5 Minute Sharing on Witnessing

 Speaking the truth in Love:

The word “speak” is used 226 times in the New Testament alone and 672 times total. There was no lack of speaking in the Word.

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Speak – Involves Action.

Truth – God's Word is the only truth worth telling.

Love – People have to know that you care and you do it out of love.

The Spoken Word Heals!

Matthew 8:5-8, 13

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

This section in Acts illustrates the boldness we can have when we speak, and the impact that your words Absolutely WILL have as God backs you up!

Acts 4:19-21 

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. [a mighty healing by Jesus Christ]

And on the same note ...when speaking to people...

James 1:19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

God's Word Has Integrity

March 2005

➢   God's Word is trustworthy in everything it says. 

    The Bible is The Word Of God  There are many scriptures that explain exactly what God means when he speaks about his Word. They are easy to understand and give a great picture of God's heart toward us as we do His Word.

II Timothy 3:16:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God [or, is God-breathed],

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,

for instruction in righteousness.

➢   2 Peter 1 tells us how we got the bible:

II Peter 1:20,21:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:

but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

➢   Psalms contains many simple truths that illustrate how important it is to have God in our lives.

Psalms 12:6:

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalms 18:30:

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried [proven]: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Psalms 33:4:

For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Psalms 107:20:

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalms 117:2

            For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD  

          endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD

 

Psalms 119:103:

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalms 119:105:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:130:

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalms 119:138:

Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psalms 119:142:

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psalms 119:160:

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalms 125:1

            They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be 

           removed, but abideth for ever.

➢   We read in Psalms that God's Word is pure, it is tried [proven], it is right, it heals us, it is sweet , it is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path,  it gives us light, and gives us understanding, it's words are righteous, it is very faithful, it endureth and abideth forever, and it is The Truth.

➢   In Isaiah 55, God tells us that we should speak the Word, and he also tells us what happens when we do.

Isaiah 55:11:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

➢   The spoken Word will  never return void.

Proverbs 20:7

            The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

➢   As a follower of the Word, our children are even blessed.

Luke 11:28:

But he [Jesus Christ] said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. 

John 17:17:

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth

Titus 1:9:

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

I Peter 1:25:

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

God Bless You!

When Shall The Dead Be Made Alive?

January 2005

Because of the original sin of man, we are born into this world incomplete.  Once we are born again of God's Spirit then we are complete in him.  Then we have not only body and soul (breath life) but also Spirit.  This is a research topic detailing what happens when a person dies, or as the bible so graciously states, when one "falls asleep"

This is a precise description not only because of the gentle nature of the statement, but the accuracy that it is written since those who were born again and have died will be raised again at the return of Christ.  It's as if they were only asleep and will be awakened.

This chart shows when the three individual parts of our life begins, and what happens to our body, our soul, and our spirit when we die.  Soul and Spirit are not the same.  In order to participate in the "Spirit" category you MUST be born again by acting on Romans 10:9-10

Take a look at the chart and the scriptures that pertain to each section:

What Happens When a Person ‘Falls Asleep’ (Dies)?	Life	Death
Body	Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground…	Genesis 3:19 … for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was…
Soul	Genesis 2: 7 And the LORD God… …breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.	Psalm 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Ecclesiastes 9:5 …the dead know not any thing…
Spirit	Genesis 2:27 So God created man in his own image [Which is Spirit], in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. John 4:24 God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.	Ecclesiastes 12:7 … and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

The body was formed by God from the dust of the earth. It returns unto the earth.

The soul was made when God breathed into man. The last breath returns unto the air.

The spirit was created in man by God.  It returns unto God who gave it.

Isaiah 43:7b

… for I [God] have created him [man] for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

This describes the formed, made, and created that God performed to make us complete.  He formed our bodies, made us breathe with our soul life, and created Spirit within us when we were saved.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

¹³…But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Word of God says that a person ‘falls asleep’ when they die.  We are also instructed to sorrow not, knowing the comfort that we will again see the person at the return of Christ.

Acts 13:36

³⁶ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.

David fell asleep just as his fathers (forefathers) did and awaits the return.  Next we will see what will happen when Christ returns:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

¹⁶ For the Lord [Jesus Christ] himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

"The dead in Christ" are those who were born again and have fallen asleep.

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Those who are born again and still alive will be caught up together with Christ.

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

These are the words that we are to use to comfort one another regarding those who have died.  It is very reassuring to know that we will see them again when Jesus comes to gather his followers.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

It is at this point when we will see our friends and relatives who have ‘fallen asleep’ but not before then. 

Contrary to popular belief, they are not watching over us, protecting us, or doing anything else.  The Word speaks very clearly - the dead are in fact dead and not until Christ returns will those born again believers be risen.  If they were already in heaven, then there would be no need for Christ to return.

It is very comforting to know what happens when a person falls asleep, and that you will see them again at the "Gathering Together"  Let's comfort one another with these words.

God Bless You

Who Is The Seed Of The Woman?

December 2004

Genesis 3:15 - God Promises that Jesus Christ the redeemer will come.
…and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

…It – “Her Seed, Jesus Christ”
Shall – “Absolutely” - A promise
Bruise – “To overwhelm: break, bruise, injure [destroy]”
Thy – “The adversary, the devil, Satan”
Head – Refers to a permanent or fatal injury –– “Christ shall utterly crush and eternally destroy Satan.” –– (Dakes Bible – Gen 3:15)

And – This is a figure of speech emphasizing each individual point separately when many "and's" are used together.
Thou – “Satan”
Shalt – (still future at this time)
Bruise – injure
His – Jesus Christ’s
Heel – refers to a temporary injury – the suffering of Christ (which had not yet happened at this time) - and the Glory of his resurrection and ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of God!

Had Satan known that Jesus Christ would be raised from the dead, he would not have crucified him

Now we have eternal life available through the gift of Holy Spirit, the seed in us that comes from God!