Tag Archives: God

Come let us Grow Together: As a Man thinks in his Heart

November 26, 2016 cpministries 1 Comment

Come let us Grow Together is a weekly series that deals with the many topical categories that exist within the Word of God. The purpose of this series is to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in things pertaining to God.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: (Pro 23:7a)

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Rom 14:23)

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (Lk 12:29)

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Pet 1:13)

Gird – to encircle or secure with a belt or band.

That means secure your mind and let not your wrongful thoughts consume you, by not allowing yourself to have those thoughts any longer.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Eph 6:11-17)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Pro 3:5-7)

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. (Psa 119:104-106)

Precept – a general rule regulating behavior or thought.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Pro 16:2-3)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:2-3)

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Christian Living, Faith

How Does One Increase Their Faith?

November 24, 2016 cpministries 2 Comments

Quick Jump Menu

I’d Like to first start out by addressing what Faith actually is.

The Bible tells us in the book of
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

So we should have learned that not only is faith the substance of things hoped for, but the evidence of things not seen. We also should have learned that the elders obtained a good report by having faith. So that should tell us, that if we want to obtain a good report with God, we too need to exercise Faith. We also learned that by faith we as humans accept that God spoke the world into existence by things that do not appear.

The dictionary defines faith as:

Faith: 1. complete trust or confidence. 2. belief that is not based on proof.

Now that we know what Faith is, I’d like to share with you how important it is to have Faith.

Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

So then, having faith is pretty important to have isn’t it? So we want to make sure we exercise our Faith before God, that He may be pleased with us, so that we too can obtain a good report like the elders before us.

You may be wondering what the word diligently means.

Diligent: 1. careful and conscientious in a task or duty 2. constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything. 3. Marked by persevering, with painstaking effort.

So according to the verse we just read, not only is it impossible to please God without having faith, we also learned that when we come to the Lord we must believe that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

So now we have learned that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, that the elders obtained a good report by faith, through faith in God we believe he spoke the World into existence, not by things which were seen, but out of nothing, and that without Faith, it is impossible to please God, and that we also must believe that the Lord is a rewarder of those who make a conscientious effort, characterized by persevering with a constant, painstaking effort.

Now ask yourself a couple of questions. When you seek the Lord with your prayers, do you pursue Him with diligence? Do you have enough Faith to believe that He will answer your prayer?

So then, How does one increase their Faith? You may be telling yourself, that you don’t have any faith to even be increased. Let’s see what the Bible says about that belief system.

In Romans 12:3 Paul is speaking and says,
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

So we now know that every man has been given the measure of faith. Thank God for that. So since we know we have a measure of faith, the question remains, How then do we increase our Faith. Let’s start with step one.

Step 1. Hearing

Romans 10:10-17
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Are you ashamed of Jesus Christ? Are you ashamed to speak about Jesus Christ to your friends? Are you afraid to speak of Jesus Christ while you are in a public area?
Because the Bible says in Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Continuing at Romans 10:12
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This verse does not mean that if you call on the name of the Lord and have not followed the plan of Salvation that you will be saved. The Bible plainly lays out the plan of Salvation that must be followed. This verse is speaking to those who already have fulfilled the plan of Salvation.

Listen to what Luke 13:23-30 reads
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Now that you understand what verse thirteen meant I will reread it and listen closely to what verse 14 reads

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him (Jesus) in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

So now we see that you must have a preacher to hear the Word of God.

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Step 2. Believing

Believe: 1. to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. 2. To have faith, confidence, or trust.

So not only do you have to hear the Word of God, to increase your faith. You also have to believe what you hear. However, there are many false teachers and false doctrines. So, if you truly want your faith to increase, you will have to open your Bible up and begin to Study and confirm what you are being taught. You will have to search the scriptures.

In II Tim 2:13-21 it reads,
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Subverting: 1. To destroy completely; ruin: 2. To undermine the character, morals, or allegiance of; corrupt.

15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rightly Dividing: Correctly interpreting the Word of God in analysis and presentation.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

These verses are very important to hear. This tells us that if we are in a church that doesn’t rightly divide the Bible, to get away from them, because it will increase unto more ungodliness. If you do not go home and study what the preacher has taught on and search the scriptures yourself, to see if the preacher correctly interpreted the passages he preached on, then how will you ever know that you are in a false doctrine of profane and vain babblings.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Iniquity: injustice or immoral behavior.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

So there is no reason for you to be a vessel of dishonour. This verse plainly tells you that if you will purge yourself from iniquity, then you will be a vessel of honour and sanctified.

Sanctified: 1. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. 2. to purify or free from sin.

Psa 37:3-5
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

So we have learned up to this point that not only do you need to hear the Word of God from a preacher, you also need to study and make sure what you hear is accurate, and you need to put your Trust in the Lord, by believing that the Word of God is truth.

Psa 40:4
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Titus 1:1
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

So now we know that God cannot lie. So there is no reason not to put your complete Trust in God.

John 6:35-37
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 1:14
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

It is important to understand that the water of life that Jesus is referring to is the Holy Ghost. Again, the plan of Salvation still needs to be followed. It is not enough to just say I believe.

John 3:3-6
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

This passage, in which Jesus spoke of a man needs to be born of the water and of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God; this water here is referring to being baptized into Jesus’ death, and the Spirit is the receiving the Holy Ghost of which he was referring to the lady at the well that he had water that if you drink you will never thirst again.

It is very important that you follow this plan of Salvation, or you will not enter the Kingdom of God. If you are unsure as to whether or not you have followed the plan of Salvation correctly, be sure to click on the animated, opening and closing present on our website, and scroll down to the Salvation Links listed under the Salvation Track, and select the link for Salvation Package. This is three lessons to help you understand the correct plan of Salvation. These are: Repentance, Water Baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Matt 5:6
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

So if you hunger and thirst after righteousness, knowing the God can not lie, you will be filled and that will include the correct plan of Salvation.

Step 3. Applying

Apply: 1. to put to use, especially for a particular purpose. 2. to bring into action;

James 1:22-27
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Hear how important it is to apply the Word of God. You don’t want to be one who hears the word and walks off and forgets what manner of man you are because you are not a doer of the Word, but just a Hearer of the Word.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

So if you are a doer of the Word, you shall be blessed in your actions. Also notice that Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. This is True and Pure religion.

Matt 7:24-27
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

So now we have learned that we need to be a Hearer, a Believer, and a Doer of the Word of God, or you are likened unto a foolish man that built your house upon the sand.

Two more things you can do in applying the Word of God to increase your Faith is
Pray for the Gifts of the Spirit and be sure you Pray to hunger and thirst after righteousness that you may be filled. Since we know that God can not lie, we know that if you hunger and thirst after righteousness that you will be filled. This is very important to pray for.

The gifts of the Spirit are found in

I Cor 12:4-14
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.

Take notice that one of the Gifts, is the gift of Faith. If your faith is low, this is a great way to see your faith increased.

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

John 5:24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Rom 2:13
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

So you don’t want to find yourself only being a hearer of the Word of God, but also a doer.

John 14:15 Jesus tells us something extremely important.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

So if you do not keep the commandments that God has laid out for us in the Bible, then you do not love God. See how important it is to apply the Word of God in your life?

Matt 22:36-40
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This is very important to understand. Jesus just told us that if you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and love your neighbor as yourself, then you will have fulfilled the law. You may be wondering how then. The answer is if you love God, love your neighbor, you will keep his commandments, then you will gladly hear and receive the plan of Salvation that he has laid out before us, so that you too will have everlasting life.

I John 2:15-18
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Hear that. This is very clear to not love the world or anything in it, otherwise the love of God is not in you. Are you in love with your money? Your make-up? Your friends? The TV set? Your car? Yourelf??

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,

So do you think the questions I mentioned above are not the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life?

II Cor 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

But if you do not come out from among them and be separate, then you are not the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty!!!

So we know to increase our faith, we need to Hear, believe, and apply the Word of God. This takes us to….

Step 4. Which Brings Suffering

suffer: to endure pain, to undergo or feel pain or distress, death.
II Tim 2:10-13
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

This passage did not tell us that if we have a party or a great walk in the park, that we would reign with Christ, but it said IF WE SUFFER we will reign with Him.

James 5:7-11
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

The prophets and the brethern of the Lord left for us an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience. Why would you think that you should be any different? Don’t be deceived that the Lord wants to fill your pockets with cash. Don’t believe that this is the age of the Christian to reign supreme on Earth. This life is about suffering. If you aren’t suffering, then you must be doing something wrong. But also don’t deceive yourself into believing that suffering for unrighteousness will count for you in the day of Judgement!!

II Cor 1:4-7
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, (WHY) that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

These verses have explained to us very clearly that we are comforted during tribulation, that we may comfort others in there time of trouble.

Rom 8:16-18
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

If we don’t suffer with Him, or if we suffer without Him, then you will be cast into the Lake of Fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, eternally, where the Worm dieth not!!

Gal 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Heb 2:9-10
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

I Pet 4:12-13
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Heb 6:8-15
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Step 5. And Finally Perfection

Perfect: 1. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings 2. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail.

James 1:2-7
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Rom 5:1-5
5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Justified: 1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid 2. To declare free of blame; absolve.

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

So our Tribulations and suffering, bring forth patience and experience. This experience brings forth hope. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

II Cor 4:13-18; 5:1-7
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

So Apostle Paul has told us that they walk by faith, and all that he has suffered is but a light affliction. Listen to what all Apostle Paul went through in his life.

II Cor 11:23-28
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure (beatings), in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Paul has just told us that he was beat five separate times, thirty-nine times each, suffered in labours, and was put in prison often. He continues saying

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

So I don’t figure very many of us have every went through what Apostle Paul has considered a light affliction.

I Pet 5:10-11
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So then, How does one increase their Faith? By Hearing the Word of God, Believing the Word of God, Applying the Word of God, Which brings forth Suffering, that finally makes us Perfect.

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Behavior, Bible study

Come let us Grow Together: Faithfulness

November 19, 2016 cpministries Leave a comment

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thess 5:24)

The Lord our God is a faithful God who is looking for a Bride that is Faithful to Him!!

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Rev 3:13-16)

The Lord our God is looking for a red hot on fire Bride that is eagerly awaiting His coming!!

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:27)

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (Mt 24:45)

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mk 13:33-37)

The Lord our God is looking for a Bride that is busy about the Master’s business!!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13-14)

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Cor 4:2)

The Lord our God is looking for a Bride that is producing fruit!!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Heb 12:1)

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mk 4:9)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Heb 6:4-9)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 Jn 2:1-2)

The Lord our God is looking for a Bride that has made herself ready!!

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Mt 25:6-13)

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Bible study, Jesus

C & C: The Glory of the LORD shall be Revealed, and all Flesh shall see it together

November 18, 2016 cpministries Leave a comment

Connections and Comparisons is an ongoing weekly series that deals with many scriptures in the Bible, some of which are not commonly addressed. The purpose of this series is to examine the scriptures at hand comparing what is said and looking at the connections within.

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Isaiah 40:3-8
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

What is the glory of the LORD that was revealed to us and seen? The Truth!!

John 1:1-3, 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

We beheld the glory of the Word made flesh, which is the truth that was with God and was God.

John 14:6-7
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

John 10:30
30 I and my Father are one.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The knowledge of the glory of God that we beheld was the glory of the Word made flesh, which is the truth that was with God and was God, in the face of Jesus Christ who is the expressed visible image of his person.

Hebrews 1:3
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

John 4:32-34
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Jesus said his meat was to do the will of him that sent him, which meat was to offer himself a sweet smelling sacrifice unto God in order to reconcile the world back unto himself. The work of God was that you believe on him (Jesus) of whom God sent.

John 6:26-29
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The work of God is to believe on Jesus of whom God has sent. This is the meat which endures unto everlasting life. If you believe you must partake of this meat. O taste and see that the Lord is good!! Blessed is that man that makes the Lord his trust!!

John 6:48-58
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. The meat of God was the Bread of life which was of the Word of life which was the Body of Christ of which we would eat his flesh and drink his blood that we would be able to dwell in him and he in us and God will raise us up at the last day. But we must have the Spirit of Christ in order for this to take place. Through the veil, by the blood, our bodies washed with pure water by baptism in Jesus name; whereby we will receive the promise of his Spirit. We then must continue to take part of eating his flesh and drinking his blood in remembrance of his laying down his life for his friends of whom you are if you keep his commandments which are not grievous.

Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

The glory of the LORD revealed in the face of Jesus Christ is not the same as the glory of the LORD revealed as the Spirit.

Exodus 24:16-17
16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Hebrews 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Isaiah 42:8
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Our God is a Spirit.

John 4:24
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 1:18
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Our God is Light.

John 1:6-10
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

1 Timothy 6:13
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

What was the confession?

John 18:36-38
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

1 Timothy 6:13-16
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

What is truth? The Word made flesh. This is the knowledge of the glory of the LORD that was revealed to us that we all beheld in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 17:1-26
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

He glorified God on Earth by finishing the work which was revealing the truth to men of who God is and how we could partake of eternal life.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Here Jesus praying in his humanity asked the Father to glorify him referring to the man, the body of Christ, with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. This referring to himself as the Word of God that was before the world was. The Word being the thought, plan, and mind of God.

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Jesus is glorified in them because they believed he came forth from the Father.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

He is no more in the world because he overcame the world. If you are to be one with him as he is one with the Father then you must eat his flesh and drink his blood. “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The word is truth. Jesus is the Word and Jesus is the Truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Jesus was sent into the world to bring the knowledge of the glory of God; the truth to man. Even as God sent forth Jesus into the world to bring forth to man the knowledge of this truth even so now Jesus sent forth his disciples into the world to bring forth to man the knowledge of this truth.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Jesus said for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. What was truth? Thy word is truth. The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the Prophet of whom was spoken of by the LORD to Moses that was to come, of whom God would put his words in his mouth, of which whosoever that will not hearken unto the words of God of which he shall speak in God’s name, God will require it of him.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

By the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, which gives us access to the body of Christ. One in truth, One in name, One in Spirit and One in body.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

What glory? The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ or the body of Jesus Christ of which is the truth. We partake of this truth through the Word by being born of water and of the Spirit as well as by eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

The Lord will not give his glory to another and Jesus said, “the glory which thou gavest me I have given them”. Jesus is God and Jesus is one with God in truth, in name, in body and in Spirit. We become one in Jesus by the truth when we receive the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of Truth. This Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, gives us access to the body of Christ of which we become members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)

And thus we become one in Christ by the truth through the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So we become One in truth, in name, in body and in Spirit. Thus God did not give his glory to another for we are one with him. Not our own body or our own self, but in the body of Christ by the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Christ.

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus in his humanity praying to the Father that those that were given to him might be with him where he is, which is in his Kingdom that isn’t of this world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

1 John 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

The man or the body of Christ is of the Word of life and the Spirit within the man is the Word of life because God is the Word. Thus the terms ‘Word’ and ‘Son’ are not interchangeable terms because the Word is God and Jesus was both fully man and fully God. As pertaining to the flesh of Christ he is of the Word of life. As pertaining to the Spirit of Christ he is the Word of life.

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

He was with the Father as being the eternal Spirit of God, and was manifested unto us when the Word, which is the eternal Spirit of God, was made flesh. For there is only one body of God of which Jesus Christ is the image of.

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

The reason our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ is because the Father is the Word and the Word is God and God is a Spirit that chose to manifest himself in flesh as the Son of God to redeem mankind back unto himself.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Bible study, Prayer

Come Let us Grow Together: Prayer

November 12, 2016 cpministries 5 Comments

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16b)

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Mt 6:5-8)

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mk 11:24-26)

These verses of scripture in no wise mean that corporate prayer is not to take place. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.” (Acts 12:5-17)

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 Jn 5:14-15)

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Lk 18:1-8)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

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C & C: There is One Body

November 12, 2016 cpministries 1 Comment

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Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Though our focal point is to be on the body of Christ, I do want to take a moment to clarify these scriptures with other scriptures revealing to us the meaning of what was spoken here.

There is only One body,
The Body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:5
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

There is only One Spirit,
The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ.

Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

There is only One hope,
Eternal life through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:13
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

There is only One Lord,
Jesus whom God made both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:36
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

There is only One faith,
The teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

There is only One baptism,
The baptism into the death of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

There is only One God,
His name was manifested by Jesus Christ.

John 17:6
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

There is only One Father,
His name was declared by Jesus Christ.

John 17:26
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

There is only One door,
The door which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 10:7
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

There is only One name,
Every knee shall bow before Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:9-10
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

With this clarification of the Apostle Paul’s words that was spoken in Ephesians 4:4-6 above, I would like to turn our focus upon the one body of Christ.

Many times when we think of the body of Christ we think of the body of the man Christ Jesus only and do not think about his dual nature. Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time. As Jesus told us in John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.” “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col 2:9)

We must not forget that the one Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Rom 8:9)

Thus the one body of Christ is the one body of God. God doesn’t have three bodies because our God is one. And the scriptures teaches us that there is but one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

This again is the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. The mystery of God manifested in the flesh. The one Spirit of God incarnate in the one body of God, the body of Christ.

Many times when we think of the body of Christ, we only think of the spiritual body of Christ that the born again believer becomes a part of. The body of Christ that has many members of which makes up this one body. But we must not forget the dual nature of Christ and the mystery of godliness.

For it is by the one Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ that one receives that gives them access into the one body of Christ of which we are many members.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.

Hear the words of Jesus as he prayed in his humanity to the eternal Spirit.

John 17:20-23
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

In verse 21 Jesus says, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” This request that Jesus has prayed to the eternal Spirit is that all of those who believe on him through the words of his disciples, that they all may be one even as he and the Father are one. “As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee… that they also may be one in us”.

How is the Father and Jesus one? They are one in Spirit and in body.

In verse 23 Jesus explains how we can be one in the Father as well as in himself. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one”. One as being members of the body of Christ by receiving the Spirit of Christ. That we may be one even as he is one. One in body and one in Spirit.

Ephesians 5:30
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

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Bible study, Jesus

C & C: If the dead rise not at all?

October 22, 2016 cpministries 3 Comments

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Many people have questioned what the Apostle Paul was speaking of when he made the statement, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor 15:29)

In this lesson I will show you from the scripture what the Apostle Paul is speaking of. Let us take a closer look at chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:1-29
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The topic of this chapter has been laid out. The topic of Jesus Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and that he rose again the third day.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Here the Apostle Paul has given testimony of the witnesses that seen Jesus Christ after he was risen from the dead.

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Here the Apostle Paul has explained that if the dead rise not at all then we are still in our sins. And they themselves are also found false witnesses of God because they testified of God that he raised up Christ from the dead. And if there be no resurrection of the dead then Christ did not raise and our faith is in vain.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Here the Apostle Paul reaffirms the truth that Christ is risen from the dead and that he is become the firstfruits of them that slept. Meaning Christ is the first begotten of the dead. (Rev 1:5)

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

After explaining the order of the resurrection of the dead the Apostle Paul explains that death is the last enemy to be destroyed. And then the Apostle asks the question “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” Remember the topic of this chapter is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some people were saying that there wasn’t any resurrection of the dead. So the Apostle has instructed them that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen from the dead and your faith is in vain, if the dead rise not at all.

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”

Something many people fail to realize is that we are baptized for the dead.

Colossians 2:10-14
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

You don’t bury the living you bury the dead!! We are baptized for the dead that the body of sin might be destroyed. Remember the topic of this chapter is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a person repents of their sins they must also be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of their sins. Because as we just read in Colossians this is where “ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”.

So the Apostle Paul asks the question, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”

Romans 6:1-9
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Notice carefully the question asked here, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The Apostle Paul goes on to explain how we become dead to sin.

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

We are baptized for the dead. We must die out to sin in repentance and then be baptized into Jesus Christ by invoking his name as we are being baptized that the “circumcision made without hands” might take place “in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” “that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him”

Therefore we are baptized for the dead that the circumcision of Christ might take place which destroys the body of sin which we inherited from birth. This takes place in water baptism whereby our sins are remitted or washed away upon the invoking of the name of Jesus Christ through the faith of the operation of God. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”. But you must be planted together in the likeness of his death by being “baptized into Jesus Christ” where we are “baptized into his death”. Or we will not be in the likeness of his resurrection because the body of sin was not destroyed.

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Holy Spirit, Jesus

Christ the Firstfruits

October 19, 2016 cpministries 3 Comments

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The First and only begotten of the Father!

John 1:1,14, 18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

1 John 4:9-10
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The First begotten of Mary!

Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Luke 1:34-35
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:20-23
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The First begotten of the Dead!

Revelation 1:5-6
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 2:25-28
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Acts 26:22-23
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

The First begotten of every Creature!

Colossians 1:12-17
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The First begotten of the Living!

1 Corinthians 15:20-23
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Matthew 27:52-53
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

We have the Firstfruits of the Spirit!

Romans 8:19-23
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:10-14
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

James 1:17-18
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We who have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, have a Promise!!!

1 Corinthians 15:51-58
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Come take part of the Promise…..

Acts 2:36-39
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

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Holy Spirit, Know Your Enemy

Are you Blind?

October 5, 2016 cpministries 2 Comments

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This is a spiritual question of great importance. Unlike being naturally blind in the flesh, where one can not see anything, spiritual blindness can happen to a person, and that person be completely unaware that they can not see. Never the less, these people are blinded to the understanding of the scriptures of the Word of God. This is a very scary place to be. For you are in the darkness of this world, but yet believe you are in the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ.

The question today is, are you one of these people that are spiritually blinded and unaware? This question is of eternal consequences. For if you are spiritually blinded you are lost.

You may be recalling,

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The question that may be coming to your mind is, why would anyone be spiritually blinded if the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance?

To understand the answer to this question, will take an understanding of whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how scriptures are discerned, what causes spiritual blindness, and finally to whom the Lord will reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom it is hid from?

The answer to the first question, “To whom will the Lord teach doctrine”, is found in the book of:

Isaiah 28:9-13
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The prophet Isaiah is telling us that knowledge and the understanding of doctrine, comes by studying the scriptures one line at a time. Which is line upon line. And also by one precept at a time. Which is a rule that governs one’s behavior, which would be a commandment. So, he is saying we learn by one commandment at a time, and by studying the scriptures one line upon another line, one commandment upon another.

God purposed this for man so that we would study the scriptures. God is looking for someone who truly loves Him and is seeking Him. These type of people, will search the scriptures, pray about them, learn from their pastor, preachers, and teachers, and will always consider all possible meanings of the verse at hand, because they want to make certain, they are obeying the Gospel correctly. It is to these people, that God will open the scriptures up to, because the scriptures are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:12-15
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

So the answer to the second question which was, “how are the scriptures discerned”, is by the Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God.

To answer the third question, which was, “What causes spiritual blindness”, we will need to look at some of the examples given to us. We will start with taking notice of what verse 13 of Isaiah 28 above has told us.

Isaiah 28:13
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

This verse here is speaking of the Jews. The Jews had been disobedient over and over to the LORD through out the reading of the Old Testament. In His Jealousy, He decided that He would go to another people who were not a people. This being (us) the Gentiles.

So Isaiah tells us that the word of the LORD to the Jews was one commandment upon another, one line upon another, until it caused them to be snared. It became a trap to them. The Word of God is written in a way, that God reveals to some, while concealing it from others. The answer for why, is because of seeing whether you have an honest or a dishonest heart. Do you truly love Him and will you obey what he says, or will you not truly love Him and decide to build your own plan of salvation from the scriptures.

Hear the Parable of the Sower and take notice of whom the Lord tells us it is that receives the Seed.

Luke 8:4-18
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

We have learned some life essential Words of Wisdom in this parable and from the snare which has befallen upon the Jews. To better understand these Words of Wisdom concerning why the Lord spoke in parables, let’s listen to the Apostle Matthew as he has recorded for us why the Lord spoke in parables.

Matthew 13:10-15
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Why??

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

You may have (read/heard) this just now, and missed the answer to why this happens. The answer is verse 15. Jesus tells us, their hearts is waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and here is the answer to why they don’t see, for their eyes they have closed. Least at any time they should open their eyes and see, which would allow them to open their ears, to hear, which would bring understanding to their heart, which would bring repentance and conversion, and then Jesus would heal them.

Jesus is looking for a bride that truly loves Him. Someone Obedient and Faithful to Him. Thus scriptures were deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or if you do love the truth, the Spirit will open your understanding.

Let’s compare this to the natural. When you are about to be married, how do you want your spouse to love you? Do you want them to love you with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength? Or do you prefer them to somewhat love you, and every so often cheat on you? Or would you rather if they were going to half way love you, that you had never even met this person?

Revelation 3:14-16
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom. The Church is the Bride of Christ. So then if you are a person halfway serving the Lord, we are told that your ending will be that you are spued out of the Lord’s mouth.

Luke 10:25-28
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Matthew 22:40
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

You may be wondering how love will save you? The answer is, LOVE fulfills all the law and God is love.

Romans 13:8-14
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Apostle John continues in:

1 John 4:16-21
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

So now that we understand to whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how the scriptures are discerned, and that the Gospel is deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or to be opened to you by the Spirit if you do love the truth, we will continue by seeing to whom the gospel is hid from and to whom it is revealed to.

Matthew 11:25
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Corinthians 4:4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This goes right along with what Jesus answered to His disciples concerning them that had shut their own eyes. Now we find out that because they believed not, the god of this world has blinded their minds. So the Gospel is only hidden to the Wise, Prudent, and to them that are lost. Yet it is revealed to babes.

The answer to the question of, “To whom will the Lord reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom is it hid from”, is to them that are wise and prudent, and to them that are lost. The gospel of Christ is not intended to be hid. The gospel is revealed unto babes. Which are those that have an honest and a good heart as the parable of the Sower revealed, they not only hear the Word of God, but also keep it, by applying what they have learned, and these bear fruit with patience.

2 Peter 3:13-18
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Here Apostle Peter tells us what to do in verse 18 so that we be not blinded. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us,
Matthew 7:7-8
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

In closing,

With this new found knowledge we can now understand why there are so many divisions of Christianity that have led to so many different denominations. Now that you can see that the gospel was designed to either ensnare one, or to be open to one, you want to make sure you are somebody that the scriptures are open to. This comes by making sure what you are taught is correct. And growing in the grace and knowledge of God as Apostle Peter has spoken. And in conclusion Apostle Peter gives us the instructions very clearly on how to make sure we never fall and that we will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:1-12
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

I urge everyone that has read this message to cry out to God with an honest and a good heart, and make sure that you are not one that has become spiritually blinded and your thoughts being overtaken by satan unbeknown to you at his will.

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Christian, Salvation

Are you being Taught the Truth?

September 29, 2016 cpministries 5 Comments

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Is your Church Teaching you the True Plan of Salvation? What is your soul worth to you? Are you a Truth Seeker? Let us Journey together through the Word of God and make certain your calling and election is sure.

Let us begin with the root verse for exposing false doctrines.

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Do you believe it today? Do you believe that All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God? Do you believe that all scripture is profitable for doctrinal teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness?

Let me explain to each of you today, that if you believe this verse of the Bible, then there should no longer be any divisions of Christianity. Why? Because to acknowledge that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness will only lead you to the one true path.

Since the Bible tells us that all scripture is inspired by God, there is never a time that you will use one passage of scriptures to reject another passage of scriptures. There also will never be a time that you leave out or exclude scripture because you do not understand them.

This very thing however is what happens over and over throughout the many doctrines of Christianity. Let me give you a couple of examples:

John 3:16 says,
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Praise God for that! And, this is true! But, just because this is true, does that mean you exclude what other scriptures also tell us to do? Like:

Mark 16:16 that reads,
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

It was very clear that those that believed and are baptized would be saved. Not just those who say I am sorry. No where in scripture is it taught that all one has to do is say I am sorry and accept the Lord Jesus as Savior and they will be saved.

Instead scripture teaches us….

Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Again Jesus was clear that it was those who do the will of God that will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. Let me give you one more example of only picking and choosing a scripture you want to apply.

Romans 10:9-10
9 {That} if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Amen! This is true. But again does this mean you no longer have to be baptized? Of course not.

Acts 2:38-39 reads,
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If we exclude scriptures are we being obedient to 2 Timothy 3:16 which told us, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness?

Of course we are not being obedient to this scripture if we are using one scripture to eliminate another. But nevertheless it does not seem to stop most all of the Christian Denominations from doing it anyhow.

So I challenge you!!!! To follow this lesson and discover what the Bible does teach us to do, concerning the Plan of Salvation. I then challenge you, to share this with the Pastor of your Church. For through him, many lives are affected. Let us bring Unity to as many Pastors as we can.

So how can you make sure that you are not one of the many people who are following after the Plan of Salvation incorrectly?

As with all are answers we will turn to the Bible for direction.

Acts 17:10-11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

We to must be like those of Berea. We too must search the scriptures and make sure what we are being taught is Biblical.

2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Let us begin with the understanding of how the Word of God is set up.

Isaiah 28:9-12
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

A precept is a general rule regulating behavior or thought. For example when you apply a commandment of God in your life. This commandment or precept is put in place for us to regulate our behavior and thought.

The prophet Isaiah has told us that we learn doctrine, “precept must be upon precept precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. This means we learn from studying the Word of God, commandment upon commandment, reading line upon line, line upon line; gaining this doctrinal knowledge here a little, and there a little. Here a little and there a little meaning, one book may have part of the answer, and another book another part of the answer, and in another book, yet more of the answer.

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

How important is it for us to be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

2Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

So it is of the utmost importance that we be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So how are we to be obedient to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? It is important at this time to recall 2 Timothy 3:16, which reads…..

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Jesus gives us instructions in the gospels.

Luke 13:1-5
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

According to Jesus we must repent or we will perish.

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

We are told by Jesus here that we must believe and be baptized in order to be saved.

John 3:1-7
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Here we find out by Jesus that we must be born again or we cannot see or enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 10:22
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

And finally we learn that we must endure to the end to be saved.

So to sum up what we were told, Jesus tells us that we must believe, repent, be born again of water and of the Sprit, and finally we must endure to the end.

So to be obedient to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must believe, repent, be born of water, be born of Spirit, and then endure to the end.

In Acts chapter 2 we learn….

Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As we continue reading we find that there were Jews present out of every nation under heaven. They questioned, what meaneth this? Apostle Peter explains to all that are present this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. That it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.
And then in……

Acts 2:36-41
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

The people there believed that what the Apostle Peter spoke was the truth, and it pricked their hearts, and brought forth conviction, and they asked, Men and brethren, What shall we do????

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Notice that the people believed, then the Apostle Peter tells them to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then tells them that they will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the fulfillment of what Jesus instructed us to do in the gospels.

Notice verse 39 tells us that this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This lets us know without any doubt that this promise was to everyone throughout every generation that is to come.

So to partake of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or to be born of water and of the Spirit, one must do what the Apostle Peter instructed us. We must repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

To repent, one must acknowledge their sins, be sorrowful for them, and then tell the Lord, that I no longer want to walk after my own will, but after the will of God. Showing by action the changing of one’s mind or direction. This is the first part of how we partake of the death of Jesus Christ. We die out to ourselves, and we now live unto the Lord.

Romans 6:3-7
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

This is the second part to how we partake of the Lord’s death, we must be buried with him in baptism. A submersion into water that represents the burying of one’s body.

Galatians 3:26-27
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:

Here we learn that to put on Christ, we must be baptized into Christ. It is of the utmost importance that when you are baptized, that you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, this is how we put on Christ, by taking His name. This is when your sins are remitted.

Colossians 2:11-15
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

It is in the baptism, that you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. It is in the baptism that your sins are cut away.

After you have partook of the death and burial of Jesus Christ, you are then promised the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is important to realize however, this is not an automatic process. When your receive the free gift of the Holy Ghost, it will be evidenced by the speaking of another tongue as the Spirit gives the utterance.

Acts 8:12-17
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

We can see clearly here from verse 16 the Holy Ghost had fallen upon none them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Again, we can clearly see that the Holy Ghost was not automatic, and the baptism that one receives is important. Apostle Paul re-baptized these disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus. It was not until Apostle Paul laid his hands upon them, that the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with other tongues and prophesied.

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