be saved (Romans 10:9). The Resurrection is proof that all our sins have been taken away. The fact that He conquered death is proof that we will too. Therefore, belief in a bodily resurrection from the dead is absolutely essential to our salvation.

Writing to the Ephesians Paul said, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7)

The resurrection is the synergistic combination of power and love. Greater than the Creation or the Exodus, which required only power; greater even than the birth of the Messiah, which required only love; it’s God’s crowning achievement. Resurrection Sunday was nothing less than the greatest day in the history of human existence. He is risen! 04-23-11

Apocalyptic prophecies drive both sides to Syrian battle for end of time - Yahoo News

Apocalyptic prophecies drive both sides to Syrian battle for end of time - Yahoo News

Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth

Reblogged from gracethrufaith.com  
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV)
The purpose of this study is to show that the above verse from the King James translation of  2 Tim. 2:15 has been given a meaning Paul didn’t originally intend.  If you’ve heard the phrase “rightly dividing” being tossed around lately, you probably know what I mean.  If not, reading this will help you to be better prepared when you do.

Shew Thyself Approved

First, an overview of 2 Tim 2:15.  The Greek word translated approved in this verse is dokimos.  It came from the world of finance and is the key to understanding the verse.  All money was coinage in those days and was originally valued by weight.  Dishonest money changers would shave some of the metal from the coins they handled, making them worth a little less than their face value. The little bit shaved from each coin was a hidden profit that over time could be used to make additional coins that cost them nothing.

But some money changers were men of integrity, who would neither accept nor distribute lightweight coins; they were men of honor who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. These men were called dokimos. They were approved because they correctly handled the money entrusted to them. (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Romans: God’s Glory, p. 18.)

Timothy was a young man and one of the Church’s very first pastors.  Paul advised him to warn his people not to get caught up in debates over different interpretations of words (2 Tim. 2:14). He told Timothy to study so he could deliver the full weight of God’s Word in its proper context. That way he could present himself to God as a teacher of integrity, as one approved, a dokimos who correctly handled the word of truth, and therefore he would not be ashamed of what he had taught.  That is what the verse is supposed to mean.

Rightly Dividing the Word Of Truth

The Greek word translated “rightly dividing” in the King James translation of 2 Tim. 2:15 is “orthotomeo” which literally means to make a straight and accurate cut. Carpenters used this word to describe the correct way to saw lumber, while civil engineers used it to be sure the roads they were building went from one place to another by the shortest possible route. When used metaphorically the word means “to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equivalent to doing right”.  By using this word Paul was instructing Timothy to preach God’s word accurately, correctly, and with precision. Had he been instructing Timothy to divide God’s word into various parts he would have used the Greek word diaireo which means to divide into parts.

Probably the most famous use of 2 Tim. 2:15 was by C.I. Scoffield in titling his monumental book on dispensationalism, written in 1896. He called it “Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth”. Many of you know that I follow this system of theology and believe that it correctly handles the Scriptures.

I’m convinced that back then people understood what “rightly dividing” meant but over time the way words are understood changes, especially in metaphorical usage, and other translations have interpreted orthotomeo to reflect this. Look at the same verse from the NASB and you’ll see what I mean.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth 2 Tim. 2:15 NASB).

Notice “accurately handling” has replaced “rightly dividing” in the NASB. The NIV uses the phrase “who correctly handles”. Both of these are more in line with the metaphorical use of the Greek word “orthotomeo” as we understand things today.  When you put dokimos (approved) and orthotomeo (accurately handling) together you get someone who preaches the word the way God intended, or as some would say “he tells it like it is”.


But lately some people have begun applying this phrase to actually divide the New Testament up into the parts they say are meant for the Church and the parts that are not, using 2 Tim. 2:15 to justify doing so . They take the phrase “rightly dividing” to mean we should cut the Bible up into the parts meant for Israel and the parts meant for the Church, and only focus on the parts meant for us.

First, they claim that because the gospels were written about the time just before the cross, they don’t really apply to the Church.  They say the cross “rightly divides” the Old Testament from the New and therefore the Gospels belong with the Old Testament and are meant for Israel. They also exclude the first part of the Book of Acts, claiming that the use of spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and healing described there were meant as signs to Israel and are no longer available to the Church. Some also claim the letters from Peter, James, and John and the letter to the Hebrews were written for Jewish believers and not to the Gentile Church. And because the Book of Revelation deals with the time after the Church is gone they say we really don’t need to pay much attention to it either.

Is That What That Means?

In short, they are taking the literal meaning of the English phrase “rightly dividing” instead of considering that Paul was using the Greek word orthotomeo metaphorically.  I think this is a doubly incorrect interpretation that basically leaves the Church with only the last half of the Book of Acts and Paul’s epistles.

I’ve received numerous letters and comments from these folks criticizing me for using the words of Jesus in some of my answers to questions about living the Christian Life. They accuse me of not “rightly dividing “ the Scriptures.

Even though I can see differences between what Jesus taught in the Gospels and what Paul taught in his letters, I believe this division of God’s word improperly exceeds Paul’s intent in his instructions to Timothy. To me this is another step in undermining the authority of the Bible, similar to what some Christians have done by ignoring the Old Testament.
I think if the Lord had wanted His word to be divided up like this He would have offered a method for doing so.  But He didn’t. He didn’t tell the Church to ignore the Old Testament back then, and He’s not telling us to throw out parts of the New Testament now. You won’t find any directions on how to “rightly divide” His word because we don’t need special instructions to read something the way it’s written.

Obviously, the Bible says some things specifically to Israel, some things specifically to the Church, and some things about the unbelieving world.  An important part of correct interpretation is to determine the context of a passage to see who the Lord was addressing.
Paul said he didn’t hesitate to proclaim the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).  He said that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4), and that Israel’s history contains examples that were written down as warnings to us upon whom the end of the age has come (1 Cor. 10:11).  To me that means the entire Bible has value for all of us and with careful attention to the context we can glean important truths from every one of its 66 books.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Men of the Church: Are You Sober?

Reblogged from Elizabeth Prata: the-end-time.blogspot.com

When you read the New Testament you'd be surprised to read how many times men (and women) are called to be sober. And most time when the word sober is used, it means not only 'not drunk' of course, but mentally alert, sharp, thinking clearly with right judgment. Women are called to be sober as well. In many cases for both sexes, particularly church leaders, it's meant as athe-end-time.blogspot.com.br  call to be dignified. (Proverbs 31:25; 1 Timothy 2:2).

Three years ago, when I first posted about Beth Moore and the trouble I was having with her teaching, one of the things I took issue with is that she isn't dignified when she teaches. I'd written,

She isn't dignified. Yes, that's what I said. Beth Moore is not dignified on her stage. She moves around a lot, quickly delivering scriptures and her interpretations in rapid-fire fashion. She will use tricks like having a wastebasket prop to "throw away" negative behaviors, she presses participants to wear bracelets that supposedly mean certain things (I read this from three blogs) and she will contort, kneel, dance, and generally cut up, sometimes while holding the bible. Laughter is frequent.

A bible lesson is not a comedy routine. I am all for laughter. Our pastor says some funny things sometimes and the congregation will of course laugh. I am among those who laugh loud and I'm sure even the choir can hear me from where I sit. But teaching the bible with respect requires some gravitas. It requires some dignity. It isn't a prop or a party trick. I shun antics as the main behavior of the teaching session. Funny sometimes, yes. Zany bible teachers? No.

Call me staid (Decorous? Sedate?) but I don't think Paul hung "I AM" posters
around the necks of hapless volunteers in the synagogues
when he was reasoning with them

"Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things." (1 Timothy 3:11)

I took a lot of flak from people about that rebuke. Many people thought I was being too picky, or too staid, or too Northern. Most of those people who said I was wrong had overlooked the clear commands in the bible about behaving soberly in church and out. Even though I posted them, lol. But it's pretty simple. We're commanded again and again to be sober.

Many people these days don't like it when we remind ourselves of a doctrinal standard. (2 Tim 4:3). They really hate it when we remind ourselves that there are behavioral standards, too. 'Who are you to judge how someone should act?!' Etc. But it's not me, it's God. They are His standards, both doctrinal and behavioral (moral).

As you read all the verses in the NT which mention sobriety, you begin to notice a pattern. Sobriety in behavior comes first because we are clear in our thinking. 'Be sober-minded' 'Exercise sober judgment'. 'Don't be drunk, so you can think clearly.' Like that. We are called to act this way because we hold Jesus up as the highest and most important Person in the universe, worthy to be worshiped. We are serious about this and we are dignified about it too. We want to think clearly, witness accurately, show self-control, love, and patience, and be serious about the King so we can make good decisions. We also do this because we do not want to be a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9, Romans 14:21).

With all this in mind, let's take a look at the spectacle that Christian worship services have become. Are these men sober-minded? Exercising good judgment?

"Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness..." (Titus 2:2)

source

In the above picture, 'Pastor' Troy Gramling set himself ablaze to demonstrate something from his preaching series "Daredevil." (Why any Christian would want to say he is anything like a devil is beyond me...Christ bought us away from the devil). When Paul wrote to Timothy about the behavioral qualifications of pastors, and thought he had covered it with 'exercise good judgment ' and 'be sober,' I don't think he would have thought he'd have needed to spell it out: "Do not set yourself on fire."

In the photo below, 'Pastor' Ed Young decided to preach about sex. Young and his wife Lisa staged a 24-hour bed-in on the church’s roof to discuss truths about sex before a live Internet audience. When Paul wrote the following words to Timothy...

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5)

...I am sure he did not think to include prohibitions about silly stunts in the sun and sex talk in front of the world. 'Fulfill your ministry by being immodest, a stumbling block to the young and intemperate, and say  things in public that would embarrass your mother. G'wan. Jesus is 'kay with it."

'Pastor' Rod Parlsey is pastor of World Harvest Church, a large Pentecostal church in Columbus, Ohio. As Stand Up For the Truth describes the now deleted video, "Is it a bird? Is it Tom Cruise? No, it is a pastor! Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church is raising some eyebrows by releasing this now-viral video of himself zip lining through the air over his cheering congregation, and landing onto his pulpit. His band is playing the “Mission Impossible” theme music to kick off its “Mission Possible” sermon series leading into Easter."

Easter!!!

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"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers." (1 Peter 4:7)

At the revelation of Jesus Christ, do you think the Head of our church will look favorably on the ziplining pastor making a mockery out of his House of Prayer? Well, how did He like it the first time? (Matthew 21:13)

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)

In this next example, we're told not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, but 'Pastor' Steven Furtick thinks just as highly of himself as Jesus thinks of the Father.

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3).

source

Furtick is building the church? I thought Jesus was doing that. Building it upon a vision Furtick had? I thought the church was being built on the fact that Jesus is savior. And uniting around Furtick's vision? I thought we were supposed to unite around the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:3)

"Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. ... And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:16, 18)

Blasphemy. And remember, Furtick was the one who perverted the worship service by seeding planted people in the audience to manipulate congregants into coming forward for a baptism he called spontaneous, but was anything but. It was a total manipulation from start to finish, including the music, teaching the planted people how fast or slow to walk down the aisle and what to say to the baptizees coming forward. Spontaneous, my eye.

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." ~Inigo Montoya

Strong's numbered Greek words in the lexicon explain that in most cases in the above verses, 'sober' means for the believer to "think shrewdly", reflecting what God defines is true moderation. In the other cases, it means don't be drunk. 'Be sober, unintoxicated' refers to having presence of mind (clear judgment), enabling someone to be temperate (self-controlled)".

Jesus is the head of the church. If we can't picture Jesus doing something or saying something behind the pulpit, then His under-shepherd shouldn't do it.

I'm not talking about never smiling, never having fun, or never relaxing. In fellowship or casual settings away from church, sure, have fun. Even then, don't be so wild as to give cause to the unbelievers to slander us. (1 Tim 5:14). But in church or in bible teaching settings, such antics have no place. Why? Because of this verse:

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Obey. Fear. Trembling. It is all joined at verse 13- 'for it is God...' God is in us, working out His will and plan and we work out our salvation because we obey in fear and trembling. Why? Again, because He's God.

We feel utter joy in knowing He is God and utter gratitude for our salvation. We do feel joy and love and we exhibit it, but it is all rooted in the fear and trembling because He is God, and there is no other. We aren't flippant, casual, irreverent, zany, 'devilish', foolish, or outrageous. Our joy comes from the fear and trembling, the fear of sinning against the Lord, of not being active in our sanctification, and fear of loss of rewards

If you would like to listen to an excellent sermon on the Christian life centered around an exposition of the above Philippians verse, please do so. It is by Dr Steven Lawson, "Christian Living 101: Part 1" Here it is

Meanwhile, remember worship is not a party! Be sober, be mindful, be dignified. This will please Jesus.

Pentecostal Turned Catholic Ulf Ekman Illustrates in His Conversion the Role of Authority

By Dr. Christopher Cone Tyndale Theological Seminary  
   

In a Christianity Today article entitled, "Sweden's Pentecostal Megapastor Converts to Catholicism," Ruth Moon provides several recent quotes from pastor Ulf Ekman as he informed the 3,300 members of Word of Life Church in Uppsala, Sweden, that he had converted to Catholicism. Ekman's announcement included one particularly insightful comment, that is worth noting here:

"We have seen a great love for Jesus and a sound theology, founded on the Bible and classic dogma. We have experienced the richness of sacramental life. We have seen the logic in having a solid structure for priesthood, that keeps the faith of the church and passes it on from one generation to the next. We have met an ethical and moral strength and consistency that dare to face up to the general opinion, and a kindness towards the poor and the weak. And, last but not least, we have come in contact with representatives for millions of charismatic Catholics and we have seen their living faith..." [emphasis mine]

Notice the bases of authority for Ekman's newly preferred "sound" theology. He acknowledges two: (1) the Bible, and (2) classic dogma (i.e., the historical teaching of the Catholic church). Here Ekman is alluding to the Catholic doctrine that the Bible is to be understood through the lens of the historical understanding of the church. [1] In other words, (Catholic) historical theology is the proper grid for understanding the Bible. Consequently, classic dogma, not the Bible is the final authority. But classic dogma has two other interesting partners in Ekman's decision:

The first is evident in his statement that, "We have experienced the richness of sacramental life." Experience is an important arbiter of truth, in this instance. The sacramental life prescribed by classic dogma is confirmed to be rich by Ekman's experience, and therefore is worthy of turning to.

The second is underscored by the statement, "We have seen the logic in having a solid structure for priesthood..." Logic or reason is the authoritative basis here. The "solid structure for the priesthood" is not a Biblical conception, but is derived of classical dogma. Since it passes the logic test for Ekman, it is the worthy alternative.

"Jesus led us to unite with the Catholic Church"

I find Ekman's transparency both fascinating and helpful. First, it is fascinating to see how he strategically dismisses the Bible as sole and final authority, relying on classic dogma as his final authoritative mechanism for assessment. Once the Bible is pushed aside, what are the means whereby the decision can be tested? Experience and reason. In finding Catholicism to be experientially and rationally appealing, Ekman concludes it is the better choice, even going so far as to say that, "it was actually Jesus who led us to unite with the Catholic Church." Ekman dismisses the Bible, preferring experience and reason, and concludes the result was Jesus' leading. Fascinating.

Finally, I find Ekman's transparency helpful in that it underscores the role of epistemological authority in our everyday decisions. We may either consider the Bible as the final arbiter of truth, or we rely on our experience and reason—but one of these has to be the ultimate arbiter of truth when there is apparent conflict between them. In this case, Ekman relies on experience and reason as supreme, and interprets the Bible as a secondary authority through those two subjective devices. Objectivity is lost in favor of the subjective.

Ekman's process is illustrative of the processes we all deal with every day, and the authority questions we must answer with each step. What is the ultimate arbiter of truth? Is it reason, as it was for Descartes? Is it experience, as it was for Hume? Or is it the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Jesus, Himself—as revealed in the Bible alone? When these three are in conflict, how will you settle the debate?

As Ekman moves from heavily experiential Pentecostalism to the historical theology of Catholicism, I pray for his clarity regarding the bases of authority in his life, because those bases of authority have much to do with whether our choices are good ones or not. Those bases are dispositive factors in the trajectory of our journey.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Endnotes

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[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 1995), Prologue III:11; Part 1, Article 2:III:92; and especially Part 1, Article 3:III:113

The coddled bullies won in Arizona

Reblogged from http://www.wnd.com/2014/03/the-coddled-bullies-won-in-arizona/

Nobody likes a bully. In the movies we cheer as the bullies are defeated, but in real life we often give into them simply because no one likes to be bullied. We take the road of least resistance, even when it means giving up important, even sacred ground.

Such was the case in Arizona when Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a most reasonable bill updating the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act to clarify two ambiguities in the state’s law, which was modeled after the federal REFRA signed by Bill Clinton. Specifically, this new version made it clear that one’s “free exercise of religion” does not stop when you run a business. And that this “free exercise” not only protects you against the government but civil legal action as well.

Recently, business owners have been forced to go to great expense to defend their right to operate in a way that will nor compromise the moral values they hold dear. The lawsuits brought by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods against Obamacare’s birth control mandate are two of the most visible. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide these case next summer. 

Ready or not, this issue is headed your way.  CONTINUE READING