Saturday, September 23, 2006
Why We Need to Face Persecution?
Topic: Persecution
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (Matthew 10:23 KJV) 
Have you wonder why we face many persecutions? I mean for those who are Christians and Jews. Jesus prophesied that there will be some groups of people who are willing to threat people for those are followers of Jesus Christ. Right now, there is some radical Islam who is planning to destroy the people in Israel and America with using the nuclear bomb. Jesus gave us many clues about this generation, so we can fully prepare to face the upcoming World War III and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Are we the last generation to see the coming of Jesus Christ? Yes, we may be the last generation to wait for the coming of our Messiah to Earth. If I’m wrong, please don’t believe what I’m saying, but believe the Word of God.
Unfortunately, before we would see the return of Christ, there must be rumor of wars that Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8. For example, Islamic leaders are planning to wipe out the land of Israel from the map as the event occurred in the days of Esther. This goal was the same since Adam and Eve deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Satan wants to destroy God’s people, because he wants to rule over the universe (Isaiah 14:12-14).
Okay, some of us understand the history of Garden of Eden. Although we don’t have enough room to discuss another subject, I recommend that studying more about falling of man in your own study to get some understand about End Time Prophecy and World War III. Let’s return to this current topic and discuss about is there hope if we face the persecution by the radical religious leaders.
Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Even though we would face the persecution by our enemies, God says He will bless us. We know that God will walk with us through the fire (Isaiah 43:1-3). We know that He will care us, because we know what He did to Abraham when he tried to sacrifice his son to God and He provided a lamb instead of Isaac. If He can do to Abraham, He can be right there with us to walk through persecution and hardship.
Are you saved by the grace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ? Are you ready to face any hardship and persecution that would come in your life? If you are not sure or not prepare to face these challenges, I like to encourage inviting Jesus Christ in your life by confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness and invite Him in your life. This may be the last chance to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior before you’d die tomorrow or near future.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Free from Youthful Lust
Topic: Youth
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (I John 2:15-17 KJV)
As we are getting closer to Halloween month, we must remember that Satan is still trying to attack our youths in many various ways. One of them is youth lust. If Satan learns that one of kids love ice cream cone or one of the most he is looking forward to, Satan would use that tool to trap your child’s mind.
As I looked back in my early life, I thought Halloween was awesome and fun day of the year. I enjoyed going to Trick or Treat around my neighborhood and thought it was great. Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Remember, in those times, I didn’t think as Halloween was the one of the satanic holiday traditions. Or I didn’t think how Satan used this deceitful kid’s holiday to trap me. Thank God, as I meditated more on His Words and prayer of fasting, He showed me the deeper meaning of the Scripture and what dangerous activities are behind of Halloween and other religious holidays.
So how to protect the youngsters from the lack of lust, which it would lead to the satanic trap?
First of all, we need to pray for our youths. We need to ask God to protect our youths from walking into the devil’s trap. Jesus prayed for His disciples and future disciples to protect them from the evil ones in John 17. If we pray for our youths without ceasing (I Thessalonians
5:17), God will work with them and show them the right path.
We also need to show them godly role model. Many preachers said that the average of time that the father talks to his son is 40 second a day. If we want our youngsters to become children of God, then we’d need to do what it is necessary to help them to get there. If your teenager watch the TV for 40 hours a week, then you may need to re-exam your schedule and make more time for your family time. Lastly, we need to know what is going on the youngsters’ day. That means, we need to step up to the school PTA and know what their schoolteachers are doing, going and watching their outdoor activities, and more. Right now, many schoolteachers allow children to read Harry Potter, Chronicle of Narnia series, which they contain fantasy, witchcraft, magic, and other imaginations that Satan can pull them away from God. If you let your child go to neighborhood and doing the Trick or Treat on the Halloween night, then you are allowing your child to be selfish for candies and desire for some more. Not only that, you are allowing Satan to come into your child’s soul and mind.
If you want your family to be like family of Jesus Christ, then you first need to acknowledge God that you are sinner and ask for forgiveness; and then invite Him to be in the center of your and your family life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, September 10, 2006
Why Has God Forsaken America?
Topic: Nation
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1 KJV)
September 11, 2001, many people haven’t forgotten terrible attack on two buildings in New York and Pentagon City. Most people in New York and Pentagon would still wonder about why these terrible things happened in this country. And some would have forgotten what happened on that beautiful day. We may have a question as we see many terrible things occurred during the last ten years or more. As David asked God in Psalm 22:1, we might ask why God has forsaken America. If you are one of them who ask that question, you are not alone. There maybe thousands of people who ask themselves a question since 9/11/2001. As we saw what happened in New Orleans last year, this one question is still remained in people’s minds.
Although many people are looking for the answer, God doesn’t ignore them. Instead, He would like to explain why these terrible events were happening to this particular land. God would like to have a personal relationship with them, so they would have Father who they can rely on. I Peter 5:7 tells us that we can give all of our worries to God, because He cares for each of us.
When Jesus cried out Psalm 22:1 on the Cross, His Father didn’t ignore His agony. Although He can call His 2000 armies of angels to take out from the Cross, Jesus decided to take the pain for us and His Father cried out with Him as He looked down on His Son, Jesus.
Even many people are crying out for help, God always hears their agonies and is ready to help them. If they don’t see any hope from tragedies, there is the only one way to restore their hopes and dreams. That is through Jesus Christ, who died for all of our sins, and resurrected on the third day to live with His Father, so that He can bring down the Holy Spirit to live within each of us. If you are victim of 9/11 tragedy or Hurricane Katrina, I like to tell you that you are not alone. When you give all your life to Jesus Christ, He will give your new life that you ever imagine and He will adopt you as His daughter or son in His eternal Kingdom. Accept Jesus Christ this very moment before His invitation would be too late.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, September 2, 2006
Youths are in Battleground
Topic: Youth
And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. (Exodus
1:16 KJV) As the days when the new King Pharaoh ruled over the land of Egypt when the people of Israel were there, today’s youths are living in the battleground, which Satan would like to control their lives. Since the event in Exodus 1, Satan’s battle is not over. Now, as we continue to see in the media, our youths are facing many temptations to walk themselves away from God.
Do we know how dangerous activities effect on them is when they hook up onto the Internet? “53% of teens have encountered offensive web sites that include pornography, hate or violence. Of these, 91% unintentionally found the offensive sites while searching the Web (Yankelovich Partner survey, The Safe America Foundation; Sept. 30, 1999).” (xxxchurch.com) Most of them are not in supervising by parents or other adults. Recently, in Rock Church Ministries, youth pastor said that most pornography is supported by Christians. Wow! We may feel surprise to hear on this statement.
Are youths in battleground? Of course, they are in dangerous zone in their lives. Satan likes to destroy many youngsters as many as possible. King Herod tried to find baby Jesus to kill Him, because Satan told him to do so.
MTV is killing many young people’s souls by feeding them with hip-pop and hard rock music. They are trying to destroy youths’ minds, so is with BET. Even though BET has some Christian programs, most preachers and artists are speaking out from their own mind and not from the biblical context.
As I said before, youths need strong Christian friends and families as their role models, so they can have knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the only way that they can have the victory over Satan and his armies.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Youths Go Back to School
Topic: Youth
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
It's time again for students go to their schools and looking forward to have fun of learning from teachers and other fellow friends. Are we excited when we start to go to school or college? Probably not, but we would become excited when the little ones go to school, so we would have peace for the next eight hours of the day.
But there is one little problem. That's we never stop learning many other things. If we stop to learn how to cook the food, what do we eat? Or if we never decide to learn how to unplug the toliet, how we use the bathroom? If our toliet is not working, then we would have bad smell in our bathroom.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we need to trust God everything to reach to our dreams. That's learning process. We need to learn how to trust the Lord and forget about our intrepetations of dreams. This is a hard process, because we use to earthly things to know what we need to seek for. If we see doctors who have earned many college degrees and help people to make them well, then we'd try to become doctors. That's the same way with youths. They are seeking for something in their future life. They are looking for someone who could be their role models. They go to school to be educated. But some of teenagers would receive wrong messages. Why? Most schools are corrupted by the other religious systems, which they teach students can pull away themselves from God. Although the school allow witchcraft, Buddahism, Islam in their campus, but the name of Jesus Christ cannot be spoken in their learning center. Even court decided to be silenced with this issue and try to avoid it as much as possible.
Although we, as adults and elders, may have finished with schooling, it is still for us to keep learning, so we can stand with youths and help them, and continuing living for ourselves. Why let we stop to think with our own understanding and begin to learn to trust God. Isaiah 55:8 tells that His ways are much greater than our thoughts. If we want to help our youths, let God begin to work within us.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Today's Life of Youth
Topic: Youth
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. (Ecclesiates 11:9-10 KJV)
Solomon's advice may seem to encourage to youth at the beginning of this passage, but he wants let the youth know that there is going to be some consequences when they'd do bad. This is the same way that God deals with us. Sure, God wants us to enjoy our lives, but He cannot look us if we are sinning against Him. Sin cannot deal with God. If we are worshipping to the pagan gods or sin sexuality, God cannot just watch us and enjoy Himself. No! This is not way of God. Instead, He diciplines us until we'd learn our mistakes.
As we keep this thought in mind, let's look at youth's issue. Although God loves His young children, there will be consequenced on youth when they'd act like bad. Right now, MTV is trying to take over youth's mind through their music methods, such as hard rock and hip-pop music. Sadly, Comtemporary Christian Music (CCM) is playing music like MTV does. When youths see and listen to MTV and some heavy up-lifting music through CCM, their spirits will go far from God. They'd lost in touch with Jesus Christ. I don't care if they are watching MTV, CCM, or movies that contain wichcraft, fantacy, and sexual image--they'd lost to touch with their Savior and Satan would enter in their souls to take over their minds. Then God will bring judgement against youths, because they allow Satan to come in their souls.
So what we can do for our youths before God would judge them? We can do plenty. We must be godly role model for youths. We must share the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Praying for them. Having devotional time with them together. Today's Christian family may have lack of having a devotional time together through prayer and Bible reading. That's sad. We cannot let teenagers act like Christian if we do not do our parts. Do we let Harry Potter to be a role model for teens or God through His Holy Words?
Joshua said, "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15 KJV.)
Which role model that we should give to young people?
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, August 12, 2006
God's Vision for the Youth Generation
Topic: Youth
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:28-29 KJV)
Before we'd continue to discuss today's youth challenges and trials, I would like to address this thought to the spirit of youth. If you are in ages between 12 and 25 or if you have teenager(s), I'd like to encourage both of you (youths and adults) to read what I'm going to say to your spirit.
God has been trying to call the younger generation to accomplish His wonderful plan for His children. As it says in Joel, God wants to pour His Spirit in the heart of people. He wants to give boys and girls His plan through their dreams and proclaimation of His messages. They are the next generation who will bring His lost people back to Him. Although God understands of your hardship, He would like to give you hope that is everlasting and brand new future where Satan cannot enter in to destroy your inner being. He wants to bring the Holy Spirit to live inside of you, so He can teach you what you need to know and can have daily fellowship with your Heavenly Father.
God wants to bless you through your spirit. You maybe different from your friends, peers, family members, but you are no stranger to your Heavenly Father and those who believe in Him. Although your dream might fail, God wants to strength your dream, so your dream can glorify Him and to reach lost souls into Him. You maybe discouraged of things you are going through, or you may lost your relationship with the people who you loved, God wants to adopt you in His family and restores your broken heart into healthy and fill with His love and care. Don't let Satan deceive you, because God is on your side of your battleground. As in the Day of Pentacost, God will pour His Spirit in you to reach the lost soul and give them new hope and future in His name through Jesus Christ.
He will not let you live without dream, but God will give your dream come true that you'd never been imagined as He did to King Solomon. Are you willing to let God do His part in your life?
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, August 5, 2006
Return to Days of His Youth
Topic: Youth
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. (Job 33:23-26 KJV)
Many today's teenagers have trapped themselves into depression, saddness, and rejection. Most young people would like to be adults because the influence of media teach them how they should live their lives. MTV is the most influence in their young lives today. Yet, we, as adults, sometimes let our media teach our youngsters how they should live. For example, some Christian adults allow children to read and watch on Harry Potter, which it contains witchcraft and other pagan rituals. Or Chroncle of Narnia, which it was originally written by one of the greatest preachers, which it has mixture of Christian salvation and Pagan ritual. Although I watched the movie before, I would not recommend for any pastor to use it as a sermon tool to bring people into Jesus Christ.
Job 33:23-26 tell us that God has shown favor to youths and we should remind ourselves what was to be like in that ages. God is always looking after His young children. We should not push themselves immediately to adulthood. Remember when children tried to come to Jesus and His disciples rebuked them. However, Jesus rebuked His disciples and questioned why they tried to block little ones from Him. In Matthew 19:14 says, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Do you like to become child of God? Give your whole life to Jesus by admitting that you are sinner and ask Him forgiveness; and then ask Him to come and live in your life. That's simple and there's no formula to add into your communication with God. Then I would strongly suggest for you to find a local church, where you can receive strong Bible teachings that would benefit your new life with Jesus Christ and can find some new Christian friends who can further help and encourage you in daily basis.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Don't Despise Thy Youth
Topic: Youth
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12 KJV)
What common Joseph, Daniel, and Jeremiah had in their days? Was it age when they become a prophet? This may be true. Joseph was cativated into Egyptian by his own brothers and later he became a general of Egyptian. Jeremiah began in his ministry when he was youth as a weeping prophet for his people. Daniel was in Babylon when his people were cativated there, but he served and worked with King Nebuchadnezzar. If you notice, three of them began to call for God's duty when they were young. Most of they may not have any clue what God would restore for them, except obeying His voice. As they were getting older, they began to understand what God had minded for them. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knew each of them before they came out from their own mother's womb. He has purpose for each of them to give life. You and I have a greater purpose of being here. There are no mistakes about why God gives us life.
If you feel like nobody want to work with you because you are young, it is their problem and not yours. Although the world may seem more to become an adult world, God still can use you to reach the lost souls into His presence, just as He did to Joseph, Jeremiah, and Daniel.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Fear Not, Our God is within Us
Topic: Goal
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:10, 13 KJV)
When the last time that you felt that you cannot do this or that because you were scared to overcome your fear? We all face fear sometime in our lives. If you say that you don't fear to anything, you either try to hide your fear to your people or you try to be braved. Either way, you cannot escape your weakest until you face it.
Sure, we would try to be braved as those who are in WWF Wrestling teams. But, do you know that people in WWF Wrestling have fear in each of their hearts? They cannot escape the fear of their lives when they face their opponents. If their opponents are getting tough to fight with, they would try to escape from their enemies.
We, too, have our wrestling opponents. His name is Satan. He tries everything to make us miserable in our lives. He even tries to let us to receive the power of fear. Unfortunately, he cannot defeat us easily if we have help from the Lord. God told His prophet not to fear, because He is the source of help. Paul says in Philippians 4:19, "...God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
We don't have to fear to any new obstacles if we know that God is Johovah-jireh (the LORD will provide) (Genesis 22:14 KJV). Fear not because God promises to us that He will be with us always. Fear not, because we have the armor of God to defeat the world of darkness (see Ephesians 6:10-20). And fear not, because we have God who knows every details of our weaknesses and can give us more strengths to overcome any obstacle we would face.
That is why our God is the greater Counselor when we'd try to find help to meet our needs or any events that we are doing.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, July 16, 2006
Breakthrough Fear to Reach Your Goal
Topic: Goal
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour... (Isaiah 43:1-3a KJV)
Do you have fear to overcome your obstacles to reach your dream? Sometimes, I'm scared if I'd face some new challenges to meet my goal. But you and I don't have to face some obstacles alone. God has promised us that He will be with us and walk with us through our problems just as He did with the people of Israel. So, we do not need to be fear. Of corse, we might have little fear if we'd try something new, just as Daniel's three royal friends feared as King Nebuchadnezzar put them into the furnace (Daniel 3). But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't try to escape the king's command. Instead, they fully trusted on God to protect them from burning. As we read the rest of Daniel 3, Jesus showed up in their midst of their trials and save them and their skins.
If we fail the test to accomplish our goals, then we trust on ourselves and not upon God. As we looked back on 9/11/2001 tragedy, let's think back why this has occured in our land. We might understand the number 11 has specificant meaning that is related to appearance of the Antichrist, but there is another main reason of this national tragedy. We see many ugly lifestyle that people would decide to attach into their system, such as hook themselves up to fame, wealth, and power from the world. We see many porn industries are appearing on the media. We see that many young adults would decide to join with gang members. We see that many family members would decide to break the unity. These all are happening now, because we are all selfish to win our prizes, instead of trusting our Heavenly Father.
Do you like to reach for your goal? Do you want to overcome many new obstacles that are coming on your way? Do not fear. You just need to trust on God that He can walk with you to go through new obstacle courses in your life. That's why Peter said we can cast all our worries to God, because He cares for each of us (see I Peter 5:7)
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, July 9, 2006
What is Freedom for Us?
Topic: Freedom
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2 KJV)
As I think about our country history, many of us think that God has given us a great freedom in this country, but often, we don't remember the true American herritage, which it had begun a great slavery of sin. Even though we might believe that this country was established by our Christian leaders, God has been working within us to set us free from slavery of sins and death.
Even though we don't have the greatest leadership, who is willing to walk with God fully, He has been working with us to go through the problems and lead us to the freedom of righteousness in Jesus Christ. Although our true country herritage was not begun by Christian, I believe that God is still trying to call us to be out from the darkness of sin or generation curses. Having more existing churches don't really mean that we all are free, but our freedom will begin if our spirit of men begin to call upon the Spirit of God to join together to walk to the victory over the darkness.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, July 2, 2006
Setting Your Goal
Topic: Goal
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2 KJV)
One of the most people may have hardest things to do is setting their personal goal above. Above? Setting their personal goal in God's Kingdom. We may have goals in our minds of what we'd like to do in near future. Often, we may fail to set our goals with God and fail to give Him the praise when He has given us the answers to our needs.
Throughout the Bible, God has shown us that His plans is greater than ours and He'd like to share His plan with each of us. In the Book of Revelation says, Jesus Christ will come back to the earth to rule over the whole earth with us for thousand years. Why? The earth was created by the work of God and had given to men to have dominion over the land. But we must have that goal as our Heaven Father has. We need to set our minds on things in Heaven.
We can set our minds on government, but our goals will not last. We can set our minds on the material possession, but it will soon become useless. We can set our beliefs in Allah, but we cannot get our communication through him. But when we'd set our hearts in God, who raised Jesus Christ from the grave, He will tell you and work with you the goal that He has planned for you to do. Why not put your earthly goal on aside and begin to set your plan with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, June 18, 2006
Get Rest in Jesus Christ
Topic: Quality Time
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)
Are you tired by the end of your day? If you have a physical disability, do you sometimes feel like if God don't care about your needs? We sometimes would have a time of rejection about our goals. I know this because I've been there. But we often forget to get rest in God and make ourselves tire of following our own daily routine. We often think going to church on every Sunday is a day of rest and entertain ourselves with our Christian brothers and sisters.
God created the Sabbath Day, so we can rest in the Lord. Sabbath day doesn't have to be on a certain day of the week. Sunday is a Sabbath day for Christians, which it actually came from the Paganism that worship the sun god. There is a historical documention, which one of Catholic Popes selected Sunday as a Sabbath day for Christian, not on Saturday that was originally arrived from Genesis 2.
Fortunately, Jesus gave us another defination for Sabbath. He explains us that we can have rest in Him. Notice, He didn't say that Sunday has to be a day of rest, but if we just come into His presence, He will give us His yoke that is not heavy for us to grab on. That is why we can trust Him to go and rest in His presence at anytime or anyday of the week.
Are you tired? God is not going to let you to suffer for a long time. He is willing to give you His yoke to rest upon, if you let Him.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, June 4, 2006
Hope from God
Topic: Hope
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)
Hebrews 11:40 says that God has provided some better things for each of us. Do you know what God has minded for your future? It could be your promotion to your job, future marriage, house, or car. Whatever that things God will provide in your future is, start to seek His face each day and He will surely provide you some resources to meet your dreams. Jeremiah 12:12 says, "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." This is my prayer to seek His face and have fellowship with Him. The world teaches us to seek God's hands to get blessing, but He says if we'd seek His face, then He will give everything that we haven't ask Him for.
Hope this enourage you to begin to seek God's face and praise Him to receive His blessing each day.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Friday, May 26, 2006
Rejoice in the Lord
Topic: Quality Time
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4 KJV)
When you have busy day, do you feel like if your life is defeated? Are you having difficult time to enjoy your life? Sometimes, it is easy for us to make ourselves distress and have forgotten to rest in the Lord and have some quality times with Him. Speaking about myself, it's not good to try to make myself busy all the time when I'd get loney. It is not good for both of my spirit and physical health. So to you, my friends. Although we have learned that having prayer and reading the Bible time are considered as to fellowship with God. That's the half way to growing ourselves in Jesus Christ. To be full growing in Him, we may need to learn to rejoice with God through our actions outside of our prayer closets. Take yourself outside to involve with your community and share the Good News about our Savior with others.
If we keep going to church and work, then we'd gain so much of weight and have not enough to have a great quality time with God. He didn't create Sabbath day just for Himself, but He would like to have some quality time with each of us. Make yourself a favor. Try to make yourself and/or your family members take some times off from the regular routine and begin to look for another way to rejoice in the Lord.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Sunday, April 30, 2006
Deception of the 21st Century II: Deception from Modern Days of Bible Versions
Topic: Deception
Today in our society, it seems that every six month there has been more Bible is coming out. I mean the new Bible versions. Since the first full English Bible version was available, King James Version or Authorized Version (1611), there have been many more versions available for us to easy to understand. Of course, there were about nineteen other Bible versions were available before 1611.
- Wycliffe’s Version (1382 A.D.): First systematic translation of the Bible into English by John Wycliffe. It was lasted until the 16th century and over 170 manuscripts copies survived.
- Alba Bible (1422-33): The first Spanish translation of the completed Old Testament by a Jewish scholar Moises Arragel.
- Gutenberg Bible (1456): The first Bible ever printed by John Gutenberg.
- Complutensian Polyglot (1514-17): First completed Bible published in Spain.
- Tyndale’s Bible (1525-31): First original English translation from Hebrew and Greek by William Tynadale.
- Luther’s Bible (1534): German translation.
- Coverdale’s Bible (1535): First complete printed version of the Scriptures in English.
- ”Bug” Bible (1535 or 1551): Early English edition and its nickname derive from a quaint rendering of Psalm 91:5.
- Other Bibles before KJV were:
- Serrieres Bible (1535)
- Great Bible (1539)
- Gustaf Vasa Bible (1541)
- Geneva Bible (1560)
- Radziwill Bible (1563)
- Bishops’ Bible (1568)
- Antwerp Polyglot Bible (1568-72)
- Kralice Bible (1579-93)
- Ostrog Bible (1581)
- Vizsoly Bible (1590)
- Douay Version (1582-1610)
- Authorized (King James) Version (1611)
(See Almanac of the Bible by Geoffrey Wigoder, Ph.D., pp. 401-404.)
The first twenty versions of the Bible were probably from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, include other language manuscripts that agree with Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Since Authorized Version was published, there are at least 200 Bible versions available in United States alone, such as Revised Version, The English Bible, New Living Translation, New King James Version, New International Version, and more.
Why we have so many Bible versions in our country alone? Is the one Bible version enough to understand God’s Word? We may not hear this subject from our church leaders. Why do I discuss this? God warned us not to twist His Words, but we may forget to keep His warning and change His Words as comfortable for us to read. I believe that there is the only one true Bible, which God spoke through many generations—Authorized Version (1611).
Read with me in Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; and Revelation 22:18-19. I would like to use KJV for this very topic.
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
As we read these four verses, God clearly gave us instruction not to try to change His original Words. In Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32, God commands us, but He warns us what we should not to do in Revelation 22:18-19. Why is this important to us?
Since Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), he is trying to keep us from God. In the previous message, I explained couple ways that Satan tries to deceive us. From that message, you would notice how Satan deceives us— that is WORDS. In Genesis 3, Satan twisted God’s spoken Words to Eve about certain fruit tree or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I don’t know what kind of fruit tree. Most people said that it was an apple tree, because an apple is healthier to our body system and King Solomon said it as to describe his bride’s health in Song of Solomon. But Adam and Eve failed miserably after they ate the fruit of one tree that God warned them what not to eat.
And… this deception is going on even these days. Now, Satan uses the Bible to try to deceive us. Many modern Bible versions are easier to read than ever. Some Bible scholars said that modern Bible versions set up as reading level grades, such as:
- KJV: 12.0 grade reading level
- NASB: 11.0 grade reading level
- LB: 8.3 grade reading level
- NKJV: 8.0 grade reading level
(See an article on “New Century Version: Easy to Read or Easy to Deceive?” at www.av1611.org/kjv/ncv.html.)
Does God’s Word for everybody? If it is, why do we need grade reading level system? KJV Bible was set up for everybody, even for the young children, but we made KJV difficult to understand God’s Words. We may update English language into modern English style. Or we may feel like if God’s Word is too old to understand and need to update His Words for our generation. Whatever the reason is, we must keep God’s Words as it was.
God does not need change His Words for us to understand easier. In Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” If we understand God’s Words, we let the Holy Spirit to teach us the Words, instead of buying the new version of the Bible to expend our divine knowledge.
Most of the modern Bible versions may not agree with the original Bible version. Some preachers use today’s Bible versions to teach us the easiest way to live a Christian life. Or some Bible versions teach us that we can make many ways to Jesus, such as playing gamble, enjoy the clubs (see articles on Refuel Bible and Revolve Bible for Christian teens at www.av1611.org/othpubl.html). Or some Bibles omit the verse(s) and/or passage(s) of the Scripture from the original, such as New International Version and New Century Version.
Why? Although many biblical scholars proclaim that omitting and rewording the Scriptures was from extra that the people put there, the revision part of the Bible was not existed until 1881.
“”If someone decides to produce a "new Bible version", then they must also convince Christians that there is a NEED and a justifiable CAUSE for the new version. One of the deceitful excuses being used today for producing new versions is that the King James Bible has been revised several times since 1611, and that a new revision is needed once again. While spreading this piece of deceitful misinformation, the KJV critics hold their breath, hoping that no one will be intelligent enough to ask for specific details about these "revisions". The many revisions that have occurred since 1881 bear NO RESEMBLANCE to the various EDITIONS of the KJV prior to 1881. The modern revisors are just trying to justify their sins!” (See Fighting Back! A Handy Reference Guide for King James Bible Believers by James L. Melton.)
Why do we need to justify our sins? According to God, He already washed our sins away by sending His Son to the world to pay our debts of sins by dying on the cross and resurrected on the third day to be with His Father, so that He can send us the Holy Spirit live among us everyday. If the new versions of the Bible try to justify sins, then revisors may need to reread KJV thoroughly before they’d do all the changes in the Bible.
“There were only FOUR actual EDITIONS of the King James Bible produced after 1611: 1629, 1638, 1762, and 1769. These were not translations (like the new versions SINCE 1881), and they really weren't even "revisions".
“The 1629 edition was simply an effort to correct printing errors, and two of the original King James translators assisted in the work.“The 1638 edition of the KJV also dealt with printing errors, especially words and clauses overlooked by the printers. About 72% of the textual corrections in the KJV were done by 1638, only 27 years after the first printing.
“Please bear in mind the fact that printing was a very laborious task prior to 1800. Publishing a flawless work was almost impossible. Even today, with computers and advanced word processors, printing errors are still frequently made. Imagine what it was like in the 1600's!
“Then, in 1762 and 1769, two final editions of the KJV were published. Both of these involved spelling changes, which became necessary as the English language became more stabilized and spelling rules were established.
“There were no new translations, and there were really no new revisions published in 1629, 1638, 1762, or 1769. These were simply EDITIONS of the 1611 KJV, which corrected printing errors and spelling. Those who try to equate these editions with the modern translations are just being deceitful or stupid--or both. The many other so-called "revisions" of the KJV that occurred in 1613, 1616, 1617, and 1743 are nothing more than running changes and touch-up work at the printers. The REAL revisions and translations do not start appearing until 1881 (RV) and 1901 (ASV). So if some punk walks up with a smirky grin on his face and asks you, "So which King James Bible do you have, the 1611, the 1629, the 1638, the 1762, or the 1769?", you can simply state that you have a 1769 edition of the King James 1611 Authorized Version. (See Fighting Back! A Handy Reference Guide for King James Bible Believers by James L. Melton.)
So, what are some errors that the modern day of the Bibles presents? As I said earlier, some Bible versions omit some portion or entire of the passages left out. For example,
Luke 4:4—Many counterfeits remove the last half of Luke 4:4, ". . . but by every word of God" This is another assault on the Word of God. In Luke 4:4, the Lord Jesus Christ is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. Do the counterfeiters believe the Lord Jesus does not know what Deuteronomy 8:3 says? (See How to Spot a Counterfeit Bible?.)
Acts 8:37—Some counterfeits completely remove this wonderful verse (and several others). Acts 8:37 is the Ethiopian eunuch getting saved. The counterfeits stop him from getting saved. Some counterfeits are a little more subtle. They do not remove the verse from the text, but will add a footnote questioning the verse and plant a seed of doubt. Sound familiar? "Yea, hath God said. . .?" Many counterfeits also remove: Matthew 17:21, 18:11, 23:14, Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46, Mark 11:26, 15:28, Luke 17:36, 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, 15:34, 24:7, 28:28, Romans 16:24 and 1 John 5:7! (See How to Spot a Counterfeit Bible?.)
Some versions may make us to confuse between “the morning star” as Jesus Christ or Lucifer. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus proclaims that He is the morning star, but many new versions put the morning star to describe Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12. Honoring Lucifer as equal to Jesus Christ is deadly sinned against God’s Word. We should not compare Lucifer as Messiah.
Attacking the deity of Jesus Christ is also deadly against His Word. Acts 4:27—many counterfeits abort the Lord Jesus Christ as the Father’s "holy child" to His "holy servant". A subtle (see Genesis 3:1) and clever denial of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The counterfeits do this again in Acts 4:30. (See How to Spot a Counterfeit Bible?.)
Not only we need to look the scriptural errors, but we also need to look what kind of symbols and where the Bible was published. Some Bibles contained symbol on the cover that comes out from witchcraft, Masonry, New Age Religion, and other religion of organizations. For example, the publisher of the NKJV, Thomas Nelson Publishing, may claim that their bible's logo represents the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the NKJV Bible logo comes from the classic Masonic text, Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry, which shows how the cryptic "Three Times Three” handclasp is performed in the Royal Arch Degree by three "brothers" of the Lodge. (See What about that "mysterious" symbol found on the NEW King James Bible?.)
What is this all mean to us? Again, we go back to what Apostle Paul said in I Timothy 4:1, where he said that in the latter days, some people will depart from the faith and giving heed to what Satan wants to offer to us. Jesus predicted this to His disciples before He went up to the Cross. Now, all the previous prophecies are revealed to us. As the prophecies are unfolds or beginning to have birth pain, we know that Jesus is coming closer and closer to gather His saints to take to His place before He would judge the whole nations of the earth.
Now, this is the time for us to wake up and recognize the Authorized Version of the Bible is the true representation of God’s Words. There is no error in this ancient English version of the Bible. Although the word “Easter” in KJV only once, it doesn’t mean that we need to celebrate Easter Sunday as Pagan does. The word “Easter” in Acts 12:4 KJV means “Passover.”
Are you saved? Are your love ones and friends saved in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? The purpose of this study is to help you to become closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3.)
If you are lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus Christ and want to know Him as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life. Paul says, "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done in your private room or workplace, then you need to tell to your friends or love ones about what you have done, so they may rejoice with you and want to have that relationship with Christ in their own life. There are many occults in the world, which do not know the love of God and His great plan for those who believe in Him. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Deception of the 21st Century I: Basic Understanding of 1st Timothy 4:1-3
Topic: Deception
Today in our generation, we see that there are many bad news are appearing around the world. If we turn on the News or reading the daily newspaper, we see many tragedies on people, community, and country. If we turn on one of daily Talk Show programs, such as Jerry Springer’s Show, we see many families are breaking apart from each other because they cheat and fight each other within their homes. According to David Millers, a youth minister of Rock Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia , he pointed out that there were major declination rates of Christianity during the previous four generations. We, as Christians, went down from 60 percent in 1960s to only 4 percent in today’s generation.
Why? What is the reason of declination of Christianity?
According to the Book of Revelation, God will let the people would receive deception from Satan in the last day. Of course, this event would happen after the rapture of Church by God. I believe we are in the midst of it now before it would happen—the Antichrist would plan to make a peace treaty with for seven years, but he will break this treaty at the end of the first three and an half of seven years of the tribulation.
In this series, we will study five messages that we need to aware to receive deception. In this century, we would receive lie either from people who we love or people in the community. Sadly, we sometimes receive lies from the churches. For example, many church leaders may teach us that celebrating Easter and Christmas are to celebrate the birth, life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, even though these two holidays were stolen from Babylonian holiday traditions, by the earliest Roman Catholic Popes.
First, I would like to discuss the “Basic Understanding of 1st Timothy 4:1-3.” We need to understand the basic knowledge of Satan’s deception, so we can protect ourselves and loved ones and know what is the truth and what is not. Second is the “Deception from Modern Days of Bible Versions.” There are at least 200 new Bible versions published each year and most of them may misplace of words or verses for us to easy to understand and read God’s Words. I’m going to explain why the KJV is the only represented true to God’s Words. Third message is the “Women Preachers in the Church.” God gave different responsibilities for men and women to lead the household and church, but we lost the leadership position since Adam and Eve deceived by Satan. In this message, we will discover why the most male preachers avoid teaching us I Timothy 2:8-15 and allow women to lead the church congregations. Fourth message is called “Examination from the Movie, The Passion of Christ, to the Biblical View.” Most people believe that Mel Gibson’s version of the passion of Christ portrayed the accuracy from the four Gospels of Jesus Christ. Is the movie portrays the biblical view of passion of Christ? We will discover the real truth of behind Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of Christ. And last and final message is called “Deception in the End.” What would happen if the people receive the promise from Satan and decide to take the Mark of the Beast on their right hand or forehead? Is the number 666 real bad news for anyone who would be here when Antichrist would lead the New World Order, One World Currency, One World Government, and One World Religion?
Now, let’s read I Timothy 4:1-3:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (NKJV)
In this passage, Apostle Paul warned us what the Spirit told him about in the latter days, which is now, because he wrote what the Spirit said in his time. As we read in verse 1, the Spirit predicted that there will be some of godly people will give up their faiths in God; instead, they will follow the doctrines of devils (KJV) and give their ears to deceiving spirits. Let us define the deceiving of spirits and doctrines of devils.
The deceiving of spirits and doctrines of devils has the same job, but the deceiving of spirits comes from us and not from Satan. Of course, we can receive spirits from Satan if we were not listening to the Holy Ghost that Jesus brought down to us. We each have spirit within ourselves, too, is called conscience. God gave us conscience, so that we can decide what is good or not for ourselves and in the eyes of God. But our spirits are not strong enough to grasp what is the truth, because we have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We can have conscious (spirits) alone, but that will make us dumb or doing stupid things. Without the Holy Ghost in us, we can deceive from ourselves and from others, even from Satan. Jesus said that He will bring us another Comforter that He may dwell in us and bring us to remembrance what Jesus told us (John 14:16-17, 26).
The doctrines of devils are the promises and truths, from Satan and his angels, which constrict with the Word of God. Their doctrines are all untrue. Since the serpent (Satan) deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), we all have learned to lie or listened to the false promises and believe what the others or Satan said to us. The satanic doctrines come not from God, but from Satan himself. His goals are trying to deceive God’s people, so they can run away from Him as far as possible and let them find their ways to eternal death.
The method of deception that Satan is using from our habits, what we enjoy, what God gave to us, or in the media. There is nothing wrong what we like to do or what God gave to us. The Bible said that there is a time of laugh, receiving, playing that God gave us. But if Satan learn that our jobs are the most priority than to serve God, then he will use this method to trap us.
Another way that Satan uses to deceive the godly people is through your family, neighbors, friends, and/or co-workers to deny yourselves and your relationship with God and others. If you are a disabled person, for example, and your family would say that you cannot walk or become a career profession, you might feel down and believe what they said. That’s what Satan does to pull down on godly people. And nearly most children listen what the devil say through their well-known people. That’s why there are more homeless children throughout the world. That’s why the American people decide to enter the TV Talk Shows to deal with their problems and may decide to damage their relationship completely.
In the next verse, verse 2, said that speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. The word “iron” is a heated metal implement used for branding or cauterizing. In I Timothy 4:2, to speak lies is like a really hot metal comes out of the mouth that it can destroy someone’s relationship. As we read in verse 3, Satan is trying to make us to do something that neglects the stuff that God created.
Even today, many of us don’t realize that the devils are still trying to deceive the people, especially those are within churches. Satan begins to deceive the people in the churches, because the church is where the people can to worship God as a unifying body. Now, the most churches can be found on the radio, TV, and web cast, because that’s where the church leaders can be popular to the world and makes a bigger profit of money. Most TV and radio ministries would possibly make almost to half of million dollars a year. This is not from God, but from Satan. Although God commanded us to go to the nations to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He didn’t say that we need to make a TV or radio ministry to reach the lost souls. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go…” It means that we need to use our feet to go to destination to reach the lost souls. If we’d decide to make a TV or radio ministry, it means that we don’t like to take a long destination to save the lost. Building a mega churches may seem okay, but it must build only for one main purpose and not because of TV or radio production.
Now, let us listen to what Matthew Henry, a great preach in 1600s/1700s, said on I Timothy 4:1-3. This quote is from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706-1721).
“1. One of the great instances of the apostasy, namely, giving heed to doctrines of demons, or concerning demons; that is, those doctrines which teach the worship of saints and angels, as a middle sort of deities, between the immortal God and mortal men, such as the heathen called demons, and worshipped under that notion. Now this plainly agrees to the church of Rome, and it was one of the first steps towards that great apostasy, the enshrining of the relics of martyrs, paying divine honours to them, erecting altars, burning incense, consecrating images and temples, and making prayers and praises to the honour of saints departed. This demon-worship is paganism revived, the image of the first beast.
“2. The instruments of promoting and propagating this apostasy and delusion. (1.) It will be done by hypocrisy of those that speak lies, the agents and emissaries of Satan, who promote these delusions by lies and forgeries and pretended miracles, v. 2. It is done by their hypocrisy, professing honour to Christ, and yet at the same time fighting against all his anointed offices, and corrupting or profaning all his ordinances. This respects also the hypocrisy of those who have their consciences seared with a red-hot iron, who are perfectly lost to the very first principles of virtue and moral honesty. If men had not their consciences seared as with a hot iron, they could never maintain a power to dispense with oaths for the good of the catholic cause, could never maintain that no faith is to be kept with heretics, could never divest themselves of all remains of humanity and compassion, and clothe themselves with the most barbarous cruelty, under pretence of promoting the interest of the church. (2.) Another part of their character is that they forbid to marry, forbid their clergy to marry, and speak very reproachfully of marriage, though an ordinance of God; and that they command to abstain from meats, and place religion in such abstinence at certain times and seasons, only to exercise a tyranny over the consciences of men.
“3. On the whole observe, (1.) The apostasy of the latter times should not surprise us, because it was expressly foretold by the Spirit. (2.) The Spirit is God, otherwise he could not certainly foresee such distant events, which as to us are uncertain and contingent, depending on the tempers, humours, and lusts of men. (3.) The difference between the predictions of the Spirit and the oracles of the heathen is remarkable; the Spirit speaks expressly, but the oracles of the heathen were always doubtful and uncertain. (4.) It is comfortable to think that in such general apostasies all are not carried away, but only some. (5.) It is common for seducers and deceivers to pretend to the Spirit, which is a strong presumption that all are convinced that this is the most likely to work in us an approbation of what pretends to come from the Spirit. (6.) Men must be hardened, and their consciences seared, before they can depart from the faith, and draw in others to side with them. (7.) It is a sign that men have departed from the faith when they will command what God has forbidden, such as saint and angel or demon-worship; and forbid what God has allowed or commanded, such as marriage and meats.”
As we see, some churches have fall onto Satan’s traps, such as I described few on the preceding paragraphs. Why? Satan wanted to take control over the earth (see Isaiah 14:12-14). He wanted to take over God’s creation while he was at Garden of Eden and he is still trying to aim for taking control the earth. Now, he is trying to deceive Christians through Roman Catholicism (or Roman Empire , a pagan nation in Babylon ). If we study on this subject of study, we will find out the relationship between Roman Catholicism and Paganism, which it describes in Jeremiah 44.
Okay, let us stop here to define the word “deception” in I Timothy 4:1-3. Let’s now discuss how we can avoid from the satanic deception or deception from our minds or others.
First ones is this: Don’t let your conscience be your guidance of your soul. Our conscience is too weak to guide each of us. Even though our conscience is from God, He wants let us to make a decision for ourselves, but most of times we take turn to wrong path or -360 degree and that’s not from God.
Second: Don’t let your people deceive you through their words. If you want to know if your friend is speaking the truth or promise, you need to see their actions through their words. The word and action must always put together.
Third: Don’t let Satan comes to your life to deceive you. By doing that, you need to ask Jesus Christ comes into your life. Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they (or you) might have life, and that they (or you) might have it more abundantly.”
Are you saved? Are your love ones and friends saved in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? The purpose of this study is to help you to become closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3.)
If you are lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus Christ and want to know Him as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life. Paul says, "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done in your private room or workplace, then you need to tell to your friends or love ones about what you have done, so they may rejoice with you and want to have that relationship with Christ in their own life. There are many occults in the world, which do not know the love of God and His great plan for those who believe in Him. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Who is Jesus (Part III): He is Our Personal Savior
Topic: Jesus Christ
Today in our world, there are many pastors proclaim that Jesus is our personal Savior. Yet, many Christian, even pastors and evangelists, may teach less on this general subject of the Gospel and would talk more on friendship of Jesus, who would help us to meet our needs, rather than the Lordship. Although Jesus is considered as our Friend, He is also our King and Lord. He is our Father to us. As I said in the previous message, He was existed before the world was born. He knows all about us individually well. I understand that this can be scary, especially those who are apart from God. But He knows us very well. Jeremiah 1:5 states that before Jeremiah was born, God knew him and what he was about to become. As we read his book, Jeremiah was a prophet of God throughout his life; and God used him to save His people from the captivity.
Although God can ignore His people from the torture until they would learn from their mistakes, He has compassion to give them another chance to fellowship with Him by using His prophets to rescue from the darkness. Even today, God uses pastors and evangelists, even false teachers, to reach the lost souls. Although false teachers sometime don’t know what they are doing, God can use them to reach the lost souls to receive them into Himself.
Who is Jesus to you? If He is just your Friend, you maybe in the dangerous situation in your Christian walk. You maybe in the situation where the devil can make more confuse you who Jesus is. But if Jesus is more than just a Friend to you, you are in a safe place where the devil cannot destroy you.
Now, let’s read our text in John 3:16-17.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16 is very familiar verse in the entire Bible; even unbelievers can memorize this verse. But do we familiar with what the next verse says? According to John 3:17 says that God did not bring His Son, Jesus, to judge the world, but rescues the lost souls from the darkness. Now, don’t misunderstand that God would not judge the world. Yes, God will judge the world on the last day. But, in this text, it describes who Jesus is. He is the Savior of this world.
The reason we celebrate on His Resurrection Day and His birth, not because the rest of the world has these holidays, but because He is our Savior and King. Notice I didn’t say we celebrate on Easter Sunday and Christmas as Christian holidays tradition. If you thoroughly study on Easter and Christmas, you will find out these holidays came from the pagan religion, which God forbids for us to practice in our daily spiritual walk. Although Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas came from the pagan ritual, we celebrate Resurrection Day and His birth only for one reason: Our Savior came to the world to save us from the darkness and lead us to the light—the light of the Kingdom of God .
Some of us may too attach to holidays that we may forget who Savior is. As we read the first four books of the New Testament, Jesus came to the world, as a babe, lived among us in His earthly body. Yet, He was in His flesh, He did not commit sins; instead, He went through suffering to pay our sins and lead us to the Light. Jesus did not just die for our sins, but with His compassion to save us from the darkness.
Let I ask you these questions:
- What if the stranger come and asks you about Jesus Christ? Would you willing to take moment to explain him about who Jesus is to you?
- What if the stranger rebukes you with cursing you and the name of Jesus, what would do?
- What if the evangelists tells you the other ways to Jesus, such as learn the Law of Reciprocity (related to tithing) and living a Christian life by reading more, pray more, and giving more?
There may be less Christians who are willing to take the first two questions, because most Christians would not like to take the risk with the strangers. But most Christians would take the third question seriously, because they want to have more blessings in their lives. Sadly, many world evangelists teach more on worldly Christian for them to learn quickest way to receive Jesus. But there is no easiest way to get into Heaven. We have to do the groundwork, such as the first two questions above. Get dirty. Make mistakes and learn the right way to handle the situation. If you feel lonely, depress, need someone with you everyday, call your Savior, Jesus, who is going to be right there with you all the way. If the stranger asks you about who Jesus is, let Jesus speak through you to the guy.
What if the stranger asks you who Jesus is? Would you answer him or ignore his question. It’s your choice to answer his question—whether you’d fail the test from God or get an “A”. Apostle Peter had this situation as he journeyed with the other apostles to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles. When somebody asks him a question, Peter was ready to give him the answer. Even though Peter denied three times who Jesus was, he learned from his mistakes and went forward to what Jesus called him to be. (Note: Peter was not first Pope, but one of Apostles, who first went to Gentile nations to proclaim the Gospel after Jesus ascended to Heaven.)
Are you ready to share the Gospel of Jesus to others? God calls us to be missionaries to proclaim who Savior Jesus is. Let’s do what He told us to do.
Are you saved? Are your love ones and friends saved in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? The purpose of this study is to help you to become closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3.)
If you are lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus Christ and want to know Him as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life. Paul says, "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done in your private room or workplace, then you need to tell to your friends or love ones about what you have done, so they may rejoice with you and want to have that relationship with Christ in their own life. There are many occults in the world, which do not know the love of God and His great plan for those who believe in Him. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Friday, February 3, 2006
Who is Jesus IV: Myth and Truth
Topic: Jesus Christ
Most today’s people believe that there is a Supreme Being who watches over us. Unfortunately, most of unbelievers, even some Christians, don’t believe in hell and Satan. Is there really placed called Hell? Like the other, there is a very few of Christians who believe that we are getting closer to the end of the world. Although there are many people who professed to be Christians, few of us acknowledge and understand the truth and revelation of the Word of God.
As Paul says in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Although the Bible is a Jewish and Christianity history book, it also teaches us about whom God is, how we need to live for Him, and shows us our mistakes and teaches us the right way of handing the situation.
In this last part of the series, we will learn about how the Christianity became a popular to the today’s world and religion than in the early church era. We will study what is the myth that today’s most Christian treasure and what is the truth from God’s view.
Before we go into study, I would like to say to you that this subject of teaching is not popular known topic to today’s churches. Since the one of the earliest popes adopted the Babylonian tradition of holidays and other ritual practices to the Roman Catholicism and added to the Christianity, many today’s churches accepted the Catholic ways to celebrate them as Christian holidays, such as Halloween, Saint’s Day, Christmas, and Easter. Although Christians have the right to create holidays as long as we’d get approval from God, it is abomination from God that we can mix holiday with Paganism.
Paul says in II Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” None! Zero! Our God is a jealous God. The first three of the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:7-11) tell us that we should give honor and praise God, who created the world and everything in the world. If we worship the other gods, our God would become jealous. Think about what if you find out your husband/wife cheats on you with the other guy/woman? Would this make you jealous? This is the same way about God. He loves us very much that He chooses His Son to be sacrificial offering to pay debts for our sin. If we worship the other gods, He would become sad, angry, and disappoint to see that His children would decide to change their identities.
Not only we will look to holidays to discover God’s truth, we also will look into today’s Christian teaching, media, entertainment, and music. We need to understand what’s going on the world, so that we may not be deceived from the devil’s trap. We also need this kind of teaching in our life: to prepare the Lord’s coming; to prepare to give out the answers from whatever people ask on End Time; and to prepare for the battle against Satan.
Before I came to realize that Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are Pagan holidays, I didn’t know the real meaning of holidays rather than they were Christian traditions. Within couple months after the 9/11 tragedy, one of my Christian elder brothers began to show me and explain to me about many Scriptures about the end time and how 9/11 tragedy effected to the preparation of the coming of Antichrist. In fact, my friend and I were terrified at Recreation Center of Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center to see that our country attacked by some religious leaders on that tragedy day.
One of the passages that my friends shared with me was Jeremiah 10, one of Babylonian holiday traditions that Israelites practiced as part of worshipping pagan gods. As my friend read this passage to me, he explained how Jeremiah 10:3-4 effect to one of our modern day’s holiday tradition, which I will explain it later. As I spent search God’s Word more with the help of my friend, I began to understand that we are getting closer to the end of our age.
In the message, which I’m going to share with you, it may surprise you or make disbelief on the subjects. If that happen, I recommend you to begin search the Scripture before you’d decide to ask me some of your questions or looking for other resources of information. God has the final authority over everything.
Let’s begin to discuss on Christmas and Jesus’ birth.
Many people believe that Christmas is a time for shopping, family and friends gathering, exchanging the gifts each other, and etc. If you are a Christian you may have learned that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. Well, this may surprise you that Christmas was not originated from Jesus Christ’s birth, but from the Pagan religion. Let’s look some points:
First, the word “Christmas” cannot be found in the Bible and in the Hebrew or Greek manuscript or picture of it from the Scripture. Many people, even bible scholars, believe that Christmas is coming from Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2, which is incorrect. If we split the word “Christmas,” we will come with CHRIST-MAS or CHRIST’S MASS, which the Roman Catholic’s special mass performed in celebrating Christ’s birth. “In this mass, Jesus is considered both the priest and the victim, represented by the Catholic priest who offers Him as a sacrifice each time the mass is performed. In offering this "sacrifice," the priest believes he has the power to change the bread and the wine of the Communion into Jesus' literal flesh and blood, requiring the people to worship these elements as they do God Himself. This is obviously a denial of the gospel, and thereby, a false gospel (a re-doing of the sacrifice for sin—Heb. 9:12, 24-26; 10:10, 12, 14). Yet, many who cry out all year long against the blasphemous Roman Catholic system, at year-end embrace Rome 's most blasphemous abomination of them all—Christmas!” (See Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?)
Second, Jesus didn’t come to the earth during the winter season. If we read about the angels’ announcement to the shepherds about Jesus (Luke 2:8-14), shepherds couldn’t watch the sheep outside if it was in the winter season. Catholic Pope selected December 25 as Jesus’ birthday, because this day of the month was the celebration of Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. “In order to make Christianity palatable to the heathen, the Roman Church simply took Saturnalia, adopted it into Christianity, and then eventually many of the associated pagan symbols, forms, customs, and traditions were reinterpreted (i.e., "Christianized") in ways "acceptable" to Christian faith and practice. (In fact, in 375 A.D., the Church of Rome under Pope Julius I merely announced that the birth date of Christ had been "discovered" to be December 25th, and was accepted as such by the "faithful." The festival of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithras could now be celebrated as the birthday of Christ!) The pagans flocked into the Catholic places of worship, because they were still able to worship their old gods, but merely under different names. It mattered not to them whether they worshiped the Egyptian goddess mother and her child under the old names (Isis and Horus), or under the names of the "Virgin Mary" and the "Christ-child." Either way, it was the same old idol-religion (cf. 1 Thes. 1:8-10; 5:22 -- Paul says to turn from idols, not rename them and Christianize them). Roman Catholicism's Christmas Day is nothing but "baptized" paganism, having come along much too late to be part of "the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).” (See Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?)
According to Lee Strobe, a Christian author of Case of Christmas, after his research on the virgin birth of Jesus, he believes that Christ was born between April 20 and May in between 6 and 3 B.C. This also can approve by Luke’s account, which I gave this above.
Lastly, Christmas tree and decoration have nothing to do with Jesus’ birth. Jesus didn’t die on the tree, but on the Cross that was made of a tree. When I read Jeremiah 10:3-4, I was first surprised about how Israelites worshipped the tree with the decoration on it, which it was the same method that we are doing over 1500 years. Having a Christmas tree in our houses is represented the nature of god that the Israelites practiced to avoid God the Almighty.
Also, we need to understand about Jesus’ earthly life and ministry is His death and resurrection, which we recognize it as Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. We most misinterpret His final week of ministry over 1500 years due to Roman Catholic converted to Christianity as they still carried the pagan belief system.
In KJV, the word “Easter” refers to Passover and it only mentions once in entire books of KJV Bible, which is in Acts 12:4. Otherwise, the word “Easter” in pagan term was from Eostare, pagan goddess. (See Should Christians Observe Easter)
Most of us believe that His final week of ministry began on Sunday, the week of Good Friday, which is March/April. If we read all the four Gospels, especially in the Gospel of John, there is no verse that Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem for Passover Feast on the first day of the week, Sunday. Yes, Jesus started to go to Jerusalem six days before the Passover Feast (John 12:1), but it wasn’t on Sunday.
According to Jewish calendar, the Passover Feast was held on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (March/April) (see Exodus 12), which was probably on Wednesday (before the actual Sabbath began). If this is case, Jesus went to Jerusalem on the week of next Wednesday.
I believe this because if Jesus died on Friday evening (6:01 PM), this would mean that He broke the Sabbath tradition, because Sabbath is actually began on Friday at 6:01 PM and ended on Saturday at 6:00 PM. We must remember that Jesus’ death represents the Passover the Lamb and Jews cannot sacrifice anything on Sabbath day until the day is over.
Also, Jesus must meet the requirement of sacrifice the Passover the lamb. If He went to His grave on Friday at 6:01 PM and resurrected on Sunday at 6:00 AM, that meant that He was in the heart of the earth (not in hell) for 1 ½ day. Remember that Jesus said He will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights (see Matthew 12:39-41), that is full 72 hours (24-hour a day x 3 days). If Jesus went to His grave on Thursday at 6:01 PM and resurrected on Saturday at 6:00 PM, this meant that He met the requirement of Passover Lamb.
Although Christmas and Easter have many ritual practices that are nowhere we can find in the Bible, these are few errors that we still value to try to honor God in the Church. Even though we cannot recognize whether the ritual comes from God or the other religious system, God is still giving some times to us to repent from our errors.
Now, let’s go forward with this subject and discuss about teachings on the Media. By now, Christianity is on the third place of the four greatest world religions: Roman Catholicism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Notice, I put Roman Catholicism as individual religious group and not in Christianity and put in the number one on the top four. Why? If you understand Catholicism, you will find there are many misconceptions on Christianity that we cannot find in the Holy Bible, such as Prayer of Rosary and Jesus hang and naked on the cross at the front of church sanctuary. Most today’s Christian holidays arrived from Roman Catholicism. Also, many people already accepted and followed Roman Catholicism as Christianity.
There are some Christian churches still carried teachings from Roman Catholicism. For example, Bruce Wilkson, a Christian author of The Prayer of Jabez. His teaching on prayer is the similar method that Roman Catholicism used: repeating same prayer for thirty straight days. It’s great that we repeat our prayer to God in different ways each day, but we should not limit our prayer into a month long and repeat same words of prayer to get our blessings from Him.
If we read Matthew 6:9-13 on Disciples’ Prayer (not the Lord’s Prayer), Jesus didn’t say that we need to repeat the words of prayer, but in this manner (Matthew 6:9 NKJV) or approach: 1) give honor and praise to God, 2) pray for other and ourselves, and 3) give honor and praise to God.
Most today’s churches teach on the subject of Christian living, such as family, marriage, finance, and gaining more blessings from God. Please don’t misunderstand and think that I am against on this subject. Even though we need to study about Christian living, there are a lot preachers who teaching on this for ourselves only. That’s self-fish.
To get better understand on Christian living, we must interpret the Scripture word for word in the Bible. We don’t need to add another word or another version of the Bible to make ourselves understand. No! There are about more than 200 new Bible versions in a year in the alone, but we may use certain Bible versions for our own understanding or belief or other reason. (I am currently used the both KJV and NKJV (similar to KJV), because they came from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscript, which was ancient, to get better understanding God’s Word. Others, such as NIV, NCV, and NLT, are from the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, but the scribe scholars may use the latest manuscript or plain English dictionary, which it may not agree with the original meaning.) Also, we need to apply on the teaching of Christian living from God’s point of view, not from ours. That is why some churches decide to not to do the TV or radio evangelism. If the church may decide to do on TV or radio evangelism outreach, their goals may change—more focus on money to keep the business running and less on the reaching for the lost souls to Jesus Christ.
Lastly, Christian entertainment and music industries.
By now, there are millions of Christian music, TV shows, movies, and games for Christians to entertain. Some are good and some are bad. We see that many secular singers/artists are converted into Christianity and appear on the Christian channels, such as Mr. T, Tia and Tamara Mowry, M.C. Hammer, and many others. Even we see that many Christian movies are appearing on the public theaters, such as The Passion (February 2004), The Gospel (Fall 2005), and The Chronicles of Narnia (December 2005); and as a result they made some millions of dollars in profit.
Why?
They often mix Christian entertainment with their own works or other resources to go with the Bible. For example, The Chronicles of Narnia—that is based on Fall of Man (Genesis 3) and the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ. This movie was based on books by C.S. Lewis and it was made for whole family. Even C.S. was a pastor, his books are secular view. In the movie, there is twisted view of Fall of Man and the gift of salvation and it contains some witchcraft. Many people like the movies that are Christians, because the movies speak their language of words and appearances and less from God’s perspective. This is the same way about Christian music—mixed with worldly tune or beats.
There is not much of time left before God would judge the world. As we see on the media, there are a lot of bad news on the TV, radio, and newspaper. But God is holding up to bring down judgment on earth until every person would repent their sins and join with Him forever. It is up to make that decision.
Are you saved? Are your love ones and friends saved in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? The purpose of this study is to help you to become closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3.)
If you are lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus Christ and want to know Him as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life. Paul says, "That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10.) If you have done in your private room or workplace, then you need to tell to your friends or love ones about what you have done, so they may rejoice with you and want to have that relationship with Christ in their own life. There are many occults in the world, which do not know the love of God and His great plan for those who believe in Him. As it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
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