How To Understand The Bible

It amazes me, the number of professing believers who have never read or do not study God’s word. You would think if someone wanted to go to heaven or have God work in their life, they would take the time to study God’s word to learn how to get to heaven, or how to have God work in their life.

And then we have to ask of those who do study God’s word, why can 10 people read one chapter in scripture and we get ten different explanations of that chapter? We know the scriptures are “living”.  Not living like man thinks, someone walking around, breathing, eating, sleeping, laughing but living because the scriptures speak to our spirit man, our breath of life we have inside our fleshly body.

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

Scripture teaches us to study God’s word and to rightly divide God’s word. But how do we rightly divide God’s word? Where are the divisions? And how do we know if we “got it right”?

I am not a grammar whiz and being a writer was never been my life long ambition. But God made me with, what I call, a technical mind. I deisect sentences and words because I want to be sure I fully understand “things” so I don’t make a mistake. I can’t help it, it is the way God made me. By pulling words and phrases apart and studying sentences has helped me with reading comprehension. In all my aptitude tests, my highest scores were always in reading comprehension and in the high 90s.

When I got saved I started reading and studying God’s word. And as God made me, I started pulling verses apart and looking at each word of a scripture. Not that I know all the answers, I don’t. And not that I always understand what God is saying, I don’t. But by using the God given gift of reading comprehension, I find studying God’s word is exciting and easy to understand.

So when I was going through 2 Thessalonians Chapter 1 this morning, I was asking the Lord, how can I help people understand your word? If someone has a question about a certain topic in your word, how can I help them to find the “right” answer? And as I said, I am not a grammar whiz but God showed me how to help people understand so they can ” rightly divide the word of truth”.

Now stick with me for a minute because if you can grasp this fact, you will have a better understanding not only of Scripture, but of everything in print you read. You will know the answer and not guess you have it right.

Scripture, like sentences in books or instruction manuals, have nouns and verbs. The noun identifies the person, place or thing of the sentence. The verb is the action word in the sentence. The verb tells the action of the noun. So in the example, He writes well. The noun, (person, place or thing) is He. The verb or action word is “writes”.  So if this were a verse of Scripture, I would learn, He writes. What does he do? Writes. So nouns and verbs in the scripture, basically, is the topic and what the topic does. Example: Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. The noun is Jesus. The verbs? Died and rose. Buried is a verb but Jesus did not bury himself, others buried him. So the verbs relating to Jesus himself? Died and rose.

Basically, you can say the topic is the noun and the verb or action word tells you what the person, place or thing did. Most people who read understand this concept. From school we remember learning sentence structure from examples like, See Spot run. People understand that sentence without controversy. But reading comprehension is made up of 4 keys, not 2.

Most people only look at 2 of the 4 keys in reading comprehension and that is why they don’t understand scripture. They look at nouns and verbs only. Another words, they look at the person, place or thing written about and they look at the action of the person, place or thing. They don’t consider the other 2 keys to unlocking understanding.

What are the other 2 keys? Adverbs and adjectives. Adverbs are used with verbs. Remember,  a verb is an action word. An adverb can modify verbs, adjectives and qualify words. Adverbs tell us who, what, where, when and how. So adverbs describe or clarify the verb. An example is the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us Jesus is coming back again. If we look at the first 2 keys only, nouns and verbs, we see Jesus is coming back. But look at Key 3, who, what, where, when and how. When we use Key 3 we learn Jesus is coming back – where? In the clouds according to I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and according to prophecy Zechariah 14:1-4 and Daniel 7:13,14 and Revelation he is physically coming to stand on earth in Israel.

So those using only 2 of the 4 keys confuse the second coming of Christ. Those who use the 4 keys of reading comprehension know and understand the second coming of Jesus is in two stages, one in the clouds and one on the mount of Olives.

When we try to understand what God is telling us, we need to use the 4 keys of reading comprehension:
~ nouns – person, place or thing
~ verbs – action words
~ adverbs – modify verbs, adjectives, and qualify words. They tell us who, what, where, when and how.
~ adjectives – descriptive words that define a noun. They describe a person, place or thing. They tells us which, what kind, how many and sometimes why.

If you use these 4 keys with everything you read and study, you will have a good understanding of what God is telling you and what others teach you. You can compare scripture to what other teachings teach and weed out truth from error.

There was a saying that went something like, the devil is in the details. Why? Because the details is where you find keys 3 and 4 of reading comprehension and if you do not read the details, your conclusion is only half right. Until next time.

A Four Question Quiz

It just irritates me when I hear a preacher or believer say we don’t know what God has prepared for us as believers. These people quote one verse to make that claim and then they stop reading. I get so frustrated I yell, read the next verse would you! But God, read it man read it. Don’t leave the people thinking they can not know, read it. Tell them, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:”

Naturally, I am referring to 1 Corinthians 2:9,10. So I wanted to do an experiment.  I am going to give you the text in its entirety and then ask you four questions.

Remember in school, teachers would test your reading comprehension by reading you a story or giving you a story to read, then they would close the book and ask you questions about the story? That was to test your listening skills. But when they asked questions like what if this character did this instead of that, they were testing your comprehension of an event, concept or teaching.

People read all kinds of things all day long but just because they can read something and tell you what they read, does not mean they have reading comprehension. Another words, just because someone can read an article or a book does not mean they understand the concept, the teaching, the methods the book is teaching.

Remember in our last post What Is Understanding we used our smart phones as the example? We explained just because you read the operating manual does not mean you understand how or why your smart phone works. Someone with good reading comprehension can look at and read the manual and “see” how everything works together.

With God’s word we see similar situations, except for one major point. God’s word is a living word. So when people start messing with God’s word, they are asking for trouble. Those who make “their” version, their notes are added so they play Holy Spirit through their notes, they are messing with Almighty God and his word. That issue is for another time.

So a casual read through God’s word gives us basics. And as for reading comprehension, a casual read shows us the overall concepts taught in God’s word. But because the word of God is a living book, God makes different things “pop out” to the reader. That is why you can read verses one time and get one thing out of the verses and something different the next time you read the same verses.

But like the smart phone, when you comprehend the environment you understand how they work, how to get them to perform certain functions and how to get specific results.

Lots of people read scripture but few try to comprehend what scripture teaches. An example is salvation. People say a prayer and think they are saved, but do they comprehend what salvation really is? What about 10, 20 or 30 years later, do they comprehend what salvation really is? Surely when we first got saved we did not comprehend what we were getting into but we knew and believed God and his word. So we acted on the authority of God’s word and got saved.

Now it is time to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and most saved people look to preachers to teach them, what comes next. These new converts will either dig into God’s word and find answers or they defer to other people to teach them. Often the latter case causes believers to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

So let me, as I said at the beginning of this post, give you some text and then ask you four questions from the text.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 KJV  “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
[2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
[3] And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
[4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
[5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom , which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
[8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[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.
[16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

4 Questions:

Can we know the things God has prepared for us who love him?

If yes, how can we know what God has prepared for us who love him?

Do we have the mind of Christ?

What is the mind of Christ?

Don’t give me your opinion for these questions, prove your answers with scripture. You can email me your answers at theheavensrecord@gmail.com

Or feel free to post comments.
Until next time.

But God hath revealed them unto us (vs10)

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Are We In The Last Days?

Are we in the last days? Some people would ask, last days of what? But to students of the word of God, we know God has established time. God made the sun establishing day time and the moon night time. We also know God has established a beginning and an end, Alpha and Omega.

When we look for God to define “last days” for us, through his word, God reveals what will be going on in the world at the time designated as “the last days”. We also find God distinguishes between “the last days“, where days is plural meaning more than one day, and “the last day“, where day is singular meaning one day.

What is interesting is when Jacob called his 12 sons together to give his blessings, Jacob told his sons what shall befall them, “in the last days”.
Genesis 49:1 KJV  “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.”

So even Jacob mentions the last days to his sons and Genesis 49 is God’s record for the 12 tribes of Israel, in the last days. If you read Genesis 49 and compare what is going on with Israel, does it fit?

When we look at Isaiah 2:2 and Micah 4:1, these appear to be referring to the Millennium which would make sense because had Israel received the Messiah Jesus Christ, the Millennium would have come in then. But Israel’s religious leaders rejected Jesus as the four gospels explain.

So then we move into New Testament times where God allows Gentiles to get saved to provoke Israel to jealousy.

Romans 10:19-21 KJV  “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
[20] But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
[21] But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

Romans 11:11 KJV  “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

And we see recorded in the book of Acts that God sends the Holy Spirit to all believers as Jesus promised in John chapters 14, 15 and 16. And we see the term, the last days mentioned now in the New Testament.  There is a key in the passages, see if you can find the key.

Acts 2:17-21 KJV  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Did you find the key? The verses tell us what God will do but the key is, to whom? God tells us, verse 21, whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Are we in the times where whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved? Yes or No?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Do we see these things happening today? These are evidences of the last days. Then look at what Paul tells the Hebrews in Hebrews 1:1-3 KJV  “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
[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;”

And James explains to the 12 tribes in
James 5:3 KJV  “Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” Remember what Jacob told the 12 tribes in Genesis 49?

Not only has Israel heaped up treasure for the last days, but so have Gentiles. 401K, stocks, bonds, treasuries and other treasures have people heaped to themselves. How many of these people have sowed seed in the Lord’s work, the Lord’s house. How many people heap to their Roth IRA but will not give 10% to God?

And look at what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:3-5 KJV  “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
[5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”

Scoffers are all over the world telling believers, we have heard for years how the Lord is coming back, where is he? We have heard for hundreds and thousands of years about the “rapture”. We have heard for thousands of years how Jesus is coming back, where is he?

So based on God’s definition of the last days, are we in the last days? When this world glorifies sodomy and Sodomites and mock God’s word speaking against Sodomites and calls believers bigoted, we see evidence of the last days. When we see elected officials selling out our country for worldly treasures they can heap to themselves or we see children turn against parents and parents against children. We see persecution and beheadings because people believe in Jesus. Are we in the last days?

If we are in the last days, then we have to ask ourselves, what comes after the last days? What happens after this time ends? Clearly the scriptures tell us, judgment. God will say, so to speak, that’s it, time is up, I have had enough. Only those who are believers will go with God just like in Noah’s time. Only believers got into the ark. The rest of the people were destroyed. Are you in Christ? If not, click our menu and How To Be Saved. If you are a believer, saved, then time is short and we need to be going about our Lord’s business as ambassadors for Christ. Until next time.

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Graves Opened

People often ask about what happens after death. The only place to find truthful answers is in the scriptures where God, our Creator, tells us answers to our questions.

There are several occasions where we are told by God, graves opened. And God doesn’t say the graves opened and stop there but God tells us bodies came out of the graves. I am not talking about Lazarus being raised from the dead or Samuel being called up from the grave. I am talking about people who have died and their body buried, their grave opening.

The New Testament mentions graves opening several times. When you study these verses you discover when a person dies and is buried, at some point, they come out of their grave.  When you filter people into groups of the unbelievers and the believers, you find their graves open at different times.

Believers are called “saints” in the scriptures. Unbelievers are called “dead”, “lost”, and unbelievers among other names.

There appears to be three times where graves are opened in scripture. What is significant about this is:

~ the number 3 is a divine number
~ means after people die, there is life
~ we have more than our earthly body

Looking at the times the graves opened helps us understand after death, what then. But looking at the graves opening also helps us understand doctrine, “teaching” of Scripture.

You see, when Jesus was crucified, some people standing there thought Jesus was calling for Elijah / Elias. Jesus was not. And why would these people think that? These people knew the scriptures. They knew the Old Testament says Elijah would come (again).

Malachi 4:5-6 KJV  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord :
[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

This is why many believers say Elijah is one of the two prophets who come during the Great Tribulation. But Jesus was not calling for Elijah on the cross. And notice what happens when Jesus dies on the cross.

Matthew 27:46-54 KJV  “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[47] Some of them that stood there, when they heard that , said, This man calleth for Elias.
[48] And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
[49] The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
[51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
[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.
[54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

Notice graves were opened. Imagine standing there witnessing graves opening? Notice what graves opened? All graves did not open, just certain graves opened.

You can understand why the centurion and others “feared greatly”. Then we read about the resurrection of Jesus.

Matthew 28:1-8 KJV  “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
[2] And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
[3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
[4] And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men .
[5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
[6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
[7] And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
[8] And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”

And we will pick this up from here next time. Until next time.

Mystery of Days Challenge

I have a challenge for you. There are several specific days mentioned in scripture. The challenge?  What’s the difference. Let me explain.

When you read and study God’s word you notice a clear distinction between days. Starting in Genesis we read, and the evening and the morning were the first day, and the evening and the morning were the second day and so forth. You find these references in Genesis 1. God made each day specific to a part of his creation. And God identified what day, the first, second, third and so forth. Throughout scripture God identifies specific days.

We see God mentions a day of rest. God mentions “the Lord’s day” and “that day”. We also see “the day of the Lord” is mentioned. And there are other days mentioned. These different days do not mean the same thing. Each of these days have a specific significance. These days have specific meanings.

When you group the meanings together to mean the same thing you loose the “doctrine” (teaching) of the verse. The result? People get confused or they interpret scripture instead of the Holy Spirit teaching scripture. 

So the Mystery of Days Challenge is for you to find what certain days are and what they mean. Let me explain. The phrase, “the day of the Lord” – what is the day of the Lord and what does that phrase mean. I will give you three phrases, but there are more. I want to focus your attention on three.

~ the day of the Lord
~ the Lord’s day
~ that day

You can use a concordance. Jot down the phrase and look up scriptures in the concordance that have the phrase. Then pray for God to help you understand and then look up the references you wrote down for that phrase. When you are done with these three, you should have a good idea what each phrase means.

Then when you are reading and studying different topics and you come across that phrase, you will be reminded of what the phrase means. And that is how you learn sound doctrine. You let God interpret his own word.

Let me get personal here. I was someone who did not even know God. I didn’t know Jesus until I was 27 years old. I knew nothing of God. The only thing I knew was the Bible was the word of God. I didn’t know what Bible version or anything about all the different versions. All I knew was the Bible is the word of God. I believed that.

I also knew denominations had different teachings. I didn’t know why there were so many different denominations. I use to think, if the Bible is the word of God and everyone reads the Bible, why are there so many different religions? Why are there different denominations if they all read the same book? The Lord showed me why, from his word.

I use to argue with people about Bible versions and teachings until the Lord showed me it was not my job to argue with people. I was to season my speech with salt and try to calmly and patiently reason with people. Isaiah 1:18 KJV
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

My job is to share the good news of the gospel, period. People will decide to believe and receive Jesus Christ into their heart or not. Their eternity is based on their decision, my eternity is settled and my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

I say all this because denominations have a tendency to teach their denominational doctrine. Real truth comes from God’s word. And although I might not understand some things, I know I will let God be true and every man a liar. Romans 3:4 KJV  “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

Just like the Pharisees, people get stuck in their denominational teachings and refuse to let God teach them. Especially if it goes against their denominational teaching. I made my mind up I was going to listen to God. And if I don’t understand something, I pray and pray for the Holy Spirit to help me understand and let God’s word explain itself. You can loose friends that way. But you have to decide who you will believe.

So this study on the Mystery of Days may or may not line up with your denominational teaching. You decide how you will handle it.

Until next time.

The John 1 Verse 4 Assignment

Unlike other posts, this time I have an assignment for you. I am going to give you one verse. I want you to fully explain the verse. Another words, what is the verse talking about (gives you the topic) who is the verse speaking to and what is the verse saying to them.

Students of the word of God know scripture tells us line upon line and precept ( thought or idea ) upon precept. In law, you Shepardize cases which means you trace a case to similar cases to determine if the law was altered or excluded things or was “updated”. In scripture, we do something similar.

Unlike a concordance which shows you specific words that appear and where it appears, tracing precepts is not done one word at a time.

Proverbs 2:6 KJV  “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Isaiah 28:9-10 KJV  “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:”

So how do you trace a precept? To study scripture, I use four books:
~ King James Bible
~ 1828 Webster Dictionary
~ Strongs Exhaustive Concordance
~ The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge ( TTSK ) is a book with over 500 thousand scripture references and parallel passages. Another words, a book of tracing precepts throughout scripture. I have the 29th reprinted book from 1967 with the forward written by R. A. Torrey.  You would look up the verse you are tracing and you would see words in italics which represent the scripture’s word. Then you see abbreviated references next to them.

This all ties in with our study and recent posts, trust me. So the assignment is to trace John 1:4 but we want to look at John 1:4 in context so let’s do that.

John 1:1-5 KJV  “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.
[4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Now let us look at John 1:4 in TTSK –

Notice the words in italics – him, the life so when you read John 1:4  ” In him was life ” the who or what of “him” is the precept and that is traced starting with John 5:21,26 ; John 11:25 ; John 14:6 ; I Corinthians 15:45 ; Colossians 3:45 ;1 John 1:2 and 1 John 5:11 ; Revelation 22:1. Then you would trace the precept the life. When you were done you would have a better understanding of the thought / idea – the precept.

We know the Gospel of John has a different focus than Matthew, Mark and Luke. John gets more into spirit or spiritual matters. So opening his gospel, John starts with the Word was with God and the Word was God. We know the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us just like John 1:14 says. But my focus is on verse 4. John 1:4 KJV
” In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

I am looking at “was life “ and ” the life was the light if men “ – what does that mean? And that is the assignment. Feel free to post your conclusion, not your website promotions, or feel free to email me.

Until next time.

Is There Life After Your Body Quits

When people appear to “die” and then have a “near death experience” why do these people have different experiences?

Body parts, including organs, are kept “alive” until those working on a patient decide to stop trying to revive. And when physicians can not revive a person, their body, they declare them dead. But as we said in our post Is Brain Dead – Dead physicians are focused on the body, the flesh being “alive”. And when physicians detect organs functioning, even if the person is comatose, they will hook them up to machines to keep their organs functioning.

Near death experiences are people who have “died” and come back. People have said they could see the doctors and nurses working on their body. These people said they were like floating above their body.

People who have died and “come back” have explained experiences they have had while they were dead, according to doctors stating they “died”. And the experiences these “dead” people describe are vivid, colorful and they never forget their experience. Yet the doctors claim they are dead. Which shows us, most doctor’s focus is technically not life, but keeping the organs of a body functioning. So I ask again –

When people appear to “die” and then have a “near death experience” why do these people have different experiences? Even God tells us, after death of the physical body, people will have different experiences. Where does God say that? Scripture has many examples. A very clear distinction is Luke 16. But we also know of the account of Moses and when Saul had the witch of Endor call up Samuel from the “dead”.  And remember the mount of transfiguration where Moses and Elijah appeared? To understand, look at Luke 16.

In Luke 16 Jesus tells us what happens after death. Not once does Jesus call this explanation a parable. He even tells us who these people are and what happened to them. So we see two people and they both died in their body. Their body / flesh died meaning their organs quit. Yet, two different things happened to them. Can you find the two different things?

Luke 16:19-31 KJV  “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
[20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Yes, verse 22 –  the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Clearly, we learn the beggar Lazarus was a believer because God sent his angels to get Lazarus and carry him to heaven. [ This is not the same Lazarus Jesus rose from the dead because that Lazarus was not a beggar.]

So we learn from Jesus explaining this, believers are carried to heaven, by angels, after our body quits, dies. This explains with “near death experiences” why so many say they are moving towards a bright light. They say they know they are moving through the air.

But the rich man was not a believer. It had nothing to do with the rich man’s wealth but it was because he was not a believer. What happened to him? He was buried. And notice, in “hell”  he lifted up his eyes. After his earthly body died he was given another body and that new body could see. His new body could feel, he felt pain and describes it as torment. He could speak. He had a brain to reason because he knew dipping water onto his tongue would cool him.

And when the man in hell tries to reason with God, God tells him no. God says his family has the scriptures to show them the way to heaven. Then the man asks for a miracle by saying if one rose from the dead they would believe. God tells him no. No they will not believe even then. After all, not only did Jesus raise from the dead but Jesus rose the other Lazarus from the dead and many still would not believe.

This explains why some people who have had near death experiences describe falling, falling into darkness. They say they were fearful. Some say they saw “weird” things. (Did you ever read the book of Ezekiel? )  When these people are revived, their experiences often change them for the rest if their mortal life.

My prayer is you will not wait to see if you can be revived if necessary. And not once are we told by God in scripture, to say a prayer to go to heaven. Not once are we told to do a list of works to go to heaven. Not once are we told to believe in God to go to heaven. What are we told?

Acts 16:31 KJV  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Believing on means you put all your faith and trust in what the Lord Jesus Christ did on the cross to pay for your sin and you tell God that. You ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and save you. How?

Romans 10:9-10 KJV  “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.”

Psalm 95:6-11 KJV  “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
[7] For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
[8] Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
[9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
[10] Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
[11] Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”

Friend, one day your organs in your body will quit. Your earthly body will die. And where your soul and spirit go after the death of your body, you have to determine before that time. My prayer is you will choose heaven.

Until next time.

Music Impacts Our Soul

The Lord has been teaching me and opening my understanding about our spirit man. As I put the study together I wanted to share a video with you.

The video I am sharing was done in 2013. As my regular readers know, I am a musician. To me, music is truly an art and a gift from God.  Many people think if they hit a few notes or strum a few chords, that is music. Not me. To me, music has to be melodic. It must have a flow, a message and be pleasing to the ear.

So when I found this video I was reminded how David danced unto the Lord. How praise in music magnifies our Lord. And how music is medicine for the soul. Remember when King Saul was troubled by evil spirits he would call David to play music? Music does impact our soul.

Thought I would share this. This song will lift you up and remind you that indeed, God is in control. The first time I watched this I was hooked. The music, the praise is awesome. The second time I watched I observed the people. Strangers. The third time I noticed the police, traffic lights, and even some spectators knew the song and sang along.

So enjoy. Here is the link. Clicking the link will take you away from our site to YouTube. If you would rather copy and paste the URL then I have provided that as well. I call the video the Hezekiah Video.

Hezekiah Video

Until next time.

Israel and Gentiles Explained

We are not told we need to understand God or his ways. We are actually told from scripture, God’s ways are not man’s ways. Yet we seek to know and understand God. We ask God questions like, why am I here or what is my purpose.  Often, people look to counselors, pastors, teachers, family, friends and even from God for direction.
However you determine your purpose, you arrive at a point where you need to make a decision. Stick with me for a few minutes and you will see where I am going with this. Once you “get it” it will change your life.

The Old Testament not only shows Israel could not keep God’s laws but it also points out Jesus is their Messiah they were looking for. Isaiah 53 and many other Old Testament verses prove Jesus, a Jew from King David’s lineage, is the Messiah.

Sadly, many Jews chose to believe their religious leaders over evidence they saw with their own eyes and the scripture – Not all, but many.

Writers of the Old and New Testament are all Jews. The Bible is a book about Jews, written initially to Jews for Jews with the Old Testament. But later, in the New Testament God includes Gentiles.  God takes a Jew named Saul, changes his name to Paul and sends him to Gentiles and Jews and kings.

Acts 9:13-16 KJV  “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

So God opened a window of opportunity to the Gentiles, for salvation. Why did God do this? As Paul explains in Romans 9:30 through Romans 10, to make the Jews jealous. Not to replace the Jews, but to make them jealous. Jealous that Gentiles were worshipping and praising their God, the God of Abraham,  Isaac and Jacob who God manifest or made known to man in the person of Jesus the Christ and now lives in all believers through God the Holy Ghost. 1 John 5:7 KJV  “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Note: There are some who teach the church has replaced Israel. This is heresy. Those that teach that are false teachers who know nothing of God’s love for Israel. They know nothing about God’s covenants with Israel.

When God called Saul on the road to Damascus,  Saul/Paul says Jesus spoke to him, from heaven, in the Hebrew tongue. Acts 26:13-18 KJV
“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Paul said,  even Isaiah the prophet  ( in the Old Testament ) spoke of the times Gentiles would trust Jesus ( the root of Jesse). But there is a time coming when the “fullness of the Gentiles” will come (Romans 11:25) and then, after that, God will save all of Israel as Paul explains in Romans 11:26.

But this post is not about the great love God has for Israel or how God has grafted in Gentile believers. This is about a verse that many have used to explain the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit’s working has nothing to do with this verse at face value. The verse?

1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV  “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”

Finally, after 33 years of salvation – 33 years of study, now God showed me in a way I could understand. I can not explain this without running this post length too long. But I will give you a clue and hope you research the clue, keeping in mind 1 Corinthians 1:22-31.

The Clue – Ephesians 4:17 KJV
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”

Until next time.

Wealthy Believers Conclusion

Wealthy Believers Conclusion

 

As investing in the world’s economy, you expect a return on your investments – God promises us a return if we invest in God’s economy. People will do strange things for money, wicked, ungodly things. I am not going to list those but I do want to point out two things:

 

1 – When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, Satan tempted Jesus first, with bread – food – provisions. [Remember, this is the return, the promise of the firstfruits offering – barns filled with plenty. And isn’t it interesting that Jesus is our firstfruits.]

 

Remember, Jesus was hungry. He had just gone 40 days and 40 nights without food. When you commit to doing things God’s way – your finances – Satan will try to convince you that you will not have enough or you don’t have enough to start or if you do this you will go without. Satan will tell you God has not met your needs or tithing does not work or why not just quit – just like Satan tried on Jesus, (see Matthew 4:2-4 and Luke 4:2-4). When Satan tries that with you, and he will, Do what Jesus did – quote God’s word out loud back at Satan. Satan will put thoughts in your head, rebuke the thought and quote God’s word out loud. This will strengthen your faith. A good verse is Philippians 4:19.

 

2 – But then Satan tried to deceive or trick Jesus. Satan, using God’s word, twisted God’s word to cause doubt or get Jesus to rethink the matter.

 

We see what bills are coming due or what we have in our hand and many times we are afraid to trust God. I have been there. Where I laid out my tithe and my bills and told God, if I tithe I don’t have enough to pay my bills. If I don’t tithe I can pay my bills but not tithe. So what do you do? This is really a test of faith and I must confess, I failed the test and paid my bills. And there were times I “borrowed” from God part of my tithe to get food or pay a bill. I reasoned with God, well David ate the shewbread in the temple didn’t he? Now I understand, we have to fully trust God. Lean completely on him. God provides for us because he loves us but when you honour God and give him first an offering, a tithe and firstfruits, according to God’s word he gives us a return.

 

If you are struggling to put food on your table and your “stuff” is breaking down – tithe and give to God first. Then stand on God’s word, speaking back to God his word and when Satan tries to plant thoughts in your head it is not working, rebuke Satan and keep speaking God’s promises because faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God, Romans 10:17. And don’t forget, we have the Holy Spirit in us.

 

 

3 – Which is also Point 2. Notice in Matthew 4:8,9 and Luke 4:5-8 Satan tempts Jesus with the world’s wealth and power and Satan tells Jesus the world’s power and glory (wealth) is in Satan’s hand.

 

Today, there are people who will sell out for power or money. Some will sell out their family, some their community, some will sell out their country. Jesus said, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul. If you want wealth so you can have a cushy life, that is called greed and do not expect God to bless that.

 

One thing I noticed – I did not understand targeting my giving. When I would give to missionaries, my wealth would increase. I never put it together back then. Now I understand. Back then, I didn’t know anything about tithing, alms giving, firstfruits, or even seed giving. Sure I would drop a few dollars into the offering plate at church. If there was a need whether at church or the Salvation Army buckets, I would give. But I have always had a heart for missionaries. Some missionaries live in the harshest of conditions and they choose to do that to share the gospel and help the people. My growing up with an outhouse and no running water, I did not want to live in the conditions the missionaries were living in, but I would support them. And when I would pray over what missionaries God wanted me to help and I would just start sending them regular monthly support, my business would increase. I never put 2 + 2 together, till now.

 

If you want to target your giving I have put a chart together for you to see God’s economy. It takes faith, guts, courage and trust in the Lord to keep his promises. Be wise as serpents but gentle as doves. As Jesus said – Matthew 12:16 “

 

God’s Investment Chart in His economy