Freewill (Does God send bad things to happen to us?)

Answered by Pastor Gregory Dickow

Question:
Does God send bad things to happen to teach us a lesson? Is that what He did with Job?

Answered on 07/26/06:
God does not send bad things to teach us a lesson because God is a good God. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights.” Because He is good, He can only send good things.
If you read Job 1 and 2, you’ll find it wasn’t God who smote Job with sickness and disease; it was Satan. Did God permit that to happen? Absolutely. God permits what we permit. Job got into pride and fear and he got to a place where he was self-righteous. He said, “Why do you let these things happen to me? I’ve done this for you. I’ve done that for you.”
So God doesn’t send bad things; He permits them because we permit them. If I permit my marriage to go down the drain and end up getting a divorce, that wouldn’t be God sending that divorce, it would be me allowing that divorce. God gives us free will. He allows us to hand our lives over to the devil if we want to. He allows us to do drugs, commit wrong behavior if we choose to. Job had free will. You have a free will. That’s why Scripture teaches that we have to surrender our will to the will of God. That’s when life is lived joyfully and joyously. Will God protect us when heinous crimes are plotted against us? Yes. If we ask Him and trust Him and believe in the power of the blood of Jesus, He will send protection for us. He’s given us His Word to teach us, according to 2 Timothy 3. He’s given us the Holy Spirit to teach us, in John 16. And He’s given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to teach us, according to Ephesians 4:11. Then why would He need bad things to teach us?
No, God does not send bad things to happen to us. God does allow some things to happen to us because we reap what we sow; we sow the seed, we get the harvest. If I went out in my backyard and sowed marijuana seeds and then I got a bunch of marijuana and the police came over, I can’t blame God and say God why did you allow this to happen. God would say, I allowed it because you allowed it. It was that I allowed it; therefore, God had to allow what I allowed. I have a free will.

I dreamed I spoke to Jesus

August.. 2007 Dream

Lately Ive been on a diligent search for truth. My emotions seem to be exploding all over my world. Im doing everything I can to hold back tears that are screaming to from my sleepless eyes. I Yearn to be with God. I’ve been praying for him to answer me.. to give me some sort of clarity. I know he needs us to speak to others about him. Not want, NEEDS us to do this. This is difficult because there are so many interpretations of his word. One person says this.. another says that.. And all we can really do is listen to what GOD tells us. It’s not always so easy when others come at you as if you are completely wrong. Its funny how so many others in this believe they have it all figured out. So many are like this, as if there is nothing left to learn. They just love to tell you how wrong you are!

It leaves me feeling.. lost and confused.

All day the other day, I spoke to him. I prayed to him, I cried to him. I was so lonely and felt dark and confused about all that I had learned about him.
Its so difficult to set a version in your mind that is the corrent one.
I was also very tired that day. I had been up for nights.. Praying and seeking as well.
I eventually passed out on the couch, while attempting to watch a paperview with my husband. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

The dream I had.. was something I’ll never be able to fully explain. But try & picture it as I tell it.

As far back as I remember – I was with a group of others. I don’t remember who they were but there was the sense that I knew some of them. We were not in heaven. We were somewhere else. We were waiting for Jesus. Our surroundings were much like.. The world. People were angry and sad. Confused and lost. I remember us sitting around in a group. There was a window that some were looking out of.. the setting was almost like the streets of philidelphia or old new york..

Things were happening around us.. The room changed a lot.. At times we weren’t even in the room.. we were in the middle of the street.. Then it changed colors and shapes.
It was almost like what a vitual world would be like. Like someone was outside controlling us or something.

I didnt feel that in the dream. It didnt seem like anyone noticed the changes taking place around us.

People were up, and began to look for other's. I was looking for my dad. In the dream, I thought It was heaven, even though I was thinking, "Heaven isnt supposed to be this way."

I remember coming out of another room and back into where the group was, "I can't find my dad.."

When Jesus came out, He looked like what you would think.. longer hair, like in all the pics. I cant pic his face out of a line up though. But I remember being able to actually look at him. He greeted us.. And spoke with us.

Eventually, he took me to the side and was talking with me..

I wish I could remember what he was saying to me.

It was as if we were walking and still, the room was changing around us. It was never the same for more than seconds. I asked him about a person I knew that was hardcore atheist. Not just one that doesnt believe, but one that has made it his efforts to take down Christianity. I said his name and Jesus already knew what I was going to say- he shook his head up and down as if to say, “I know.”

He raised his arm and it acted as a curtain, exposing something much darker.

Then Behind him appeared a giant face, taking up my entire view. It scared me and shocked me.. I jumped back in horror. It was a horrible face, on fire and its mouth opened wide and became like a door. It was screaming things.. it was definitly alive. It pulled back like it was on a slingshot.. Oh, It was horrible… I looked next to me and the guy was standing there.. All disheveled as if he had slept in his clothes for weeks. He saw what I was seeing. The face started to scream his name so loud. It sounded like a millions voices... almost screaching..like a strain trying to stop! He looked at me as I looked at him.. and I felt such pain for him.. I knew it was too late for him. He knew it too. The look on his face was something indescribable.

The situation turned from that to me, with Jesus.. and he was telling me about these people that denied him. He sent me to earth, to speak to them.

But it wasn’t anything like what a typical, “Do you know Jesus?” Convo.
As soon as I said, “Do you believe in Jesus?” The people became emotional.. as if they were waiting for me. I to became emotional and begin to sob and cry so hard.
I said, “He’s real!!”
“He’s so real!!”
And they would begin to become convicted and I'm crying, “You have to believe me!!”

Then, My husband woke me up, right in the middle of me pleading with someone. He said, “Are you ok babe? You were crying!”

I remember saying.. “Oh. I went to heaven.. I talked to Jesus..”

I fell back to sleep after that.. Woke up later and seriously started thinking about the dream. I felt very out of place. I talked with my husband later. I said, What was I saying, (I knew that I was talking to someone when he woke me.) He said, "You were crying but I couldnt understand what you were saying.. "

So.. Its been going through my mind for days.

Im posting it because I'm wondering if anyone can give me any insight on it? I believe that when we cant figure something out, we are to take it to others saints to see if their holy spirit reaffirms it to them.

If anyone has anything that would be great!

They want to Kill me!

It seems lately, many have felt anger towards me. Its sad that the smallest mention of Jesus, can send someone into a wild frenzy. They respond with some of cruelest things I've ever heard. I am doing my best to practice self control. Only through the love of Jesus, can I conquer this. They try and tell me that Im wrong. They are angry when I dont submit to their beliefs. If I am calm. They insult me. I can only imagine what they would do and say, If I lashed out at them, as they do me.

Instead, I choose not to lash out. I choose to be an example. I choose to do what Jesus did, which was turn his face. He knew even then, that they were going to do what they did. He knew that we, his precious children, would also have to face this unimaginable pain. But I will endure it for you Father. Because I love you and I yearn for you. I will do anything for you. Anything. I choose to humble myself, and allow them to attack me. Because no amount of hate mail, hate words, hate looks, can convince me that you are not here.

I know you are with me. I can feel you with me. You've answered me in my times of need. You've clarified these things that once seemed so confusing. You've showed me the way through the fire, and out into the air, where I can breathe again.

Thankyou father for always being there for me. Thankyou so much father for saving me. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thankyou for believing in me. Thankyou for blessing me with my family. Thankyou for speaking to me and thankyou dear father for loving me, and saving me, over and over and over again.


I just cant wait to be next to you, and feel your loving arms around me. Please Father, Give me the strength that I need to get through these aching times in my life. Please help me to endure this.


I love you for eternity! I love you father! Thankyou!

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, But I chose you out of the world, therfore the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my names sake, because they do not know him who sent me." John 15 18-20

Walking in the Spirit of God

By Pastor Gregory Dickow

If you’re having trouble with lust, temptation, pride, or maybe you just want to learn how to hear God’s voice, you need to learn how to walk in the Spirit.

We all face temptation and trials, and your life depends on whether you follow your Spirit or your flesh. So let’s learn How to Walk in the Spirit.

1. First of all, you have to be aware of the conflict. It’s one thing to be in a battle, but when the battle is in you, life will be very difficult. You’re made up of three parts. You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Now, your body is not your flesh. You always should take care of your body, but you should never take care of your flesh. Your spirit and your flesh are vying for the control of your soul and your body. Whichever gets control of your soul and body will declare victory. Follow these simple steps to give your Spirit the advantage. If you can learn to walk in the Spirit, it will protect you, provide for you and empower you.

2. You must put first things first. Gal 5:16 says, “I say walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” He doesn’t say overcome your flesh so you can qualify to walk in the Spirit. He says the exact opposite. Religion says as we stop sinning, then the Holy Spirit will come and live in us but that isn’t what the Bible says. It’s our union with the Holy Spirit that overpowers sin. It’s as you walk in the Spirit. The Spirit is the Word. The Word is light. Darkness left when the light came. When you walk in the Spirit, sin is overpowered. All of your striving won’t get sin to leave. The entrance of His Word brings light.

Walking in the Spirit means: yielding yourself to God’s Word and walking in love. When you walk in love, the Spirit drives out and overpowers the dictates of the flesh. As soon as the lights are on, darkness leaves. Walk in the Spirit and you won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Walk in the Spirit and the flesh dies.

The flesh resides in your thinking. Overtake it with thoughts that yield to the Spirit – God’s Word. The flesh loves drugs which in the Greek is the word, pharmakea – which means witchcraft. Galatians 5 lists the works of the flesh including idolatry and witchcraft. You can destroy those cigarettes, speak over those cigarettes, but it doesn’t mean you’ve overcome it. Walk in the Spirit and you won’t want to smoke anymore. You can’t just say, “I’m never going to smoke anymore.” James 4:6-7 says, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil.”

The key to the devil fleeing is first submitting to God. As you submit to God, His Spirit, and His Word – then the devil will flee. The devil comes to someone yielded to their flesh. The flesh is a way of thinking that’s contrary to God’s way of thinking. Walk in the Spirit – and then you won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Think God’s thoughts. Submit to God. Then the devil will flee. Draw near to God. Then you’ll purify your hands and hearts. How do you draw near? You worship and praise and love God. You believe His Word, and act on His Word. God accepts you right now. God says just draw near to me.

3. You’ve got to realize – You are not alone. You’re not the only one battling the flesh. Romans 7:21-22 in the Amplified Bible says “So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.”

Paul, the greatest apostle, dealt with this. You feel these thoughts and feelings, and you think, “I’m not saved” or “I’m not spiritual.” It’s not how much knowledge you have. It’s speaking, meditating on the Word to the point where it causes us to overtake the flesh. Identify what is flesh and what is Spirit.

There are 3 characteristics of a jelly flesh that are like the flesh. 1. It has no backbone. The flesh doesn’t stand for anything. It just cares about now. That’s a Christian with no convictions. 2. The prevailing currents carry it. That’s like Christians who just follow the crowd or just follow the most popular minister. Your flesh wants to try and do spiritual works so you can feel spiritual. Get planted. Get established in a church. Have backbone. Be someone who is established, connected and come hell or high water, follow the Word. 3. The jelly fish’s only defense is its sting. The flesh is the same way - we hurt others to protect ourselves. God protects us, so we don’t have to. Our flesh’s retaliation is to say something worse to them. Retaliate with God’s retaliation. Pray for them.

4. Recognize Your Flesh is not the real you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." I’m not connected to my past. Honor the new in you. You have a new Spirit. You have love, the Father, a new covenant, a new name, a new family, and you have a new way of doing things. As we feed and honor the new man in us, we starve the old man. When you realize there is a battle inside you, and you realize you’re not the only one who has dealt with this, you can win the battle by walking in the Spirit, which is yielding to God’s Word, walking in love, and by drawing near to your father. You are a new creature, and you have a new Spirit inside you. Meditate on the Word, and as you do, you’ll no longer fulfill the lust of the flesh.

I'M OK AND I'M ON MY WAY!

by Joyce Meyer

The expression “nobody’s perfect” is used or heard almost every day, but it’s true—I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, nobody’s perfect. Hopefully, though, we’re all getting better and are on our way to perfection. The important thing to remember is that even though we’re not yet perfect, we’re still OK. Just because we haven’t arrived yet doesn’t mean that we’re not on our way. It’s true that we all still have a long way to go.

I used to get discouraged about how far I had to go, and it seemed like I was reminded of it every day, sometimes every hour. I carried a constant sense of failure—a feeling that I just wasn’t who I needed to be, I wasn’t doing good enough, and I needed to try harder. Yet when I did try harder, I only failed again.

I’ve now adopted a new attitude: “I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be. I’m OK, and I’m on my way!”

I now know with all my heart that God isn’t angry with me just because I haven’t arrived yet. He’s pleased that I’m pressing on and staying on the path. If you and I will just

“keep on keeping on,” God will be pleased with our progress. Keep walking the walk one step at a time. This is an important thing to remember. It’s true that we have to keep pressing on, but thank God we don’t have to hate or reject ourselves while we’re trying to get to our destination.

If I invited you to take a walk, you’d think I was crazy if I became angry after the first few steps because we hadn’t yet arrived at our destination. We can understand ordinary things like this, yet we have a difficult time understanding that God expects it to take some time for us to grow spiritually. We don’t think there’s something wrong with one-year-old children because they can’t walk perfectly. They fall down frequently, but we pick them up, love them, bandage them if necessary, and keep working with them. Surely our heavenly Father can do even more for us than we do for our children.

The process is always difficult. Growing and learning is never easy, but the changes make us better people. We begin to think differently, then to talk differently, and finally, to act differently. This process develops in stages, and we must always remember that while it’s taking place, we can have the attitude, “I’m OK, and I’m on my way!”

Enjoy yourself while you’re changing. Enjoy where you are on the way to where you’re going. Enjoy the journey! Don’t waste all of your “now time” trying to rush into the future. Remember, tomorrow will have troubles of its own (Matthew 6:34).

Today you may be wrestling with a bad temper, thinking if you could just get freedom in this area, everything would be all right. But the thing is, God will then reveal something else that needs to be dealt with, and you’ll be back in that same frame of mind again, thinking,

“If only I didn’t have this problem, I could be happy.” We must learn to look at these things in a new way. We can be free to believe that we are, indeed, OK and on our way—not perfected yet, but pressing on.

We can be free to enjoy life, enjoy God and enjoy ourselves.

Can a drug addict still be a Christian???

Q&A Between a concerned woman, and pastor Gregory Dickow

Q~My husband became a Christian about 4 years ago. He is a good man and quit drinking about 2 years ago. I’m just not clear about something. From what I understand, when someone becomes a Christian, not that sin is eliminated, but repeated sin should probably not take place because I know there needs to be repentance. He partakes in using marijuana. And I know he’s convicted on it, but…

Answered on 03/09/06:
So, you are you wondering if he’s really a Christian and wondering how he can be free from the marijuana. The first thing is to address your concern that when a person becomes born again, shouldn’t they stop repeating sin? Sin doesn’t emerge from our spirit when we’re born again; sin emerges from our mind, our emotions and our body. So, when we’re saved or born again, our spirit, our heart is brand new, but our mind remains the same. Until our mind is brought in subjection to the Word of God and is changed, until our thoughts are replaced with God’s thoughts and we begin to think the way God thinks, you’re never going to be able to change the bad behavior in a person until they change the way they think.


When your husband changes the way he thinks, that will begin to change his behavior. You can’t get somebody to stop smoking just by telling them to “stop smoking because that’s sin and you’re going to hell and it’s going to destroy your life.” They already knew that it was sin. They already knew that it was hurting them and destroying their life. But what has to happen is that when they change the way they think about God, about themselves, and about what truly satisfies them, then they will change their behavior. So the answer to your question, “Can your husband still be a Christian even though he’s still smoking marijuana?” The answer is yes.

After I became a Christian, I kept smoking marijuana and kept drinking alcohol. But as I read my Bible and as I went to church and as I heard the Word of God and started to change the way that I thought, the habits began to break off of my life and they will do that for your husband as well. You can’t just stop something. You’ve got to fill up on the good and then you won’t be open to the bad any more. You’ve got to fill your body up or fill your mind up with the Word of God and then it’ll flush out the bad behavior of smoking and drinking and any other bad behavior that’s there. But as we feed on the Word of God, the Bible, that’s what produces the power to change our lives.

We hear people say, “Well, if he were a Christian, that wouldn’t happen because it’s repeated sin.” And if you were a Christian, you wouldn’t get mad at your husband sometimes. If you were a Christian, you wouldn’t yell sometimes. If you were a Christian, you wouldn’t yell at your children. I mean, we could go down the list of things we’re all guilty of. For your husband, it’s marijuana. For somebody else, it might be anger or a lustful thought that they keep having. But that doesn’t send us to hell. What sends us to hell is when we reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior and we say, “I don’t need the blood of Jesus. I can make it on my own.” That’s the thing that’s going to send people to hell, not the habits in our lives.

Now, I’m not saying that it’s good for him to continue to smoke marijuana. I’m not saying that. He’s going to reap what he sows. Obviously, that’s going to hurt his body, his mind, his family. That’s a harvest. He’s going to get a harvest from the seeds that he’s sowing. But he’s still saved if he believes that Jesus died for his sins and rose from the dead. But now, he needs to be changed and it starts by changing the way that he thinks. You guys got to continue to feed on the Word of God and get in a good church that teaches you the Word of God and then you’ll begin to see some things begin to change in his life. Encourage him and let him know you’re praying for him and let him know that we’re standing with him here as well.

The little book of ~if's~

What's Love Look Like?

from Christian Classics, wise words from the past

by Amber Penney

When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "Love God with all your heart, soul and mind . …And love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

He wasn't just talking either. Jesus gave meaning to his words through the way he lived and ultimately through dying for us on the cross at Calvary.What does it mean for us to show this kind of love? Amy Carmichael, who was a missionary to India in the early 1900s, did her best to answer this question with her little booklet If. She says the only way to live a life of love is to understand Christ's love for us.

~If I have not compassion on my fellowservant, even as my Lord had pity on me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any; if I can speak in a casual way even of a child's misdoings, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve around myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I do not give a friend "the benefit of the doubt," but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If I take offense easily; if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.

~If I say, "Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget," as though the God, who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world, could not wash such memories from my mind, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it, because the spirit of discernment is not in me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

That which I know not, teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.

~*~*~

Amy Carmichael

(1867-1951)

Irish-born Amy Carmichael was sure God was calling her to be a missionary. But when she applied to China Inland Mission, she was rejected. She was told she was too frail for the stressful demands of missionary life. But Amy wouldn't take no for an answer.

She found another organization that was willing to send her and soon set sail for Japan. She was there for only a year when poor health forced her to return. But even then she refused to give up. The following year she traveled to South India, where she would serve as a missionary for the rest of her life. In India, Amy encountered practices that both shocked and grieved her.

Children were being forced into prostitution as a part of religious rituals. Amy made it her goal to rescue as many as she could from this fate. In order to give the children a place to go, she helped establish the Dohnavur Fellowship, where over 900 children found refuge during her ministry.

When Amy was in her 60s, she fell and broke a leg. She also injured her spine, which left her bedridden for the rest of her life. But that didn't end her work. She seized the opportunity to write. It was during this time that Amy wrote If. The booklet came in response to a young member of the Fellowship who wasn't grasping the gospel. This troubled Amy.

She wondered if it was because she had failed to demonstrate Christ's love through her actions. Those thoughts kept her awake all night. By morning, she had written what would become a tool for many wanting to understand the meaning of "Calvary love."

From If by Amy Carmichael. Christian Literature Crusade © 1991. Illustration of Amy Carmichael by Luis Fernandez (not online). Used with permission. © 2001 In Touch Ministries.

The Furnace Door is opening

A RELEASE OF PROPHETS WHO

HAVE BEEN IN 'THE WAIT"

A Building Process Many of God's people who have ahold of their purpose and vision inside, are sensing a time of release. They have been behind closed doors, crying, laughing and trembling with their Lord and Savior. They have known what it means to reach the depths of anguish in their souls and minds and have felt at times that they could not go on any longer.

They have tried to reach out through conversation to share their pain, but others who listened, could not relate. They've experienced a loneliness that has been physically felt and mentally challenging. It's been a journey where all one could say is,

"I don't know what is going on exactly, but God is good!"

All the confessions, professions and proclamations seem to go out, but silence is all that is heard. The journey has been a prophetic process for the prophets and also for those who have been in the "building" process of the Lord, just waiting for their release and assignment on the earth. The season of preparation is often misunderstood by many who go through it. All we want to do sometimes is to get out of the fire, while God Himself is keeping us from leaving. Only He knows the full process of keeping us in the fire--until we walk out looking better, acting better and loving better. Many have tried to run out only to find themselves walking back into the furnace of refinement once again. God has always been in it with us, but somehow we think He has left us there to roast.

The Door is Opening. We are now entering into a time of release for many who have been going through the fire and have grown up in character. Standing on their feet, they hear the Master opening up the furnace door and saying, "It is now time." They are not running like before--they are walking with a maturity and confidence in their Lord, as they come through the door to enter their assignments. This does not mean that all of a sudden everything will just happen and money will fall out of the trees for people, but what it does mean is that favor will be there when it is needed, with the work of their hands. It means that the weight of the gifting matches the weight of the character and the "appointed time" is now upon them. It means that they will not quickly fall like they used to when temptations come near them.

James understood this process and the importance of "The Wait" for maturity,

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:1-4).

Many times when we read this Scripture, we automatically think of some major family or financial trial we go through and yes, these are trials. But for those who have been in the process of development, they have also been sorely tested in the battlefield of the mind regarding their calling. Some ponder if they have blown it with sin and wonder if it will happen, or they begin to think that God had never spoken to them in the first place. It is the plan of the enemy and the flesh to get us thinking this way, but patience has a divine and perfect plan.The patience that has come through the trial, has now been developed to the point of release. It is the patience that is mature and complete--able to withstand testing and truly help others in need. Mature Enough to Understand Temptation.

James 1:12-17, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

The struggle to sort out what is happening and "who" is doing what to those in process, is often misunderstood and many people have even blamed God for their temptations during development. But, God has brought them to the point of maturity in the fire, where they no longer believe that lie and have now understood that the "Refining Fire" has been burning away their unclean thoughts and desires of wanting the release too soon and doing works in the flesh. For some, the discipline of the Lord has been grueling and has been an unpleasant experience, and it is totally human to feel that way. Yet as maturity is developed, there is a knowledge and confidence inside, knowing the process produces a harvest of Godly character and peace.

Hebrews 12:11, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

The Time is Now Upon Many

The time is quickly approaching and others will see someone coming out of the Furnace, looking and smelling like God, who they thought would be completely burned up. These are the "unknowns" in society who will enter their callings, full of God's power and wisdom. They will know how to handle difficulties without breaking down emotionally. They will release practical, yet powerful insight from God's Word that will shatter strongholds and liberate the afflicted and oppressed. It will truly be the demonstration of the Spirit without the "eloquence" of fleshly words being released as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 2.

It is a Supernatural release that will bring young and old to real repentance, because they have seen and have experienced the goodness of God in a tangible way. For those who have understood the process of "The Wait," be encouraged! Your release is close at hand. Rejoice! For the Lord your God is opening the door of the furnace.

John and Amy MeyerVoice of One Crying MinistriesEmail: kptc@voiceofonecrying.orgPermission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites.

We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

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STANDING ALONE

Many students mocked Julie Moore for starting a Bible study at her Indiana high school. But Julie stood her ground, and obeyed God's call anyway.

by Karen Raad

Julie Moore felt like she was the only Christian in her whole school.
She was often mocked for her faith. Still, she felt like she could make a difference on her high school campus.
But how? Her answer came during her junior year at a Youth For Christ retreat, when a student speaker told how God had led her to start a Bible study at her public school.
Julie felt God calling her to do the same at her school, Bloomington (IN) High School North. But she was reluctant.
"At first," says Julie, "I thought, OK, God, whatever. I don't think I'm going to do that."
Julie didn't want any more ridicule at school. And she didn't think anybody would even be interested in a Bible study.
After all, there was that English paper she'd written about obedience, telling of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18).
Julie read the paper aloud in class, explaining that "God wants us to serve him by obeying him, and even though it's hard sometimes, God is faithful and takes care of us."
Most of the class had put their heads down on their desks, ignoring her.
And God wanted her to start a Bible study there?
"People were already mocking me because I was a Christian," says Julie, now a senior at Indiana University. "Starting a Bible study would just give them more opportunity to mock me. I wasn't sure I was ready for that."
A club is born

Still, Julie knew she needed to obey.
"I realized the Bible study was what God wanted me to do, like the Abraham and Isaac thing," she says. "I felt like I was laying down my social status and letting God do whatever he wanted."
Julie talked to her youth leaders and other adults, who encouraged her to go for it. She received information about starting a Christian club at school, including her legal rights.
School administrators were supportive. Several teachers offered to let the club meet in their classrooms before school.
And so "Cougars for Christ," named after her school's mascot, was born.
Julie spread the word that she was starting a club where students could study the Bible and learn more about God. Seventeen students showed up for the first meeting on December 1, 1995.
"I was filled with excitement and gratitude," says Julie. "God had totally put this thing together."
Julie challenged the students with 1 Timothy 4:12: "Don't let any one look down on you because you are young, but set an example … "
She encouraged them to make a difference, to not be afraid and to stand up for what they believed in. Everything went well—for a while.
The next fall, the beginning of Julie's senior year, a photo of Cougars for Christ appeared in the yearbook. Club announcements were made over the P.A. system. The group was getting recognition—but not all of it was good.
Some students were hostile, mocking and cursing at Julie, nicknaming her "the Cougars for Christ Queen."
Soon, blank sheets of red paper were taped up all over school. One guy told Julie with a snicker, "They're for Cougars for Communism."
A teacher told Julie that the communism club, which rarely met, had formed mainly to mock Cougars for Christ. Club members called Julie names, and complained that she was turning the school into a church.
That was only the beginning.
To the principal's officeSoon, Julie was called to the office.
The principal, Dr. Sue Beerman, told Julie that Cougars for Communism had complained that Cougars for Christ had a room to meet in, announcements on the P.A. system, and a picture in the yearbook. The Cougars for Communism said they had a right to do the same things.
Dr. Beerman told Julie that she liked her group and what they were doing. But she also explained that Cougars for Communism had forced her to make some hard decisions to be fair to both clubs—while abiding by the law.
Both clubs had a legal right to meet on campus. But the principal said she wasn't sure about their rights to use the P.A. system or have their pictures in the yearbook. Dr. Beerman said she would talk to a lawyer to get definite answers.
When she left the office, Julie was confused and discouraged. Cougars for Christ had been in the yearbook the previous year and had used the P.A. system all along, and it didn't seem fair that those privileges might be taken away. To make matters worse, someone had smashed the windshield on her car in the school parking lot. She believes someone from Cougars for Communism did it, but admits she can't prove it.
Why is this happening? Julie wondered. I thought the Bible study was a good thing.
She felt let down. But she wouldn't give up.
She went home and reviewed a packet of legal information that her youth leader had given her. She typed up a constitution to better define Cougars for Christ and its philosophy.
Then she went back to the principal's office to further plead her case.
Dr. Beerman, meanwhile, had talked to the school superintendent and an attorney, and had some answers for Julie. She explained that the law—specifically, the Equal Access Act—gives extracurricular clubs the right to meet on public school grounds, regardless of their beliefs. But the law does not guarantee extracurricular clubs can use school facilities—like the P.A. system—to promote themselves. Nor does the law say they have "equal access" to yearbooks, as do school-sponsored clubs.
So the school made these decisions:
• Both clubs could continue meeting on school grounds.
• All clubs—whether school-sponsored or not—had to get a faculty member's signature to make announcements on the P.A. system.
• Only "official" school clubs could be pictured in the yearbook. "Official" clubs are school-sponsored and curriculum-related. "Unofficial" clubs, like Cougars for Christ and Cougars for Communism, are neither school-sponsored nor curriculum-related, and therefore could not be in the yearbook.
Encouraging support

The struggle—with administration, and with Cougars for Communism and their taunts—took its toll. Attendance at Cougars for Christ meetings dropped to about five.
Still, Julie found much-needed support. A family friend, a lawyer, offered legal help if needed. Many people prayed for her. And even though Cougars for Christ was not connected to Youth for Christ, area YFC leaders prayed for Julie and sent an encouraging card. One youth leader told Julie she was "a bright light in a dark world."
Julie says, "It was encouraging to hear that kind of reinforcement."
Cougars for Christ continued to meet, and Cougars for Communism continued to mock them. Julie downplayed the conflict, telling her group not to treat anyone from Cougars for Communism badly. The Bible study group prayed about the situation, and kept making P.A. announcements and handing out fliers.
Meanwhile, Cougars for Communism couldn't find a teacher to sign off on their announcements, so they never got to use the P.A. system.
The conflict between the clubs subsided. Soon, the Cougars for Christ attendance was back up to 17. Cougars for Communism stopped meeting, and Julie never heard from them again.
Still going strong

Julie spent time mentoring several younger girls during those early days of Cougars for Christ, and one of them, Claire Pontius, ended up leading the group as a senior before graduating in June.
Claire says the group is still going strong today.
Almost 75 people showed up for See You at the Pole last year, and about 15 to 20 regularly now attend the club's meetings.
Claire, a freshman when the club started, says the club's rough start turned out to be a good thing: "Paul said to rejoice when you're persecuted because when you're being persecuted you're doing something right."
Claire says the club has "helped Christians come out into the open. It gives students a way to stand up for what they believe, to say openly 'Yes, I am a Christian. I believe in God.'"
Claire also says Julie's example of perseverance was inspiring: "I know how hard Julie worked to get it started, and how hard it was for her to go through all that nonsense."
Julie is just thrilled to see that all the hard work — the result of her obedience to God's leading—has left its mark.
"I've learned to keep going, no matter what," Julie says. "You can make a difference."

Tommy Bates Goes to Heaven!

A Glimpse of Paradise
Perry stone talks with Tommy Bates about his Near death Experience.

FEMALE TEACHERS IN THE CHURCH? Blasphemy?

BREAKTHROUGH NEWS FOR WOMEN

~Reprint of a newsletter article by DAVID FEES~

A book God's Word to Women by Katharine Bushnell has recently been privately republished. Born in 1856,the author was a medical missionary and a scholar of Hebrew and Greek. Her work provides a doctrinal foundation to the church concerning the role of women in God's plan and in the church. She scripturally breaks down some of the doctrinal and cultural biases that have hindered women in ministry. What makes her different from the feminist movement of recent years is that she believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God--verbatim. What she has done, through much study of the Hebrew and Greek, a thorough knowledge of the Word', and an understanding of cultural settings, is explain some of the difficult passages that have historically brought women to a lower status than God intended.
To give you an idea of her teachings, I have summarized a few of her insights concerning some of the Scriptures that may have been mistranslated or misinterpreted.

* Gen. 3:16: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Context: This statement was a judgment given by God to Eve for her part in the fall.

Traditional Interpretation: The last part shows that men are to rule over women and that a woman's natural desire would be to come under that rule.

Bushnell: The correct interpretation of the last part should be rendered, Thou art turning away [from God] to thy husband, and he will rule over thee. In other words, when Eve turned away from God in the fall, she set a course for women in all history. God did not make men to rule over women, but when sin entered in and rebellion and ignorance followed, women lost their freedom. We see this mishap particularly in cultures which have not had a Christian heritage. The greater that Jesus is allowed to flourish, the more true liberty will result for women. The model is Jesus and the church. Jesus laid down His life for the church. He is head of the church but not in a dictatorial authority. He brings a model of leadership, which is true humility and the giving of one's self for others.

* I Cor. 14:34-35: Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Traditional Interpretation: The men and women were divided in where they sat in church. Paul was addressing a problem in which women would yell out to their husbands across the church. Paul was saying to address the issue at home.

Bushnell: First, there is no law in the Old Testament that states this. There are references in the Jewish Talmud that women should remain silent, but she doubts Paul would quote from it because he was always at odds with their legalism. She makes a strong case that this statement is coming from the Judaizers (Jewish Christians who wanted to retain much of Jewish legalism), and Paul is quoting their argument and then answering it in the next two verses: What? Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
She maintains that Paul allowed the ministry of Priscilla and Pheobe to flourish and considered them to be a part of his co-laborers. His practice of allowing them to teach would not be consistent with what many have traditionally interpreted that he taught. She also points out that the traditional interpretation of separation of the sexes would not address single women who had no husband. How would they learn?

* I Tim. 2:12: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Traditional Interpretation: Perhaps the most quoted Scripture used as justification that women should not be in public ministry.

Bushnell: There should be no comma after the word "teach", which changes the meaning of the sentence to mean that women were not to teach men, but could teach women. But more importantly, she provides a historical context of this epistle stating that women were in great danger at the time of its writing. The growth of Christianity had made believers great enemies of Rome and the Jews, both which treated women with disdain. To freely allow women open ministry would place women at great risk, and Paul refused to jeopardize their status.
She maintains that this admonition is a personal one similar to his suggestion to Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach's sake. While she believes the Word of God is inviolable and absolute. there are personal words given in the context of' Scriptures that are not intended for all believers at all times in history. For instance, Paul told 'I'imothy to bring the cloak and books with him that he had left at Troas with Carpus (II Tim. 4:13). Anyone would know that this piece of instruction was meant for a situation at that time. No one expects us to be looking for a cloak at Troas as part of our spiritual obedience.
She contends that Paul did not practice this teaching of refusing a woman to teach, neither did he teach it in other settings. She states that while men are quick to jump on this Scripture and others like it to justify their view of male dominance, they do not adhere to other teachings that are in a similar cast such as when Paul wished that all men were single and celibate like himself. Very few men have taken Paul up on that one.

Ephesians 5:22: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Bushnell: The word submit is not the best rendering of this word. A better translation, to be in subjection, does not mean to blindly obey. She uses a base Scripture for this point: No man can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). The Word tells us to obey those who have the rule over us in Romans 12 (speaking of' civil government), but Scripture also gives us the right for civil disobedience when man's law tries to supercede God's law. An employee cannot follow his employer into sin. Neither can a wife follow a husband into immorality or deception. Like the apostles, we must say that we must obey God rather than man.
She maintains that while Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord (I Pet. 3:6), God told Abraham in the manner of Hagar and Ishmael to obey his wife. So there is a balance that must be maintained through humility and mutual subjection to each other.
In ministry, she points out that Paul enjoins the Corinthians to submit (or subject themselves) unto every one that helpeth with us, and laboreth (I Cor. 16:16). In Romans 16:3, he calls Priscilla his helper. We know that Phoebe and other women assisted him, thus there is an admonition that men should be in subjection to those women ministries who are in a place of leadership. No man would interpret these Scriptures to mean blind obedience, but rather to defer to them in mutual respect, honor, humility, meekness, forbearance, and the yielding of one's preferences."

Psalm 77
To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

I cried out to God with my voice—

To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;

My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;

My soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered God, and was troubled;

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old,The years of ancient times.

I call to remembrance my song in the night;

I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?

Has His mercy ceased forever?

Has His promise failed forevermore?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah

And I said, “This is my anguish;

But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will also meditate on all Your work,

And talk of Your deeds.

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;

Who is so great a God as our God?

You are the God who does wonders;

You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw You, O God;

The waters saw You, they were afraid;

The depths also trembled.

The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound;

Your arrows also flashed about.

The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;

The lightnings lit up the world;

The earth trembled and shook.

Your way was in the sea,

Your path in the great waters,

And Your footsteps were not known.

You led Your people like a flock

By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Jesus Christ ~Genuine Example~

We're all Playing 'Follow the Leader..'

Here's My Leader

~Having dismissed the multitudes, he went into a mountain alone to pray. Matthew 14-23



~Rising very early, going out, he went Into a desert place: and there he prayed. Mark 1-35


~When he had dismissed them, he went up to the mountain to pray. Mark 6-46


~It came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened. Luke 3-21


~He retired into the desert and prayed. Luke 5-16


~He went out into a mountain to pray: and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. Luke 6-12


~It came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples also were with him: and he asked them, saying: Whom do the people say that I am? Luke 9-18


~It came to pass, about eight days after these words, that he took Peter and James and John and went up into a mountain to pray. And while he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered and his raiment became white and glittering. Luke 9-28


~As he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed-(holy) be your name. Luke 11:1-4


~But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. Luke 22-32


~Going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying: My Father, if It be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. . . . Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass, but I must drink it, your will be done. And he came again and found them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy... Matthew 26-39 / 42-44


~Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23-34


~Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Luke 23-46


~Jesus lifting up his eyes, said: Father, I give you thanks that you have heard me. And I knew that you hear me always; but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that you have sent me. When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come forth!". John 11:41-43


~Christ's prayer after the Last Supper. John 17: 1-26

THE COMMANDMENTS

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Deuteronomy 5:6-21

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

When asked which was the greatest commandment of the law, Jesus replied,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12, 13

HEALING SCRIPTURES

Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Deuteronomy 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Deuteronomy 28:11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Psalms 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Psalms 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Isaiah 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Psalms 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Genesis 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

Exodus 23:26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isaiah 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 17:11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.

John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs-sickness, weakness and distress- and carried our sorrows and pain [of punishment]: yet we ignorantly considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities: the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him; and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole.

Matthew 8:16-17 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: {17} That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. {21} Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. {22} For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. {23} Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Exodus 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

Psalms 103:1-5 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. {2} Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: {3} Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; {4} Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; {5} Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD;

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; {3} Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. {4} But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie; nor a son of man, that he should change His mind, Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: {14} That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. {23} For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. {24} Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {15} And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 6:18 It is impossible for God to lie.

Jeremiah 1:12 Then said the LORD to me, you have seen well: for I am alert and active watching over my word to perform it.

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.

Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; {18} While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Delivered from Homosexuality.

BEING GAY...
(The Roberta Laurila Story)

By: Roberta Laurila

Right from the day of my birth, there was a hint of future problems. When my mother first saw me, she expressed her love for me, then remembered she only had a boy's name chosen. Thus Robert became Roberta.
During childhood, my mother's heart condition and crippling arthritis kept her from doing the usual things with me that my friend's mothers did. I became a loner and a daydreamer. At the age of eight, I was imitating everything my older brother did, from smoking cigarettes to dating girls.
IN LOVE
When I was ten, I "fell in love" for the very first time with my lady school teacher. This crush lasted for three years until our paths separated when I began my freshman year in high school. My heart was grieved until I met a beautiful brunette in my class and new love sprang up in my heart. Of course I couldn't speak of this love to anyone. I began to realize that somehow, I was different. My whole being cried out to love and be loved. Living with my secret longings through those teen years was so difficult.
I tried being like my friends and began dating young men when my father would allow it. When he wouldn't, I became angry and rebellious. I built a bad reputation for myself and as the small town tongues began wagging, I started withdrawing, antagonistic toward all.
ABUSE
My Christian mother was very patient during those years, but my father was under conviction for not accepting the Lord. His cursing raged out of control nearly every night as he verbally abused my mother. These times sent me into a rage. It was during this time in my life that I decided no man would ever treat me like that.
I also rejected my father for getting mom pregnant again. She was in ill health and she hadn't wanted another child. I had also heard many stories of my father's first wife dying at childbirth and that filled me with fears of having children. No way was that for me.
Then at sixteen, my "steady" boyfriend tried to rape me. That event really confirmed to me that sex was filthy and an abomination.
TWO MARRIAGES
After high school, all my girlfriends were getting married. I became fearful of being left out. In desperation, I gave in to my brother's suggestion to meet one of his friends, twelve years older than myself. In less than three months, I married this man whom I didn't even love. After two years, I divorced him and began writing to a man in the Armed Forces who had loved me before my marriage. The decision to marry him came when I learned he would soon be going to Germany in active combat. I could receive an allotment check and wouldn't have to live with him. What a farce! Less than two years later, he came home and I soon divorced him.
Not long after, the Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sin. I had attended tent meetings in a Pentecostal church when I was a child and marched to the front night after night to get saved. But I'd given it all up when I realized I couldn't be good in the days following.
When I began to feel pangs of guilt, this made Satan angry. Soon after, I was introduced to a lesbian who had been in that lifestyle a long time and knew the ropes. She was a bad influence on me and soon I began drinking, which I had never done. The second night, she invited me to spend the night with her. I began meeting other lesbians and partying far too much. Not long after, I was fired from my job.
I soon met a girl who was my "type" and we lived together for eight years. Because of the guilt and drinking, my fits of jealousy and temper became uncontrollable. Then I left my first friend and began living with another. After a year I nearly killed her in the car after drinking too much wine. Needless to say, she left me for good.
SALVATION
I was home alone the afternoon of October 7, 1955. With fear and panic in my heart, I made the decision to take my own life. I was too ashamed to commit myself to an institution to find help for my troubled mind. Pride was still very much alive, even though I thought I was beyond help. I wondered how to call my friend to ask for her forgiveness. I wanted so much to be forgiven, but it seemed out of the question.
I started for the kitchen to turn on the gas jets. I had already had a few drinks to try to give me courage. Just before I entered the kitchen door, I fell to my knees in front a chair. With tears streaming down my face, I cried out, "God forgive me. God forgive me!'
Only later did I realize that I was saved at that moment. The Holy Spirit came to live within me, and began leading me in ways that confirmed my salvation. But in rebellion, I still held onto my old friends.
I had two lesbian relationships after my salvation. "God doesn't expect me to "quit loving women," I reasoned. Of course, I couldn't stop without supernatural help. And I didn't have anyone else to help. This was years before God raised up former homosexuals to begin ministries.
Ten years after I received Jesus Christ as my Savior, I was still living in sin. God began allowing me to feel the consequences of my rebellion. I could not have survived the trauma that followed without the Lord's care and mercy. God allowed the devil to pour out his wrath in such a devastating way. I still shudder at his trickery. With demonic signs and wonders, Satan convinced me that God wanted me to live with another woman while involved in Christian ministry.
The climax came following the suicidal death of a dear friend whom I had betrayed. It was from that shocking emotional experience that my stubborn will was broken. I promised God that I would not let her death be for nothing. Then came the vision.
THE VISION
While living in what seemed to be a hell on earth with my lover, God came to me one night. I was alone and in deep despair, The Lord gave me a spiritual vision of a worldwide ministry. This outreach would reach homosexuals who wanted a close relationship with Jesus Christ and who wanted to be set free from their sin.
As the vision unfolded, I knew God was saying I must leave this lifestyle forever. I was to begin interceding for Him to raise up individuals from the gay lifestyle and others, truly called by Him, to begin specific ministries to homosexuals.
Six years after the vision, God directed me to write my personal testimony of deliverance from lesbianism. My story entitled "Gay Liberation" was published in book form in 1975. It was the first of its kind and not many bookstores would accept it, due to the subject, which was "hush-hush" at the time.
INTERCESSION
Much has happened since that time. While I continued to intercede, God began calling forth former gays to minister. God has blessed my friendships with many of the "pioneers" in the Exodus movement, such as Frank Worthen, Robbi Kenney, Ed Hurst, and others. I have been blessed also to see many ministries begin in foreign soil. What a wonderful God He is!
God has kept me at a low profile. At times, I have rebelled concerning this. But deep down, I know I was called to intercede for others to be led by the Holy Spirit into the entire world.
Even as I write these words, tears are flowing down my cheeks. Surely God will complete His perfect plan to reach the many millions of the lost who have been so rejected and lonely so many years. I weep for the church, blinded by the enemy so it cannot see the need to teach gays. So many Christians cannot truly believe that God can set these people free. My great desire now is to reach those in the gay church. I am believing God to also work a miracle there. Our God reigns!
If you would like to contact me I can be reached at P.O. Box 403, Grandville, MI 49468 or 616-645-5683. I would love to help you in any way I can.
God Bless,Roberta Laurila

Young Student poses a threat to Athiest Professer!

"The professor of a university challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?" A student answered bravely, "Yes, he did". The professor then asked, "If God created everything, then he created evil. Since evil exists (as noticed by our own actions), so God is evil. The student couldn't respond to that statement causing the professor to conclude that he had "proved" that "belief in God" was a fairy tale, and therefore worthless. Another student raised his hand and asked the professor, "May I pose a question? " "Of course" answered the professor. The young student stood up and asked : "Professor does Cold exists?" The professor answered, "What kind of question is that?...Of course the cold exists... haven't you ever been cold?" The young student answered, "In fact sir, Cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold, in fact is the absence of heat. Anything is able to be studied as long as it transmits energy (heat). Absolute Zero is the total absence of heat, but cold does not exist. What we have done is create a term to describe how we feel if we don't have body heat or we are not hot." "And, does Dark exist?", he continued. The professor answered "Of course". This time the student responded, "Again you're wrong, Sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in fact simply the absence of light. Light can be studied, darkness can not. Darkness cannot be broken down. A simple ray of light tears the darkness and illuminates the surface where the! light beam finishes. Dark is a term that we humans have created to describe what happens when there's lack of light." Finally, the student asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" The professor replied, "Of course it exists, as I mentioned at the beginning, we see violations, crimes and violence anywhere in the world, and those things are evil." The student responded, "Sir, Evil does not exist. Just as in the previous cases, Evil is a term which man has created to describe the result of the absence of God's presence in the hearts of man. After this, the professor bowed down his head, and didn't answer back.
The young man's name was ALBERT EINSTEIN.

Corresponding with an Athiest

I wrote to this person, after previously visiting his site. I'm not interested in throwing stones at anyone, So I choose not to refer you to him. I dont want to make a mockery of him. But I feel this conversation explains a lot, we need to understand. It begins with my letter to him. The sections are color coded. My responses in blue, his in white.

I didn’t see if you had responded to my last comment, so I don’t know what ground you stand on. I want to talk to you like an adult. I don’t want to go into this huge theatrical debate with you. Not saying you produce this, but going on what I've seen in your comments. I just want to say, how brilliant I feel you could be. You seem to have collected your evidence to build the perfect case. But there is something you are missing, and this is called, hunger. You have no hunger to venture out into something new. Something strange, unfamiliar. It seems your soul is dead, because you will not allow it to go any further. This is a sad mistake my friend. When you stop the tracks on something like, Growth.. You no longer receive, the warmth, which a beating heart will give. I see these things that you write, that you study, that you respond to. I see these people stand behind you as if YOU are there GOD. It becomes a chain reaction, toppling into everyone that stumbles onto your site. It’s very dangerous, and honestly selfish. Who are to tell all of these people, there is no GOD. Who are you to state something that Grand, as a fact. Who are you to mock others, for something that they believe in? Who are you to stand back and laugh while the horrible show that you produced, goes into a wild frenzy? I see this and I just think... gross! GROSS! This is completely gross. And it is not only because you are slandering and shaming someone YOU have never met, it’s also because you are advocating so much hate. YOU can call it what you want, BUT IT IS HATE. Placing information and having a discussion about something is one thing. But you have taken it to bashing other religions, that you just "KNOW" are wrong, Threatening other members that comment and react to you, Coming in behind almost everyone’s comments, and posting EVERY TINY REASON, why these people are probably wrong, and posting other writings from other people, as a way to ridicule them in front of the class.... I mean, seriously, who taught you how to interact with people? It seems you forget that not everyone, has traveled down the same road as you, and you have somewhere, decided this makes them unworthy! Just get over it! Christians, atheists, humanists, Buddhists, protestants, Catholics, hinduists, monks, presidents, communists, the English, the Canadians, atheists, Mormons, theists, Taoists.. All people.. ALL OF US ARE GUILTY! ALL OF US ARE GUILTY OF HATE! ALL OF US ARE GUILTY OF COMING ON TO STRONG! ALL OF US ARE GUILTY OF BACKSTABBING, SLANDER, GLUTTONY.... ALL of us man. Nothing is going to change until we make the decisions to make it happen. Everyone will figure out the answer to that ultimate question. And if I am right, then GOOD, I'm going to a beautiful and wondrous place after all of this. Forever. But if I'm wrong, alright, I'll never know anyway will I? I'll be dead and in the ground or in the water. And so will you right? And so will all of those other people!!! SO even if the idea of Christianity is not OK with you, doesn’t mean EVERYONE has to feel the same way. Why don’t you focus on your own life. Because if you are not teaching others how to love to each other and how to overcome these mountains in each others lives, then you don’t need to be teaching others at all, because this world is already fussed up as it is. And if you ever want these people, to STOP "Shoving religion down your throat"- then stop shoving your, "Assumptions" on them. Life works TWO ways. Respect works two ways. I wish you would think about it. Please don’t send me every paragraph back, commented on... This would mean that you took nothing from this but offense. That is not how I meant it at all. Consider the idea, that YOU are wrong. Consider the thought, that if everything in the bible is true, then you have some major life changing, thinking to do. Consider... WHAT IF????? Peace- The Prodigal Son


You are speaking to a former Christian, friend. Like I tell everybody who is a seeker of Truth (with a big 'T'), Truth only points in one direction, and confirmation bias is not a good compass. I am not against the idea of God. Go to my page, not my blog, and look at the thesis of my website. I am only an atheist with respect to the Judeo Christian God (once again, see the thesis). I wish we could all just get along, and go about our business, and live together in harmony, but when I see things such as this: Are we becoming the laughing stock of the world? I am forced to respond. If you want to get a better understanding of why I do what I do here, I suggest you look at this recent blog I have posted, and really think about what Sam Harris has to say: Religious Moderation Also, pick up Sam Harris' book, "The End of Faith". And to show you I am a good sport, I will take down the blog I have recently posted, which resides in the Top ten myspace blogs, where I picked on one person in particular (how he said Jesus fixed his car).


Fair enough. I have seen your sight. I have read through your blogs. And the other videos you just sent. I just watched those. But what I saw was a video, of people who put together something they believed in.(the new creation museum- that gives us an idea about how creation was put together- according the the bible.) I saw a man, give me his reasons why God is angry. (sam harris- commenting on how angry GOD was in the old testament)When I hear people say, GOD is angry, it makes me wonder how far into the word they have truly studied? The more I study- especially the Old Testament, the more I find comfort in the things I read before. I know, that there are things we do not yet understand, if we are ever meant to. I know that GOD is not something you can put in a box, and say this is GOD, in this box, and here are all his words, around him. History is something that we can always learn from. So you used to be a Christian. I did not know that. But im not surprised, to be honest.. I happen to see and meet a lot of people who are former Christians, for some reason or the other. Most I've found, just didn’t stick with it long enough, to have these questions answered, or never had faith in the first place. We've gone away from god, and resorted to something we can see with our own eyes, and touch with our hands. And obviously this is something that’s been touched on from centuries, because even the apostles needed proof. Humor me for a second. Last night, I had somewhat of a breakdown. Wondering why things have to be the way are. I went somewhere quiet. It needed to be just me and him. So I went outside, sat on my trampoline, and stared into the sky. My emotions got the best of me. I felt in my spirit, "Do you want me to give you proof?" I said, "No... I just want help." Minutes later. 3 shooting stars graced my view. At first I thought.. He gave me proof anyway. But I soon realized, No, this is not proof. Because it’s still something I have to have faith in. Like everything else. And this circles true Christianity. Faith. You remember... Jesus taught this as much importance. This would be what defines us. And I believe... it truly does. What my thought is...what if you are clouded? What if your mind is clouded? What if you can't see the truth, because you have your eyes fixed on something physical. GOD is so big... I don’t think it would be the same, if we all had iron clad proof of his existence. And the point is, we don’t have iron clad proof of his existence, or his non-existence. Now if we read this over again, out loud.. And EVEN- and that’s a HUGE even.. Even if, the bible is wrong, and we are not meant for something bigger.. Don’t you think it would be better to live a life of love, rather than a life, spending so much effort trying to disprove something you can never disprove? And the tragedy is, if you ARE wrong about this.. You are not only taking your self to an eternity without GOD, you are taking millions and millions of others with you. Not to mention Sam Harris.. And so many others preaching these same messages. It seems that if someone’s blood is pumping, that this would weigh on their conscience tremendously. And so many people who do believe in Jesus, and his words.. Affected so greatly when they read these things. And all of these people that are clueless and have no idea what love is.. And are filled with animosity and anger.. And zero tolerance for even the mention of creation or Jesus.. All these people are just feeding the beast, when getting together with you and these others.. And its just becomes a ravage beast fest, ripping each other apart! I wonder how deep you went with GOD.. If you were a former Christian. It makes me think you just "Went by the book." as we say. It seems you only skimmed the surface. Do you feel you have ever had a relationship with GOD?

Consider: every devout Muslim has the same reasons for being a Muslim that you have for being a Christian. And yet you do not find their reasons compelling. The Koran repeatedly declares that it is the perfect word of the creator of the universe. Muslims believe this as fully as you believe the Bible's account of itself. There is a vast literature describing the life of Muhammad that, from the point of view of Islam, proves that he was the most recent Prophet of God. Muhammad also assured his followers that Jesus was not divine (Koran 5:71-75; 19:30-38) and that anyone who believes otherwise will spend eternity in hell. Muslims are certain that Muhammad's opinion on this subject, as on all others, is infallible. Why don't you lose any sleep over whether to convert to Islam? Can you prove that Allah is not the one, true God? Can you prove that the archangel Gabriel did not visit Muhammad in his cave? Of course not. But you need not prove any of these things to reject the beliefs of Muslims as absurd. The burden is upon them to prove that their beliefs about God and Muhammad are valid. They have not done this. They cannot do this. Muslims are simply not making claims about reality that can be corroborated. This is perfectly apparent to anyone who has not anesthetized himself with the dogma of Islam. The truth is, you know exactly what it is like to be an atheist with respect to the beliefs of Muslims. Isn't it obvious that Muslims are fooling themselves? Isn't it obvious that anyone who thinks that the Koran is the perfect word of the creator of the universe has not read the book critically? Isn't it obvious that the doctrine of Islam represents a near-perfect barrier to honest inquiry? Yes, these things are obvious. Understand that the way you view Islam is precisely the way devout Muslims view Christianity. And it is the way I view all religions.

This is all true, and you make a fair case. So heres how I figure this one out. When comparing the Koran to the bible, and "YHWH" to "ALLAH" - I must look at prophecies fulfilled. "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." - Deuteronomy 18:22 alright- so lets see. Heres some comparisons. Jeremiah preached as a prophet in about 626 B.C., and YHWH (the God of the Bible) declared through Jeremiah that, because of their sins, God would bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against the southern kingdom of Judah to defeat and destroy their land, and to carry them off to captivity in Babylon (and in other nations) for 70 years; But when the 70 years were over, Babylon would be defeated (Jeremiah 25:8-14), and then the Lord (YHWH) would bring the people of Judah out of Babylon (and out of those other nations) and back to their land (Jeremiah 29:10-11). These predictions qualify as the type of prophecy we are looking for, because it is not a declaration of Jeremiah's own plans which he can self-fulfill. And further, there are six specific predictions listed here: *"King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon" would attack the people of "Judah" *the "defeat" of Judah by Babylon *Judah's "captivity" in Babylon for a period of "70 years," *Judah's restoration back into "their land." Very importantly, concerning these predictions: The action of taking people captive (which is done by Nebuchadnezzar), as well as the length of the captivity, would be outside the control of the prophet or of the people of Judah. Fulfillment: Archaeology and ancient history confirm the precise fulfillment of these six predictions of Jeremiah, because in the year 606 B.C. (20 years after the prophecy), King Nebuchadnezzar's armies subdued Judah, taking thousands of Jews captive to Babylon (and other nations). This captivity process continued (including the fall of Jerusalem in 605 B.C.) until virtually all of the people of Judah were taken captive. (By the way, here's another prophecy: In 595 B.C, Jeremiah also foretold the fall of Babylon to the Medes --in Jeremiah 51:11,28). This Babylonian captivity of Judah lasted until Babylon fell to Medo-Persia (fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of 595 B.C.). Then Cyrus the Persian King decreed in 536 B.C. that the Jews could return to their land, which many of them did --though not all of them, as it was not promised that all of them would return at that time. Thus, the captivity lasted 70 years --precisely as foretold! The accurate fulfillment of this multi-faceted predictive prophecy demonstrates that Jeremiah is a genuine prophet who wrote a book of genuine prophecy which gives God's words --and that the God of Jeremiah (YHWH) is truly God, who knows people's actions before they do them, and who manages the course of history. This is one example of dozens of fulfilled biblical predictions that could be given. ---In fact, a number of additional fulfilled predictions from the Bible are described on this WorldView_3 website at: for exp: DANIEL is another book in which we find another example of genuine prophecy began its fulfillment soon after the fulfillment of the above prophecy. Daniel wrote his book in 538 B.C., and was one of the Jews taken in the 70-year Babylonian captivity. In Daniel 9:25, we read that from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, until the coming of Messiah (the "Anointed One", in Hebrew: "Mashiach"), 69 heptads of years would elapse [7+62=69]. Each heptad (or "week", in Hebrew: "Shabuim") is a group of seven years, therefore, from the decree until Messiah, 483 years would go by [69x7=483]. -----So, what happened in history?----- An overarching decree, for the purpose of returning the Jews to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem, was issued in 457 B.C. by the Persian king Artaxerxes. If we add the 483 years to this date, we come out to the year 26 A.D., which is about the very year that Jesus of Nazareth was baptized (anointed with water and with the Holy Spirit) to begin his public ministry. This is a strong fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, but Daniel added a couple other things about Messiah: He said that Messiah would be "cut off" (v.26), which is an idiom for being killed. This happened when Jesus was crucified at the end of his earthly ministry. And Daniel also said that after the 69 heptads (483 yrs) were over, the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary would be destroyed ...which happened in 70 A.D. when the Roman legions under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. It is important to note from this prophecy in Daniel, that the appearance of Messiah had to occur at the end of the 69 heptads [483 years], but before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jesus of Nazareth was ministering right at the end of the 69 heptads, and, other than he, there is no other credible choice to fulfill this prophecy concerning Messiah. This text in Daniel 9 is the only text in the entire Old Testament which explicitly speaks of the "Messiah", and it says that he will be "cut off" (die). In reference to Muslims being subject to hell for the belief in Jesus: (Hope your still with me!) 1. Messiah to be a descendant of Abraham & Sarah - Genesis 12:2-3 ; 17:15-17 ; 18:18 (Fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth - Matthew 1:1 ; Luke 3:33 ; Acts 3:25.) Logic: How many 90-year-old couples have ever born a child? (From 1500 B.C to 1900 A.D.) Thus... The Chance = 1 chance out of 1,000,000 2. Messiah to be a descendant of Isaac - Genesis 17:19 (Fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth - Matthew 1:2 ; Luke 3:33) Logic: Abraham had two sons. (But the other son, Ishmael, was not by Sarah). Thus... The Chance = 1 chance out of 2 3. Messiah to be a descendant of Judah- Genesis 49:10 (Fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth - Matthew1:3; Luke 3:33) Logic: Israel (Jacob) had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes. Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 12 4. Messiah to be a descendant of David - Isaiah 9:7 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 1:6 ; Luke 3:31) Logic: David was one of 8 sons. Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 8 5. Birth-Place of Messiah, the "Eternal One", to be in Bethlehem, Israel - Micah 5:2 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 2:1 ; Luke 2:4-7) Logic: How many towns have Jews lived in around the world since 1500 B.C.? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1000 6. The Time of Messiah's ministry specified - Daniel 9:25 (Fulfilled in Jesus - (see above) Logic: How many generations of Jews have there been? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 100 7. Messiah to be born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 1:18 ; Luke 1:26-35) Logic: Though basically a miracle, there may be some small chance. (up to 1900 A.D.) Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 8. Messiah flees to Egypt to live for a while, and returns to Israel - Hosea 11:1 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 2:14-15) Logic: What percentage of Jews have ever lived in Egypt? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1000 9. Messiah to be a prophet like Moses, with miracles, authority over the Scriptures - Deut. 18:15 (Fulfilled in Jesus - John 6:14 ; John 1:45 ; Acts 3:19-26) Logic: How many Jews have major prophetic status, still recognized worldwide long after death? The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 10. Messiah to enter Jerusalem triumphantly, as a King, ...riding on a donkey - Zechariah 9:9 (Fulfilled in Jesus - John 12:12-14 ; Matthew 21:1-11) Logic: How many Jews have ever done precisely this? The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 11. Messiah, though innocent, is rejected and dies for our sins - Isaiah 53:3-5,9,12 (Fulfilled in Jesus - John 1:11,29 ; John 8:46 ; Hebrews 4:15 ; John 15:23-25 ; Matthew 8:16-17) Logic: How many people (besides Jesus) are sinless? ...and died for the sins of others? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 12. Messiah to be crucified, bones disjointed, mocked, lots cast for clothing - Psalm 22:6-8,16-18 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 27:32f ; John 19:16) Logic: How many have been crucified, also including just these circumstances? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 13. Messiah's side to be pierced at the behest of the people of Jerusalem - Zechariah 12:10 (Fulfilled in Jesus - John 19:34) Logic: The number of crucified victims at Jerusalem with a stab in the side? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1000 14. Messiah's body does not decay, but is resurrected in three days - Psalm 16:10 ; Isaiah 53:11 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Matthew 28 ; Mark 16 ; Luke 24 ; John 20 ; Acts 1 ; 1 Corinthians 15) Logic: How many people have come back to life after being dead for three days? Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 15. Messiah to ascend into heaven, and rightly called "Lord" - Psalm 68:18 (Fulfilled in Jesus - Luke 24:50-51 ; Acts 1:9-11) Logic: Very few men have ascended into heaven without mechanical means. Thus... The Chance = 1 out of 1,000,000 ALSO Here is GOD telling us, our proof is in these words. "I am the LORD [Hebrew = "YHWH"]; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you" (Isa. 42:8-9). "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. ...declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods!" - Isaiah 41:22-23 "Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare ...what is yet to come-- yes, let him foretell what will come!" - Isaiah 44:7 "I am God and there is none like me. I make known from ancient times ...what is still to come" (Isa. 44:9,10). So most would be saying, Their are prophecies in the koran which were fulfilled too! (Im sending this to you as is, and will send a follow up concerning the Koran. Please wait for it.) :)

See my blog: FAILED PROPHECIES

Concerning prophecies fulfilled in the Koran: Some people have said that predictive prophecy is found in Sura 5:70, which states: "We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them apostles, every time, there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not - some (of these) they called impostors, and some they (go so far as to) slay." --The problem here is: there is not even a future-tense verb in this sentence. It must be considered history, and thus, there is no prediction in it. --This passage is very similar to Matt. 24:37, where Jesus said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." This Bible verse is also history, without prediction in it. ---Despite the clear similarities of these two verses from the Koran and the Bible, neither one of them is predictive, and thus, neither one is useful for our purposes in trying to demonstrate the presence of the power of God to predict future events, which would be evidence that the speaker is a true prophet or that book is from God. Sura 15:9 says, "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)." --So, here we find a promise to guard the message of the Koran. This verse is fairly similar to the declaration of Jesus in Mat. 24:35, when he said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." --With the admittedly predictive nature of both of these passages, neither one can yet be said to be truly and completely fulfilled, since we have not yet reached the final consummation of history, where God finally confirms the eternal nature of his word --therefore neither passage can yet be said to be fulfilled, nor can they yet be cited as demonstrating the power of God to predict the future. Sura 24:55 says that Allah has promised to bless (with land? and inheritance?) those who believe, and to establish the authority of their religion and give them security and peace. --This "prediction" might seem to be fulfilled in some sense, but it is quite general, since it does not clearly or specifically name the person(s) who will be blessed nor the specific land-mass they will inherit: Is it every Muslim? What is the specific name of the land? How soon will they have peace and security, and how long will it last? --It is because of these unclear and non-specific qualities of this "prediction" in Sura 24, that therefore, it does not qualify as predictive prophecy which is specific enough that we can confirm it from history. --The Bible has many such promises as well. The Best Quranic Possibility: Of the 22 predictions presented by Hingora for acceptance, we are left with one last Koranic passage, Sura 30:2-3, which says: "The Roman Empire has been defeated in a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious within a few years." ---Now, of all the proffered predictions from the Koran, this one from Sura 30 comes the closest to being a specific prediction which names the people involved (the "Roman Empire"), and what will happen (they will be victorious), and when ("within a few years"). This passage refers to the time when the Persians (under Khusran Parvis) defeated the Byzantine Romans in Syria (in A.D. 615). However, there are a few problems which seem to disqualify this passage as a significant predictive prophecy: FIRST: The most serious problem may be that the statements in Sura 30 may merely be history, and not a prediction, because Mohammed was alive and still producing Koranic verses for several years after the time of the suggested Roman victory in history. We know this is the case, because Mohammed died in 632 A.D. at the age of 63. According to Al-Baizawi's commentary, the Byzantine Romans were evidently victorious over Persia in 628 A.D., and so, Mohammed was alive for four years after that victory ---therefore, Mohammed could easily have learned of the victory and then have dictated these verses of Sura 30. This would make Sura 30 history, not a prediction. ---Another story indicates that there may have been a Roman victory in 624 A.D., and in such a case, Mohammed would have had eight years in which to learn of the victory and then to dictate this part of Sura 30. Therefore, this would not be a prediction in Sura 30, but a statement of history. Indeed, biographers indicate that Mohammed was still producing quranic verses in the year 632 --therefore, it is very likely that these verses of Sura 30 may only be history, and not predictions at all. SECOND: It is a very safe bet that in "a few" years the Romans would be "victorious" in some battle somewhere, since they were fighting several battles during every given year. At least one victory would seem almost 100% sure to happen within the space of nine years. (Mohammed himself stated that what was meant by the "small number" or "a few years" is between three and nine years, according to Al-Baizawi in his commentary). --But, amazingly, although a few people say there was supposedly a victory within nine years, but this is doubtful, as Al-Bazawi's commentary indicates that a Byzantine Roman victory over Persia was actually in A.D. 628 (which was thirteen years later). --Not only that, but (as was mentioned in the first point) Mohammed probably already knew about the Roman victory. So, the problem is: the Sura 30 prediction is virtually a sure bet. --It is much like saying that the British soccer team will win a game during the next season. This is also much like the mummification of a pharaoh, which is also almost a sure bet, which Mohammed most likely already knew about. ---Is such a safe "prediction" supposed to be significant? Why should anyone be impressed with it? --Therefore, Sura 30:2-3 most probably is history, and isn't a prediction at all. Muslims in Hell Going beyond the discussion about Abu Lahab, the Koran actually says that all Muslims will go to hell, and further, it does not promise or guarantee than any of them will necessarily ever get out of it. -- This is stated as follows: There will be no one of you who will not enter it (Hell). This was an inevitable decree of your Lord. Afterwards he may save some of the pious, God-fearing Muslims out of the burning fire. - - - Sura 19:71-72 So, perhaps some pious Muslims will escape hell. --Maybe. But maybe not. Allah "may" leave every last one in eternal hell-fire. I, for my part, am thankful to have Jesus Christ as my great and powerful savior, because no one who truly trusts in him will ever experience any of hell, and there are multiple guarantees that there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). -- There is no condemnation now, nor in the future, in hell. Ever. **Some people feel that there are statements in the Hadiths (Commentaries on the Koran) which are possibly fulfilled predictions, --however, the Hadiths are not considered to be actual Scripture from God, so the Hadiths will not come into consideration. What do you think?

I'll read your blog, but did you even read what I wrote? (I wrote this to him, because he sent me a response to the above, pretty much 3 seconds after I sent it.)

I didn't reach the conclusion I have because I am unread, and haven't searched for answers. I read what you wrote,(he couldn’t have. He sent me a response just as fast as I sent my message. He couldn’t have had time to read it.) but it is wrong. Read the blog, and have an open mind. Confirmation bias is no way to seek out Truth. I know what you are doing, as I did it myself when I was a Christian trying to defend my beliefs.

seriously.. this is not an effort to defend my beliefs. How can you sit back and say.. it’s wrong. There were plenty of Prophecies I brought up, that are indeed not wrong. There is scientific evidence to back them up. I am not saying you are unread. But really, where are you now? Everything in your blogs are just copied opinions of someone else. Like I said before. I do not wish to talk you into the bible friend. I do not wish to talk you into "The judeo Christian GOD." I sent those last comparisons to you in an effort to make you sit back and think about it again. It was in an effort to make you consider - These people Im reading- might possibly be wrong. And if they are wrong, Then I am sending myself, and millions of others- to hell with me. And as far as the Muslims.. It doesn’t matter if they are brainwashed by Christianity or atheism... because their bible says their probably all going to hell anyway!


Just read it and stop making excuses. Your "prophecies" are covered there. FAILED PROPHECIES I have done TONS of reading my friend. You need to play catch up.

alright, I can see you are beginning to get a little upset. Know that I did read through your blog, and the links you provided. Believe me when I tell you, I really do understand where you are coming from. I myself, have studied these things also, and have "tons of reading" Im thinking I should end this here, if you wouldn’t mind. I do not wish to make you angry. Thank you for talking with me. I have taken everything you've written and sent, and burned it into my brain. It is there now, and it is something I will continually learn from. I pray that one day, you yourself, will take these things I've sent you, into consideration as well. Peace be with you Gadfly. and please REMEMBER: If I am wrong, Nothing happens. If you are wrong, YOU and millions of others, are subject to eternity without GOD.

whatever, you are being dishonest here, and you are wasting my time.

(I chose not to respond after that, It was obvious it was no longer possible to talk with him, without a fight, or harsh words. but soon after this message, he sent me another)

HERE IS WHY YOUR STATEMENT, "and please REMEMBER: If I am wrong, Nothing happens. If you are wrong, YOU and millions of others, are subject to eternity without GOD." is NOT convincing

This is where it ends.
What do you think?