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Often Christians will witness to others to get them to join a Church or accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. What they may not realize is if they do not do it just right they are doing the opposite of their mission. In other words they end up turning off the target, rather than converting them to God.

Some mistakes they will often make is assuming the person they are talking to is weak like them or has had such a miserable and pathetic life like they have? Or that the person they are trying to convert has an addiction problem of some type?

Personally having been witnessed too about once a week while minding my own business, someone just has to come tell me about their God and their life story of how they found God and it changed their life. That is great, yet what they so often do is start telling me how they were abused as a child, were an alcoholic, did drugs, had a divorce or did some other hideous thing to another. What always turns me off is that I have no sympathy for losers and I am glad they found their invisible friend to help them cope.

Surely being psychotic, schizophrenic or having an invisible friend does not impress me, it scares me and considering these pathetic, loser and addiction issues, I do not wish to have them as friends or to be involved in anything they are. I am totally turned off. So if you go around preaching to people, telling them of your pathetic past or your invisible friend be careful how you do it. It is a huge turn off and you make yourself look like a complete fool, lacking personal character and are often perceived as a mental case. Think on this and keep your religion to yourself.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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It is written in Proverbs 14:2 There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death. It is also written in Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. This leads me to the question. Who or what shall I believe. Lets look at what the Bible says about believing. In the book of John 6:28 it says Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Look at John 3:18 it says Whoever believes in him is not condemned whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not belived in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict; Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

Living in righteous is believing in Jesus. It says in the book of Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunishedhe did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Now look at Romans 10:9 it says That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentilethe same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Now look at Romans 16:17 it says I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in you way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving the Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of nave people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. It goes on to say at verse 25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey himto the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen

There is a punishment for those don’t believe. It says in the book 2Thessalonians 2:9 it says The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1 In the book of James 2:18 it says But someone will say You have faith; I have deeds. Show me you faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe thatand shudder.

It says in John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in is name, he gave the right to become children of Godchildren born not of natural descent, nor of human decisions or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Now in John 2:22 it says Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. In the book of Galatians 3:6 it says
Consider Abraham: He believed God, and it was a credited to him as righteousness. Understand , then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance Abraham; All nations will be blessed through you. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. In the book of James 2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him a righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

What a Blessing For Believing

It is written in the book of Mark 9:23 it says If you can? Said Jesus, Everything is possible for him who believes. It says in Mark 11:22 Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go , throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believe that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Now look at Mark 16:16 it says Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Now take a look at Matthew 5:11 it says Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In the book of Ephesians 1:3 it says Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and willto the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. At Ephesians 2:6 it says 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.

Too conclude look at 1Peter 2:17 it says Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Now look at John 20:31 it says But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Love Always,

Your Sister in Christ,

Mellody Davis

Enjoy more reading at: http://www.hostinghelps.com/allaboutjesus/aboutjesus

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This will be last and final event of the Great Tribulation. The Bible says that immediately after the Tribulation occurs, Jesus will return back to us for His second coming! Here are 2 key verses on this battle and how it all gets set up in the first place.

1. This 1st verse is very, very interesting. It implies that the Antichrist does not have full control over the entire world. It says that he hears “news” from the east and north that trouble him. This news causes him to go out in “great fury” to annihilate many. My guess is that China and Russia do not want to come under his rule and they are setting up to come against him. Here is the verse:

“But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountains; and yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.” (Daniel 11:44-45)

This verse tells us that he is going to meet his end and that no one is going to be able to help him. As you will see further down, Jesus is the one who will be putting an end to him – so this verse is showing us that this event will lead up to the battle of Armageddon.

2. In this next verse, the word Armageddon is actually used to describe the place where this battle is going to take place. Armageddon is the plain of Megiddo which forms the only pass through the mountains which enters from the North and South of Israel. It is in northern Israel and it is a natural pass from the Mediterranean Sea through the mountains and the interior of Israel.
This next verse tells us that the Euphrates River will dry up so that a pass and a way is made for the kings of the east to come against Israel and the Antichrist in this last battle. Here are the verses describing all of this:

“Then the sixth angel poured his bowel on the great river Euphrates, and its water dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to that great day of God Almighty … and they gathered them together to a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Revelations 16:12-16)

Also notice that the demons that are in the Antichrist and False Prophet will be the ones that will go out and draw the rest of the nations to Armageddon for this last and final battle. The stage is now set. You have what is probably China coming in from the east, possibly Russia, Libya and Iran coming from the north and the troops from the Antichrist’s 10 nation European confederacy coming in from the east – all converging onto Armageddon to battle it out – probably to see who will rule the world. What happens next? Read our next article in this series.

About the Author

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible commentary and teaching.
If you do not want to wait for the next article,
you can go to our end times section.
Copyright © 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.

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The biblical doctrine, which has come to be known by the name “Theonomy,” refers both to a way to handle the Bible’s teachings and to a response to the Bible’s teachings on Christian ethics. And it has fanned the flames of controversy often among various Christian groups. Here, we will summarize the position in question thus: The theonomic rule mandates that each and every law of the Bible stated in the Older Testament remains binding upon all men, except in those cases where the Newer Testament shows them no longer in effect.

Any passage of the Bible may nullify case laws either overtly, or by logical deduction from one or more passages, or by the binding example of Jesus or His Apostles. This is sometimes called the interpretive rule of continuity because it underscores the continuing authority of God’s law. And although the debate rages on, it has more to do with the notoriety of some persons associated with the position (Ad Hominem fallacy) than it does with the actual merits of the case one can make for the position from the Bible itself.

I wish to maintain that the doctrine of Theonomy follows neatly, and quite clearly, from many doctrines commonly accepted by — or which can be shown with ease from Scripture to — all Christian parties to the debate.

Here are a few of them.

1. God requires all nations to submit to His law. He requires national righteousness, not just personal righteousness, or that of families and churches. The Scripture says plainly, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin disgraces (i.e. demotes) ANY people” (Prov. 14:34).

2. Jeremiah and the other prophets railed against Assyria, Babylon, Egypt and other Gentile countries for violating God’s law just as they often did Israel.

3. God only has one standard for morality. Proverbs 20:10 reads “Differing weights and differing measures, both alike are an abomination to the Lord.” The New Testament phrase, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” should leave no doubt that the New Testament agrees with the Proverbs.

4. Jesus IS (not “will be”) Lord of the nations. Matthew 28 speaks clearly of his possessing all authority in heaven and in earth as the very basis for global evangelism. And he requires obedience to his one law.

5. The Scripture plainly teaches its own sufficiency: “The law of the Lord is perfect…” (Psalm 19:7). And of course, we all know 2 Tim. 3:16. Now since it is sufficient for all things God requires, and one of the things He requires is NATIONAL righteousness, it follows by good and necessary consequence that God’s law represents a law-code sufficient for that task. And since the Bible offers no such comprehensive civil code in the New Testament, it follows that the law-code He requires nations to impose rests in the Older Testament (obviously not as a stand-alone reference, but as interpreted in the New Testament). Hence Theonomy. And the rejection of Theonomy therefore implies that God’s Word does not suffice for man’s ethical-legal needs.

6. The Bible teaches forthrightly that God’s law forms the only standard of wisdom, and that God requires all men to show forth this wisdom (Deut. 4:5-8; Eccl. 12:12-14, etc). Since God has only one standard for wisdom — the Law of the Lord — Theonomy necessarily follows.

7. The many civil codes out there in the world, not to mention those of the past, conflict both with themselves internally (In the U.S. we have many contradictory laws on the books), and with each other. This shows the insufficiency of man’s law. But the law of the Lord is perfect, and therefore, sufficient. From this, Theonomy follows of necessity. If not God’s law, then whose?

8. James tells us that the law of the Lord forms a cohesive unit, so that to violate one of its principles one must violate the whole of it (Js. 2:10). From the unity of the law of the Lord, it follows that, if some of its law bind us under the New Covenant, then ALL of them do (with the exceptions noted above already). Paul quotes the case laws of the Older Testament as binding upon Newer Testament saints regularly, and without explanation or apology. “Do not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain,” (Deut. 25:4) he warned Timothy.

We all know the New Testament mandate to avoid entertaining an accusation against an elder on the first-hand testimony of but one witness (see also Matt. 18:16 on church discipline). The reason for this is that “every matter must be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut. 19:15) Again, Paul quotes just this Older Testament case law in 2 Cor. 13:1, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

9. Finally, presupposing the truth of Theonomy displays itself as the instinctive habit of every Christian who argues against abortion. They do not hesitate to imitate Paul’s use of the case laws as fully authoritative when the apologetic need arises. We do this because we know that the New Testament does not suffice for our ethical needs, nor did God intend it to do so. Yet, the only way for a Christian to avoid the picking and choosing (arbitrary) game stems from a principled approach which explains WHY he behaves as he does when quoting Old Testament — like Paul did.

Now, he might wish to avoid the debate by suggesting, “Hey, I am not a skilled theologian. I am just following Paul’s lead.” To which we would say, “Bravo.” For it is obvious that Paul led in a Theonomic fashion, and he did so on all topics (including labor law and due process in court) just as instinctively as do Christians who heap up biblical objections to the wicked practice of abortion in our day. He never explained his proclivity to quote the case laws as binding on all men because he sensed no need. He practiced theonomy as an overt and natural expression of the Christian faith, even reproving himself from the Older Testament law when he mistakenly rebuffed the high priest harshly.

If Paul had to submit to the jots and tittles of the law, how much more ought WE to heed the holy details of the divine law? As the Lord of righteousness Himself has said it, “It is easier that heaven and earth should pass away than for a horn or flourish to pass away from the Law” (Luke 16). If you still urgently want to know what Paul’s apologetic for Theonomy might have looked like had the position ever been controversial back then, feel free to scroll up for a few helpful hints on the subject.

Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and essays on a wide range of topics, often with insightful, if alternative, views. He studied the history of ideas in college, and it really messed with his head. Now he researches broadly, thinks critically, and studies judiciously, but stubbornly insists that the Bible is always right. He remains at large despite the best efforts of the civil authorities. Carson loves free-market capitalism.

To visit Carson’s blogsites, go to http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (The Omniblog) or http://extremeprofit.blogspot.com (Carson’s Day Trading Outpost)

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Remember asking your parents for something that you really wanted but for whatever reason they told you to wait? No doubt you wanted the object of your desire right then and there. Waiting seemed like such a difficult task, but you did it and for your patience your parents gave you what you requested. At this moment, what is it that you currently desire? I’m not talking about material things, I’m talking about non-tangible things such as a obtaining a marriage partner, wanting someone to change, someone to stop a nasty habit, or wanting someone to receive salvation, etc. The attitude one has can certainly affect the outcome of the petitioned of prayer. In maintaining patience and a spirit of expectation the Lord rewards His children. However, if during the waiting period, one becomes impatient and exasperated, starts to complain – it may force one to take foolish action rather than waiting on God.

As adults we have been conditioned to work step-by-step earnestly towards our goals in order to achieve them. People are use to working hard for something on their own, then seeing the end results of their sweat and hard labor, yet that same formula doesn’t apply in one’s walk with the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) reads, “Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” By not relying on your own insight or understanding, you put a stop to the hasty, random impulses to take action yourself verses waiting on the Lord to work. Many exhaust themselves by allowing their flesh to get in the way, by trying to “make it happen” instead of trusting in the Lord, thus getting frustrated and impatient when they don’t get the results they want. Some may even start to doubt or lose faith in the Lord.

The definition of the word “Wait” means: To remain or rest in expectation. Learn to rest in expectation of the Lord to answer your deepest prayers. Admittedly, it can be a bit maddening to say the least, especially when wanting something so bad then suppressing the urge to “make it happen” by any means necessary. Most of the time we allow the works of the flesh to control our actions, which leads us down the path of empty frustration when we don’t receive the solution we want. We constantly focus all of our energy on a particular desire we wish to manifest and have no idea that we are going about it the wrong way. Are you at the end of your rope? Have you done all that could do trying to attain your desire? If you answer yes, then Great! You are that much closer to stopping your actions (works of the flesh) thus allowing God to take over completely, which is what you should have been doing all along.

Psalm 37:4 (AMP) reads, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” In delighting ourselves in the Lord, we allow ourselves to be content/satisfied in “whatever state” we are with God, not worrying about anything else because we are content to know that we are in God’s Hand. God’s ways are perfect. When you find yourself thinking of something that you want or have desired for a long time – Challenge yourself, say aloud: “God is in control” and wait patiently in expectation.

According to televangelist, Joyce Meyer, one must understand several steps when waiting on God to move in your life:

1) Live Trusting God. Period. Do not try to make things happen by yourself on “your own time” have faith and believe in God to make things happen in His own time.

2) Adopt a “hands off policy.” Don’t do anything until God shows you what to do.

3) When praying for what you desire, you need to understand that if God wants you to have it. He will give it to you in His own time in His own way.

4) Tell God, “If you don’t want me to have it, then I don’t want it.” Ask Him to keep you in His will.

Remember to keep your eyes always on God, not on the object of your desire. In following these steps, you shall see marvelous things begin to happen in your life when waiting on the Lord.

Recommended listening by Joyce Meyer Ministries

“God’s Timing and His Ways”

Nevada York, Author of Caught Up and Mahogany’s Revelation, released her latest book in July of 2004 to rave reviews from readers. Nevada’s published novels are an accomplishment that has been well worth the wait. Not willing to be deterred, her determination has bought about the publication of two memorable novels. http://nevadayork.com

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