8/14/11
Hal Lindsey Report (08-12-2011): Waking Up in '69, Future Tense, Food for a Day, Losing the War, Goodbye Old Dollar and My Old Crystal Ball
This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
Sir Isaac Newton was no dummy.
His famous monograph, "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica," was published in 1687. It is credited with laying the groundwork for classical mechanics. In the three volume set he also developed Newton's laws of motion and stated Newton's laws of gravitation. Besides inventing the first practical reflecting telescope, he advanced other theories that became foundational to modern physics, calculus, and science in general -- most of which I can't even begin to understand, much less communicate.
Briefly referred to as "Principia," Newton's signature treatise is rightly considered one of the most important works in the history of science.
He is acknowledged as one of the most brilliant men of all time. Yet most people don't know that Sir Isaac Newton was highly religious and a bit of a theologian. He actually wrote more on Bible hermeneutics than on science and mathematics. That's why something he wrote more than 300 years ago is especially important today.
Sir Isaac observed: "About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition."
Sure enough, in the last century or so, there has arisen a group of scholars, theologians, and teachers who have done exactly what Newton predicted -- insist upon the literal interpretation of the Bible's prophecies amid "much clamor and opposition."
We owe a debt of gratitude to men such as Anderson, Chafer, Pentecost, Walvoord, and others who withstood the criticism and, sometimes, condemnation of their peers to bring the Bible's predictions of these last days to the attention of the Church.
Even so, in 1969, when I wrote "The Late Great Planet Earth," there wasn't much general interest in Bible prophecy. With that book, I hoped to attract non-Christians to the claims of Christ and help believers understand the wonder of Bible prophecy.
This week, I'm going to take a look at how some of the predictions I made in that book are shaping up 40 years later. And "shaping up" they are. From the decline of the US dollar to the global war on drugs to the efforts to convert to a global electronic currency to the beginnings of world food shortages. Things are falling into place in the end-times scenario faster than schoolchildren into a lunch line.
All of which means -- as I say week after week -- that it's time to get ready for Christ's soon, sudden return for the believers. Though things are looking bleak on the financial and political horizons, just lift your eyes a little higher and soon we'll see Jesus coming back for us in the clouds of glory. So don't despair -- prepare!
Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration (on Sundays now!), CPM Network, various local stations, http://www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Check your local listings.
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.com
web: http://www.hallindsey.com
© 2011 Hal Lindsey Media Ministries
http://www.hallindsey.com
8/13/11
Help Free Gao Zhisheng & Others Like Him
Five years ago, renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng disappeared into police custody while visiting his sister. Today no one knows where he is. Even the police now claim that they have “lost him.”
Your prayers and assistance have helped us to raise Gao’s case in the world’s capitals and to fight for his freedom!
Your gifts also helped Gao’s wife and children flee the relentless persecution in China and resettle safely in the United States. But they miss Gao very much. His son recently told his mother he wished they were a family, because without a father he felt they were not a family.
So the fight goes on. I am writing you today from a dangerous and sensitive location in Asia where I am organizing another urgent rescue mission for a persecuted Chinese believer.
The needs of our Christian brothers and sisters are urgent and overwhelming.
ChinaAid helped human rights lawyers fight 36 cases last year alone – and that was just a handful of the number of requests we received to assist persecuted Christians and other victims of injustice in China.
As you may know, China's Communist rulers are once again waging an intense campaign against “house church” Christians and anyone else who dares to speak out for freedom, justice or the rule of law. Just last month, Pastor Shi Enhao, deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance, was given a two-year labor camp sentence.
Pastor Shi needs legal assistance in China to argue his case, and his family needs assistance to carry on his ministry, which includes pastoring a church with thousands of members. ChinaAid can provide that help, with your support.
This is an historic moment in China.
In spite of the risks, pastors and human rights lawyers today are not afraid to stand up and demand their rights, to fight for freedom and justice.
Your gift of any amount will make a difference in the lives of the persecuted in China.
For instance:
$3,000 provides a full legal defense team for Pastor Shi or any Christian pastoror other religious leader persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party.
$1,000 provides legal counsel for churches whose property is threatened, like ShouwangChurch, whose members, despite detention and threats, courageously worship outdoors every week.
$300-$600 provides basic necessities for a month to families like Pastor Shi’s or Gao Zhisheng’s whose head of household is imprisoned.
$150-$300 will provide the basic necessities for two weeks for families being persecuted or whose head of houshold is imprisioned.
Please prayerfully consider making the most generous gift you can today through our secure online contribution.
Donate: http://m4.chinaaid.us/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=6&mailid=13&subid=22686
We pray for the day when Gao Zhisheng is free, when Pastor Shi is reunited with his wife and congregation, when Chinese Christians and other persecuted faithful have full freedom to practice their religion, and when our work will no longer be necessary. With your help, that day will come. God bless you.
Sincerely
Bob Fu,
President, ChinaAid
PS: Geng He, Gao Zhisheng’s wife and a tireless campaigner for his freedom, firmly believes that only consistent international pressure will bring about his release. Read her appeal and her account of their story, including ChinaAid’s help in coordinating the family’s resettlement in the United States after they fled China two years ago: [Click here to read a transcript of her interview with Radio Free Aisa]
To read her letter to members of Congress:
http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/08/geng-hes-letter-to-congressmen.html
To read her essay “Waiting for you to come home!”:
http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/08/to-gao-zhisheng-waiting-for-you-to-come.html
To read more about ChinaAid’s efforts to Free Gao Zhisheng:
www.FreeGao.com
To read more about the arrest of Pastor Shi:
http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/07/breaking-news-house-church-alliances-no.html
ChinaAid Contacts
Bob Fu, President; Mark Shan, Spokesperson
Tel: 1+(888) 889-7757 Cell: (267) 205-5210
Email: Bob@ChinaAid.org Mark@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org www.MonitorChina.org
How Was The New Testament Put Together?
Dr. Erwin Lutzer explains how the Canon (New Testament) was put together and how Paul's letters were already considered inspired, and included when they were written.
http://erwinlutzer.com/
Sarah's Trail of Blood
This is a short but powerful video from Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) about a girl named Xianzhi "Sarah" Liu who was tortured for six years in China for being a Christian. I plead with you to support Voice of the Martyrs! Persecution is happening all over the world and God expects us to help. Please do! Please email and embed this video in support of VOM, thanks!
http://www.persecution.com
Origins: Science - The Whole Story
Science: The Whole Story with Dr. Danny Faulkner. Goes into a history of modern science and supports a Christian, Biblical worldview.
http://www.ctvn.org/programs-origins.asp http://www.ctvn.org/originsarchive.asp
There is a wealth of material out there that supports a creationist, Biblical, "Intelligent Design" belief of human history and earth history. There are many scientists and researchers that support a Biblical, creationist, "Intelligent Design" view of human origin and history. Some other recommended resources:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
http://www.creationevidence.org/
http://creationresearch.org/
http://www.leestrobel.com/
Why should I not commit suicide?
Question: "Why should I not commit suicide?"
Answer: Our hearts go out to those who have thoughts of ending their own lives through suicide. If that is you right now, it may speak of many emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness and despair. You may feel like you are in the deepest pit, and you doubt there is any hope of things getting better. No one seems to care or understand where you are coming from. Life just is not worth living...or is it?
If you will take a few moments to consider letting God truly be God in your life right now, He will prove how big He really is, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Perhaps scars from past hurts have resulted in an overwhelming sense of rejection or abandonment. That may lead to self-pity, anger, bitterness, vengeful thoughts, or unhealthy fears that have caused problems in some of your most important relationships.
Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, no matter how bad things are in your life, there is a God of love who is waiting for you to let Him guide you through your tunnel of despair and out into His marvelous light. He is your sure hope. His name is Jesus.
This Jesus, the sinless Son of God, identifies with you in your time of rejection and humiliation. The prophet Isaiah wrote of Him in Isaiah 53:2-6, describing Him as a man who was “despised and rejected” by everyone. His life was full of sorrow and suffering. But the sorrows He bore were not His own; they were ours. He was pierced, wounded, and crushed, all because of our sin. Because of His suffering, our lives can be redeemed and made whole.
Friend, Jesus Christ endured all this so that you might have all your sins forgiven. Whatever weight of guilt you carry, know that He will forgive you if you humbly receive Him as your Savior. “...Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you...” (Psalm 50:15). Nothing you have ever done is too bad for Jesus to forgive. Some of His choicest servants committed gross sins like murder (Moses), murder and adultery (King David), and physical and emotional abuse (the apostle Paul). Yet they found forgiveness and a new abundant life in the Lord. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, God stands ready to repair what is “broken,” namely, the life you have now, the life you want to end by suicide. In Isaiah 61:1-3, the prophet wrote, “The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Come to Jesus, and let Him restore your joy and usefulness as you trust Him to begin a new work in your life. He promises to restore the joy you have lost and give you a new spirit to sustain you. Your broken heart is precious to Him: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:12, 15-17).
Will you accept the Lord as your Savior and Shepherd? He will guide your thoughts and steps—one day at a time—through His Word, the Bible. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). In Christ, you will still have struggles, but you will now have hope. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you in your hour of decision.
If you desire to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, speak these words in your heart to God: “God, I need you in my life. Please forgive me for all that I have done. I place my faith in Jesus Christ and believe that He is my Savior. Please cleanse me, heal me, and restore my joy in life. Thank You for Your love for me and for Jesus' death on my behalf.”
Have you made a decision to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior because of what you have read here? If so, please click here: http://www.gotquestions.org/now-what2.html
If you have any questions, please use the question form on the Bible Questions Answered page.
Other Article: What is the Christian view of suicide? What does the Bible say about suicide?
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
Answer: Our hearts go out to those who have thoughts of ending their own lives through suicide. If that is you right now, it may speak of many emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness and despair. You may feel like you are in the deepest pit, and you doubt there is any hope of things getting better. No one seems to care or understand where you are coming from. Life just is not worth living...or is it?
If you will take a few moments to consider letting God truly be God in your life right now, He will prove how big He really is, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Perhaps scars from past hurts have resulted in an overwhelming sense of rejection or abandonment. That may lead to self-pity, anger, bitterness, vengeful thoughts, or unhealthy fears that have caused problems in some of your most important relationships.
Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, no matter how bad things are in your life, there is a God of love who is waiting for you to let Him guide you through your tunnel of despair and out into His marvelous light. He is your sure hope. His name is Jesus.
This Jesus, the sinless Son of God, identifies with you in your time of rejection and humiliation. The prophet Isaiah wrote of Him in Isaiah 53:2-6, describing Him as a man who was “despised and rejected” by everyone. His life was full of sorrow and suffering. But the sorrows He bore were not His own; they were ours. He was pierced, wounded, and crushed, all because of our sin. Because of His suffering, our lives can be redeemed and made whole.
Friend, Jesus Christ endured all this so that you might have all your sins forgiven. Whatever weight of guilt you carry, know that He will forgive you if you humbly receive Him as your Savior. “...Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you...” (Psalm 50:15). Nothing you have ever done is too bad for Jesus to forgive. Some of His choicest servants committed gross sins like murder (Moses), murder and adultery (King David), and physical and emotional abuse (the apostle Paul). Yet they found forgiveness and a new abundant life in the Lord. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, God stands ready to repair what is “broken,” namely, the life you have now, the life you want to end by suicide. In Isaiah 61:1-3, the prophet wrote, “The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Come to Jesus, and let Him restore your joy and usefulness as you trust Him to begin a new work in your life. He promises to restore the joy you have lost and give you a new spirit to sustain you. Your broken heart is precious to Him: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:12, 15-17).
Will you accept the Lord as your Savior and Shepherd? He will guide your thoughts and steps—one day at a time—through His Word, the Bible. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). In Christ, you will still have struggles, but you will now have hope. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you in your hour of decision.
If you desire to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, speak these words in your heart to God: “God, I need you in my life. Please forgive me for all that I have done. I place my faith in Jesus Christ and believe that He is my Savior. Please cleanse me, heal me, and restore my joy in life. Thank You for Your love for me and for Jesus' death on my behalf.”
Have you made a decision to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior because of what you have read here? If so, please click here: http://www.gotquestions.org/now-what2.html
If you have any questions, please use the question form on the Bible Questions Answered page.
Other Article: What is the Christian view of suicide? What does the Bible say about suicide?
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
What should we learn from the life of Jeremiah?
Question: "What should we learn from the life of Jeremiah?"
Answer: Jeremiah the prophet lived in the final days of the crumbling nation of Israel. He was, appropriately, the last prophet that God sent to preach to Southern kingdom, which comprised the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. God had repeatedly warned Israel to stop their idolatrous behavior, but they would not listen, so He tore the 12 tribes asunder, sending the 10 Northern tribes into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. Then God sent Jeremiah to give Judah the last warning before He cast them out of the land, decimating the nation and sending them into captivity in the pagan kingdom of Babylon. Jeremiah, a faithful, God-fearing man, was called to tell Israel that because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against them and was now prepared to remove them from the land, at the hands of a pagan king whom He called, “My servant” (Jeremiah 26:7).
No doubt Jeremiah, who was only about 17 when God called him, had great inner turmoil over the fate of his people, and he begged them to listen. He is known as “the weeping prophet,” because he cried tears of sadness, not only because he knew what was about to happen, but because no matter how hard he tried, the people would not listen. Furthermore, he found no human comfort. God had forbidden him to marry or have children (Jeremiah 16:2), and his friends had turned their backs on him. So along with the burden of the knowledge of impending judgment, he also must have felt alone and lonely. God knew that this was the best course for Jeremiah, because He went on to tell him how horrible conditions would be in a short time, with babies, children, and adults dying “grievous” deaths, their bodies unable to even be buried, and their flesh devoured by the birds (Jeremiah 16:3-4).
Obviously, the people of Israel had become so hardened by the numbing effects of sin that they no longer believed God, nor did they fear Him. Jeremiah preached for 40 years, and not once did he see any real success in changing or softening the hearts and minds of his stubborn, idolatrous people. The other prophets of Israel had witnessed some successes, at least for a little while, but not Jeremiah. He was speaking to a brick wall; however, his words were not wasted. They were pearls being cast before swine in a sense, and they were convicting every person who heard them and refused to heed the warning.
Jeremiah tried to make the people understand their problem was a lack of belief, trust, and faith in God, along with an absence of fear which caused them to take Him for granted. It is very easy to be lulled into a false sense of security, especially when the focus is not on God. The nation of Israel, just like many nations today, had stopped putting God first, and had replaced Him with false gods, those that would not make them feel guilty or convict them of sin. God had delivered His people from bondage in Egypt, had performed miracles before them, and had even parted the waters of the sea for them. In spite of all these displays of God’s power, they returned to the false practices they had learned in Egypt, even making vows to the false ‘queen of heaven,’ along with the other rites and rituals that were part of the Egyptian culture and religion. God finally turned them over to their idolatry, saying “Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!” (Jeremiah 44:25).
Jeremiah’s constant depression, plus his loneliness and isolation, finally got the best of him and he became discouraged. He sunk into the quagmire where many believers seem to get stuck when they think their efforts are not making a difference and time is ticking away. Jeremiah, just like every other human being, was emotionally spent, even to the point of doubting God (Jeremiah 15:18), but God was not done with him. Jeremiah 15:19 records a lesson for each believer to remember in those times when they feel alone, useless, and discouraged and their faith is wavering: “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.’” God was saying to Jeremiah, come back to Me, and I will restore to you the joy of your salvation. These are similar to the words penned by David when he repented of his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51:12).
What we learn from the life of Jeremiah is the comfort of knowing that, just like every believer, even great prophets of God can experience rejection, depression, and discouragement in their walk with the Lord. This is a normal part of growing spiritually, because our sinful nature fights against our new nature, that which is born of the Spirit of God, according to Galatians 5:17: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” But just as Jeremiah found, we can know that the faithfulness of our God is infinite; even when we are unfaithful to Him, He remains steadfast (2 Timothy 2:13).
Jeremiah was given the task of delivering an unpopular, convicting message to Israel, one that caused him great mental anguish, as well as making him despised in the eyes of his people. God says that His truth sounds like “foolishness” to those who are lost, but to believers they are the very words of life (1 Corinthians 1:18). He also says that the time will come when people will not tolerate the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Those in Israel in Jeremiah’s day did not want to hear what he had to say, and his constant warning of judgment annoyed them. This is true of the world today, as believers who are following God’s instructions are warning the lost and dying world of impending judgment (Revelation 3:10). Even though most are not listening, we must persevere in proclaiming truth in order to rescue some from the terrible judgment that will inevitably come.
Recommended Resource: The Great Lives from God's Word Series by Chuck Swindoll.
http://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jeremiah.html
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
Answer: Jeremiah the prophet lived in the final days of the crumbling nation of Israel. He was, appropriately, the last prophet that God sent to preach to Southern kingdom, which comprised the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. God had repeatedly warned Israel to stop their idolatrous behavior, but they would not listen, so He tore the 12 tribes asunder, sending the 10 Northern tribes into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. Then God sent Jeremiah to give Judah the last warning before He cast them out of the land, decimating the nation and sending them into captivity in the pagan kingdom of Babylon. Jeremiah, a faithful, God-fearing man, was called to tell Israel that because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against them and was now prepared to remove them from the land, at the hands of a pagan king whom He called, “My servant” (Jeremiah 26:7).
No doubt Jeremiah, who was only about 17 when God called him, had great inner turmoil over the fate of his people, and he begged them to listen. He is known as “the weeping prophet,” because he cried tears of sadness, not only because he knew what was about to happen, but because no matter how hard he tried, the people would not listen. Furthermore, he found no human comfort. God had forbidden him to marry or have children (Jeremiah 16:2), and his friends had turned their backs on him. So along with the burden of the knowledge of impending judgment, he also must have felt alone and lonely. God knew that this was the best course for Jeremiah, because He went on to tell him how horrible conditions would be in a short time, with babies, children, and adults dying “grievous” deaths, their bodies unable to even be buried, and their flesh devoured by the birds (Jeremiah 16:3-4).
Obviously, the people of Israel had become so hardened by the numbing effects of sin that they no longer believed God, nor did they fear Him. Jeremiah preached for 40 years, and not once did he see any real success in changing or softening the hearts and minds of his stubborn, idolatrous people. The other prophets of Israel had witnessed some successes, at least for a little while, but not Jeremiah. He was speaking to a brick wall; however, his words were not wasted. They were pearls being cast before swine in a sense, and they were convicting every person who heard them and refused to heed the warning.
Jeremiah tried to make the people understand their problem was a lack of belief, trust, and faith in God, along with an absence of fear which caused them to take Him for granted. It is very easy to be lulled into a false sense of security, especially when the focus is not on God. The nation of Israel, just like many nations today, had stopped putting God first, and had replaced Him with false gods, those that would not make them feel guilty or convict them of sin. God had delivered His people from bondage in Egypt, had performed miracles before them, and had even parted the waters of the sea for them. In spite of all these displays of God’s power, they returned to the false practices they had learned in Egypt, even making vows to the false ‘queen of heaven,’ along with the other rites and rituals that were part of the Egyptian culture and religion. God finally turned them over to their idolatry, saying “Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!” (Jeremiah 44:25).
Jeremiah’s constant depression, plus his loneliness and isolation, finally got the best of him and he became discouraged. He sunk into the quagmire where many believers seem to get stuck when they think their efforts are not making a difference and time is ticking away. Jeremiah, just like every other human being, was emotionally spent, even to the point of doubting God (Jeremiah 15:18), but God was not done with him. Jeremiah 15:19 records a lesson for each believer to remember in those times when they feel alone, useless, and discouraged and their faith is wavering: “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.’” God was saying to Jeremiah, come back to Me, and I will restore to you the joy of your salvation. These are similar to the words penned by David when he repented of his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51:12).
What we learn from the life of Jeremiah is the comfort of knowing that, just like every believer, even great prophets of God can experience rejection, depression, and discouragement in their walk with the Lord. This is a normal part of growing spiritually, because our sinful nature fights against our new nature, that which is born of the Spirit of God, according to Galatians 5:17: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” But just as Jeremiah found, we can know that the faithfulness of our God is infinite; even when we are unfaithful to Him, He remains steadfast (2 Timothy 2:13).
Jeremiah was given the task of delivering an unpopular, convicting message to Israel, one that caused him great mental anguish, as well as making him despised in the eyes of his people. God says that His truth sounds like “foolishness” to those who are lost, but to believers they are the very words of life (1 Corinthians 1:18). He also says that the time will come when people will not tolerate the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Those in Israel in Jeremiah’s day did not want to hear what he had to say, and his constant warning of judgment annoyed them. This is true of the world today, as believers who are following God’s instructions are warning the lost and dying world of impending judgment (Revelation 3:10). Even though most are not listening, we must persevere in proclaiming truth in order to rescue some from the terrible judgment that will inevitably come.
Recommended Resource: The Great Lives from God's Word Series by Chuck Swindoll.
http://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jeremiah.html
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
Bible Prophecy Revealed w/Grant Jeffrey - Our Resurrection Bodies
Grant Jeffrey teaches an educational and inspiring message on our resurrection bodies. http://www.grantjeffrey.com. © 2010 Grant Jeffrey Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
Part 1
Part 2
Thanks to OmniChristianVids3 on YouTube for uploading the videos.
Part 1
Part 2
Thanks to OmniChristianVids3 on YouTube for uploading the videos.
Jack Van Impe Presents (08-13-2011) #1133
Part 1
Part 2
http://www.jvim.com/
Global Headlines: Russia says we will have alien encounters within the next 20 years, An Anti-Israel President, Russia flexes her nuclear muscles
Chronology of Episode: Announcement of Global Headlines; Jack comments on the need for churches to preach Christ's coming; commentary on cultural fascination with aliens, vampire and werewolves movies, satanism etc.; Jack teaches on Lucifer and angels; the 7 major signs pointing to the return of the Lord and relating global headlines; 1st plug for product offer of the week; continuation of global headlines relating to the 7 major signs; Jack's invitation to Christ; Rexella's offer of "First Steps in a New Direction;" 2nd plug for product offer of the week; Rexella's end quote
Product Offer of the Week: 2-Disc Special "New World Order Rising" and "Dictator of the New World Order"
Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the videos.
Part 2
http://www.jvim.com/
Global Headlines: Russia says we will have alien encounters within the next 20 years, An Anti-Israel President, Russia flexes her nuclear muscles
Chronology of Episode: Announcement of Global Headlines; Jack comments on the need for churches to preach Christ's coming; commentary on cultural fascination with aliens, vampire and werewolves movies, satanism etc.; Jack teaches on Lucifer and angels; the 7 major signs pointing to the return of the Lord and relating global headlines; 1st plug for product offer of the week; continuation of global headlines relating to the 7 major signs; Jack's invitation to Christ; Rexella's offer of "First Steps in a New Direction;" 2nd plug for product offer of the week; Rexella's end quote
Product Offer of the Week: 2-Disc Special "New World Order Rising" and "Dictator of the New World Order"
Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the videos.
8/12/11
Manna Fest w/Perry Stone (08-12-2011): #566 The Rapture - a Revelation of the Great Assembly
Part 1
©2008 - 2011 Perry Stone Ministries
Voice of Evangelism (Perry Stone) Ministries:http://www.voe.org/
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe#p/u/1/VjY9A5hAycA
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe#p/u/2/05gv0UfnzMI
By the way, there is now a YouTube channel for Perry Stone Ministries, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
©2008 - 2011 Perry Stone Ministries
Voice of Evangelism (Perry Stone) Ministries:http://www.voe.org/
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe#p/u/1/VjY9A5hAycA
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe#p/u/2/05gv0UfnzMI
By the way, there is now a YouTube channel for Perry Stone Ministries, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/perrystonevoe
Honor Roll: Remembering the 30 U.S. Forces Killed in Helicopter Crash
From PBS NewsHour: "On Friday's NewsHour, we close with a special edition on our ongoing honor roll of the American service personnel killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. This week, the Pentagon released the names of the 30 troops -- Navy SEALS, soldiers and airmen -- killed in the helicopter downed by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan last weekend. Watch that honor roll of all 30 men."
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of August 12, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises. Psalm 101:1
Iraq—Car Bomb Explodes Near Church—Assyrian Universal Alliance, Compass Direct News
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
A car bomb exploded outside a church in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Aug. 2, 2011, injuring more than 30 people in the latest of a series of attacks on Assyrian churches. Local authorities disarmed explosive devices near two other churches the same day. The blast, which covered the church building with glass, rubble and dust, caused serious damage to nearby houses and cars. “This has become ordinary for us, and we expect that any minute something will happen here,” a local pastor said. “Sometimes we feel there is some pressure over the Christians all over Iraq to make them leave their cities and go to the northern part of Iraq, to Kurdistan.” About half of Iraq’s Christian population has left the country since the beginning of the war.
Sudan—Christian Girl Escapes After a Year in Captivity—Compass Direct News
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Sixteen-year-old Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo recently escaped from a gang of Muslims who kidnapped her more than a year ago. The kidnappers locked Hiba in a room, beat her, raped her and tried to force her to convert to Islam. “[On several occasions], the man who put me in his house tortured me and threatened to kill me,” she said. “Several times I was warned that if I did not convert to Islam, then I risked losing my life.” After a year in captivity, Hiba was left unguarded. She then escaped from her captors and begged a motorist to take her home. Hiba’s mother said Hiba was targeted because she is Christian. Hiba is recovering from a recent blow to her face, and it will be a long time before she recovers emotionally. “I cannot forget this bad incident,” she said. “And whenever I try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to pray for me for inner healing.”
Cuba—Persecuted Family Resettles in United States—Compass Direct News
Isaiah 4:6
And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Rev. Carlos Lamelas, once jailed in Cuba for his faith, recently arrived in the United States as a political refugee along with his wife and daughters. During his imprisonment, hundreds of Christians wrote him letters of encouragement, many through www.prisoneralert.com. Carlos was released from jail four months after his arrest on June 26, 2006. Unable to find employment and fearing another arrest, Carlos applied unsuccessfully for political asylum in 2010. In 2011, however, his case was reviewed and he and his family were granted status as political refugees. “For our part, we have been open to the will of God, and we know he will take us where we can best serve him,” he wrote. “Our moral commitment with the Lord’s work is permanent and without borders. We know that many brothers and sisters have collaborated for our benefit; we’re sorry not to know specifically who they are. Nevertheless, we want them to know that our love and gratitude is sealed in our hearts for the rest of our lives.”
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK, bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises. Psalm 101:1
Iraq—Car Bomb Explodes Near Church—Assyrian Universal Alliance, Compass Direct News
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
A car bomb exploded outside a church in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Aug. 2, 2011, injuring more than 30 people in the latest of a series of attacks on Assyrian churches. Local authorities disarmed explosive devices near two other churches the same day. The blast, which covered the church building with glass, rubble and dust, caused serious damage to nearby houses and cars. “This has become ordinary for us, and we expect that any minute something will happen here,” a local pastor said. “Sometimes we feel there is some pressure over the Christians all over Iraq to make them leave their cities and go to the northern part of Iraq, to Kurdistan.” About half of Iraq’s Christian population has left the country since the beginning of the war.
Sudan—Christian Girl Escapes After a Year in Captivity—Compass Direct News
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Sixteen-year-old Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo recently escaped from a gang of Muslims who kidnapped her more than a year ago. The kidnappers locked Hiba in a room, beat her, raped her and tried to force her to convert to Islam. “[On several occasions], the man who put me in his house tortured me and threatened to kill me,” she said. “Several times I was warned that if I did not convert to Islam, then I risked losing my life.” After a year in captivity, Hiba was left unguarded. She then escaped from her captors and begged a motorist to take her home. Hiba’s mother said Hiba was targeted because she is Christian. Hiba is recovering from a recent blow to her face, and it will be a long time before she recovers emotionally. “I cannot forget this bad incident,” she said. “And whenever I try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to pray for me for inner healing.”
Cuba—Persecuted Family Resettles in United States—Compass Direct News
Isaiah 4:6
And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Rev. Carlos Lamelas, once jailed in Cuba for his faith, recently arrived in the United States as a political refugee along with his wife and daughters. During his imprisonment, hundreds of Christians wrote him letters of encouragement, many through www.prisoneralert.com. Carlos was released from jail four months after his arrest on June 26, 2006. Unable to find employment and fearing another arrest, Carlos applied unsuccessfully for political asylum in 2010. In 2011, however, his case was reviewed and he and his family were granted status as political refugees. “For our part, we have been open to the will of God, and we know he will take us where we can best serve him,” he wrote. “Our moral commitment with the Lord’s work is permanent and without borders. We know that many brothers and sisters have collaborated for our benefit; we’re sorry not to know specifically who they are. Nevertheless, we want them to know that our love and gratitude is sealed in our hearts for the rest of our lives.”
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK, bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
8/11/11
Christianmovies.com Great August Specials
Great August Specials
We have two wonderful specials available for the month of August. These are great movies that are Christ honoring and perfect for your home! http://www.christianmovies.com/august
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How can married Christians avoid emotional affairs?
Question: "How can married Christians avoid emotional affairs?"
Answer: An emotional affair occurs when a married person shares emotional intimacy and support with an individual other than his/her spouse. Marital partners should share problems, feelings, and needs with one another and determine the boundaries of what can be shared and to whom. Depending on others to meet our emotional needs can become a temptation, especially when spouses spend much time apart while spending large blocks of time with others. Co-workers and those in close proximity on a daily basis can become a substitute for emotional support. Work relations and friendships need to have proper boundaries to ensure they do not become inappropriate.
There are warning signs that a platonic friendship could be leading to an emotional affair. When we start to feel a need to hide aspects of a relationship, we are crossing a line into inappropriate territory. Emotional distance between spouses or an increase in arguments may indicate one spouse is turning to another person for closeness. Intimacy requires closeness, and that cannot happen if a spouse gives his/her closeness to someone outside the marriage. Thus, emotional affairs often lead to sexual affairs as the intimate emotional closeness shifts to physical closeness. Many people deny the seriousness of an emotional affair, but such affairs are not harmless and can destroy marriages and families.
Christians should make choices that guard against the temptation to lean on someone other than the spouse God has given to them. Some are:
1. Do not spend time alone with anyone of the opposite gender, especially one you are attracted to.
2. Do not spend more time with another person than your spouse.
3. Do not share intimate details of life with anyone before sharing it with your spouse.
4. Live transparently. Do everything as if your spouse is present.
5. Devote personal time to prayer and Bible study. Ask God to put a hedge around your marriage.
6. Maintain a pure thought life. Do not entertain fantasies about other people.
7. Plan time with your spouse on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and use those times to build emotional closeness between you.
All of these choices will help Christians to identify weak areas and avoid the temptation of an emotional affair.
Christian priorities must put marriage and family second only to the Lord. The Lord designed marriage to make two people into one person (Genesis 2:24). He wants them to grow together and let nothing separate them (Matthew 19:6). Married partners must value their relationship in the way the Lord values marriage and work on ways to build closeness in order to strengthen it. The Lord also forbids adultery or lusting for a person outside of marriage (Proverbs 6:25; Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:28). People who go outside the Lord’s design to meet their needs will ultimately sin against God and potentially ruin their relationships with Him and with one another (Proverbs 6:32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).
The world believes that married partners need to have separate lives to be healthy. That is simply not God’s plan in creating men and women or marriage. He intended for married people to share a life together and create a family. Intimacy is formed when people are planning their lives together rather than living two separate lives in the same household. Those who do not understand God’s plan for married people can be misled into thinking it is unhealthy to share everything with one person, but that is what makes marriage different than any other relationship. It is a blessed union between two people and mirrors that of Christ and His church. Sharing intimacy with someone other than a spouse, whether physical or emotional, is sin and a violation of trust.
Recommended Resource: Intimate Allies by Dan B. Allender.
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
Answer: An emotional affair occurs when a married person shares emotional intimacy and support with an individual other than his/her spouse. Marital partners should share problems, feelings, and needs with one another and determine the boundaries of what can be shared and to whom. Depending on others to meet our emotional needs can become a temptation, especially when spouses spend much time apart while spending large blocks of time with others. Co-workers and those in close proximity on a daily basis can become a substitute for emotional support. Work relations and friendships need to have proper boundaries to ensure they do not become inappropriate.
There are warning signs that a platonic friendship could be leading to an emotional affair. When we start to feel a need to hide aspects of a relationship, we are crossing a line into inappropriate territory. Emotional distance between spouses or an increase in arguments may indicate one spouse is turning to another person for closeness. Intimacy requires closeness, and that cannot happen if a spouse gives his/her closeness to someone outside the marriage. Thus, emotional affairs often lead to sexual affairs as the intimate emotional closeness shifts to physical closeness. Many people deny the seriousness of an emotional affair, but such affairs are not harmless and can destroy marriages and families.
Christians should make choices that guard against the temptation to lean on someone other than the spouse God has given to them. Some are:
1. Do not spend time alone with anyone of the opposite gender, especially one you are attracted to.
2. Do not spend more time with another person than your spouse.
3. Do not share intimate details of life with anyone before sharing it with your spouse.
4. Live transparently. Do everything as if your spouse is present.
5. Devote personal time to prayer and Bible study. Ask God to put a hedge around your marriage.
6. Maintain a pure thought life. Do not entertain fantasies about other people.
7. Plan time with your spouse on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and use those times to build emotional closeness between you.
All of these choices will help Christians to identify weak areas and avoid the temptation of an emotional affair.
Christian priorities must put marriage and family second only to the Lord. The Lord designed marriage to make two people into one person (Genesis 2:24). He wants them to grow together and let nothing separate them (Matthew 19:6). Married partners must value their relationship in the way the Lord values marriage and work on ways to build closeness in order to strengthen it. The Lord also forbids adultery or lusting for a person outside of marriage (Proverbs 6:25; Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:28). People who go outside the Lord’s design to meet their needs will ultimately sin against God and potentially ruin their relationships with Him and with one another (Proverbs 6:32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).
The world believes that married partners need to have separate lives to be healthy. That is simply not God’s plan in creating men and women or marriage. He intended for married people to share a life together and create a family. Intimacy is formed when people are planning their lives together rather than living two separate lives in the same household. Those who do not understand God’s plan for married people can be misled into thinking it is unhealthy to share everything with one person, but that is what makes marriage different than any other relationship. It is a blessed union between two people and mirrors that of Christ and His church. Sharing intimacy with someone other than a spouse, whether physical or emotional, is sin and a violation of trust.
Recommended Resource: Intimate Allies by Dan B. Allender.
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
What does the Bible say about an unhappy marriage?
Question: "What does the Bible say about an unhappy marriage?"
Answer: One thing we know for sure: not being “happy” in marriage is not biblical grounds for divorce. In Mark 10:11-12 Jesus said, "A man who divorces his wife so he can marry someone else commits adultery against her. And a woman who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery." Based on the Bible, we see that people don't have the right to dissolve an unhappy marriage. God intended that marriage be for a lifetime.
Ephesians 5 presents marriage as a picture of the relationship God has with us. This is one reason why God has such an interest in keeping marriages intact. He is the One that established the concept of "until death do us part." He established this for our own good. Failed marriages and broken homes are devastating to the husband and wife, not to mention the children involved. Financial ruin is only one of the unhappy results of divorce. The family unit is the basic building block of any society, and rampant divorce has a tragic impact on all of the culture.
This is not to say that God wants to force us to remain forever in an unhappy state. He doesn’t ask us to just grit our teeth and suffer through it. When God approaches marital problems, He does so from the perspective of how to fix them, not on how to dissolve the marriage. For example, He does talk about demonic impact in marriages (1 Corinthians 7:5). He states that the couple should be active in the sexual relationship so that Satan cannot tempt them. He encourages husbands to treat their wives with understanding so that their prayers will not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). From these accounts we can see that marriage is a spiritual battlefield. This means that it will take work to fight for the relationship, not to fight in the relationship.
God encourages us toward reconciliation. Matthew 18:15-16 encourages open, honest communication that deals with hurts and frustrations caused by sin. It even encourages us to get help to resolve such things. God also encourages us to have our joy in Him (Philippians 4). Joy is a superior experience to happiness. Happiness is temporal and temporary, but joy rises above all circumstances and lasts for eternity. Joy is something you can have regardless of conditions. God gives some very good guidelines for joy, and none of them require a spouse to cooperate. A spouse does not control our capacity to have joy or peace. James 1:3-4 tells us that deep, abiding joy comes as we persevere through trials, with God’s help, and our faith matures and is strengthened. Mere happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people. Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. The book of Philippians is a great study in the difference between joy and happiness. Written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome, this book uses the words “joy,” “rejoice,” and “joyful” 16 times and teaches us how to have true contentment in Jesus Christ, despite our circumstances. In chains and aware that his life was coming to an end, Paul talks about his faith and trust in Christ and how it had changed his whole perspective on suffering.
God has given husbands clear-cut instructions in Ephesians 5:25-28: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.... So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself." To wives, His instruction is to respect their husbands (v. 33) and both are to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). If both are living up to their biblical responsibilities, there will be joy and happiness in the marriage. What woman wouldn’t respect and submit to a man who loves her the way Christ loves His church? And what man wouldn’t love a woman who respects and submits to him? The unhappiness that is present in too many marriages is a result of one or both parties refusing to submit to God and obey His revealed will for marriage.
Even if the unhappiness results from a believer being married to an unbeliever, there is always the possibility the believing wife can lead her unbelieving husband to the Lord by her chaste conduct and kind demeanor. “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1). The Bible specifically addresses those who are married to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 7:12-14: “…If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband…”
In the end, we must remember that "the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). God knows the pain of an unhappy marriage, and He understands fleshly desires, but He has given His Word to us on this matter and He does ask for obedience. Obedience to God always brings joy (Romans 16:19).
Recommended Resource: Fit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime by Bill Hybels.
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
Answer: One thing we know for sure: not being “happy” in marriage is not biblical grounds for divorce. In Mark 10:11-12 Jesus said, "A man who divorces his wife so he can marry someone else commits adultery against her. And a woman who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery." Based on the Bible, we see that people don't have the right to dissolve an unhappy marriage. God intended that marriage be for a lifetime.
Ephesians 5 presents marriage as a picture of the relationship God has with us. This is one reason why God has such an interest in keeping marriages intact. He is the One that established the concept of "until death do us part." He established this for our own good. Failed marriages and broken homes are devastating to the husband and wife, not to mention the children involved. Financial ruin is only one of the unhappy results of divorce. The family unit is the basic building block of any society, and rampant divorce has a tragic impact on all of the culture.
This is not to say that God wants to force us to remain forever in an unhappy state. He doesn’t ask us to just grit our teeth and suffer through it. When God approaches marital problems, He does so from the perspective of how to fix them, not on how to dissolve the marriage. For example, He does talk about demonic impact in marriages (1 Corinthians 7:5). He states that the couple should be active in the sexual relationship so that Satan cannot tempt them. He encourages husbands to treat their wives with understanding so that their prayers will not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). From these accounts we can see that marriage is a spiritual battlefield. This means that it will take work to fight for the relationship, not to fight in the relationship.
God encourages us toward reconciliation. Matthew 18:15-16 encourages open, honest communication that deals with hurts and frustrations caused by sin. It even encourages us to get help to resolve such things. God also encourages us to have our joy in Him (Philippians 4). Joy is a superior experience to happiness. Happiness is temporal and temporary, but joy rises above all circumstances and lasts for eternity. Joy is something you can have regardless of conditions. God gives some very good guidelines for joy, and none of them require a spouse to cooperate. A spouse does not control our capacity to have joy or peace. James 1:3-4 tells us that deep, abiding joy comes as we persevere through trials, with God’s help, and our faith matures and is strengthened. Mere happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people. Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. The book of Philippians is a great study in the difference between joy and happiness. Written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome, this book uses the words “joy,” “rejoice,” and “joyful” 16 times and teaches us how to have true contentment in Jesus Christ, despite our circumstances. In chains and aware that his life was coming to an end, Paul talks about his faith and trust in Christ and how it had changed his whole perspective on suffering.
God has given husbands clear-cut instructions in Ephesians 5:25-28: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.... So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself." To wives, His instruction is to respect their husbands (v. 33) and both are to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). If both are living up to their biblical responsibilities, there will be joy and happiness in the marriage. What woman wouldn’t respect and submit to a man who loves her the way Christ loves His church? And what man wouldn’t love a woman who respects and submits to him? The unhappiness that is present in too many marriages is a result of one or both parties refusing to submit to God and obey His revealed will for marriage.
Even if the unhappiness results from a believer being married to an unbeliever, there is always the possibility the believing wife can lead her unbelieving husband to the Lord by her chaste conduct and kind demeanor. “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1). The Bible specifically addresses those who are married to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 7:12-14: “…If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband…”
In the end, we must remember that "the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). God knows the pain of an unhappy marriage, and He understands fleshly desires, but He has given His Word to us on this matter and He does ask for obedience. Obedience to God always brings joy (Romans 16:19).
Recommended Resource: Fit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime by Bill Hybels.
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
8/8/11
Jack Van Impe Presents (08-06-2011)
Headlines of the Week: Tornado Season in U.S. Proves Deadliest Since 1953, Senior Analyst Calls U.S. Decline Irreversible Trend, Mega-pastor Rick Warren Blasts Iraq War & Praises Syria
Chronology of Episode: Jack jokes briefly about his age, Newsweek article "Judgment Days" and commentary, stormy weather/natural disasters headlines and commentary, economic decline headlines and commentary, plug for product offer of the week, Syrian headlines with Rick Warren statements and commentary, Jack's invitation to Christ and Rexella's offer of "New Steps in the Right Direction," plug for product offer of the week, Rexella's end quote
Product Offer of the Week: 2-Disc Special "New World Order Rising" and "Dictator of the New World Order"
http://www.jvim.com/
Part 1
Part 2
Thanks to JohnHenryReaves on YouTube for uploading the video.
Chronology of Episode: Jack jokes briefly about his age, Newsweek article "Judgment Days" and commentary, stormy weather/natural disasters headlines and commentary, economic decline headlines and commentary, plug for product offer of the week, Syrian headlines with Rick Warren statements and commentary, Jack's invitation to Christ and Rexella's offer of "New Steps in the Right Direction," plug for product offer of the week, Rexella's end quote
Product Offer of the Week: 2-Disc Special "New World Order Rising" and "Dictator of the New World Order"
http://www.jvim.com/
Part 1
Part 2
Thanks to JohnHenryReaves on YouTube for uploading the video.
A Debate: is hell Eternal?
I got into a conversation with a couple of people on YouTube concerning a video that this one guy made about hell not being eternal. I was in disagreement about this. I never saw anything in the Bible saying that hell is not eternal. This is how I remember the conversation to the best of my memory: So, I asked this person that made the video why they think hell is not eternal. They replied by giving me several verses for which they say point to the ultimate salvation of all creation (including all mankind) and that hell is not an eternal punishment. I started to investigate this further. Verses that I found say that hell is eternal and so I replied back giving him a list of these verses which seem to say that hell is eternal. Then, he replied back saying that those verses that I gave are what people who think hell is eternal would give. He started to give me verses in the original Greek and interpreting them to mean that hell is not eternal. There was a certain phrase that he was taking out of the Bible and interpreting it from the original Greek. So, I thought okay I will look into this more. So, I did. The information I found was that the original Greek basically says that hell is eternal in the same way that God is eternal. So, I replied back saying that if he is using that phrasing to justify there not being an eternal hell then it would seem that he is saying that God is not eternal either. Then someone else replied back saying that there are different versions of that phrase in the original Greek, one being singular and another plural, etc. and basically concluding that all of this means that hell is not eternal. Then he finished off by saying hell is a lie.
At the end of the day, I still believe that hell is eternal and I also believe that these guys are interpreting the text falsely in order to fit their agenda. I don't know why they are doing this as I can only guess. However, later on I noticed that the person who made the video is a unitarian. So, after that then it all made sense to me because as far as I know unitarians 1) don't believe hell 2) believe that everyone will be saved and 3) don't actually believe in the Biblical Jesus. I was already getting tired of this conversation early on, but I continued on with this debate. After having a few conversations about this I decided that it doesn't seem like either of these guys is going to budge on their views no matter what I said. So, I decided that whether we agree or disagree on hell the most important and vital thing is faith in Jesus. I wanted to know what these people believe about Jesus. So, I asked the question that I was trained to ask in Faith Team in order to get a good idea of what someone believes about salvation. The question is: "What do you think it takes for a person to get to Heaven and have eternal life." This way I can see exactly what they believe in when it comes to Jesus. But so far neither have them replied back to me. I don't know why.
This is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmY8L8Td5C0&lc
At the end of the day, I still believe that hell is eternal and I also believe that these guys are interpreting the text falsely in order to fit their agenda. I don't know why they are doing this as I can only guess. However, later on I noticed that the person who made the video is a unitarian. So, after that then it all made sense to me because as far as I know unitarians 1) don't believe hell 2) believe that everyone will be saved and 3) don't actually believe in the Biblical Jesus. I was already getting tired of this conversation early on, but I continued on with this debate. After having a few conversations about this I decided that it doesn't seem like either of these guys is going to budge on their views no matter what I said. So, I decided that whether we agree or disagree on hell the most important and vital thing is faith in Jesus. I wanted to know what these people believe about Jesus. So, I asked the question that I was trained to ask in Faith Team in order to get a good idea of what someone believes about salvation. The question is: "What do you think it takes for a person to get to Heaven and have eternal life." This way I can see exactly what they believe in when it comes to Jesus. But so far neither have them replied back to me. I don't know why.
This is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmY8L8Td5C0&lc
8/7/11
Navy SEALs Killed in Afghan Crash on Rescue Mission
The U.S. Navy SEALs and other troops whose helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan had rushed to the mountainous area to help a U.S. Army Ranger unit that was under fire from insurgents, two U.S. officials said Sunday. (Aug. 7). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFEA9whzTI
Praying for those affected by this tragedy.
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