Apologetics

David Wilkerson -A Call To Anguish

2011-05-10T11:30:00.005-04:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Why Good People Suffer

2009-06-23T11:37:00.008-04:00

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
..Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, she called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it were true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "When I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching until He sees His image in you.

Whatever you're going through, you'll be a better person in the end if you will just surrender into His loving hands.

-Author unknown

A Christian Alternative To Halloween?

2008-10-25T20:51:00.014-04:00

I was listening to a Christian program in which the speaker was offering alternatives for children of Christian families to do on Halloween night. You've heard it before, perhaps have a party at church and have the children dress up as Bible characters. He was giving suggestins on how to make it a fun night for the kids so that they wouldn't feel like they're missing anything by not going trick-or-treating. He spoke for more than half an hour suggesting to parents different ways Christians can make it a fun night without the elements of witches, ghosts, and occult themes associated with Halloween. Just provide a good alternative for them, so they won't feel "different" from other kids.

I disagree.

Hear me out.

We live in a "feel good" society, an instant-coffee society, a society in which our children lack for nothing and usually don't have to wait for anything either. Christmas has become a "who paid more" holiday featuring the most expensive toys marketing can offer. And you'll make sure YOUR kid has the latest. If you're a "good" parent, that is.

There's something wrong with this picture.

If you asked a Christian child what it means to be a Christian, he'd probably say it's believing that Jesus died for our sins and that you need to ask him into your heart.

If that's what you think it means to be a Christian, you have a very naive view of what following Christ is all about.

Most of the first century Christians were martyred. Had you asked any of the parents in the first century, they would have described Christianity far differently from anything you've heard in our "modern" day.

Christianity then was picking up your cross and following Jesus. Unto death if need be. The Jesus who said, "in the world you will have tribulation." I often hear people talking about "the promises of God." Well that's one of his promises.

In fact, most of what Jesus had to say to believers was about reckoning yourself NOT of this world. "Come out from among them," the Scriptures say.

Come out from among them?

What does that mean?

The most well-known passage in the Bible dealing with the occult is the passage in Deuteronomy 18:9-14. It starts with:

"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is
giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations
of those nations."

You shall not, as in THOU SHALT NOT ....follow the abominations of the nations you live in.

In the New Testament, it says something similar:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols? For you are the Temple of the living God. ...Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'' 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

Come out from among them and be SEPARATE, says the Lord.

Be separate?

That's hardly what we tell our young people! Rather, we foster the attitude that they have to be "like the other kids."

You can't have it both ways. You can't stroke them and help them to wear "the right thing" and do as the others do so that they'll be popular, and then tell them to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. The two are mutually antagonistic.

Christian father, Christian mother, are you teaching your young person to "come out and be separate," or are you teaching them to CONFORM to the world?

Are you buying them all the things that "everybody else" has? Taking them to places "everybody else" goes? Competing to do whatever it takes to be popular? Have you taught your child to bow down before America's god of "popularity?" Has it never occurred to you that being popular is the very OPPOSITE of what Christ taught?

How will they ever embrace the concept of coming out and being separate, if you're coaching them in their efforts to be popular? With the notion that being popular is a "good" thing, how will they ever be able to accept, yes, ACCEPT it when they are hated by "the world"?

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... John 15:19-20

A lost generation. Children taught to look at Christianity as an alternative to only the most blatant evil, while telling them the rest isn't evil, the other practices of the nations are ok. Tolerable. Just this one we need to avoid, you know, Halloween is the worst, let's do something else that's fun on that night so you won't miss out on anything.

How will the kids of this generation ever be able to accept being persecuted if all they've learned from parents and teachers is what they must do to be acceptable?

How has Satan been able to so confuse the minds of Christians that they think it's right and good to foster in their children the attitudes which are the very opposite of what Jesus taught, without batting an eye and then patting themselves on the back for being "good" parents?

The time may be coming when America may go through real judgment. Some see it coming and are prepared. Most are oblivious. If your child ever has to accept something other than popularity, if your child has to confess Jesus before the "popular" kids and be shunned and laughed at (persecuted) for it, how can you think your spoiled (but popular) child will ever make it?

Most of them won't.Those who do are those who have been taught to dare to be different.

Are These Manifestations Of The Holy Spirit?

2008-08-13T12:36:00.006-04:00

Whether it's Lakeland, Pensacola, Toronto, or Brownsville, what happens is pretty much the same every time.

Are these manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

Hear what David Wilkerson has to say about it:

What Is Fundamentalism?

2008-07-07T15:16:00.004-04:00

Christian fundamentalism:

"Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven."
-Matthew 5:44-45

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, Thou shalt love your neighbour as yourself."
-Mathew 22:37-39

Jewish fundamentalism:

"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
-Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"You shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself."
-Leviticus19:18

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make unto yourself any graven image ...to bow
....down yourself to them, nor serve them.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain...
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour your father and your mother...
6. You shall not commit murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10.You shall not covet ...anything that is your neighbour's.
....-Exodus 20:3-17

Islamic fundamentalism:

Regarding infidels (non-Muslims), they are the Muslim’s inveterate enemies.
-Sura 4:101

Muslims are to "arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere" for them.
-Sura 9:5

Muslims are to "seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly."
-Sura 4:90

Allah will give "a far richer recompense to those who fight for him."
-Sura 4:96

Anyone who fights against Allah or renounces Islam in favor of another religion shall be "put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternative sides."
-Sura 5:34

A Muslim is permitted to kill any person if it be "a just cause."
-Sura 6:152

"Fight them until Islam reigns supreme."
-Sura 2:193

"Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers."
-Sura 8:12

"When the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush."
-Sura 9:5

Muslims are to be "ruthless to unbelievers."
-Sura 48:29

"Allah loves those who fight for his cause."
-Sura 61:3

The Occult -Spiritual Adultery

2008-07-07T15:15:00.004-04:00

Of all the sins man may commit, none is as rigorously condemned in the Bible as involvement in anything of an occult nature.

What Is "The Occult?”

The word occult is derived from the Latin word occultus which means "hidden." So it refers to the pursuit of hidden things, hidden knowledge, hidden power, hidden supernatural.

There are TWO sources of supernatural power: God, and Satan.
Satan will always have a counterfeit for everything of God.

God has made available to us an immense amount of knowledge, incorporated in the books of the Bible. In this, his Word, he has revealed what he wants us to know about himself, his purposes, what he wants of us, and myriad other topics which he has bountifully revealed to mankind. In his Word, we are commanded NOT to delve in supernatural things beyond what HE has made available to us.

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Deuteronomy 29:29

Principle:
Whatever God has and whatever God does, Satan will counterfeit it.

For every gift or calling that God gives his people, Satan produces a counterfeit. Are there prophets? Then there will also be false prophets. In pursuing occult experiences, one is not only going beyond the bounds of what is allowed to us, but in being involved in occult things one is actually taking part in the kingdom of Satan, and committing, in God's eyes, harlotry, or "spiritual adultery."

Example:
Before bringing the children of Israel into the promised land, the Lord counseled them NOT to adopt the ways of the countries around them, because those countries did not believe in the God of Israel, but worshipped other gods. The Lord told Israel that they may NOT give their daughters in marriages with those of these other countries, nor take the daughters of the foreigners for their sons, lest these foreigners corrupt the faith of the children of Israel. But they disobeyed God and this brought the wrath of God against them. The Lord said that what they had done is harlotry in his eyes.

"Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so."
Judges 2:17

"And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them."
1 Chronicles 5:25

"Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people."
Psalms 106:39-40

"They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your brides commit adultery."
Hosea 4:13

One can’t help but notice when reading through the Bible, that this particular offense is the one that angers God the most, and that’s because it’s spiritual adultery.

"For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me..."
Exodus 20:5

God wants his people to look to him alone for their needs, to look to him alone for anything of a supernatural nature, and to shun all occult activities because they are of Satanic origin.

King Saul
King Saul was the first king of Israel. For a long time, he had the prophet Samuel advising him, but after awhile Samuel died. Later, when confronted with the Philistines in battle armor, Saul was afraid. He no longer had God’s prophet to ask God whether he should go fight the enemy; God himself had withdrawn from Saul because of another previous sin, so Saul decided to go to a medium who would “bring up Samuel” to tell Saul what to do. And for this abomination, Saul died the next day.

“So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance.”
1 Chronicles 10:13

What Are Occult Activities?

"There shall not be found among you anyone who:
makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire,
or one who practices witchcraft,
or a soothsayer, (one who supposedly predicts the future)
or one who interprets omens,
or a sorcerer,
or one who conjures spells,
or a medium,
or a spiritist, (a channeler, or one who gets guidance from a “higher” spirit)
or one who calls up the dead.
For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord…”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12

So occult activity is anything having to do with fortune telling, magic, witchcraft, contacting the dead, etc. Ouija boards, tarot cards, tea leaf reading, palm reading, “psychic” predictions, astrology and horoscopes, and so forth. In short, every attempt to gain supernatural knowledge or power outside of the Bible is occultism, and the Lord calls it spiritual adultery, and the individuals who do those things are “an abomination” to God.

It’s important to add here that experience has shown another way Satan disguises himself in an attractive way, and that is through the philosophies and practices rooted in eastern religions. Yoga (–there is NO such thing as “Christian yoga,”) transcendental meditation, reikki, and all such practices are rooted in Satanic false religions and practicing these things will bring a curse or judgment one way or another. These things masquerade as things that can bring peace and health, but invariably the very opposite will come upon the one involved in these things and might even come upon the children of that person.

“For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
2nd Corinthians 11:14-15

Results Of Dabbling In The Occult
“Without exception, those who have become involved in any kind of occultism will eventually suffer Satanic oppression in some manner.”
Hobart Freeman, in “Angels of Light?”

Often the result is death.
King Saul died for this particular sin. (1 Chronicles 10:13)

Principle:
Involvement in any form of occultism opens a door in one’s life to Satanic oppression. One does NOT have to be doing this knowingly. Any form of occultism, even in ignorance, will open those doors and oppression is inevitable.

Based on research among men of God in the “deliverance” ministry, i.e. those who cast out evil spirits, the notable results of any dabbling in the occult are:

1. Mental illness
2. Deep depression
3. Premature death, especially among the children of those who have dabbled in the occult
4. Suicide
5. Repeated heavy-duty trauma such as houses burning down, car accidents. These things can happen to anyone and not be related to the occult, but when you see repeated instances of this kind of thing in a family, occult involvement should be strongly suspected.

Judgment Usually Spans Generations

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me…”
Exodus 20:3-5

“…but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation…”
Numbers 14:18

“…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me…”
Deuteronomy 5:9

Because Satanic oppression will span several generations, it is common to see these things even at an early age in a child of an occult practitioner. The child may be “psychic,” or “sensitive” to things of an occult nature. What can be sadder than the sight of a child being affected by these things?

What Does One Do
... when realizing there is Satanic oppression on himself or his children?

Dealing with this kind of thing is no easy task. Many people go to their graves still in bondage or affliction. But for the person who takes this seriously and truly wants to be set free, here is what that person is to do:

1. Confess faith in Jesus Christ and surrender yourself and your entire life unto his lordship. He must be not only your Savior, but also your Lord. He ALONE can bring deliverance. Pledge total obedience to him as he leads you to paths of righteousness which will be pre-requisite to deliverance.

2. Confess out loud and renounce Satan. Renounce all occult sins as they come to your mind. Whatever sin, whatever memory he brings to your mind, do not make excuses, just confess it as sin.

3. Once you have totally surrendered your life to Christ, become observant of what he brings to you to do. Oftentimes he will make you very sensitive to anything of an occult nature in your possession and will have you part with it. NEVER sell or give to others what you are being led to part with. Throw it out or burn it.

4. Renounce Satan and command him to depart. Pray for deliverance from all Satanic oppression.

5. Be an astute observer of “the wiles of the Devil.” That is, learn Satan’s “M.O.” Learn the tricky ways through which he will try to ensnare you again. His primary M. O. is deceit. He will make sin attractive and seek to convince you that it isn’t so bad. Be WATCHFUL of deceit. Jesus said several times to be watchful lest you be deceived.

6. If you have very deep affliction or bondage, fast.

"And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast him out?' So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'''
Mark 9:28-29

Don’t be tricked into a “fast” of any kind other than complete abstinence of ALL food for a designated period of time. No liquids other than water. DO drink water though, because while the body can go without food for considerable periods of time, it can’t go without water.

How long should a fast be? Pray for specific direction. A fast is usually 24 hours, or up to three days.

7. Just as your body needs protein, your spirit needs the Word of God regularly. Read DAILY in the Bible, and ask for help to understand and receive it.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'''
John 8:31-32
Meditate on and feast on Scriptures promising deliverance such as:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”
Luke 4:18

8. Get involved in Christian fellowship. Attend a church or prayer fellowship in which you will receive nurture and counsel. Do NOT try to go it alone.

Sin

2008-07-07T14:31:00.006-04:00

One of the teachings of the New Age movement is that there is no sin, that sin is just something our minds have made up, or that we were erroneously taught by “organized religion,” which they love to put down.

For example, A Course In Miracles, that Oprah Winfrey teaches says:

"There is no sin; it has no consequence.”
Workbook pg 183

"...sin is not real, and all that you believe must come
from sin will never happen, for it has no cause"
Vol 2, p. 179

Supposedly these words were channeled by a spirit identifying itself as “Jesus Christ” to Dr. Helen Schucman who wrote the 3-volume book.

Let’s compare them with what the real Jesus said:

"I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.''
Mark 2:17

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
1 John 1:8

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.."
Romans 5:12

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..."
1 Corinthians 15:3

"...lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Hebrews 3:13

"...when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
James 1:15

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
James 4:8

"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
1 Peter 4:18

"God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell..."
2 Peter 2:4

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Matthew 9:13

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..."
1 Timothy 1:15

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins."
1 John 4:10

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts."
Romans 6:12

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23

"Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear."
1 Timothy 5:20

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many."
Hebrews 9:27-28

"...if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."
James 5:19-20

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.''
Matthew 5:29

"And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire."
Matthew 18:8

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Luke 15:7

"For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one.'"
Romans 3:9-10

"...choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin..."
Hebrews 11:25

...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...
Hebrews 12:1

"...to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.''
Jude 1:15

Is This Child God?

2008-07-07T14:30:00.005-04:00

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called:
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This CHILD is the mighty God -El Gibor.
This CHILD is the eternal Father -Avi Ad.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Word for word translation:

Ci yeled yulad lanu, ben nitan lanu.
For a child is born to us, a son given to us.

Vatehi hamisrah al shichmo.
And will be the government upon his shoulder.

Vayikra shmo:
And will be called his name:

Pele, Yo-etz, El Gibor,
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Avi Ad, Sar Shalom.
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

L'sarbeh hamisrah ul'shalom
Of the increase of government and of peace

ein ketz.
there is no end.

Al cisei David v'al mamlachto
Upon the Throne of David and upon his kingdom

lehachin otah ul'saadah
to prepare it and to uphold it

b'mishpat uv'itz-dakah
in justice and in righteousness

me-atah v'ad olam.
from now and until forever.

Daniel Foretells Date Of Crucifixion

2008-07-07T14:20:00.004-04:00

The prophet Daniel lived in the 6th century BCE.
While in captivity in Babylon, he was given the famous "70-Week prophecy," which is of such precision that it boggles the mind when you realize what it’s saying. It actually names the actual day, the date, that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and be refused by national Israel.

The Book of Daniel, chapter 9, starting in verse 24
Daniel was told that 70 "shevuim" were determined upon his people and his holy city, Jerusalem. "Shevuim," translated "weeks," is a period of 7’s in the same sense that "a decade" to us would be a period of 10 years.

He was told that after 69 periods of 7, the Messiah would be "cut off," that he would be killed.

The prophecy says that the count starts at the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. From that day, there would be 69 "shevuim," or 483 Biblical years "unto Messiah the Prince." Biblical years were 360-day years.

That command to rebuild Jerusalem was given many years later by King Artaxerxes Longimanus to Nehemiah, on March 14, 445 BCE. This is a historical fact. There were 3 prior edicts, but those were given commanding them to go back and rebuild the Temple. The fourth edict was that they go and rebuild JERUSALEM as the prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies.

So from 445 BCE there would be a time-span of 483 years (69 x 7).
We reckon 69 x 7 years, x 360 days, because in the Bible, prophecies are given in 360-day years. So it’s saying that from the issuing of that command, would be a time span of 173,880 days.

If you count 173,880 actual calendar days from March 14, 445 BCE using the worlds's calendar, here’s the math. We’re using 365-day years to get to the actual secular calendar date:

March 14, 445 BCE to March 14, 32 AD... = 173,740
(476 x 365) no year "0"
March 14 to April 6, inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . + 24
Added leap year days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +116
(119-3, adjusted for actual leap years) ................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 173,880

What happened on that date, April 6, 32 AD?

We know historically that Jesus began his ministry in the autumn of the 15th year of Tiberius. (Luke 3:1) Tiberius was appointed August 19, 14 AD. His 15th year would be in the year reaching 29, so during the year 28 Jesus began his ministry. We know that Jesus ministered for 3-1/2 years and died on Passover, 32 AD.

So the day he presented himself to Jerusalem was on Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 AD. Nisan 10
Zechariah 9:9

To hear the teaching online, go to these archives at Koinonea House:

Listen to number 5: "The Precision Of Prophecy"

The Deity Of Jesus

2008-07-07T14:19:00.011-04:00

WHY did the people take up stones to stone Jesus?

Because they understood exactly what He was saying, that he is God.

His claim, that HE is the I AM:

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM.' Then they took up stones to throw
at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple,
going through the midst of them, and so ...passed by."
-John 8:58

What did He mean when he said, "I AM" ???

That he is the I AM as revealed to Moses:

"Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children
of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me
to you,' and they say to me, `What is His name?' what shall I say
to them?'

And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus
you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.'
...The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.

This is my Name forever, and this is My memorial to all
generations."

Now go back to the top and read again what Jesus said.

Also see:

This Child Is God

Hidden Message In Geneology

2008-07-07T14:16:00.002-04:00

Take a look at the ten names in the geneology recorded in Genesis chapter 5.
Whoever established this, established it by deliberate design.

Adam                man
Shet                appointed
Enosh               "anash": mortal, incurable
Kenan               sorrow, (see Numbers 21)
Mahala-el           blessed God
Yared               came down
Enoch (Khanoch)     teaching
Methu-shalakh       his death will send
Lamech              despairing
Noah                comfort, rest

Now read it:

"Man was apointed mortal sorrow. But the blessed God came down, teaching his death will send to the despairing comfort."

Statement Of Faith

2008-07-07T14:12:00.002-04:00

The Bible is composed of 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years, and was given to mankind through the agency of the prophets and the apostles, all confirming each other. It is an integrated whole which bears evidence of supernatural engineering in every detail of life and creation.

The Scriptures reveal to us that there is one God, eternally existent, the creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

The Scriptures reveal to us that mankind was originally created in the image of God, but fell through rebellion. That historic fall brought all mankind into the state of being “fallen.” The Scriptures clearly show that mankind is not born with “a clean slate,” nor with a predilection to goodness, but is born in fallenness, and thus every human being is in need of “regeneration,” or being “born again,” through faith in the atonement God has provided, which was accomplished in Jesus Christ. Anyone rejecting the atonement made in Jesus Christ will, at death, take his place in a literal hell, a place of anguish and eternal separation from God and all that is good.

The Scriptures reveal to us that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, God himself, who became flesh and was born of Mary, who was a virgin at his birth, in Bethlehem, Israel. Jesus came in order to become the perfect and sinless atonement for the sins of fallen mankind. The atonement was accomplished in his crucifixion and death for us, the righteous for the unrighteous. His atonement satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in him ALONE.

On the third day after his death, Jesus Christ arose from the dead having conquered death, hell, and the grave, and was seen by upwards of 500 persons.

Forty days later He ascended to heaven, and took his rightful place at the right hand of the Father, and became the only mediator between God and man.

The Lord Jesus, before returning to heaven, promised to send the Holy Spirit for us, the divine Spirit of God himself, to walk with the believer, to indwell the believer, convicting of sin, drawing sinners to Christ, imparting new life to them upon conversion, enabling the believer to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, and bringing to mind all that the Scriptures have said. The Spirit of God enables the believer to perform all works which God has prepared for that individual believer before the foundation of the earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. His enemies will be destroyed, Satan will be bound, and the Lord Jesus will establish his physical Kingdom on the earth, ruling and reigning upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem. He will restore all things and His Kingdom shall have no end.

Islam Acknowledges Jesus?

2005-10-05T14:14:00.001-04:00

Moslems say that the Koran honors Jesus as a Prophet.

A Prophet doesn't lie. If they acknowledge him as a Prophet, then why do they not believe what he said?

Either he truly is a Prophet and his words are true,
- or - his words are not true and he's a liar.

Islam claims to acknowledge Jesus as a prophet?

Jesus said that he was sent to give his life as an atonement for the sins of mankind, and that it is ONLY through this atonement that man can be redeemed.

"I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life,
.no one comes to the Father EXCEPT BY ME."
.-John 14:6

In other words, you can’t get there any other way.
That’s what Jesus said.

Either claim him as a Prophet, and believe what he said.

- Or- Deny their claim and call him a liar.

If he is truly a Prophet and his words true...
then the consequences of rejecting what he has said are ominous.

If his words are true...
then nothing in life can be more important than believing and receiving him.