Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:9-12 KJV)

Before God leased Satan to the life of Job, there was a question from Satan. He asked to God, “Doth Job fear God for nought?” or “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Even Satan knew Job has respect to God or God knew what this deceiver was trying to do, he challenged God with one question. Even Satan succeed to trick Eve at Garden of Eden, it does not mean that he would succeed this ones. God said in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

As we read verse 11, Satan told God that Job would curse at God due to his life tragedies. Then God gave the permission to Satan to do whatever he wanted to do with Job, except don’t touch Job with his hand. In other words, he didn’t have the right to kill Job. He could try to mix Job’s mind as he did to Eve, but he cannot murder Job’s life.

Why? Why Satan cannot kill Job? Even his family members died from tragedy, God wanted to show that Satan can control over the earth, but he cannot make all the people to worship him. God made humans to make their own decisions. Are you glad that God didn’t make us as robots? Of course, we have fallen from sins and become enemies of God. It doesn’t mean that we have to stay there. God can pick us up and lead into the right path of life, if we’d let Him.

There are some Christians and evangelists who have turned away from God and lead themselves into destruction. Even though I am not a pastor of any church, I’d like to tell you that God is waiting for you to open your heart, so He can live in you and direct you into the right path. If you are TV/radio evangelist and have lead your congregations with the wrong messages of the gospel, you are not too late to turn yourself to God and have the new beginning of Spirit-led revival. The reason you don’t find any prosperity message in my blog, because it is not the main message of the gospel. Even though there is nothing wrong for us to have nice things, Satan can use our material possessions to turn ourselves away from God.

If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EST

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Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1:6-10 KJV)

I’d like to go back to verse 6 and stop at verse 10 to show you how this debate started. As I stated, Satan started as the messenger of God until he decided to rebellion against God. Now, Satan showed up with the other angels and God asked him where he arrived from. Remember, the Book of Job began after God destroyed the earth with flood of rain and ended before the life of Abraham. As we see, somewhere in Genesis 10 and 12, Job was living on the land of Uz. Notice, he was the wealthy man.

Between Job 1:5 and 1:6, we don’t know how long Satan stayed in the presence of God and why he was there on the first place. As we read in 1:8, it seemed that God started to brag about His servant, Job to Satan. Why did He brag about Job to Satan? It may seem to be awkward, but God wanted Satan to see what he was missing when he turned away from Him.

We often decided to ignore God and do our ways. As a result, we may miss the opportunity to receive blessing from God. We may have decided to live with the world system. Yet, it is not enough to fulfill our dreams. In Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If you’d like to have successful live in this earth until Jesus would come and take you home, live your life for Him and not for the world. There are many people, even those who called themselves as Christians, live as the people in the secular world. Even though they may have multimillionaire of houses, they are spiritually poor.

As we see Satan’s respond, he first questioned God with “Does Job fear God.” This format of question is similar to he questioned to Eve in Genesis 3. Satan tried to trick with our minds by twisting what God said to us as he did to Eve. Although Eve failed into the devil’s trap, we don’t need to fall into his. We need to rely on God’s Words on a daily basis to strength our faiths. If Satan would doubt on you, you would need to start quoting the Scriptures. This is why our personal quality time with God is important. Not only you’d build your personal relationship with God, it also gives the strength to resist the devil’s trick.

If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EST

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Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:6-7 KJV)

There was a time when all the sons of God came together to the presence of God. We don’t have the description of their conversations with God in Heaven. The “sons of God” may have been angels. This also means Jesus and Satan were there. The Bible doesn’t give us the number of heavenly councils at the meeting, but we do know that there are thousands of thousands in the heavenly place.

One of sons of God was Satan. The Open Bible says, “Satan is the noun translated “adversary” or “Satan.” The adversaries can be human as in Num. 22:22 and 1 Sam. 29:4. At times God is the adversary of humans (1 Kin. 11:14). The superhuman adversary, or Satan, is seen in only three passages in the OT, the most familiar of which is Job 1 and 2. In these passages Satan is the adversary who obstructs or accuses. There is some question whether the Satan is a role being played by a supernatural being or whether the title refers to a particular being. In any case, the Satan is not all-powerful and is subject to God’s rebuke.”

We often don’t recognize his name is changeable to Santa. “Originally, the Santa Claus concept came from the pagan Egyptian god, Bes, a rotund, gnome-like personage who was the patron of little children. Bes was said to live at the North Pole, working year-round to produce toys for children who had been good and obedient to their parents. In Dutch, he was called "Sinter Klaas." Dutch settlers brought the custom to America. In Holland and other European countries, the original Santa Claus was actually a grim personage who traversed the countryside, determined to find out who really had been "naughty or nice." Those who had been acting up were summarily switched. The association of Santa Claus with snow, reindeer, and the North Pole suggests Scandinavian or Norse traditions of the Yuletide season. (In Babylonia, also, the stag [reindeer] was a symbol of the mighty one, Nimrod. The symbolism of antlers worn on the head of a noble leader would demonstrate his prowess as a hunter, and thereby, influence people to follow him.)” (Read Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?.)

We often do not recognize Satan’s deception because he plays like a nice of God’s angel, such as Santa Claus. The Bible tells us that he wants to be worshipped (Isaiah 14:12-14). Right now, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is the most popular as the secular music because it blends with the worldly music tunes. It’s also sad that most Christian leaders preach more on Christian life value and prosperity messages than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Since Satan succeed his first accomplishment at Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), he tried to attack Job’s life and all the humankind. He is called the adversary or accuser because he actively looks for people to attack with temptation (I Peter 5:8-9) and because he wants to make people hate God. We will see that Job didn’t lose his faith in God as Jesus did in the wilderness for 40 days (Matthew 4:1-11).

Let me ask you a question. Are you having difficult time to free from temptation? Maybe you have addiction to TV, Internet and magazine pornography; or hungry for entertainment that you have no room for God to fulfill in your life. I’d like to tell you today that you do not need to go through horrifying addiction or hungry for the media to feed you. Only Jesus can help you to fulfill your dream with His purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”

If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EST

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There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (Job 1:1-5 KJV)

We all have problems in our lives. Whether we’d face the death of our family members or face financial problems to take care of our families. In this new series, we will look Job’s life. We will spend several weeks to focus on Job 1-2. In these two chapters of Job, there are many important lessons we can apply in our lives. In later of Job 1, we will see how Satan attacks Job’s life and how Job would respond to his miserable situation.

The Hebrew word for Job is ÕIyowb { ee-yobe’}, which means persecuted. Most biblical scholars believed that he lived in early part of Patriarch Era. As we read Job 1:1-5, he was righteous man and had reverence for God. Also, he was the wealthiest person with several farm animals and ten children. He and his family lived in the land of Uz, near Canaan. Even though his seven sons were not respect for him and God, Job continued to pray and fast for all of his children.

We, too, have responsibilities to take care our families. Being Christians mean that we need to take positions as priests. I Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…” There are some Christian families do not take this verse seriously. As we read 1 Peter 2:9, it does not only apply to priest in the church building. Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

In later chapter of his book, Job will face several tragedies in his life. But God will not leave him there. We will see how God turns Job life 360 degrees.

Often, many Christians want wealthier lives by listening to some TV and radio evangelists. Even though we can be rich by God, He would like to have personal relationship with each of us. God did not bring His Son, Jesus, to show the way for us to become worldly riches, but relationship. Job 1:21 says, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Our treasures are in Heaven, not in this world.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EST

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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. (1 John 2:15-17 KJV)

James 4:4 says that “whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Even though God created everything in the world, He let Satan rule His creation for while. This doesn’t means he have the right to control our minds (see Job 1:12, 2:6). We have the freedom to choose which life we would like to live. Either we can live our lives with the system of this world or the system of God. We cannot have both systems (Matthew 6:24).

Sadly, most of us choose the world system to live a life today. If we’d look into churches, there would be many people dropping out from the solid biblical teaching Christian churches and move into secular Christian churches. If we’d look into differences between these two groups of churches, we have:

Above the paragraph, we can see why most Christians are moving to secular Christian churches. As a result, people are believing that Jesus is just their pal. Some Christian t-shirts are labeled as Jesus Freaks.

The Bible says clear that if we are friends of this world, we are enemies of God. Many today’s Christian leaders are going to that direction with Chrislam.

Is your church representing for the world or God?

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? (Malachi 3:8 KJV)

Even though this portion of the passage of the Scripture is related to tithing, I’d like to discuss on how we can build our relationship again. This message is important to us today as we see many churches are downsizing the congregations.

I recently heard that one of local Baptist churches in my area has decreased the activity program for singles, because some of them decided to leave the church. Also, I just read that our nation will increase the Muslim population by doubling it by 2030 (Muslim Population to Double in U.S. by 2030, Report Projects). It is sad to hear that we have president and some Christian evangelists are advocating for Islam and deny the true God, who created the universe.

Many today’s Christian leaders have compromised the Words of God to make everyone would feel “good.” Joe Osteen, Kenneth Copland, TD Jakes and many other Christian media preachers have thousands of congregations, because they preached the wrong messages of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, if you’d watch Joe Osteen, there is no message that contains about sin, God’s wrath, justice, and hell. Yet, he is making about $1 million per week for the 30 minutes TV show.

People are heading to wrong direction to seek the counseling. Others may decide to leave the churches because their preachers may change their hearts. There are some preachers today, who have fallen down from the foundation biblical teaching to more contemporary sermons, such as Max Lucado and Andy Stanley. Even some church services may have more contemporary praise and worship time and 15-20 minutes for the sermon (spiritual meat).

We need to reunite with God rather than robbing Him. In Malachi’s time, there were some people, who cheated on God. Instead giving some financial supports to the temple, they were robbing things from God. We see exact same events that are happening in today’s churches as the days of the Old Testament.

Jesus didn’t said, “I have come to destroy you.” Instead, He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b.) So, why some Christians are walking away from God? Can we have satisfied lives without God? We need to evaluate ourselves to which god we want to serve. If we don’t serve God, we would be automatically serving Satan, the Devil.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8 KJV)

The second point I’d like to bring you to attention, from Matthew 24:4-8, is the terror and war. We just celebrated the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 attack. Many people are still remembered what it happened on that day and are stilled wonder what it would happen next. I recently talked with one of my church members about our country economic system issues. One of things this person most concerns is cutting social benefits for the next generation.

Right now, we see some developments of financial wars in U.S. and other parts of the world, which it would end up with creating One World Currency (OWC). Some parts of European countries are beginning to work with other countries to develop OWC. Some parts of British country already has street cameras. Other parts of countries already come up with putting microchips into animals and humans’ skins. Couple years ago, one of Virginian delegates rejected the idea of putting a microchip into human’s skin. If that person would accept to make this as a law, we’d be big trouble, because it is not an idea from God, but it’s a satanic system. Once we would accept the Mark of Beast, there is no guarantee for us to be united with Jesus Christ.

Some secret scientists come up with weather control device to try to destroy other nations. This might be the reason why most meteorologists can map the direction of hurricane before it would hit on the Gulf Coast.

Jesus said cleared that there will be rumor of wars, earthquakes, and other natural disasters before His coming. This is why the Church needs to be ready for His coming. We also need to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8 KJV)

This past week, Eastern Region of the United States had 5.9 magnitude of earthquake, severe thunderstorm, and Hurricane Irene. From all three storms, many reports came in and said that some people have died, injured, and suffered. It was unusual that all three storms were happening in one week.

As we read in Matthew 24:7, these terrible storms are the signs of the end time. Of course, this earth would not be perished forever, but it will be renew as the original form of the earth in Genesis 1-2. But, to get renew the earth, God must bring judgment to the earth to separate the sins from righteousness. He cannot build His government on the earth until He would wipe away all the dirt (sins). As we continue to study on Rebuilding the Temple of God, I’d like to discuss on signs of the end time. I am not going to encourage you to look for these signs every time that tragedy would happen in your community, state, country, or world. But Jesus told us to be ready for His second coming and become His bride.

First thing that Jesus warned us about the deception from false prophets and teachers. Apostle Paul warned us in I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…” Nowadays, we see many media evangelists are teaching the Gospel from their own interpretation of the Bible. This is why United States have so many Bible versions. Currently, we have more than 100 Bible versions rather than King James Version of the Bible. Our country is accountable when we’d try to twist God’s words from the original translation (see Revelation 22:18-19 KJV). I am guilty of this, too, when I discovered this as I got into in-depth study of the Bible.

When we’d turn on TBN, CBN, or Daystar, we hear many teachings on finance, Christian living, end time prophecy, or how to receive blessing from God. What about how God can get blessing from us? Or how we’d need to build solid relationship with God? Our mission is not for us to become multimillionaires, but to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others who don’t have relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, many churches are emerging together with other religions, such as Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah Witness, and Mormonism. Currently, many media evangelists are trying to push us toward to Chrislam (Christianity-Islam). If this would success as they succeed Christianity-Catholicism, we will have big issue.

We’d need to rely on God and not mislead by false teachers and prophets.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (II Timothy 4:2 KJV)

Our mission is not about how we can be in the world popularity contest, but it’s about spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost souls. There are many preachers today who travel around the world to share the Good News of Christianity, except the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to change our concept to spread the Words of God.

We need to be ready to open to share the Gospel to other people around us. In II Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” We cannot be like Joel Osteen, a pastor of Lakewood Community Church in Houston, Texas, who avoids teachings on sins, judgment, and the wrath of God. Even though God is a loving God, He is also God of justice.

In Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” We cannot let sins go unpunished. We need to correct from our errors before God would correct us. Sadly, today’s media evangelists would preach from unbiblical aspect of Christianity. Some churches may decide to do the communion each Sunday, which Roman Catholic Church practices this ritual.

We cannot be too religious of Christianity because that’s not all about. We need to train for ourselves by spending our time with God, and be alert to ready to give answers to those who questions about Christianity and our faiths in Jesus Christ.

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Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:13-14 KJV)

To rebuild the temple of God, we would need to be salt and light of this world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Before He ascent to the Heaven, Jesus commended us to preach the gospel to the world (see Matthew 28:18-20). Even though we see many evangelists would go to other parts of the world, it doesn’t mean that they’d have successful mission trip. They would need to put extra effort to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s look Seven Statics on World Needs by Doug Nichols, Founder and International Director Emeritus of Action International Ministries:

• There are 28 million people in slavery worldwide; many are children and victims of human trafficking. 400,000 children are in slavery in Haiti. [“Finding Slavery in My Own Backyard”, by David Batstone. “Missions Frontiers”, September-October 2007 29:5, p.12]
• There are 3.2 million untrained or undertrained pastors throughout the world. Pray for missionary mentors and trainers to assist these needy pastors [www.topic.us].
• There are 100 million Christians living in persecution throughout the world [www.persecution.com].
• There are 145 million orphans worldwide. If one missionary (or one church) took responsibility for 1,000 orphans, there would, therefore, be a need for 145,000 missionaries (or individual churches) [www.viva.org; www.compassion.com; www.actioncic.org].
• There are 160 million street children, especially in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Thousands of missionaries and Christian workers are needed to take the Gospel and compassionate care to these needy children [www.actioninternational.org; www.actioncic.org].
• There are 200 million people worldwide on the move (referred to as the Diaspora) in search of employment and a better education, because of persecution and natural disasters, and so forth. Many are open to kindness and hospitality which opens the door for the Gospel [www.fin-online.org].
• There are three billion people worldwide with no nearby Christian or church to share the Gospel with them. They can only be reached by someone (a missionary) going to them with the Gospel. If one missionary went to 5,000 of these, there would be the need for 600,000 additional missionaries [www.actioninternational.org].

Resource: Spring 2011 Newsletter at www.epm.org.

If we’d look at all these numbers of people, we need more than one person to share the Gospel with them. Even though MGJC Web Ministries can touch millions of lives through today’s modern technologies, it cannot reach other millions of people, who don’t have access to computers.

It’s sad enough some today’s evangelists go and preach the gospel to the world for their recognition, such as Benny Hinn, Rick Warren, and Robert Schuler, Sr. We need to evangelize to proclaim the Words of God to people, who don’t know about Jesus Christ.

The number one of today’s world religion would be Islam. Why? They are evangelizing throughout the world, even though they are hurting millions of people. I believe September 11, 2001 terror attack on U.S. was their remark of spreading their gospel. After a decade later, we see some Christian leaders turn their faiths to Islam and rename the religion into Chrislam. This is sad.

We need to rebuild Christianity from the biblical (KJV) standard and not by someone else or any modern day of Bible versions. Some today’s Bible versions (NIV, CEV, MSG, TLB, NASB) are fulfilled with today’s manuscripts, which contains many constrictions with original manuscripts from the KJV (1611) Bible. To heal our land, we would need to return to God and begin to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ within our community before we’d reach the other parts of world.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

The word “apostasy” is “a falling away from the faith.” We are living where some Christians may decide to give up their faiths in Christ and decide to follow the other ways to life. This message is specifically for believers to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:5 tells us that “many shall come in” His “name.” In a few moment, I’m going to name some evangelists who proclaim to be prophet of God or Messiah.

In Old Testament, we read how King Saul turned away from God and deceived his people. Unlike his successor, Saul didn’t learn from his mistakes. He kept trying to do his way to please others. We cannot keep try to please other people. Instead, we need to try to please God.

Recently, I watched one of Dr. Jack van Impe’s DVD on apostasy churches. In this DVD, Dr. Impe explained why some America churches are falling from the faith. Some churches have lost the fundamentalism of Christianity, such as virgin birth, Jesus’ baptism, ministry, death, and resurrection. Instead, many preachers teach on prosperity messages. Even though we need money to survive our lives, God wants us to be lived healthier life in both physical and spiritual. We just cannot have nice things to live for Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Right now, this maybe shocked you. If you’d visit TBN Bookstore, you’ll find a side by side book on the Bible and Qur’an. The description of this book says, “Many of the Bible's characters and stories are also found in the Qur'an, but there are often differing details or new twists in the Qur'an's retelling of biblical narrative. In this compelling book, seasoned theologian Michael Lodahl explores these fascinating divergences to discover the theological difference they make.Writing from a Christian perspective that is respectful of the Islamic tradition, Lodahl offers an accessible introduction to Muslim theology and to the Qur'an's leading themes to help readers better understand Islam. Lodahl compares and contrasts how the Bible and the Qur'an depict and treat certain characters in common to both religions, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He offers theological reflection on doctrines held in common by Christians and Muslims, such as creation, revelation, and the resurrection of the body. Lodahl also explores the Jewish tradition as an important source for understanding the Qur'an.”

There is no common between the Bible and Qur’an. Islam is about summiting or surrender to that religion or else die. But the Christianity is about building a loving and personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Recently, Rick Warren spoke at the Islamic conference. In this conference, Warren wanted to build partnership with Christianity and Islam communities. It is also sad in his book, Purpose of the Driven Church, teaches us how to build secular world mega church rather than a place for us to come to worship God and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

As we see TBN, Rick Warren, and others are trying to make biblical Christian churches into One World Religion church. These and other apostasy churches/organizations are accountable when they’d come to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

As I said from previous message, the church has to be in unity with Christ and not separate from each other. We must stand against all these apostasy activities within our churches. If we’d see one or more apostasy activities, we must walk away from the churches or let us put pastors out from the churches.

Are you saved in Jesus Christ? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:3-6 KJV)

There are many divisions are going on in today’s Christian churches as well as divisions of the Holy Bible. Instead we should be in unity with other Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, we are dividing from each other within church and family. No wonder why many Christians are pulling themselves from their home churches. “According to Rainer Research, 70 percent of youth leave church by the time they are 22 years old. Barna Group estimates that 80 percent of those reared in the church will be "disengaged" by the time they are 29 years old. Unlike older church dropouts, these young "leavers" are unlikely to seek out alternative forms of Christian community, such as home churches and small groups. When they leave church, many leave the faith as well.” (See Christianity Today article: The Ones Who WalkAway.)

Many Christians have decided to change the church because either they would itchy for the lifestyle messages or the preacher wouldn’t bring the truth from the Word of God. Either way, we are accountable what we have done when we would come to the Judge before we’d enter the eternality.

Sadly, we have too many divisions within the church. We have Baptist, Pentecostal, Seven Days of Advance, Mormonism, Church of God, Church of Christ, Calvary and many others. These church denominations are good, but when we’d try to believe certain biblical doctrines, then we would have problems in our hearts. For example, Baptist church doesn’t believe speaking in different tongue, even though it’s one of spiritual gifts in the Bible. Some denominational churches may proclaim that Roman Catholic Church is the sister of Christian churches, or we can combine Christian and Islam together. These are against the Word of God.

We must believe all the doctrines in the Bible and not portion of it. We also must not be embraced with other religions. Right now, TBN is starting to sell Quran (Islamic Bible) in their bookstores. I used to enjoy watching some TV programs on TBN during 90s, but when I heard what TBN was doing and some preachers tried to twist the Word of God, I stopped to watching of it. They are few good and solid preachers on any Christian TV channels. But when any preacher (your or mine) may try to manipulate to against the Bible, we may need to resign from that church. Not only the preachers are accountable, we also are accountable as well if we would decide to keep staying in the same church.

The church has to be in unity with Christ and not separate from each other.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-19 KJV)

Many Catholics use Matthew 16:19 as Peter is the cornerstone of the church. Even Jesus gave permission for Peter to start the church, it doesn’t means that he was the pope or cornerstone of all Christian churches. The word church means “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.” It is not about Peter or actual building.

Jesus wanted to establish the church that many people can come together to worship God and encourage each other. Some people may think that the Old Testament church is ceased. Even though we don’t do the animal sacrifice anymore, it does not mean the Old Testament church is useless. We still need present our sacrifice life to God. We still need to bring tithe for our storehouse. The ceremonial laws are fulfilled by Jesus Christ, but He summarized other laws with two simple commandments—love God and love people.

Church is not about building, but it’s about people who work for God to touch lives of other people into Christ.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3 KJV)

What is your life journey like? Every moment we are living on this earth is a journey to eternality. We cannot live this life without purpose.

Let’s look the life of Abraham, a father of great nation. Even Abraham didn’t reach the great purpose of life during his lifetime, God used him to start this long journey with Him. Throughout the Book of Genesis, we see this journey has begun to take place. Hebrews 11:8-11 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:40 says, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” God cannot just give us the purpose of life until we would build our desires in our hearts. When we’d define our desires in our hearts, God would begin to put the great purpose in our lives.

Most people would misunderstand the will of God in today’s churches. The words blessing and prosperity are not related to how we can become rich. Please don’t misunderstand that Christian cannot be rich. These two words usually related to everything in us, such as body, soul and spirit. God wants us to be in healthy living and enjoy life while we are living in this world. He also wants us to discover the great purpose for our individual life. Even we couldn’t reach the purpose of life, we could start our journey with Him and pass onto the next generation.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, (II Chronicles 6:13 KJV)

Jesus said in John 4:23, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” The word worship means “kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon).”

What is our testimony of worship God or serve Him? Many of us may have some kinds of worship in our lives. We do not need to have wooden idols, but we put things in our lives that pull away from God. When you’d get up on Monday morning, what kind of things you are thinking on your top priority? Even though many of us may have outside jobs, we need to pause ourselves to have open conversation with God. We don’t have to close our eyes to have quality time with Him. Tune your worship music CD on and reflect what He has done for you. Maybe you are serving your community. Whatever we do in His name, we are worshipping God. Apostle Paul said, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).”

We are living in this world that has everything in technology. We do not have to spend hours of cooking to have dinner anymore. Instead, we put the frozen food in a microwave to cook our meals for us within ten minute. Or we don’t answer the phone immediately. Instead, we let the caller put the message in an answering machine. As we are thinking on this, do people have time to serve God? The answer is NO.

As the technologies are getting popular, it doesn’t mean that everything is easy for us. We still need to get up from our beds and do our work for that day. When the computer would decide to take vacation, we would need to call the technician for the repair service. When the football game would come on Sunday morning, we would decide to debate ourselves to whether to watch the game or go to the church. I know this may make some of you nerve.

However, there is a day for us to stand before God to give our testimonies to Him on what we have done with the gift of salvation. It is a question for every believer should testify to God. Last week, I gave a brief testimony of my life and web ministry. You don’t have to give genius testimony for other people to worship you. Every media evangelist should already receive their rewards. We do not have to be world greatest preachers for God’s kingdom. That’s wrong method that most American preachers are doing for over three decades. We are not in some contests against other churches or religions, but our battlefield in the spiritual world, where Satan and demons are.

I love how David fought against Philistine. David said in I Samuel 17:45, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”

We cannot enter into the war zone until we’d recognize God, because He is our Father and King. Not a single His enemy would able to receive the victory over Him.

Again, what is your testimony? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5 KJV)

What is your testimony of life? Before we came out from our mothers’ wombs, God knew what He has planned for our lives. Even you were born with disability; it doesn’t mean that God would just ignore you. The mythological religion system said that having a disability means it’s a sign of God’s punishment for our sins. Sadly, some people still believe this myth as a teaching tool in schools, churches, and counseling services. But the Bible has many illustrations where God used people with disabilities to draw many hearts of people into Himself.

God has brought me out from orphan to show me a great purpose of my life. Some of you may know, I grew up in the orphanage in South Korea and came to United States in 1990 through adoption. I began to write inspiration messages in later of 90s and started the web ministry while I was in my vocational training. Even I have physical disability, it does not mean that God cannot use me in the mission field. Over ten years, several thousand people have ministered by MGJC Web Ministry (www.mgjcweb.org) because of support from God and my friends. I didn’t put my name as the title of this web ministry, because it’s not about me or people with disabilities, but it’s about God and His love for us. We cannot seek His blessing, but we’d start to seek His face. So He can pour His blessing upon us.

Prophet Jeremiah did not have a happy life. He went through many hates and sufferings during his life. But he had a great purpose for his life that God gave to him. We do not have to be fame of this world because our eternal awards are in Heaven. But we need to share our testimonies to the world, so people could receive FREE gift of salvation and accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior.

What is your testimony? Maybe you are going through some kind of life tragedy now, but God can use your tragedy for a great purpose of your life. You just need to trust in Him that He can walk with you through the tragedy. I Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” “For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near… (Isaiah 55:5-6 KJV)

I believe that we, as a nation, are waiting for God to judge the nation. This pass Thursday was designated for us to pray for America to repent her sins and be reunited with God again. This country was founded by the Holy Word of God. We cannot bring another great revival until we’d repent our sins and rebuild our relationships with Jesus Christ.

America has built so many debts over years to other countries, especially communism nation in China. We had a hit by terrorists from radical Islamic group on September 11, 2001. This nation hits by natural disaster every year.. Public and private schools are corrupted by witchcraft, immorality, violence, and crime activities. Some churches decide to stop telling the Word of God. Instead, they bring messages that would bring satisfy to our fleshes and not our spirits. America families are dying almost every day, both secular and Christian worlds, because of miscommunication. Many entertainment industries are corrupted by ungodly activities.

It is time for us to step out from our closets to proclaim the Word of God. We do not need our national leaders, that don’t stand for the truth, to run for our lands. It is sad to see our former and current presidents proclaim to be Born-Again Christians for the Presidential Election; and we don’t see any fruit of spirit when they work for our nation.

National Day of Prayer is not one day event. It is ongoing process. We need to vow our knees and pray to God. Not only do we pray for our needs, also, for our nation, president, government, children, education system, entertainment, family, and other nation/social issues. God said in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

This is not about religion, but it is about relationship with Creator. God created America for purpose. We need to be under His authority and do His-given assignment to us. That assignment is sharing His loving messages to lost souls.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)

Even though this is the Holy Week, I’m not going to bring why we celebrate Easter Sunday. As I mention in previous messages, the word Easter in KJV does not associate with Resurrection Sunday, but it’s related to Passover Feast. Also, Jesus didn’t die on Good Friday, but Wednesday, and resurrected on Saturday evening. Every action that Jesus takes must foretell by prophets in Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 53 predicts the death of Messiah in Gospels, which is the death of Jesus Christ.

Why Jesus died for us and resurrected on the third day? Read with me in Isaiah 53: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.“

Jesus did not die for us to give us the demonstration His deity, but for our transgression of sins. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus did not need to die on the cross for our sins, but He did for us with His blood. But He didn’t just die for our sins.

He resurrected on the third day to identify Himself that He can be with us always. We don’t need to have another god to protect us. There are many religions that claim to have the road to Heaven, but only our relationship with Jesus Christ can make to be with our Heavenly Father eternally.

Are you ready to meet with Jesus Christ? He is not in His tomb, because He resurrected from the grave. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Would you take a moment to evaluate yourself and reunite with God? You may have deeply sorrow experience in your life, but God can restore your life. You may decide to take drug pills or shoot yourself with gun. I’d like to encourage you to stop what you are doing at this moment, and just talk to God as you are talking to your friend. If you’d like to stay in touch with me for further assistance, please don’t hesitate to email me. Please let this day would be the best day of your life.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:19-23 KJV)

I would like to conclude this series with two kinds of resurrection. Most of us may know the story of Lazarus and Rich Man in Luke 16. As we understand the story, the filthy rich man had a wealthy earthly life while Lazarus tried to survive his earthly life. One day, these men died and went to two separate directions to eternality. Lazarus went to his bosom and the rich man ended up to hell. Of course, the rich man tried to escape from the hell by calling Father Abraham, but it was too late for him to repent his sins.

Why do I mention this? Many today’s people don’t have idea where they’d spend eternality. About 80 percent of Americans believe that they’d go to Heaven, but only few percentage of Americans have fully devoted to Jesus Christ. It is devastating to see that some Christians destroy their bodies by tattooing symbols on their bodies and try to live for Christ. This is one of things God doesn’t like to see us to do (see Leviticus). Paul said that we are the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16). We just cannot put tattoos on our bodies.

The rich man, in Luke 16, didn’t care for God’s children or have any relationship with Him. Even though God doesn’t like to see anyone to go to Hell, He doesn’t have choice to throw this rich man to the dumpster.

Let me ask you this important question. What if you’d die today, where would you spend eternality? If you’d continue to follow this world system, then your resurrection would be in Hell. However, if you’d choose to live for Jesus Christ, then you resurrection would be great. You’d have eternal life with God.

Some today’s preachers do not teach the importance of resurrection, because it’s all about what we want from God. God cannot just send you to Hell unless you’d decide to refuse Him to be your personal Savior and Lord of lords.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:50-53 KJV)

Before Jesus died on the cross, there was a preview of the rapture of the church. We see that many people began to rise from their graves at the voice of Jesus. Their bodies began to transform into new bodies. We do not know how they transform, but Paul said that “we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15:51b-52a).”

Some of us may die before the rapture and some may still live to see the event. Even though some biblical scholars may have different views of rapture, we all will face the death and pain as the earth would face the seven-year tribulation. There is no guarantee that we would not experience the pain before Jesus would take us to home. But the Bible guarantees that we will have no more pain when we would enter into Heaven.

Acts 1 gives us a glimpse of the new resurrection of new body. This new body will be spirit. We would able to go through the wall and go to outer space. We cannot be sure how this can be done until we’d receive our spiritual bodies. Also, there will be no people with disabilities after the transformation.

Some preachers still believe that being a person with disability is a punishment from God. This is totally myth. God can bring healing upon a person with disability, because He cares and loves His creation. Even though I have physically disability, my body will be changed dramatically on the day of the last trumpet sound.

Are you ready to meet Jesus on the day of rapture of His church? If not, I would like to encourage you to surrender your life to Him. He wants you to be with Him for eternality.

Posted by MGJC Web Ministry at 12:01 AM EDT

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