October 27, 2009 - 5:36 am
Tags: character, Christian, christian purpose, colossian christians, God, grace, holiness, identity, Jesus Christ, living sacrifice, minds, purpose, reputation
Posted in Christian Identity | 1 comment
“Without blame” refers to our reputations. This character will only be fully realized in heaven (I Corinthians 1:8), but there is a present responsibility to “present your bodies a living sacrifice. . . . And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .” (Romans 12:1,2).
The search for identity and meaning can drive one to great successes or tragic failures. For the Christian, however, the question is answered throughout Ephesians.
We are chosen! We are selected as a favorite out of “many [who] are called” (Matthew 22:14) “out of the world” (John 15:19). What a privilege! We are God’s choice to bear His name, represent His cause, and share His glory throughout eternity.
July 7, 2009 - 10:35 pm
Tags: chosen
Posted in Ba-manna-bread | No comments
These words of Christ make it clear that being called by God and being chosen by Him are not the same. The two items are similar in the Greek, with the second somewhat like an extension of the first-that is, kletos and eklektos, or “called” and “called-out.” The same truth is emphasized again in Matthew 22:14: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Note also that the word for “chosen” (eklektos) is the word from which we get the English word “elect.” In fact, it is often rendered “elect” in the Bible.
March 23, 2009 - 9:07 am
Tags: Acts, cross, enmity, genesis, gifts, Gospel, Hebrews, Jesus Christ, liar, Mark, Matthew, promise, satan, seed, serpent
Posted in 100 Prophecies | 2 comments
“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:9-15
March 15, 2009 - 8:03 am
Tags: Acts, believer, bread, church, fellowship, gifts, God, hate, Hebrews, house, Jesus Christ, Paul, phillipian, temple, way, william cody bateman, world
Posted in Ba-manna-bread | 1 comment
“And all who believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. And continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47
These scriptures describe, in a beautifully simplistic way, the attitude, atmosphere and approval of true fellowship amongst Christians who gather in the name of Jesus Christ.
February 18, 2009 - 9:28 am
Tags: Adonai, Elohim, family, father, God, Hebrews, hike4fathers, Jehovah, joy, mercy righteousness, peace, redemption, romans, sanctification, satan, scripture, sorrow, testament, truth, world
Posted in Ba-manna-bread | No comments
“Now the God of peace be with you all” (Romans 15:33).
Our God of all the world has been known by many names in Scripture (Elohim, Jehovah, Adonai, etc.), but He is also identified, especially in the New Testament, as the God of many virtues and graces.
December 10, 2008 - 7:59 am
Tags: Acts, church, doctrine, gifting, hands, healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, leadership, ministry, power, serving, Timothy, william cody bateman
Posted in Killing Sacred Cows | No comments
“Laying on of hands” is a Biblical action; however, there is no biblical mandate requiring the physical laying on of hands for a particular spiritual ministry. Jesus certainly laid His hands on many of those He healed; however, He also healed without laying His hands on people. In fact, there were times when He was nowhere near the vicinity of those He healed. Matthew 8:8 describes Jesus healing the servant of the centurion without going near the centurion’s house.
Following are two instances to consider where in one case the Holy Spirit bestows the gift of speaking in tongues with the act of an apostle’s laying on of hands and in the other case He does so without the laying on of hands, but simply through the apostle’s preaching:
“Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:4-6).
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God?” (Acts 10:44-46).
