How would you have reacted?

Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

(((Can you picture this scene? Take a moment. Two apostles of the crucified Christ walked to the temple when it was the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. There at gate was a forty some year old man laying on the ground, his useless legs covered. Quickly looking up at these two men just about to enter the temple the man cries out for an alms.  "Help a lame man, sirs? Please, have pity upon me." He was pleading his cause, the reality being this was his only means of supporting himself, of earning monies. He wasn't dressed elegantly or even averagely, but rather shabbily kept, he couldn't afford to spend what little bit he could get from the temple goers on his clothes.  People helped him, those that could but some times they couldn't help him as much as they might have in the past. There was no set income to count on here, just the charitable heart of those who sometimes saw him daily upon his mat seeking help.  Peter and John had lived with their Savior for three years and knew that He would want them to help this man. Their Savior had helped many men in such condition, He didn't turn them away but His heart went out to them.  To ignore the lame man's pleas would go against all they'd learned from their Lord and Savior.))))

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

(((You can visualize it, you can. The men were going to help him, not ignore him as so many did. All they wanted was his eyes upon them. He'd downcast them after calling out to them, begging, showing the deep contrition he felt over having to ask for a handout. These men didn't want him looking away, they wanted his gaze upon them. Quickly he raised his eyes to their faces, expectation of hope alive in his sad eyes.))))

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

(((Before the lame man had a chance to react to the words spoken- that they would not be giving him gold or silver- the only things he was expecting- he felt the hand of Peter slide into his. The fingers squeeze his hand and immediately his feet and ankles healed! Where before there was absolutely no real bones like we know bones to be, the useless bones that held no strength at all, that could never even allow this man as a baby to stand were given all the strength they needed! Just imagine how that had to feel! Peter lifted the lame man up by one hand, and expecting to crumble the man found he could stand! He could STAND! He leaped up upon his legs for the very first time! He walked! And he entered the temple! He didn't walk quietly into the temple but he walked, leaped all the while praising God!  You and I can ONLY imagine what he was feeling, this most marvelous of miracles.

How would YOU have reacted?

All of you have chronic pain, or know others who do. All you who live with ailments, defects and injuries, every one is in this situation either experiencing it or knowing someone who is and I want you to take just a moment to imagine yourself or someone else being healed this way.

It's all but unfathomable that it is reality, but it is! It was! And the SAME GOD who performed that miracle, the SAME POWER FROM GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, EXISTS TODAY!

By the grace of our most precious LORD, more on this tomorrow!

All in HIS LOVE!

Shadow Healing

Act 5:15  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

Act 5:16  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Another's view…

'The Disciples of Christ

With mighty power the disciples preached a crucified and risen Saviour. Signs and wonders were wrought by them in the name of Jesus; the sick were healed; and a man who had been lame from his birth was restored to perfect soundness and entered with Peter and John into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God in the sight of all the people. The news spread, and the people began to press around the disciples. Many ran together, greatly astonished at the cure that had been wrought.

When Jesus died, the priests thought that no more miracles would be performed among them, that the excitement would die out and the people would again turn to the traditions of men. But lo! right among them the disciples were working miracles, and the people were filled with amazement. Jesus had been crucified, and they wondered where His followers had obtained this power. When He was alive, they thought that He imparted power to them; but when He died, they expected the miracles to cease. Peter understood their perplexity and said to them, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know." (Acts 3:12-16)

The chief priests and elders could not bear these words, and at their command Peter and John were seized and put in prison. But thousands had been converted and led to believe in the resurrection and ascension of Christ by hearing only one discourse from the disciples. The priests and elders were troubled. They had slain Jesus that the minds of the people might be turned to themselves; but the matter was now worse than before. They were openly accused by the disciples of being the murderers of the Son of God, and they could not determine to what extent these things might grow or how they themselves would be regarded by the people. They would gladly have put Peter and John to death, but dared not, for fear of the people.

On the following day the apostles were brought before the council. The very men who had eagerly cried for the blood of the Just One were there. They had heard Peter deny his Lord with cursing and swearing when charged with being one of His disciples, and they hoped again to intimidate him. But Peter had been converted, and he now saw an opportunity to remove the stain of that hasty, cowardly denial and to exalt the name which he had dishonoured. With holy boldness, and in the power of the Spirit, he fearlessly declared unto them, "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)

The people were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus; for their noble, fearless conduct was like that of Jesus when before His enemies. Jesus, by one look of pity and sorrow, reproved Peter when he had denied Him, and now as he boldly acknowledged his Lord, Peter was approved and blessed. As a token of the approbation of Jesus, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The priests dared not manifest the hatred which they felt toward the disciples. They commanded them to go aside out of the council, and then conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it." (Acts 4:16)They were afraid to have the report of this good deed spread among the people. Should it become generally known, the priests felt that their own power would be lost, and they would be looked upon as the murderers of Jesus. Yet all that they dared to do was to threaten the apostles and command them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, lest they die. But Peter declared boldly that they could but speak the things which they had seen and heard.

By the power of Jesus the disciples continued to heal the afflicted and the sick who were brought to them. Hundreds enlisted daily under the banner of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. The priests and elders, and those particularly engaged with them, were alarmed. Again they put the apostles in prison, hoping that the excitement would subside. Satan and his angels exulted; but the angels of God opened the prison doors, and, contrary to the command of the high priests and elders, bade the apostles, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:20)

The council assembled and sent for their prisoners. The officers unclosed the prison doors; but those whom they sought were not there. They returned to the priests and elders and said, "The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within." (Acts 5:23)  "Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." (Acts 5:25-28)

Those Jewish leaders were hypocrites; they loved the praise of men more than they loved God. Their hearts had become so hardened that the most mighty works wrought by the apostles only enraged them. They knew that if the disciples preached Jesus, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, it would fasten guilt upon them as His murderers. They were not as willing to receive the blood of Jesus as when they vehemently cried, "His blood be on us, and on our children." (Matt. 27:25)

The apostles boldly declared that they ought to obey God rather than men. Said Peter, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." (Acts 5:30-32) At these fearless words those murderers were enraged, and determined to imbrue their hands again in blood by slaying the apostles. They were planning to do this, when an angel from God moved upon the heart of Gamaliel to counsel the priests and rulers: "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:38,39) Evil angels were moving upon the priests and elders to put the apostles to death; but God sent His angel to prevent it by raising up among the Jewish leaders themselves a voice in favour of His servants. The work of the apostles was not finished. They were to be brought before kings to witness to the name of Jesus and to testify of the things which they had seen and heard.

The priests unwillingly released their prisoners, after beating them and commanding them to speak no more in the name of Jesus. "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:40-42) Thus the word of God grew and multiplied. The disciples boldly testified to the things which they had seen and heard, and through the name of Jesus they performed mighty miracles. They fearlessly charged the blood of Jesus upon those who had been so willing to receive it when they were permitted to have power over the Son of God.

I saw that angels of God were commissioned to guard with special care the sacred, important truths which were to serve as an anchor to the disciples of Christ through every generation.

The Holy Spirit especially rested upon the apostles, who were witnesses of our Lord's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension-- important truths which were to be the hope of Israel. All were to look to the Saviour of the world as their only hope, and walk in the way which He had opened by the sacrifice of His own life, and keep God's law and live. I saw the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in giving power to the disciples to carry on the same work for which He had been hated and slain by the Jews. In His name they had power over the works of Satan. A halo of light and glory centred about the time of Jesus' death and resurrection, immortalising the sacred truth that He was the Saviour of the world.'

Early Writings- EGW.

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More tomorrow by the grace and mercy, the love of our SAVIOR, all in HIS NAME!

AMEN!

Unable to walk since birth... 40 years later... a miracle

Please read the following all the way through-  Remember we're picking up from our discussion on healing from yesterday.

Act 3:1  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Act 3:2  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Act 3:3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

Act 3:4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Act 3:5  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Act 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Act 3:7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Act 3:8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Act 3:9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Act 3:10  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Act 3:11  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Act 3:12  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Act 3:13  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Act 3:14  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Act 3:15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Act 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Act 3:17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

Act 3:18  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Act 3:20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Act 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Act 3:22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Act 3:23  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Act 3:24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Act 3:25  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Act 3:26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Act 4:1  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Act 4:2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Act 4:3  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Act 4:4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Act 4:5  And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

Act 4:6  And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Act 4:7  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Act 4:8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Act 4:9  If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Act 4:11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Act 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Act 4:14  And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Act 4:15  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Act 4:16  Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

Act 4:17  But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

Act 4:18  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Act 4:19  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.

Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Act 4:21  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.

Act 4:22  For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Act 4:23  And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

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Lame from his mother's womb.

The man was above forty years old.

Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

He leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

This man had NEVER walked, not a single step had he ever taken! He was BORN unable to walk. The bones in his feet and ankles were not normal, they could NOT support him, not ever!

For over forty years not one step.

Because of his affliction the man was a beggar, living off the generosity of others. We've all seen beggars, haven't we? We've seen those down on their luck seeking a bit of charity, they stand on corners sometimes. They walk beside your car- sign in view, hand held out. This man was a handicapped beggar and when he saw two men walking by he asked them to help him out, he wanted monies, because surely there was nothing else anyone could offer him, right? What could two men walking by give him besides money, or something of substance for him to trade with? Nothing.  They would either help him with a handout of some sort or tell him they had nothing to give. He had nothing to lose by asking them for help and something to gain if they were receptive. This man, lame since birth, had absolutely NO expectation of what was to come.

Peter and John had nothing to give to this man, nothing physical, nothing to hand to him. What they did have was FAITH in their SAVIOR.

Act 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Act 3:7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

What did Peter have? THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH!  He had the name of His Savior!

Guess what? WE HAVE THE SAME NAME! WE DO! If we are Christ's we have His Name, we are HIS!

Don't make the mistake that some make though… this mistake…

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

They spoke in the name of Jesus but they did NOT have His name, they were NOT Jesus', they did NOT belong to Jesus!

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Joh 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

The did NOT abide in Jesus.

He did NOT abide in them.

His words did NOT abide in them. 

We MUST abide in Jesus, His words MUST abide in us!  It is then we can ask in His NAME and His will be done.

It was by speaking the NAME of their Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that they could heal the man forty some years old, lame since his mother's womb. It was the POWER of Jesus' name! A name they believed in! A God they believed in! A Savior they believed in! A Savior they knew, a Savior's whose word lived in them!

More tomorrow, all by the GRACE and MERCY, the LOVE of our SAVIOR, JESUS CHIRST OF NAZARETH!

Healing

Infirmity - 38 years.

Diseased- 12 years.

Blind- Birth to Manhood, years.

Back bowed- 18 years.

These are a few of the miracles too numerous to name that Jesus performed as He walked the earth. Now read them from His word...

Joh 5:5  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

Joh 5:6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Joh 5:7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Joh 5:8  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Joh 5:9  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Mat 9:20  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

Mat 9:21  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Mat 9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Joh 9:6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

Joh 9:7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Joh 9:8  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Joh 9:9  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

Joh 9:10  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

Joh 9:12  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

Joh 9:13  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

Joh 9:14  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

Joh 9:15  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

Joh 9:16  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

Joh 9:17  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

Joh 9:18  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

Joh 9:19  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

Joh 9:20  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

Joh 9:21  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

Luk 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Luk 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luk 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Infirmity - 38 years.

Diseased- 12 years.

Blind- Birth to Manhood, years.

Back bowed- 18 years.

For years these people were in pain, in distress, in sickness, in illness, in darkness, living with  their personal imperfections without hope for any healing. 

Today if you heard of such a healer and you suffered as these men and women, wouldn't you want to be healed too?

It's silly to not want to be healed, that's for sure.

Jesus' disciples went about healing and throughout time there have been many miraculous healings performed through our Savior.

The disciples never took any glory to themselves, never.  Everyone healed by them was healed by God through the SAVIOR.  No true servant of God will ever lay claim to the power of healing, but will forever give that power to God. Even our SAVIOR did that!

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

I believe people CAN be healed today, I really do. I just don't believe that there will ever be another time where people will be healed as they were in the days Jesus walked this earth. Do you need healing? Should you believe that it's impossible to be healed? I don't think you should believe it's impossible.  Miracles still exist, and by the grace of God we will talk more about this tomorrow!

All through HIS amazing LOVE! His GRACE, HIS MERCY! 

AMEN!

Please do not hold fast to cherished lies

Continued from yesterday. 

Death IS a sleep. Death is not a trip to heaven, or a trip to hell.  Read on…

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'Thoughts for the Candid' By Elder J. N. Andrews

Cont…

THOUGHTS ON MATT. 10:28 AND LUKE 12:4

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt. 10:28.

"And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." Luke 12:4, 5.

1. These texts are the record, by different writers, of the same language of the Saviour. The first one is often quoted by those who teach the immortality of the soul and its conscious existence in death. In Matthew's version of the Saviour's words, the soul is indeed made very prominent; but in that of Luke, it is not mentioned. Yet the language of the one version is the same substance as that of the other.

2. Thus, while Matthew represents the Saviour as saying, "Fear not them which kill the  body, but are not able to kill the soul," Luke expresses the idea thus: "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more they can do." And Matthew adds, "Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Luke gives the same warning, thus: "Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell."

3. Thus it is seen that our Lord recognizes the fact plainly expressed elsewhere, that there are two deaths. The first death, which is the common lot of mankind, is thus spoken of by Paul: "It is appointed unto men once to die." Heb. 9:27. The second death is the portion only of the wicked. "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8. The Saviour bids us not  to fear those who can inflict only the first of these

deaths; but He warns us to fear Him who alone is able to kill with the second death.

4. The place in which the terrible punishment here set forth is inflicted, is called hell. This word is found in the English Testament twenty-three times. But in the Greek Testament there are three different words, hades, gehenna and tartarus, signifying different places, all rendered by the one English word, "hell." Thus, hades is used eleven times in the original, and is rendered "hell" ten times and "grave" once. The following are the places of its

occurrence, the italicized word in each case being the translation of hades:

Matt. 11:23. Shalt be brought down to hell.

Matt. 16:18. The gates of hell shall not prevail.

Luke 10:15. Shalt be thrust down to hell.

Luke 16:23. In hell he lift up his eyes.

Acts 2:27. Wilt not leave my soul in hell.

Acts 2:31. His soul was not left in hell.

1 Cor. 15:55. O grave, where is thy victory?

Rev. 1:18. Have the keys of hell and of death.

Rev. 6:8. Was death, and hell followed.

Rev. 20:13. Death and hell delivered up the dead.

Rev. 20:14. Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

Gehenna is found in the following places:

Matt. 5:22. Shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matt. 5:29. Whole body should be cast into hell.

Matt. 5:30. Whole body should be cast into hell.

Matt. 10:28. Destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matt. 18:9. Having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Matt. 23:15. More the child of hell than yourselves.

Matt. 23:33. How can ye escape the damnation of hell

Mark 9:43. Having two hands to go into hell.

Mark 9:45. Having two feet to be cast into hell.

Mark 9:47. Having two eyes to be cast into hell.

Luke 12:5. Hath power to cast into hell;

James 3:6. It is set on fire of hell.

Tartarus is used only in the following text: "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell." 2 Peter 2:4.

Thus hades is seen to be the place of the dead, whether righteous or wicked; the place into which they are introduced by death, and from which they are delivered by the resurrection. Those who are in hades are said to be dead. Rev. 20:13. Once, in the English Testament, hades is rendered "grave." 1 Cor. 15:55.

Gehenna, on the contrary, is the place where the wicked are to be cast alive with all their members, and to be destroyed soul and body. It is the lake of fire in which the wicked dead are to be punished after their resurrection. Rev. 20:13-15. Tartarus is the place into which the evil angels were cast after their rebellion. These three places, therefore, though rendered by the one English word "hell," are not to be confounded with one another.

5. It is claimed that the Saviour, in giving the warning recorded in Matt. 10:28 and Luke 12:4, 5, taught the continued existence of the soul in death. But it is worthy of notice that in each of these texts He utters no warning concerning the punishment of the soul in hades, the place or state of the dead. His warning relates to that which shall be inflicted upon "soul and body" together in gehenna.

6. That He should speak nothing of the punishment of the soul in its disembodied state in hades, if such punishment really takes place, is very remarkable; for here, more than

anywhere else in the Bible, is there evidence of the continued existence of the soul while the body is under the power of death. Yet while expressly stating the terrible fate of the lost, and that, too, in such connection as would especially call out the fact, if it were a fact, that the souls of the wicked exist in a place of dreadful suffering, between death and the resurrection, the Saviour says not one word concerning the sufferings of the soul in its disembodied state, but confines His warning to that which shall be inflicted upon "both soul and body in hell," that is, in gehenna, thus showing that the retribution against which He warns us comes AFTER the resurrection, and not before.

7. Our Lord means to point out precisely the danger to which the ungodly are exposed. When, therefore, He says "Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into gehenna," He means to teach that God will cast the wicked into gehenna. And when Matthew, expressing the same warning in different words, makes the Saviour say, "Fear

Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in gehenna," the fact set forth is that such will be the fate of the lost.

8. "Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into gehenna." As the wicked are to be cast into gehenna alive, and in possession of all their bodily members (see the list of passages in this tract where gehenna is used), it follows that He who can thus cast them

there, after they have once been killed, is God alone; for to do this, He must raise them from the dead. The resurrection to damnation must precede the damnation of gehenna. Compare John 5:28, 29 with Matt. 23:33.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Mat 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

A REMARKABLE CORNER-STONE.

The doctrine of the immortality of the soul is something indispensable to almost every prominent erroneous religious system. It is the corner-stone of heathenism. All or nearly

all the gods of heathenism are believed to be dead men who were turned into gods by dying.

Catholicism is indebted to this doctrine for all its saints who are believed to be mediators with God. It is a fundamental idea in the system of purgatory. In fact, Romanism is as much dependent on this doctrine as is heathenism. Spiritualism is simply the embodiment of this doctrine of natural immortality. It is incapable of existing without it.

Is it not strange that this corner-stone of heathenism, Roman Catholicism, and Spiritualism, should be also the corner-stone of modern orthodoxy? Yet such is the case. It is in these days esteemed the marrow and fatness of Christianity. And so prevalent is the doctrine, that the advent of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the Judgment are rendered almost obsolete by it. How much better is life only in Jesus our Lord!'

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TRUTH! Nothing but the truth! Yet we insist on keeping the lie nurtured in our hearts that our loved ones are living pain free- released from all the pains of life here on earth. A lie, an illusion, a pretend comfort. We are selfish in our belief, not ever wanting to imagine that our loved ones are in a place of torment. But in all honesty if you absolutely believe, refusing to belief otherwise, that your dead loved ones are alive in spirit form in heaven you HAVE to believe they could be alive in hell, that possibility exists and YOU do not decide, only God. If you don't even want to entertain that possibility then your whole premise of believing in a direct ascent to heaven upon death is built on a lie. The TRUTH is much easier to believe. 

DEATH IS A SLEEP.

The death we experience right now- the death our loved ones endure is the entrance into the long sleep, NOT a new awakening into some other realm. It is a TRUE rest, a TRUE ceasing of all pain and heartache and the welcomed peace of a deep, deep sleep. Only God is able to raise us from this sleep and He will do that just as the Bible tells us.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

ALL that are in the graves.

Where are they? IN THE GRAVE. And what will they do? They shall HEAR HIS VOICE.  And then what?  THEY SHALL COME FORTH!  

How would they ever come forth if they weren't there? Are you DOUBTING GOD'S WORD? Are you DOUBTING JESUS' WORD? Jesus said these words! 

When Jesus returns that is when the DEAD in HIM will rise to meet Him in the air, they ARE NOT WITH HIM NOW! 

Why is it so important we realize this now? Because if we don't we are being DECEIVED and none of Satan's deceptions are harmless, not a single one.

Please, Father in heave, please BLESS us with Your truth! Help us, Lord, help us to only believe YOUR TRUTH no matter how hard it is for us to give up our cherished lies.

All in YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE! BY YOUR MERCY!

Death Is A Sleep

By the grace of God we are going to once more study the state of the dead. By that I mean, what are the dead doing? What happens when you die? Some would say that it's easy, they know what happens. Then they proceed to explain that when you die you go to God, you transform somehow and you live with God free from all pain and heartache. And, these same people will turn around and say things about their dead loved one, such as- 'They are still with me, they know I love them, they are watching over me.' And these people treat their dead ones as if that were true by talking about them to others as if it were. They wish them greetings on holidays and such. They let everyone know that their love for that person was deep and real and they tell that dead loved one over and over of that love.

Do I sound awful? Yes. Especially to those who believe all that I just said above. I sound totally awfully, uncaring, callous, heartless, evil, and I could go on. I know how I sound and I don't care how people perceive me, I only care about the TRUTH, not my truth, but God's truth.

I only want people to know the truth so they aren't duped by a lie that Satan has perpetuated sin the first lie to Eve, that she wouldn't die.

This time I'm going to start this study from another source… For now, please just read… 

'Thoughts for the Candid

By Elder J. N. Andrews

Table of Contents

Which of the Two is the Gloomy Doctrine?  2………...

An Examination of Certain Scriptures 3………...

Thoughts on Matt. 10:28 and Luke 12:4,5 5 ..............

A Remarkable Corner-Stone 8 .............

WHICH OF THE TWO IS THE GLOOMY DOCTRINE?

The sleep of the dead is often designated a gloomy doctrine. To many it is chilling, repulsive, forbidding. But the immortality of the soul, and the reward of the saints at death, -- this is declared to be a great joy, the fruition of the "blessed hope."

But stop, friends, a few moments. Be not too hasty. Wait long enough to try the justice of this objection in the balances of reason.

You say that the doctrine is full of gloom, and that the departed saints would experience a bitter disappointment in being consigned to the grave for long ages, instead of being received into glory at death. You think the idea full of gloom to the living, and dreadful to the dead. But you forget that, if the doctrine be true, there is no chill, no gloom, no darkness, no disappointment, no lapse of time, no waiting through long ages, to the dead. The interval between their decease and their resurrection will be to them no time at all. The twinkling of an eye, in which the righteous will be changed to immortality, will be as long

to them as the whole period during which righteous Abel has slept in death will be to him. And to him, so far as his own knowledge of the case is concerned, it will be precisely as if he entered heaven at the very moment he was slain.

You say that this helps the matter a little; but that, for all this, the sleep of the dead will no more compare in consolation with the soul's immortality and the reward at death than the desert of Sahara will compare in beauty with the garden of Eden. But study a little further, friends. You may discover facts that will change this opinion. You find great consolation in the thought that the soul is immortal, and that men are rewarded as soon as they die.

Answer me a few questions. How large a part of mankind lead lives of holiness, and die with good evidence of their acceptance with God?

Truth compels you to answer that a minority are all that can be said to do this. What becomes, then, of the great majority of men, who have died out of Christ, and entered

their reward? O, it is taught that they have gone into the furnace of fire, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth! What is the condition, then, at this very moment, of the greater part of the dead, according to this cheering doctrine? You have to answer, They are in unspeakable torment. You admit that this dreadful fact somewhat abates the consolation you have hitherto found in this doctrine.

But I want you to answer one question more. If the soul is immortal, as you affirm, how long are these impenitent men thus to suffer? You answer again, and this time surely with a shudder, THEY MUST SUFFER TO ALL ETERNITY. Before we part, will you not own that yours is a gloomy doctrine? Is it not a relief to your mind to think that men are to be judged BEFORE they are rewarded or punished, and that till the day of Judgment men wait for their reward? And is not that doctrine best which teaches that immortality is the gift of God, and that it is given only to the righteous?

AN EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN SCRIPTURES.

The Prayer of the Souls Under the Altar.

"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Rev. 6:10.

The advocates of the kindred popular doctrines of the immortality of the soul, and that the souls of the righteous go to heaven at death, believe and teach that the souls of martyrs are alive under an altar in heaven, and that they literally pray in the above words for vengeance

on their persecutors. They do not seem to see that there is anything inconsistent in the idea that the souls of the martyrs in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy, should be able to think only of their past tortures, and be entirely given up to anxiety for vengeance on their persecutors, who had hastened their arrival to their state of blessedness.

Nor do they seem to realize that such prayers are not only unlike the spirit of Christ, who prayed in an hour of extreme anguish, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do;" but that they are unlike the spirit of the noble martyr Stephen, who cried with his dying breath, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60. Nor do they explain how such a prayer can be offered literally while the Saviour stands before the ark of God's

law as a great sacrifice, and the Spirit of God strives with sinful men to lead them to repentance. But let this case stand while we look at another.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus teaches, to the same class of people, that the righteous at death go to heaven, and the wicked at death go into the flames of hell. See Luke 16:19-31. It also shows them that the wicked in their torment are not only in plain sight of the righteous in their blessedness, but that the two places are within speaking distance of each other, and that the two parties converse together. Now let us put these two cases together.

The souls under the altar had only to look from their state of blessedness to see their persecutors in the flames of hell, or dropping, one by one, into this fiery gulf. Could the martyrs, with this terrible sight before them, pray, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Would they have been bidden to wait yet a little season? Would they not rather have been directed to look across the great gulf, and see many of their persecutors already in torment, and others every moment arriving? Who does not see that these two cases, when taken together, completely refute the doctrine so often drawn from each taken alone!'

To be continued…

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Truly the Lord reveals His truth to us! He speaks in parables so often, and He speaks in parables because of this--

Mat_13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Those who want the truth more than cherished fables will find it through the Lord, through the Holy Spirit.

May we find only the truth as we continue this study.
 

Please LORD bless us with only YOUR truth! In Your love!

Praying Always- Jesus Prayed Always

'Our Lord was a man of prayer, and He magnified the Word of God, quoting often from the Scriptures. Right through His earthly life Jesus observed Sabbath-keeping, churchgoing and the reading of the Word of God, and had prayer intermingled with them all:

"And He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up, and as His custom as, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read."

Here, let it be said, that no two things are more essential to a spirit-filled life than Biblereading and secret prayer; no two things more helpful to growth in grace; to getting the largest joy out of a Christian life; toward establishing one in the ways of eternal peace.

The neglect of these all-important duties, presages leanness of soul, loss of joy, absence of peace, dryness of spirit, decay in all that pertains to spiritual life. Neglecting these things paves the way for apostasy, and gives the Evil One an advantage such as he is not likely to ignore. Reading God's Word regularly, and praying habitually in the secret place of the Most High puts one where he is absolutely safe from the attacks of the enemy of souls, and guarantees him salvation and final victory, through the overcoming power of the Lamb.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 71)

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We surely do ONLY overcome through the power of the LAMB.

Any reading of God's word is the reading of the Lamb, the Love of the Lamb. We read because HE has given us what we should read. We understand because He gives us understanding. We pray because He gives us the spiritual breath we need to pray. The power all of it is His, none of it is ours. We make the choice to believe. We choose to believe, this is our part.

Ecc_12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

And to Fear God…. we must believe that He is!

Heb_11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We must believe- this is our part, this is our duty!

And when we believe, truly believe we have to keep his commandments because His commandments are LOVE. We realize that those commandments that some would have us believe are too hard, too demanding, too stifling to truly keep are commandment of LOVE, each one pointing to LOVE, pointing to GOD.

May God bless us as we seek to do our duty to God, believing that HE is, fearing Him, keeping His commandments, loving Him!

Being able to pray is a blessing.  Praying to our Father in Heaven, praying by the mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ, this is everything! He is LIFE, He is LOVE.  Please LORD help us to forever choose YOU. You are everything!