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FANTASIES,
FABLES AND TRADITIONS
Conclusion,
The Holy Spirit
4And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues. 5For
her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities. (Rev 18:)
My
suspicions
have been confirmed.
One
of the
reasons for my undertaking the study of Theology and Theologians was to
see if the Holy Spirit is present in their teachings. I wanted to see
why I hadn't heard of the Holy Spirit all my life except in passing.
I
wanted to
see if it was just me, that I was dull of hearing (which I was, and
am), or if in fact the Holy Spirit was not only left out of the mix,
but not even on the stove.
I
find the
Holy Spirit on the stove alright, but still in a sealed box shoved way
behind all the other ingredients.
THEOLOGICAL
QUEST
A
ball player
who can't play ball does not try out for the big leagues.
A
chess player
who doesn't like the outdoors does not play golf.
A
man who does
not like to be around children does not intentionally set out to raise
a large family.
But
why is it
that people without the Holy Spirit seem to be drawn to become
Theologians? Why is it those who obviously do not believe in Jesus set
themselves up as "experts" on Jesus and Christianity in order to lead
those who do
believe astray?
What
I don't
enjoy, I don't do unless forced to. What I don't believe in, I don't
explore. I would much
rather participate in and explore that which I am
interested in and enjoy.
But
obviously
all people do not feel the same. Some people are either masochists, or
enjoy deceiving and being deceived.
I
will present
here a single example. I have before me a copy of the Ryrie book on
Basic Theology. It is a very nice book, very well thought out and
presented. It covers many topics, and does so quite well. It even makes
an effort to cover many different views on a subject (usually missing
my view, but that is to be expected).
In
the index
of the book the Holy Spirit is covered, and in this Theologian's mind,
quite well. And before receiving the Holy Spirit myself, I would have
thought so too. Here is what he covers:
The
Holy
Spirit:
His
Personality
His
Deity
Contrast
between O. T. and N. T. ministry of the Spirit.
Blasphemy
against the Spirit.
Indwelling
Anointing
Sealing
Baptism
into
the body
Gifts
of the
Spirit
Filling
Teaching
Fruit
of the
Spirit
The
list looks
rather impressive, does it not? Who could ask for anything more?
But,
did you
see anything missing? If you, being a Christian, led by the Holy Spirit
and having a personal one-on-one relationship with Him (which I assume
you do, or are seeking such, if you have read this far into my study),
what would be the first and foremost topic you would cover, and make
sure everyone read thoroughly?
I
would have
said; the LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
But
"leading"
of the Holy Spirit does not seem to be a factor here. In evidence of
this, here is a quote from the book mentioned above, using Paul's
admonition to practice sound doctrine in Titus 1:19:
"Why
study
basic doctrine? Sound doctrine is expressed not only in creed but in
fruitful living, and holy living must be based on healthy theology."
My
question:
Who determines "sound doctrine?"
My
answer: Not
the Theologians!
The
study of
Theology is a Head Quest.
Christianity
is a Heart Quest.
If
you want to
know what the Bible says,
go to a Theologian.
If
you want to
know what the Bible means,
go to a Spirit-Led Christian.
Ask
a question
of a Theologian and receive a thousand words.
Ask
a
Spirit-Led Christian and he or she might just point.
Please
don't
get me wrong. I am not saying this Theologian, or any other is not a
Christian. I am in no position to judge that. Nor am I saying this
author has not mentioned the leading of the Holy Spirit under some
other designation. All I am saying is that I don't find the importance
of the Holy Spirit impressed in any of the studies I have made. I don't
find an understanding
or a respect
for the Holy Spirit I would expect to be present in any who would
assume a position of "expert" on Christianity.
I
find that if
I talk to a person for more than a few minutes I will be able to tell
if he is a sports fan, a car buff, a music enthusiast, or whatever. And
once his favorite topic has been broached, the chances are I will not
be able to shut him up, and his enthusiasm will spill all over the
place.
Would
I expect
less from a Christian who has been saved from a fiery pit and given
Eternal life with God Himself?
When
I talk to
a Buddhist, a Hindu, someone involved with est or one of the other
religions or philosophies, I am very likely to find myself being sold
the benefits of converting to their way of thinking.
But
when I
talk to a Christian, I feel like that person is embarrassed to admit
being a Christian, or even talking about the subject. And if a person does
talk, it is about the church, or somebody in the church, or some
activity of the church, or the skill of the pastor, or some other
peripheral thing of little consequence. But the Name of Jesus will not
likely be mentioned except in passing finding it more expedient to get
back to the more important
aspects of Christianity, their church.
There
are
exceptions, however. On occasion I find myself talking to (or rather listening
to) someone excitedly talking about Jesus and their beliefs, while
strongly advocating my need to join him. And what I find interesting,
to say the least, is this person usually belongs to what the
"conservative" Christians call a Cult
and supposedly does not believe in the same Jesus we do!
Come
to think
about it, that might
be the answer! Take the "God" out of Jesus, and He is no longer a
threat or an intimidation to anyone, including the World. But neither
is He able to save, to redeem, or to send His Holy Spirit by which to
guide us to Eternity.
And
as for the
Holy Spirit? If His name should
come up, I usually get a blank stare, or at best some grand
acknowledgment accompanied by a trail of words intended to impress me
with their knowledge; but rarely do I get any sense of a relationship
with Him.
Jesus
is a
name that stirs emotion. It either makes a person nervous, embarrassed,
uncomfortable, angry, and on a rare occasion, excited.
But
the Holy
Spirit does not affect people in the same way. One reason for this is
that people don't know what the Holy Spirit is.
Even life-long church members are unlikely to have heard the name but a
few time in their life, and then without any passion whatever.
And
the World
has no problem with the name Holy Spirit like it has with the name
Jesus, because they have heard little or nothing about
the Holy Spirit. And certainly no one has tried to sell
them the Holy Spirit like they have Christianity. I suppose the reason
no one is selling the Holy Spirit is because few if anybody has
the Holy Spirit to sell!
People
love
mystery. There something inside all of us that makes us want to learn
that which we don't know - especially
if it has to do with endowing us with power.
Science
Fiction has just such a draw to most of us. And mystery novels have a
draw to many. But nothing draws us like the occult.
The
occult
means secret knowledge, unexplainable power.
And
for a
Christian, the occult means something else besides - forbidden.
Forbid
a
person to do something, and that is what that person will want more
than anything else. If Adam and Eve had not been forbidden to eat of
the apple, they probably would have never thought of doing so. But
since they were forbidden, they probably spent most of their time
staring at the tree, talking about the tree, and speculating what it
might be like to eat of the tree.
The
occult is
open season for all the world, except the Christian.
The
Christian
Church, however has one thing in common with the world, and the occult.
Spirits.
If
a Christian
talks to a member of the World about spirits, any
spirits, that person gets excited. They see Casper, or goblins, or some
other such mystical apparition.
And
so do we
when we hear the word "Holy Spirit." We envision Casper hoovering over
us, and passing through us as Jesus did the door of the upper room
after His resurrection. The thought is rather frightening.
We
do not
envision the Holy Spirit as a person as was Jesus when He walked this
earth. We can not comprehend the notion of having a personal
relationship with a "spook" that can wander around inside of us,
reading our mind and influencing our thoughts and feelings.
The
world
can, and would relish the possibility; but the Christian who is supposed
to have such, that is to be so possessed, is repulsed by the idea.
And
understandably so.
Perhaps
part
of the reason for this being so is to enable those who actually have
the Holy Spirit in their hearts to know beyond a doubt that they have.
I know for myself the experience was akin to having ice water dumped
over me on a hot day. Or it was as if knowledge of God and Jesus
suddenly dropped from my head into my heart. There was no way I could
avoid recognizing the experience. It was nothing like a normal day that
I could wonder if it had actually occurred.
And
from that
day on my thoughts, my desires, my direction, my attitudes and
everything else about me completely changed.
I
don't know
if what I experienced is the norm. I hear preachers talk about the
experience as if it were just another day, as if it happens and you
were not even aware of it.
I
won't
dispute this, but I can't help but doubt it.
STORMY
WEATHER
We,
that is
mankind, have a way of disputing and resisting anything new. And that
might not be such a problem in itself. I enjoy the old things. I like
nostalgia. I like history. I have a large collection of old time radio
programs. I have simulated antiques in my house. I like old things. I am
an old thing.
Our
problem
comes from, not resisting the new, but from our desire
for the new. Do I sound confused?
On
one hand we
want everything to be the same tomorrow as it is today. We don't want
to wake up tomorrow and wonder what we are going to do or where our
shoes will be.
But
at the
same time we want spice in our life. In the past, before the addiction
of TV and the computer, this meant Saturday Night. On Saturday we let
everything fall to the wind and did what we felt like doing. It was a
change of pace without change of life pattern.
We
want the
old, but we want the new. Got an old small screen I pod? Last year's
model car? A 13 inch TV? What happens when you see ads for the new
models?
The
churches
are no different. They want the same, but they want change. New
churches break away from the old, but they change very little from that
which they broke away from. The banner over the door may be different,
but the building will look just the same as the old. They want to feel
comfortably homey while they explore new territory.
They
want to
see the world, but not on foot with a tent, but in an RV that puts a
Mac truck to shame.
There
have
been times in the last hundred years or so where God has poured out His
Spirit on His Church as He said He would do in these Last Days. And
when it rains, it rains on the just and the unjust.
There
were
many different reactions to these Latter Rains. Some people grabbed
buckets full for themselves, and then forgot it. We might think of
these as the one's who took advantage of the healings that were going
on in such as the Azusa Street miracles.
Others
got
themselves horse carts or automobiles and took to the road bringing in
Fruit by the thousands. We call these Evangelists. They resembled
circus side shows at times, but they were effective.
A
few from the
past Latter Rain are still with us today, although they are dying off
of old age. Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Robert Shuller, and Billy
Graham being examples of the Latter Rain Fruit.
A
few fed
their ego or their reputations by the Rains and started their own
churches, or ministries, or even what we call cults today. Churches
sprang up and grew all over this nation and the world as they were fed
by the Rains.
Then
there
were other, unscrupulous people who used the people's love of the Rains
to feather their own beds. If you would like to see a modern day
version of this, watch TV.
Not
everyone
likes the rain. Some people have large umbrellas to protect themselves
from the rain. And this would be fine, if those people were not in such
positions of influence and using their umbrellas to beat the Rain
lovers over the head.
Those
in power
over the old, established churches did all they could to condemn and
blot up the Rain, denying its power, its existence, and its source.
Jesus
experienced this when His healings were condemned by the old,
established church as being from Beelzebub.
When
the
"Righteous" are threatened, self
righteousness lifts its ugly head.
These
old,
established churches, many which had sprung up from earlier Rains,
behaved themselves like the worldliest of politicians at election time
in their efforts to stamp out the pour and the presence of the Rain. It
was stepping on their
toes, getting their
expensive shoes muddy, and they didn't like that. If they had their
way, there would have been none of the miracles or Evangelism performed
in their
dominion.
What
does not
move forward, falls backward. When we reject the real, we open
ourselves up to the false.
Those
who
reject their Messiah, will fall prey to the Antichrist.
I
believe we
are in for a Latter Rain, with but a few drizzles to announce its
arrival. Will your umbrella be up in order to keep from getting wet? Or
will you be as a small child in his first Spring rain and dance in its
puddles?
DRIZZLES
Have
you ever
been in a drizzle? Perhaps you were out for a stroll in the park. It
was a bright sunny day and the drizzle was so fine it was barely
perceptible. You see others raise their umbrellas, but the light jacket
and the hat you are wearing shields you from what little moisture there
is in the air. In fact, if it weren't for the umbrellas, you might have
missed noticing the drizzle altogether.
You
raise your
hand toward your face and watch a droplet of water like a tiny rainbow
sparkle on the fine hairs of your hand. You watch as the droplet winds
its way down the hair, down your hand, then disappears under the cuff
of your sleeve.
You
kneel
toward the ground where you see rivulets of water form, hardly
perceptible streams that appear as rivers to the ants that are
scurrying to safety.
In
but a few
minutes you are back home, ready to begin your day's activities. You
take off your jacket and your hat to hang them in their proper place
ready for their next use.
Then
you
notice it. You see puddles form on the floor beneath your jacket. You
feel your jacket - it is soaked through and through!
You
feel your
shirt, and your pants - it was as if you had just emerged from a shower
where you had forgotten to remove your clothes before entering.
You
are
soaked, yet you had not even been aware of the rain.
Elijah
prayed
for it to stop raining, which it did for 3½ years. Then he
prayed again, and sent his servant to the sea to observe, and report
back to him what he saw. The servant had little to report. There was
but a tiny cloud like a man's hand rising out of the sea. That small
sign was proof to Elijah that there was a storm coming. And within a
very short time the skies were black with rain clouds.
Jesus
condemned the Pharisees for wanting a sign from Him, as if raising the
dead was not sign enough. Jesus told them they could read the signs of
the skies (for weather), but were blind to the signs of the times. It
would take a great sign for them to believe, like maybe a lightening
bolt striking them dead. They refused to believe, therefore they turned
their back on any sign.
Above
I said
the Elders of the established churches not only missed, but rebelled
against the Latter Rain movements. If the established church of Jesus'
day, and the churches of the past hundred years rebelled against God's
moving upon the earth by His Holy Spirit - what do you suppose will
happen just before the end?
Those
who stay
aware of the Times will recognize and experience the last of the Rains.
They will be like the man who followed the droplets of water on his
hand. They will be the ones who watched the fine mist form into small
rivulets that will soon become torrents of water. They may be totally
unaware of the significance
of the drizzle, but they won't miss them. And they will be prepared for
the warning call to "Come out of her, my people."
Those
who go
about their daily business, ignoring the light tapping of the Holy
Spirit will miss the warning call, and be swallowed up by the deluge.
I
believe the
churches, all of them, will try their best to keep their parishioners
from taking part or even counting as valid that true movement of God.
They will have their verses, their commentaries, and their doctrines
spread out for the people, flooding them with fantasies in order to
keep them from noticing the Rain. They will say it is all a mirage, and
will soon pass over, therefore to not worry about it. They will remind
the people over and over that before anything real happens, Jesus will
come riding on a cloud to take them away.
And
the people
will listen. And they will believe. And they will sit in their pews
while the listeners to the Rain flee for the hills as Jesus had warned
us to do.
Like
Sodom.
Then
will come
the flood of hail, and of blood, and of fire, and of smoke. Yet the
people await their promised escape.
Until
the end,
when
Babylon
falls.
And
they are
finally taken away, captives of their own imaginations.
The
Jews
rejected their Rain, the Former Rain. They denied the Truth, and the
Truth destroyed not only them, but their Babylon as well. Thirty years
after rejecting the Truth, their Temple, that they treasured more than
they treasured God, fell, with not one stone standing upon another.
There
is a new
Babylon amongst us, and we all, that is all who call themselves
Christian, belong to it. Of course each and every denomination will
agree, and point at one another the finger of accusation, believing
themself to be above it all.
It
all will
fall. Jesus declared it, and it will be so.
For
those who diligently
seek Jesus there is a tiny raindrop of Truth waiting to attract your
attention. To become aware of Its presence you must put all other
cares, distractions and endeavors aside and pay close attention to His
leading.
The
Holy
Spirit performs His work quietly and steadily. He does not waver. If
you pause, you will find yourself drifting farther and farther behind.
You will think He left you; but you have in fact drifted way from Him.
The
Holy
Spirit does not listen to the doctrine of men. You can not argue the
reasons and excuses you have been taught, He will not listen.
A
soldier does
that which he is told; he can not reason or argue with his commander.
His is to obey, not to explain or justify.
Listen
for the
gentle sound of Raindrops, and be prepared to follow.
CLOUDS
A
cloud like a
man's hand.
Clouds
speaks
of the Holy Spirit. The journey of the Israelites were led by a Cloud
that went before them. When the Cloud moved, they moved. If the Cloud
remained in one place, they did not move. In the wilderness, traveling
on one's own meant sure death. The only supplies they had was that
given to them by God in the form of water from the rock, and manna from
Heaven.
A
Cloud is
what Jesus appeared in along with Moses and Elijah. At this time God
the Father spoke from the cloud. That cloud was on the Mount of
Transfiguration, and not in the sky, just as the Shekinah Glory was
when It led the Israelites in the wilderness.
When
the
Tabernacle was totally finished, and then later the Temple of Solomon,
the Shekinah Glory filled the Holy of Holies.
And,
when the
Christian has been transformed into the image of Christ, that same Holy
Cloud will fill him or her for Eternity.
Be
sure to
follow the Cloud, and don't wait for one to come and pick you up like a
magic carpet.
The
"hand"
speaks of Ministry. The Ministry of the Church is composed of Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers (see Eph 4:11). Paul spoke
of how important all these were to the church.
For
the past
thousand years or so, the Church has been crippled and nonfunctional.
It is hard to get a grasp on anything, particularly reality, without
all your fingers.
All
churches
have two fingers with which to work. They have Pastors and Teachers. On
occasion there is yet another who comes along who serves as Evangelist,
like Billy Graham. There used
to be many more, especially during the Later Rain movement. But they
either fell to the wayside or took their show off the road and put it
on the air as TV Evangelists. And there are a lot
of these, mostly no more than carnival side shows.
Occasionally
you will find churches with Prophets. These are castigated by other
churches who don't have Prophets, and therefore don't believe in them.
So we might consider that finger twisted and bent over double, only
functioning for a few.
As
for
Apostles, it is commonly believed that there were only the 12 original,
and none to follow.
I
agree, for
reasons I will explain elsewhere.
So
we have a
crippled hand governing our churches today. Is that always going to be
the case?
Absolutely
not.
I
believe
there are people being chosen for particular jobs all over the world
today. Just a drizzle right now, but like the small cloud as a man's
hand, I believe the full force of God's ministry will be reinstituted
and cover the world. The Bible tells us that the Word of God will be
preached all over the world. And it will not
be the fragmented, argued, and disjointed fables preached in the
churches today. There will be a full, strong Hand Ministry preaching
the Word of God with force and power. People will once again say; "We
have never heard it on this wise before."
GLORY
TRAIN
Everyone's
trying to hitch a ride on the train to Glory. I shouldn't say
"everyone" because there are many who are not Christians, nor even
profess or want
to be Christians.
However,
we
should bear in mind that Christians are not the only ones who believe
in Heaven. In fact just about all
religions do in one form or another.
Nor
do all Christians
believe in Heaven. The fact is there are a huge number of Christians
who do not believe in Christ!
And
when you
get right down to the bottom of things, there are a lot of Christians
who could care less about Christ or anything about
Christianity.
Hard
to
believe isn't it?
A
train has
many cars, and those many cars serve many varied and different
purposes. And each car serves that one and only function and none else.
Our
Christian
experience here on earth is much like that train. And on that train,
like the church, there are various views and functions.
Most
people
ride in the coaches. The coach is relatively inexpensive so therefore
not too much is expected of the ride. There are seats, rather
comfortable places upon which to enjoy the ride. You may desire to sit
alone so therefore search out a seat in the back where few people sit.
Or perhaps you enjoy being surrounded by fellow travelers with which to
swap stories, so you sit in the middle. Or maybe you're the type who
likes to get involved or be the center of attention without actually
taking part in the activities, or having to perform the work, so you
sit right up front.
Maybe
you like
to while away the hours of your journey by using your imagination. Or
perhaps you enjoy really laying back on your long journey. Or you might
be the type who likes to nod off while everyone else does their thing.
If I have described you, then you will probably like the sleeper car.
What
train
would be complete without the well-to-do? They are the ones who must be
catered to. They need to be set apart and placed together so they do
not have to be burdened by the humdrum existence of the riffraff. These
fine ladies and gentlemen need and demand the finest if they are going
to grace your miserable, unworthy train. So for them, you have to
provide a luxury car.
Then
there are
others who come on the ride for all they can get out of it. They are
not interested in rest, or talk, or what they can learn from others.
They just want. They look around to find what there is available that
will satisfy their particular appetite, and when they find it, they
take what they can and retreat into their cubbyhole. For these the
train must have a well-stocked diner car.
Not
everyone
on a train is trying to get somewhere in particular, nor looking for
attention, nor seeking to serve themselves. Each train has those who
are always there, ready and willing to serve others. In fact they would
rather serve others than to be served by
others. These are the footmen, the attendants and the servants, the
ushers. These you have given free reign of the entire train.
There
are a
few on the train who like to work, but not where they can be noticed.
They want to serve, but in the background where they can remain
anonymous. These are the cooks, the bakers, the janitors and the maids.
For these you have provided special equipment with which they may
perform their particular task.
Some
people
are motivators. They are skilled at making sure the train keeps going.
When things start to bog down, they are right there to get the train
back up to speed. Without these faithful men or women, the train would
come to a standstill. And everybody knows it. These are the firemen,
the Elders, and the coal car is their domain, and a shovel is their
tool.
Trains
must
keep moving. But they can not keep running forever without being
watched over and given tender, loving care. The wheels must be checked,
and the joints lubricated and all the connections inspected regularly.
Without these regular checks and maintenance the train would fall apart
and turn to rust without any one even knowing it. These are the Prayer
Warriors, and the caboose is their station.
What
train
could move without someone to control it? How can a train be expected
to reach its destination with no one to guide it? There are many tracks
along the way that could well carry the train far from its intended
course. Someone must be well acquainted with the way, and be faithful
in their duty to keep the train pointed in the right direction. No one
would even think
of moving the train without this person, nor would he even consider it
making a move without him. This man is the engineer, the Pastor, and
the engine is his domain.
When
the train
moves down the tracks with everyone doing their assigned duties, the
train runs swift and smoothly. But when one person refuses to do his or
her job, or demands that they do a job assigned to another, the train
begins to falter.
Some
trains
have difficulty understanding the importance of leadership. Some trains
have firemen who want to take over the job of engineer. Still other
trains fail because the brakemen are derelict in their duty, thinking
their job is of no importance.
And
some
trains, it is sad to say, have the diner car, or the luxury car, or the
sleeper wanting to be the lead car. These trains do not go very far
before they derail.
With
all on
the train performing properly, there is yet another problem that may,
and I am afraid often does, occur. The engineer may have lost contact
with the Control Tower. If this does
occur, the train is doomed to be led about on false rails set up to
ensnare wayward trains.
Trains,
those
with coal cars, run on Steam. Lose Steam and the train stops. It can
not go without Steam. In order to have Steam you need Water. If the
train does not stop at regular intervals to refresh itself with Water
from the Water Tower, it will fail to reach its destination. Water
speaks of the Holy Spirit.
A
train on a
wrong track. A train who has lost its source of power. A train who has
lost communication with reality.
A
train that thinks
it is still heading to its intended destination. A train who is stalled
in the wilderness, but thinks
it has already reached its destination.
A
train, lost.
BABY
WITH A
NEW RATTLE.
It's
been nine
months since my "conversion" and I haven't slowed down. I feel like a
baby in a crib that has been given his first rattle.
A
baby loves
his rattle. He rattles it constantly. He loves the look of the rattle.
He loves the taste of the rattle. He loves the rattle of the rattle.
Try to take the rattle from him and you will have a fight on your
hands, and a howling in your ears.
Rattles
are
fun. I wonder if we ever outgrow our love of rattles?
But
rattles
are just noise if not in concert with other instruments of praise. To a
baby, any noise is fascinating. But as we grow older we become more
selective of the noises we hear. We love the sound of a piano when
played by an experienced musician. But in the hands of the
inexperienced, that same piano becomes a bothersome nuisance.
So
it is with
the church. Without the Holy Spirit, the church is nothing but a baby's
rattle making a bunch of noise.
Without
the
Holy Spirit, the church is just another religion.
References
41And
Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound
of abundance of rain. 42So
Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of
Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees, 43And
said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up,
and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven
times. 44And
it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there
ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said,
Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the
rain stop thee not. 45And
it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to
Jezreel. 46And
the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran
before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1Kings 18:)
16Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17Elias
was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly
that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of
three years and six months. 18And
he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth
her fruit. (James 5:17)
1The
Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that
he would show them a sign from heaven. 2He
answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be
fair weather: for the sky is red. 3And
in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can
ye not discern the signs of the times? 4A
wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall
no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. (Mat :16)
45That
ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust. (Mat 5:)
11And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers; 12For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ: (Eph 4:)
1And
after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having
great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2And
he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold
of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3For
all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and
the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies. 4And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues. 5For
her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities. (Rev 18:)
7Be
patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long
patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
1And
after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and
bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And
was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and
his raiment was white as the light. 3And,
behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4Then
answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be
here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee,
and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5While
he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a
voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And
when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore
afraid (Mat 17:)
33And
he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and
set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. 34Then
a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD
filled the tabernacle. 35And
Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because
the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle. 36And
when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of
Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37But
if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day
that it was taken up. 38For
the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on
it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all
their journeys. (Ex 40:34)
15See
then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit; 19Speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving
thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ; (Eph 5:18:)
16Then
let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let
him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his
house: 18Neither
let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And
woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those
days! 20But
pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath
day: 21For
then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of
the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And
except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Mat 24:)
6Flee
out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut
off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he
will render unto her a recompense. 7Babylon
hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth
drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations
are mad. 8Babylon
is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain,
if so be she may be healed. 9We
would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let
us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto
heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. 10The
LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in
Zion the work of the LORD our God. 11Make
bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the
spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to
destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of
his temple. 12Set
up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set
up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised
and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. 13O
thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end
is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. 14The
LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee
with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall lift up a shout against
thee. (Jer 51:)
1And
as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him,
Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2And
Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there
shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown
down. 3And
as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and
James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4Tell
us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all
these things shall be fulfilled? (Mark 13:2)
23But
hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have
brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords,
thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast
praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone,
which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath
is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 24Then
was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25And
this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26This
is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy
kingdom, and finished it. 27TEKEL;
Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28PERES;
Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29Then
commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a
chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him,
that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30In
that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31And
Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two
years old. (Dan 5:)
13Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto
you. 15All
things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall
take of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:)
4For
it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted
of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And
have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame. 7For
the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and
bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God: 8But
that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Heb 6:)
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