I also have a copy of the NIV version. But the color of the cover is different though. ;D
What's BSF? ;D
I think we should meet at least once or twice online on a weekly basis. O0 ;D
I will check that version at the Bible store near our house. Will let you know if I decide to buy it or not. K?
I have a hmong version and meeka bible. I can't read hmong but I thought it would be cool to have one. lol might give it to my parents.
I would like to join the bible study but meeting twice a week is a bit much considering im still going to school.
Ladylionness, the devotional bible you have looks pretty awesome.
I have a hmong version and meeka bible. I can't read hmong but I thought it would be cool to have one. lol might give it to my parents.
I would like to join the bible study but meeting twice a week is a bit much considering im still going to school.
Ladylionness, the devotional bible you have looks pretty awesome.
I would like to audit this class.
Wait 'til I come back with mine from the next motel I use. lol...
+1 I love this idea, LadyLionness! I was thinking of starting something like this on PH a long time ago, but I'm not online enough. You all will still have my support. O0 I too can tag along/ participate when I get the chance.
You didn't have to invite me. I invited myself when I heard "Bible Studying" in the Marriage forum. Will have to read this thread on my lunch break. Thanks, LL.
I just put on my iphone app and it does the reading for me while i'm in bed listening to it...the hub and I have been listening to it ..and we're on Chapter 4...wait is it mark??
why does it only take us two days to get to chapter 4? am i doing this right? :2funny:
I read to the part about divorces/marriages.
oops, maybe i misunderstood. .. :-\ will go back and reread all the postings....i keep calling someone a ph blondie and now I'm a blondie myself :2funny:
How far are you in your reading? What have you read already? And what is the verse about divorces/ marriages?
Ladylioness, so am i reading the right section?
Cali, as long as you're reading Mark then you're reading the right section. :) ;)
That was intense.
I forgot my bible and notebook at home. :( Thank you to LL for doing the opening and closing prayer.
How so, hardly anyone made a peep.... I did all the talking... definitely not my intention... lolz...
I noticed the Bible emphasized a lot about love. What you described how Jesus reached out to heal the guy with Leprosy truly showed how Jesus cared for people. That's intense to me.
I have some questions to some of the parables but can't really remember what they were. When I get a chance I will look it up.
Can I have my husband ask question too? :P he's not active in here, but I can relay the info to him :P
Cali_Lady,
If you really want to imprint the scriptures on your heart, I would recommend reading from an actual Bible. If you don't like the pink one he bought you, I would recommend one of the two that I suggested.
The devotional if you want to be a more rounded person for Home... like Imajine was saying, about living the scriptures in his daily interactions with his loved ones.
The leadership one if you work in any sort of leadership role and would like to live the scriptures at work, among your co-workers...
Listening to it is a good overview, but would not give you the same insight as actually reading it on paper... on paper, you can stop and think... allowing the words of God to speak to your... in a very personal way... that is not possible with just listening... if you stop to think, you missed out on the next couple of verses... at least that's how it is with me.
OK, where's everybody in their reading? I am starting chapter 4, I think...
For those who are done already, I would suggest reading it again... lolz. One of the pastors recommended reading Mark like 20 times until you have it memorized. I am not sure if I will be able to do that. Anyway, at least look back through it to formulate some questions.
I will try doing that since I can't wait on some folks. lol :P Thanks for the tip.
Why was it important for the author to reference the audience back to Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3? What's the significance of it?
To establish the fact that both John and Jesus's ministries were foretold at least 400 years or more... not something made up to follow the other pagan tales as so many people would like to argue.
Some people now a days like to argue that the whole Bible is made up, so that means that even the prophecies in Isaiah and Malachi were made up too, but the Jews at that time know the Old Testament better than they know themselves... so they know that the book of Isaiah and Malachi existed way before John and Jesus were born.
Hypothetically speaking, why is it not possible that John the Baptist was heading up a false ministry? Couldn't anyone claim to be "the voice of one calling in the wilderness" so long as they quote the scripture and live in the wilderness? Thanks.
It is very possible for people to claim to be a prophet when they are not... just like there are false teachers during their time and in our time. You see it all around you... and that is why it is so important to know the scriptures so that people can't trick you.
Latest one was the one in October 2011, which said that Christ was coming and many many of the believers in Vietnam gathered together to wait for Jesus... only to alarm the Vietnamese government that lead to a massacre. Now a days, those of us that READ our Bibles, we know very very clearly that the day of Christ's coming is NOT know, cannot be KNOW, and will NOT be known... no one can predict. Jesus was very clear in saying that if anyone is to say, "Here is the Christ... he is coming tomorrow... etc..." Then it's false teaching.
The measuring stick back then - during John the Baptist's time - and now is still the same. No matter how much someone claim that something is true, if it does not agree with the scriptures then it is NOT true. And that is the reason why the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) made so many references back to the scriptures in the Old Testament that had remained unchanged for hundreds of years... as the Jews knew very well.
If we were pastors, we would try to memorize those, since pastors must recite them accurately to their groups. But we practice Einsteinian tactics: just learn the ideas and know where to find their citations as needed. lol
OK. I've read up on your posts. It seems we are not all on the same page. We aren't all discussing the same chapters at the same time. People just jump back and forth as they like.
I'll catch up to whatever I can and you all can discuss your chapters and I do mine, too. lol
Great rhetorical question! O0
To add to this:
When we read Mark 1:9-11, it speaks of Jesus being baptized with water and the Holy Spirit descending on him. His ministry didn't exactly start after that. If we continue to read on in Mark 1:12,13 it indicates afterwards that the Spirit (not the devil), immediately sent him into the wilderness. Jesus was tempted 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus ministry started after he survived for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness tempted by the devil.
Christians please be aware that after you have been baptized that the devil is going to tempt you in the wilderness. And truthfully, some are still in the wilderness wandering in the dark. The devil will tempt the lust/desire of the flesh, the lust/desire of the eyes, and the pride of life.
How you know, Cali?
How did John earn the power to baptize?
Christians please be aware that after you have been baptized that the devil is going to tempt you in the wilderness. And truthfully, some are still in the wilderness wandering in the dark. The devil will tempt the lust/desire of the flesh, the lust/desire of the eyes, and the pride of life.
How did John earn the power to baptize?
because i've gotten baptized...had to face alot of decisions afterwards whether or not I should proceed w/ certain rituals or not... :-\ i needed and yearn for spiritual guidance :'(
Before any plant can grow it needs to be planted in good soil. Soil is important because it en roots a plant to have a strong and deep foundation. Every plant needs rain and sun in order for it to continue to grow and blossom into full maturity. Every plant must endure during certain seasons. If a flood comes by every plant that was planted in good soil will withstand it and others plants in bad soil will surely be washed away.
We, Christians are the plants and the soil is the church. If Christians plant themselves in a bad church the strength and depth of their roots will most likely be weak. So when the flood - trials and tribulations come they will not be able to withstand it till the end. The rain is the Word of God it gives strength to the church and the believers to grow and mature in their faith. The sun is every believers relationship with God. God shines on everyone not favoring one more than the other.
Be sure your implanted in a good church.
What are some ideas or suggestions do you folks have in determining if you are in a "good" church?
Father God,
Thank you for this wonderful day you have provided us with. Thank you for this cold weather. Thank you for the snow. As we go on with our lives, we open our eyes bigger and bigger everyday because it is about you. Its about what you've done. And the ultimate sacrifice you've given us. As we begin our daily studies of your word, let us use what we learn and apply it to our lives as we become more like you. Open our hearts and open our ears, in your son Jesus Christs' name,
Amen.
From the Leadership Bible:
The Principle of the Seed - Mark 4:2-20
Who is the sower in Jesus' parable? The sower is a person of influence, a leader, anyone who declares God's Word. The sower scatters a lot of seed, and only later determines the character of the soil. Note a few principles all leaders need to know about sowing seed:
1. A lot of seed must be scattered to produce a crop.
2. Not all soils produce, but we cannot reap if we do not sow.
3. We must continue sowing, because one day we will reap a harvest.
4. The soil that produces will multiply; we will reap more than we sow.
5. We will reap in proportion to what we have sown.
6. We cannot do anything about last year's harvest, but we can about this year's.
7. We must believe in the seed we sow, knowing that some will produce fruit.
8. Once we see fruit, all our effort seems worthwhile.
side comment/thought xwb....kind of like a farmer =jesus and our hurdles are the weeds that grows along the way...right?
Could someone lead us in the closing prayer?
i'm not good but i'll try
Thank you Cali_Lady ... the more you practice, the easier it will become.you're welcome...i'm on chapter 8 and I'm having a hard time trying to understand that chapter...
Thank you to Yajmafia for doing the opening prayer and for all the contributors.
Please feel free to come back and share any stories, insight, or questions you have about Chapters 1 through 4. We will be discussing these 4 chapters from now until next Wednesday.
Thursday - January 19th, we will be discussing Mark 5 through 8. See you all then. Same place, same time... and perhaps more and more people... :)
you're welcome...i'm on chapter 8 and I'm having a hard time trying to understand that chapter...
but i'll go back and reread the previous chapters to get a better understanding. ..thanks for setting this up ladylioness... and for those who's given their insights...tha nks too...
i'm still learning so everything is gradually sinking as it comes in... :)
Where have I been all these time! I want in too!
side comment/thought xwb....kind of like a farmer =jesus and our hurdles are the weeds that grows along the way...right?
OFF TOPIC: my daughters wanted me to share this with you guys...
http://www.pretribulation.com/signs.htm
Ladylionness, Jesus turned his mother and brothers away. Jesus set the example for us to walk like Christians but shouldn't our family come first? Or shouldn't his family come first?
Ladylionness, Jesus turned his mother and brothers away. Jesus set the example for us to walk like Christians but shouldn't our family come first? Or shouldn't his family come first?
God comes first. Always.
Took me a long time to understand this too b/c I have always thought that my husband should come first.
I have learned over the years that when you have learned to submit your whole self to God and put him first, everything else fall into place... how?
In regards to family... what did God teach us? Love your neighbor as you love yourself... who is your neighbor? Anyone standing next to you... be it your family, friends, co-worker, stranger as in the parable of the Good Samaritan...
In regards to parents... the Bilbe teach that we are to honor our parents... and here is the kicker... this is the only commandment that has a promise attach to it... that if you honor your parents, you will live a long life.
In regards to husbands, the Bible is adamant that wives are to submit themselves to their husband... regardless of the husband's actions or lack therefore... that the wife cannot wait until the husband is doing his husbandly role before she give him the respect...
In regards to wives, husbands are to love their wives as they love their own bodies.... how do they love their bodies? They don't go around punching themselves (unless they are truly crazy), the don't starve their bodies, the hardest thing for a human being to do is to take his or her own life... self-perservation... and that is how he is to love his wife... and he is to do it b/c it is a commandment from God... not b/c his wife is being respectful and submissive but b/c God says so.
And you can go down the line, through all your relationships. ..
As for children, the book of Proverbs says for parents to love their kids and not provoke them to anger...
Did anybody catch the hidden revelation in the Parable of the Sower?
No. Please share with us.
Only one-fourth of all people who hears the word of God enters into the Kingdom of Heaven. Be that one-fourth! O0
Predestination? Lolz...
:hello:
I'd like to offer a suggestion if everyone's okay with it. It maybe best to discuss each section of Mark 5-8. For example, Mark 5:1-20 then Mark 5:20-43 and so forth. This way we aren't jumping all over the place and we can stay on subject.
Who's all here?
What's did you find significant while reading this passage and what's the life application?
i'm here back and forth..got a major project to complete @ work, but still breathing and reading :P
I really like this translation. Could you shed some light, Boyrescue?
Mark 6:1-6 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.
2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, "Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?"
3 Then they scoffed, "He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us." They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
4. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."
5. And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.
-New Living Translation (2007) http://bible.cc/mark/6-6.htm
Will we be doing the Thursday noon Bible Study and conference call?
Will we be doing the Thursday noon Bible Study and conference call?
Question: Why did they marvel at Jesus response Mark 12:13-17 and what was so significant about His response?
So the prayer is done via the conference or is it just on PH?
How is that hard? And how is that a prayer? When I think of prayer, I think of a voice.
For prayers to be answered, they must be voiced and specific in details.
Hm..interestin g. I had never heard of that before. I have always been told that a prayer should be spoke out so that the vibrating voices will fly away with a butterfly to Heaven and so the message will finally get to God and he will then answer.
You can tell the rest about my position on prayers. But I guess God can feel our thoughts, too. He's the Almighty afterall.
Tell me about those, too. I'm sure he could do many things that God did. He's God's son afterall.
The Pharisees and Herodians thoguht they had the perfect question to trap Jesus. But Jesus answered wisely, once again exposing their self-interest and wrong motives. Jesus said that the coin bearing the emperor's image should be given t the emperor. But our lives, which bear God's image, belong to God.
Question to All: Are you giving God all that is rightfully his? Give your life to God - you bear his image.
I think I found my answer, but if you want reply you can. O0
Hi everyone,
Sorry been zoning out with school and work. I know this is late but this is in regards to Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm)
Have you ever went through a tough situation where you lost your faith in God? How did you regain your faith in God? How was God able to calm the storm for you?
LL, I enjoyed that comment. I often refer back in here and read our studying to my bf. I have a few Bible study notes from some previous studies about the men and women roles. Will share them soon.
I don't know if you guys have felt any difference in your life and but the two of us leading this have been blessed and touched beyond our imagination... God is so awesome and will bless us beyond our dreams when we answer his call to serve.
Hi everyone,
Sorry been zoning out with school and work. I know this is late but this is in regards to Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm)
Have you ever went through a tough situation where you lost your faith in God? How did you regain your faith in God? How was God able to calm the storm for you?
Hi everyone,
Sorry been zoning out with school and work. I know this is late but this is in regards to Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm)
Have you ever went through a tough situation where you lost your faith in God? How did you regain your faith in God? How was God able to calm the storm for you?
I would love to, but I've got a meeting at 12:50! I'm always open for opening prayer if you let me know ahead of time. Blessings all be back to contribute to more. O0
"Live Conference"? Where? I was not aware of the "Live Conference"
Go for it! Let the line be fruitful like the seeds sowed...
Mark 5:1, 2
Although we cannot be sure why demons possession occurs, we know tht unclean spirits use the body to distort and destroy man's realtionship with God and likeness to him. Even today, demons are dangerous, power, and destrictive. While it is important to recognize their evil activity so we can stay away from them, w must avoid any curiousity about or involvement with demonic dorces or the occult. If we resist the Devil and his influcences, he will flee from us.
I have two stories to tell relating to this. Will be back to do so later.
Mark 5:1, 2
Although we cannot be sure why demons possession occurs, we know tht unclean spirits use the body to distort and destroy man's realtionship with God and likeness to him. Even today, demons are dangerous, power, and destrictive. While it is important to recognize their evil activity so we can stay away from them, w must avoid any curiousity about or involvement with demonic dorces or the occult. If we resist the Devil and his influcences, he will flee from us.
I have two stories to tell relating to this. Will be back to do so later.
Cali_Lady, do you still have questions about Chapter 8? I am going to try and touch on a few items throughout the book of Mark.
not anymore, thanks...i'm reading 1luv's summary...
It is these statement that puts the fire into my heart to lead this Bible Study. The best weapon against false prophets is knowing the truth. The only way to know the truth is to ground yourself in the Word of God. The only way to do that is to read it from cover to cover and not just find the verse that speaks to your situation.
With that in mind, I will now leave you with this bible verse here.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.
Notice I highlighted what you wrote. That is the right path to start bro. Many times we forgot or refuse to say that we need help. I have been through that path many times and I still need all the help I can get.
I will PM you the books I have read and others that I have yet to read.
Our men here have gone a long way to get to where they are now and we still have tons of work to do. There was never a true leadership team to lead the men and to remind them who they are and why they are here and what purpose they are here for. We finally put our heads together and started to reach out to the men... so yes we are building an A.R.K together.
I love learning about James. Awesome reads so far. Thanks guys.
An incident happened a few weeks ago that I'd like to share with you guys. My bf just found Christ again after a long time. He enjoys reading about the Bible but lacks the motivation to attend church or has shown me that he's having a relationship with God. Anyway, in my frustration, I've tried to remind him that he needs a relationship with God because I need a good leader. It even got to a point that I was upset at him for a day and in my resolution, I prayed for God to open his heart and help me understand. I went to the gym that evening and while I was in sauna, a black woman was discussing with her friend about God. She said, "Love God with all you have and all else will follow." That phrase really stood out to me and as it settled in my mind, I knew that it was God's message to me. I need not worry so much about my bf's faith but allow my heart to love God faithfully and all else shall follow.
Our Lord is faithful as always.
I think you and I are using the same Bible (NLT). I like this book because of it's written in today's English. O0
James 2:1-9 Relationships (I use this in the home too, not just at work or at church.)
Leaders Must Love out of a Decision, Not a Reaction
Relationships and leadership cannot be divorced. further, leaders must learn to relate to people based on a decision, not a reaction. We must love people regardless of what they can give in return.
James 2 begin by talking about the sin of partiality. Leaders must not treat a rich man well and a por man poorly (applies to our kids too). Love must be given unconditionall y. Does htis mean we treat everyone the same? Not at all. We must related to each individual based on his or her inward gifts, not outward gifts (meaning that we must look beyond what is going on on the surface, and see into the heart and intention of their actions and choices). Leadrs mst identifiy taletns and gifts in others (and point these out and be proud of them not just to our kids, but also to our friends and relatives... in the hearing or presence of our kids), then place the individuals in suitable positions to encourage the use of their gifts.
The Issue
1. Loving people.
2. Position and tasks.
3. Recognition.
4. Affirmation.
My Response
1. I love them based on an unconditional decision (whether that person deserve our love or not).
2. I place them according to their giftedness (meaning that we trust them to do whatever it is we ask them to do).
3. I reocnize everyone's value and contribution (recognize not just to that person, but also AGAIN in front of other people).
4. I base it on the need of the person (some people only require a little, but some require a lot of affirmation, so pay attention to the cues of the Holy Spirit living in your heart).
Note: (stuff) are my own interjections. .. lolz... am I getting unbearable?
This verse reminds of a Christian Identity in Crisis:
James 1:22-24, "22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Bro, sometimes I ask myself, "Have I consciously applied the things I learned from the Bible? Have my attitudes and life outlook changed after hearing and learning the words of God?"
It is great that I listen to God's word, but it's much more important that I obey it, apply it, and do what it says on a daily basis. Now, honestly, that is a hard feat for me to accomplish. :( I can only measure the effectiveness of my Bible study time by the effect it has on my behavior and attitudes. And whenever I deviate from God's truth, I know that I have sinned. Yet, it's still a challenge to immediately change my destructive recourse and atone from it.
LL, there was a Christian youth conference here at the CMA church. In one of the workshop that I went to, the speaker said he had forgotten his notes and slide show so he pretty much improvised. But then he didn't remember a lot of the information that he worked on. We did a little discussion on it and that was it. I was not too happy with him because he was a youth pastor and he was very unprepared. He prepared for the workshop but he forgot what most of his notes? I mean, it's not a hard topic to cover and if he had prepared well enough, he could have execute the message better. He went on to say that he came to the conference at the last minute while his wife went to a wedding.
Well, perhaps I may have had too much expectations from him. I'm no longer upset or anything, it's just an example.
Lolz... Very true... but things do happen. My husband and I drove down to Springfield for a wedding and they wanted him to preach. He grabbled all his notes, but could not find the folder that contained his sermon that he had prepared all week. He was going to call it off and let the original speaker do the sermon, but I told him to prepare a new one... so we stayed up going through my notes (I am a pack rat when it comes to taking notes of sermons, etc) and using the John MacArthur Study Bible, he was able to prepare and deliver a very nice sermon.
Very true, BoyRecue. We can measue how effective our faith (gained through Church, service to the Lord, and Bible Study Times) by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. Unless professing Christians act promptly after they hear the Word, they will forget the changes and improvements that their reflection showed them they need to make.
Bro, sometimes I ask myself, "Have I consciously applied the things I learned from the Bible? Have my attitudes and life outlook changed after hearing and learning the words of God?"
It is great that I listen to God's word, but it's much more important that I obey it, apply it, and do what it says on a daily basis. Now, honestly, that is a hard feat for me to accomplish. :( I can only measure the effectiveness of my Bible study time by the effect it has on my behavior and attitudes. And whenever I deviate from God's truth, I know that I have sinned. Yet, it's still a challenge to immediately change my destructive recourse and atone from it.
Thank you for your blessing and encouragement, Sister LL! As always, I really appreciate that. :)
Yes, you guys seem to always be prepared. He wasn't and seemed like he kept giving excuses after excuses.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." It is because of our weakness God's grace increases to give us the power to overcome them. It is prayer for the grace (power) of God to help us in our weaknesses.
No excuse for today's leaders and church pastors. I hate it when I go to a meeting and the leader of the group isn't prepared, making excuse for having no notes, meeting agenda, or for not following up on calling the members so that everyone expected to be there is there at the meeting.
Lolz... don't start lynching them... they are human too... but yes... we DO need to be accountable.
No excuse for today's leaders and church pastors. I hate it when I go to a meeting and the leader of the group isn't prepared, making excuse for having no notes, meeting agenda, or for not following up on calling the members so that everyone expected to be there is there at the meeting.
Yes I know. This was a youth conference that people have been preparing for for weeks. I especially thought it would be a great workshop but was greatly disappointed.
LL, it helps when leaders are talkative and informative. I love how articulate my Xf is. He loves to talk.
Yes, I just heard him on the link Mr. Nice Guy provided... he is very good and interesting...
Next week, we will start on Matthew. I would like to cover Matthew chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Let's see how far we get and if we need to, we can leave chapter 5 for the following week.
Same place, same time... my friends. Have a great weekend!
~Kat
Are we not reading James 4 and 5?
Lolz.... we did... but we could back track and discuss James 4 and 5 since there was so much to learn in James 1, 2, and 3.
Let's discuss James 4 and 5 this week and then read and discuss matt 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on March 7th.
Oh ok, I just didn't see any discussion on James 4 and 5...so it's up to you.
James 4:1-6 Talks about how pride can promote strife. What is your thoughts on it?
James 4:1-6 Talks about how pride can promote strife. What is your thoughts on it?
James 4:1-6 Talks about how pride can promote strife. What is your thoughts on it?
James 4:7-10 says that the best cure for worldliness is humility... your thoughts?
James 4:7-10 says that the best cure for worldliness is humility... your thoughts?
I notice how it says in James 4:1 - "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?"
Desires that come from within us, not from Satan. People often blame Satan for their own lusts when the truth is, it's from within themselves. So people can't blame Satan for their own fleshy temptation when it's them that needs to crucify their flesh.
James 4:7-10 says that the best cure for worldliness is humility... your thoughts?
James 4:7-10 says that the best cure for worldliness is humility... your thoughts?
James 4:11-12 talks about not judging a brother... I am going to leave this one up for discussion....
James 4:7-10 says that the best cure for worldliness is humility... your thoughts?
I will be going to the District Annual Conference this year in CA. If you are coming please let me know so we can meet up and introduce ourselves. If anyone of you come, look for me lunch and dinner on me O0
PM me if you are coming.
LadyLionness,
I think your reference material answers the question about judging. :)
Righteous judgement based on evidence not judgement based on appearance only.
ok, so what's the issue, passage, topic...for discussion?
James 5:1- 6 contains warnings against the rich.
How many of you feel that this does not apply to you? Or do you feel that it does apply to you?
My question is, what do you consider as the "rich Christians?"
Now, at first glance... I am thinking this does not apply to me. But then in verse 2, he starts to talk about hoarding... and remembering what God says about if you have two shirts, give one to a person who doesn't have any... so...now I am guilty.
Now, at first glance... I am thinking this does not apply to me. But then in verse 2, he starts to talk about hoarding... and remembering what God says about if you have two shirts, give one to a person who doesn't have any... so...now I am guilty.
Just for clarification "rich people" is defined as having more than two shirts. Can you provide the bible verse for this? This way we have a Bible reference to it.
Just for clarification "rich people" is defined as having more than two shirts. Can you provide the bible verse for this? This way we have a Bible reference to it.
I am not saying that is the definition of what a rich person is...
Being rich is not a sin. Having in abundance is not a sin. It's a blessing. The motive and intent of your wealth is what determines whether it is sin or not. In the case of James 5:1-6, it describes the rich as hoarders. Hoarders is defined as: an accumulated store hidden [intent]away for future use [motive]. This describes the intent and motive of the riches. If there is any Christian guilty of this it's because of the intent and motives of their riches.
"Therefore..." makes definite the connection with the preceding paragraph...
BoyRescue,
I really like this. I was confused about this too because I have seen some well-to-do Hmong people who don't seem to abuse it or hoard it. And then I think about Solomon and David... and Job .... and Abraham... they were rich too.
I have heard many people preaching and saying that in order to be Christlike, we ought to live poorly. A few years back, I was praying and was reminded by God that he does bestow richness on people so we need to ask him.
As I am re-reading James Chapter 5 to see if there's anything that I wanted to add or discuss in greater details and I gained a new insight.
Combining what BoyRescue wrote about being rich and James telling us to be patient and wait for the fruits... and tying it back to a few chapters back about how we don't have because we don't ask or we ask for the wrong reasons. The insight I gained is that we are not to be jealous and compete with the people of the world, but we are to ask God and while we are waiting patiently for him to produce fruits, we are to tend to the garden faithfully and lovingly.
If we ask and God give it to us right away, then we don't learn the value of working hard and earning our reward as God has been trying to teach us. David was not a spoiled little boy being waited on hand and foot because his older brother was a general...he was working hard as a shepard boy. And we are to do the same. While we are waiting upon God, and trusting in him with an unwavering faith... we are to tend our sheep (congregation, our work, projects, accounts, clients, or even just our products we are producing in the assembly) faithfully and diligently.
Survey: (I will need everyone to chime in.)
Which way do you guys prefer?
1. Reading one chapter per week with indepth discussions like James Chapter 4 and 5.
or
2. Reading 4 chapters per week with discussions on what stands out to us.
There was a time that I doubted my salvation as well. It is a given that the world will always be there and we live in a cesspool of sin..that means we will get dirty. However as a follower of christ we do not jump head first and wallow in it..or do backstrokes in the cesspool of sin. We go back to Christ and ask him to wash of the splashes of the sin waves that splash on us when we get to near the shores of that cesspool. I hope that analogy helps with you understand sanctification . I believe we will be beautified when Christ says well done my child..until that day we will keep going back to Christ to wash and change our white shirts. The only respite and vacation from the world of sin is my devotions in the word, fellowship with believers, time with my family, quiet times with my wife, my studies in the Word and prayer time. I hate my sins but I accept my weakness not my fakeness. Two is different. Fake is lying purposely for selfish reasons but weakness is trying but failing and trying again and again...but continuously seeking Christ.
Anything else from James we want to touch on?
Yes!
James 5:13-18 - "13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."
Does your church [pastors and elders] practice this: anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord?
No, I have not seen any Hmong pastor do that... anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord. I haven't seen any meka church do that in a long long time too...
I do sometimes...
This is one of the reasons why there's still people in the church that's suffering from sickness. No anointing oil for the sick. I believe this contributes to why people don't believe in healing anymore...no obedience to the word of God.
I'm curious how do you anoint the sick people? Pour a bottle of oil? A drip of oil? Olive oil or vegetable oil?
I'm curious how do you anoint the sick people? Pour a bottle of oil? A drip of oil? Olive oil or vegetable oil?
This passage provides the clearest scriptural support for the practice of anointing the sick with oil. I firmly believe in the importance of this practicel. However, this verse is open to multiple interpretation s. The three most common interpretation s are as follows:
Roman Catholic View: RC interpreters find here the legitimacy for ‘extreme unction’, a practice whereby a priest administers sacred oil (after a complicated ceremony to actually make the oil “holy”) in a rite to a sick or dying person.
Medicinal View: Many Protestants view the oil as the medicine of the New Testament day. They would see this as the first-century equivalent of going to a doctor.
Symbolic View: This view understands the oil to be symbolic. Combined with prayer and in the name of the Lord, the oil serves as a physical symbol that the sick individual is being set apart unto the Lord.
To decide among these options, we first need a better understanding of the Biblical practice of anointing. To ‘anoint’ literally means to pour or rub oil on a person or thing. In the Old Testament, the practice of anointing could be used in secular situations (such as finalizing a legal contract, or preparing a shield for battle) or for religious purposes. Regarding the latter category, objects were anointed, such as the temple and its furnishings (Ex 40:9-10), garments (Lev 8:30), and sacred vessels (Ex 30:26). Religious anointing was also used for certain types of people, such as kings (I Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 9:6), priests (Ex 29:29; Lev 4:3), and prophets (I Kings 19:16; 1 Chr 16:22; Ps 105:15). The person anointed was symbolically set apart as holy and consecrated to the Lord. In other words, they were his and to be used according to his purposes. In the New Testament anointing the sick is connected with the preaching of repentance. Mark 6:12-14 states that “they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them….” The James passage cited above is in the same vein as the Mark passage.
The Roman Catholic view cannot be accepted for the simple reason that it is a clear elaboration of the passage. James 5:14 contains no hint of priestly oversight (“the elders”) nor is the oil considered sacred. The focus of the passage (and its surrounding verses) is on personal repentance, faith, and submission to God—not some religious rite. The Medicinal view has some advantages but ultimately fails. Certainly Olive oil, according to Old Testament and Jewish understanding, was prized for its nurturing of human well-being and for its healing properties. But the passage specifically says the elders should anoint with oil. If the issue were simply the application of medicine why involve the church elders? Certainly family members or a local physician would be better choices. If health care were in view, the contemporary application would be to bring the church leaders with you to your next doctor’s appointment!
The best understanding of this passage is that the anointing of oil upon a sick individual is a symbolic declaration that this person has been set apart to God. Medicine has failed. Human ability has failed. The leaders of the church gather together, and in the name of the Lord, symbolically pronounce their submission to and faith in the almighty God. Such an anointing in not a guarantee of healing; rather, it is a declaration of faith. If the person recovers, God is glorified because He was the agent of healing. If the person does not recover, God is glorified because the person was set apart for Him as His special treasure.
In the end, anointing with oil is never simply about healing the sick. It is chiefly about God getting the glory for being God
I have not really looked into that, but I have been exposed to ointing with oil... so I usually just use what I have at hand and I only do it in really dire circumstances.
Okay awesome! I was just curious and wasn't trying to be religious or anything. Just curious about what you use that's all. O0
Well, you got me worried b/c I am thinking that maybe it needed to be "Holy Oil." But apparently, the Bible did not say that... it just say oil...
:2funny:
I do think any type of oil would work, but in the OT there was a specific type of anointing oil that was to be used.
Hmm... if you could post up that verse whenever you find it, I would be interested in seeing it.
James 5:19,20 - "19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
This is saying that if a believer wanders from the truth and someone turns him; the sinner, from the error of his way will save his soul from death. Self explanatory. Now, if a believer does not turn away from sin then his soul will not be saved from death, correct?
Does this mean "once saved always saved" is true?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus will keep you strong until the end so that there will be no wrong in you on the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.
hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Who shall also confirm you - Who shall establish you in the hopes of the gospel. He shall make you "firm" (βεβαιώσει bebaiōsei) amidst all your trials, and all the efforts which may be made to shake your faith, and to remove you from that firm foundation on which you now rest.
Unto the end - That is, to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He would keep them to the end of life in the path of holiness, so that at the coming of the Lord Jesus they might be found blameless; compare John 13:1. The sense is, that they should be kept, and should not be suffered to fall away and perish - and this is one of the many places which express the strong confidence of Paul that those who are true Christians shall be preserved unto everlasting life; compare Philippians 1:6.
That ye may be blameless - The word rendered "blameless" ἀνεγκλήτου anegklētou does not mean perfect, but properly denotes those against whom there is no charge of crime; who are unaccused, and against whom there is no ground of accusation. Here it does not mean that they were personally perfect, but that God would so keep them, and enable them to evince a Christian character, as to give evidence that they were his friends, and completely escape condemnation in the last Day; see the notes at Romans 8:33-34. There is no man who has not his faults; no Christian who is not conscious of imperfection; but it is the design of God so to keep his people, and so to justify and sanctify them through the Lord Jesus, that the church may be presented "a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle" Ephesians 5:27 on the Day of Judgment.
In the day ... - On the Day when the Lord Jesus shall come to judge the world; and which will be called his Day, because it will be the Day in which he will be the great and conspicuous object, and which is especially appointed to glorify him; see 2 Thessalonians 1:10, "Who shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe."
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Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
Who shall - confirm you - As the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you, so, in conscientiousl y believing and obeying, God will confirm you through that testimony. See 1 Corinthians 1:6.
In the day of our Lord Jesus - In the day that he comes to judge the world, according to some; but, in the day in which he comes to destroy the Jewish polity, according to others. While God destroys them who are disobedient, he can save you who believe.
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Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Who shall also confirm you unto the end,.... The author of this blessing of confirmation is not the Lord Jesus Christ, though he is mentioned in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 1:7; and seems to be the antecedent to the relative "who" in this, but is not, for this confirmation is made in him; see 2 Corinthians 1:21; and besides, it is in order that the saints might be blameless in the day of Christ, and so must design some other person distinct from him, which is God the Father, 1 Corinthians 1:4, to whom the apostle gives thanks, and continues to do so unto this verse; in which he assures the saints of confirmation in grace by God, the author and giver of all grace: and which may be understood of their confirmation in the love and favour of God, from which there can be no separation; and of their establishment in the person of Christ, and in the doctrines of grace; and of the permanency of the grace of the Spirit in them, and of their perseverance in faith and holiness unto the end: that is, of their days; even until the day of Christ, when the good work begun in them shall be performed and finished; that is, "for ever", as the Ethiopic version reads it; for the love of God to his people always continues; their interest in Christ can never be lost; grace in them is an immortal seed; nor shall they be ever finally and totally moved away from the hope of the Gospel:
that ye may be blameless; not in themselves, for no man is without his faults; none of God's children are without their failings and infirmities; they have whereof to blame themselves, and may be blamed by God too in a providential way; but they are so in Christ their head, being justified by his righteousness, and washed in his blood; and so in the sight of God, as considered in Christ; and will appear such
in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he shall descend from heaven, and take his saints to him, and present them to himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.
Okay, maybe the anointing oil isn't to be used on the body, but just oil.
Exodus 30:22-25
22 Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, 24 five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25 And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.
BoyRescue, I am one of those that believe that once saved, always saved.
I think that in here, James is not negating all the other scriptures of saved by grace (not works) and once saved, will stay saved until Christ come back, but he is saying that true salvation means that their FRUITS must bear witness to their faith... and if the fruits are different from what they are claiming, then we need to bring them back.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Sorry about quoting so many scriptures and passages on salvation, but I think this is very important and is fundamental.
James is not referring to fruits, but to the truth - Jesus Christ. James is speaking about Christians who have been deceived by other teachers from the truth in Jesus.
Let me re-phrase my original question: If Christians turn away from the truth Jesus Christ, will they still be saved?
The meaning "save a soul" is not referring to a physical death, but a spiritual death. This meaning is also used in James 1:21:
"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
Receiving an implanted word with meekness does not save a person from physical death, but a spiritual death.
Can a true Christian, one who have truly given his heart to Christ still turn from him?
One of the first chapters I read from the Bible. I often read Matthew for leisure.
the theme of of the gospel of matthew is "the kingdom of God." i believe matthew truely understood jesus because he was a witness to all the events during jesus' time. not only did he record the events that happened, i believe he injected what he felt the reason/purpose for jesus being here on this earth. "the kingddom of God" is used more frequent in matthew than any books of the bible.
That is interesting. Can you explain more, Wind? I often find Matthew to be the drier of the four gospel. I really enjoyed Luke... almost read it straight through the first time. Many people like the book of John.
I grew up in a traditional, shaman home. When I came to know God, it was difficult for me to understand. In the long run, I knew that if I wanted to understand God, I must learn about Him and Jesus. So I think someone advised me to start with the New Testament. The first chapter was Matthew. It was the only chapter I finished. The other chapters were similar so I didn't get to. Matthew was a very easy read but it had a lot of significant parables.
I read John in college in fellowship and like it a lot.
Matthew 1:5
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab,
This is not an exhaustive genealogy but an over-all trend in genealogy.
Rahab was a prostitute who became a follower of the Lord (He 11:31). She found herself in the genealogy of Jesus because she became a believer.
Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,
Ruth was a Gentile Moabite. The Moabites were under a special curse of the Mosaic Law (Deut 23:3-8). God turned Ruth’s cursing into blessing.
Jesse was David’s father. Jesse had eight sons and David was the eighth. The eldest son had great ability but not a whole lot of courage. David, the shepherd, became the king of Israel. This is also grace.
PRINCIPLE: God’s faithful providence guarantees the Messiahship of Jesus.
APPLICATION: Who and what we are does not depend on us but on who and what God is and does for us. This is strictly the grace of God in action.
good points here. theme is: God can and will choose anyone who is faithful regardless of their status or their past.
I believe to say it's impossible would be ignorant in my opinion. Losing salvation is simply doing the opposite of receiving salvation - rejecting Jesus.
the theme of of the gospel of matthew is "the kingdom of God." i believe matthew truely understood jesus because he was a witness to all the events during jesus' time. not only did he record the events that happened, i believe he injected what he felt the reason/purpose for jesus being here on this earth. "the kingddom of God" is used more frequent in matthew than any books of the bible.
Good point, Ren.
The kingdom of heaven refers to the rule of God on the earth. This phrase occurs 32 times and nowhere else in Scripture.
That is true, BoyRescue... but how sad is that? I think those who have met God face to face (in a way) will never be able to reject him... but then again, there was Judas who was with Christ Jesus himself for 3 whole years, witnessing all the miracles... and yet at the end, he still choose to betray Jesus and then continued to sin by not repenting as Peter did... but by taking his own life... :'( :'( :'(
I know sad indeed, but here's the catcher: it was sin that led Judas to betray and eventual the death of Jesus.
So if Christians continue to sin, it can led to the betrayal of Jesus.
Looking at the KJV Bible of the book of Matthews, the "kingdom of God" is used only 5 times and the "kingdom of heaven" is used amazingly 32 times. Each phrase having a different meaning.
What's the different meaning between "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven"?
The Kingdom of Heaven is not the same thing as heaven. When the New Testament uses the phrase “the Kingdom of Heaven” it is not referring to heaven. Instead it is referring to the Millennial Kingdom which has been ordained from heaven, that is, from God -- hence the interchangeabi lity between "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God." Unfortunately too many people have heard a great deal of preaching and teaching about heaven as the hope of a Christian and consequently think that “the Kingdom of Heaven” and “heaven” are the same. They are not. The Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom from heaven, not a kingdom in heaven. God reigns supreme in heaven. Heaven is the locus of His authority – the point from which He rules the universe. The words “of heaven” then are referring to the origin of this Kingdom. It is the place from which the Kingdom is coming, not a destination to which we are going. So we see that although the Kingdom of Heaven is heavenly in character and origin, it is not the same thing as heaven. To avoid the confusion between heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven, and since the term "Kingdom of God" occurs much more frequently in the Bible, it is the "Kingdom of God" that is preferred when describing the future kingdom in which Jesus will reign as king.
The "Kingdom of God" is the master-term in Jesus’ presentation of the Christian faith. It is his constant slogan, the concept around which all of his discourse revolves. "Kingdom of God" is the phrase in which the genius of the faith is concentrated. Jesus bared his mind and the fundamental intention of his whole career as prophet, rabbi and Son of God with these precious words, which should be indelibly written on the hearts of his followers:
"But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43).
Logically, then, the same driving purpose should be found within all Christian evangelism.
Yet, strangely, the phrase "Gospel of the Kingdom of God" is absent from the lips of nearly all contemporary attempts to "preach salvation." This should tell us that something is seriously amiss in mainstream Christianity.
If Jesus spoke of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and made this the key for an intelligent reception of himself and his message, what is the Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of God was a phrase well known to Jesus and his audience. The Kingdom of God was the national hope of Israel. It had been described in detail in the books of the Hebrew prophets (the Old Testament — actually "the Hebrew Bible"). Jesus did not play verbal games with his audience. He did not come into Galilee calling for repentance and belief in the Gospel about the Kingdom (Mark 1:14, 15) intending his audience to misunderstand his words! Common sense and honesty dictate that Jesus expected the audience to know what the Kingdom of God was. Jesus did not define the Kingdom. There was no need to do this. The Kingdom of God meant "God’s revolutionary Government" to be inaugurated by the promised Messiah on a renewed earth. (The Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven certainly did not mean a realm of disembodied post-mortem spirits in Heaven.) The Kingdom of God was a future event, and a very spectacular one. It spelled destruction for the wicked and joy and endless life for the true followers of the Messiah:
Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.
The Kingdom of God involved Israel, the natural sons of Abraham:
Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
The Kingdom of God was preached as residing upon this earth, not in heaven:
Luke 11:1-2 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Revelation 5:9-10 By thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.
The Kingdom of God was proclaimed as something that the righteous receive only after Jesus returns:
Matthew 25:31-34 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
The Kingdom of God was a key part of the Gospel. It was what Jesus taught...
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
...and it was what the apostles taught as an essential part of the Gospel...
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/157.htm
OFF TOPIC: Help Needed!
We are typing up the Hmong Bible for personal use. And might add a commentary translation later on. Anyone interested in joining us?
I know sad indeed, but here's the catcher: it was sin that led Judas to betray and eventual the death of Jesus.
So if Christians continue to sin, it can led to the betrayal of Jesus.
Why not use the one that already exists?
Its actually 5 and 31.
Hope this answers your question.
The Greatest Gift
Dr. Grant C. Richison
Prophesies described God's greatest gift in detail hundreds of years before the giving of this gift would take place.
God has never had an afterthought. He has never been surprised. He has never had to change his mind. All events in the scope of time eternal are to Him as the present moment is to us. With those thoughts in mind, consider the majesty of God's plan for mankind, and how He not only humbled Himself to the point of giving His one and only Son to die for your sins and mine, but that He told the world about these plans hundreds of years before they would be fulfilled.
Some 70 major prophesies and over 200 others describe the coming of Christ in staggering detail. To the people of Israel, this plan was so clear that they eagerly awaited the coming of the Saviour, the Messiah who would deliver men and women throughout the world from the clutches of sin. The plan was outlined in a way that provided mankind with an exact address in time. Only one Man in all of recorded history could possibly fulfill all those specific requirements.
According to historian Peter Stoner, the chance that any one man could fulfill the eight most significant prophesies alone is one in 1017. That's 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. It's equivalent to a blindfolded person finding one marked silver dollar in a pile covering the state of Texas to a depth of two feet! The chance that any one person could fulfill 48 of the prophesies is one in 10157 (one followed by 157 zeros).
Here are some of the most significant prophesies concerning the birth of the Messiah, with a principle and application attached to each one. We suggest that you study them one at a time, giving yourself an opportunity to digest the information provided before moving on to the next.
Part I The first prophecy of the coming of Christ from the book of Genesis, which is also a prophecy of the work Christ will perform.
Part II God told king Ahaz that the Messiah would be born to a virgin, and that His name would be "Immanuel" which means "God with Us."
Part III God announces that unto us a Child would be born, and that the government would be upon His shoulders, and that He would be everlasting and the Prince of Peace.
Part IV Eight centuries before Christ was born, Mica prophecies the place of His birth–a small community with an unremarkable history.
Part V God uses the prophet Daniel to describe to the exact year when Christ would enter Jerusalem in triumph–the date which would prove to be Palm Sunday the very week of His crucifixion.
Part VI Matthew quotes a number of passages from the Old Testament to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy, all of them written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
You know of an online one or one that is soft copy?
Online? No. Hard copy, yes. CM&A has one. My dad has one in white dialect.
Online? No. Hard copy, yes. CM&A has one. My dad has one in white dialect.
Dr. Nyaj Looj Yaaj is working on that getting the latest version (which I think he's finishing up) out; hardcopy and online/software copy.
Are you sure about that? Because if that's the case, then we may not need to do this...
Interesting concept, I am not sure that I get it... can you go into more details?
Anyone of you ladies planning on going/attending the Alliance Women's Conference in GA this coming weekend?
Aha's....aka... take away...
A man who loves his wife protects her in public. This is the nobility of the husband. A noble husband rises above circumstances to do what is right for his wife. He does not care what others think in this situation. This is especially true in Hmong marriages where "how" a husband is supposed to act and be is so well defined.
A noble person does not make a decision by fear but by objective understanding of the facts. He does not allow negative emotion to pressure his decision.
Joseph is definitely a man of courage... to do what is totally against everything that he has been taught... to live God's will and not that of his own.
I wont be here tomorrow. I have to run another site. You guys have fun now.
Hi. I'm here. Just reading. Have to leave for an appt soon.
Post up all 8 of them...
So lub week no peb read what chapters?
Live your life in such a way that makes them curious to know WHY you are different from the rest of the world... and when they ask you... tell them... then if they want the same thing you have... they will go to church to find out for themselves... once they find the truth... they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior...
It's not a sin... one of the most important commandment from God to wives is... respect your husband as your head... whether he is a believer or not... if he say you can't go to church... that's ok... God understands. You are demonstrating that you are a true Christian by honoring your husband's wishes. The one thing that God wants the most from us... is the knowledge that HE ALONE is our source... the one person that we go to when we are troubled and worried ... or need help. If you are ever sick or worried about the future... don't request your husband to "UA NEEJ" or "FIV YEEM" but come to God and ask for his help.
Another thing, don't hesitate to teach your children about God. In my early years, my mom raised us in a traditional religious home, but she had always talked to us about God... so we knew who he was... later on in life... when we were asked if we wanted to accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he wasn't someone foreign... and strange. Fast forward 30 years later... the change in my mom, after she has read through the entire Bible... inspired me to read the entire Bible.
There are alot of really good Bibles out there now... You can learn so much on your own. I would recommend the New Century Version , edited by Max Lucado... the Devotional one... It really draws you near to God. Another good resource is the Life Applications Bibles... they come in many translations.. . there are scriptures on top... and then each verse or almost each is explained on the bottom half. I just bought my husband an New International Version Life Application Bible that I really like... I am planning to read that one for my third round with the Bible... after I finish reading my current one... which is The Leadership Bible edited by John Maxwell.
Passerby... if you TRULY believe... then yes..
Jammed...
Being a Christian is like being adopted and is not like it...
It's like being adopted... if the parents have no kids of their own... have been wanting a child for a really long time... and even after the adoption, are not able to have kids of their own. Like my sis... she could not have a kids, they have been married for over 10 years. They have finally adopted a little boy... and he has ADHD... before he was diagnosed and put on medicine, he was a little terror. When they leave him with sitters, he would hit, spit and swear at the sitters... furthermore, he would hit, bite, and kicked other children he is around... to the point of drawing blood... but my sis loves him so much, she would get mad at the sitters if they report to her that they were having problems with him... and for the kids that he hit, bit, and kicked... she would say that it was because they were "raum raum" and her kid was a lot smarter... and that's why he did that to the kids... so he could do no wrong and those around her kid could do no right....
It is not like being adopted... b/c human parents always have expectations.. . even from our own kids... those that are of our blood. And even though we may love them all the same... it does appear like we love the ones who are more well behaved.
Being a Christian is different. The difference is that God already knows exactly who you are... with your warts and everything... and he still loves you... unconditionall y... he even loves you before you have ever accepted him... Jesus died for our sins even way before we were ever conceived or born... his love was so great, that he died for us ... even before he knew how we would turn out... whether we would become the Mother Teresa's of the world or the Hitler's of the world... he died 2000 years ago for us... and for all future generations... the only thing is...
do you accept Him?
If the answer is a resounding YEEESSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSS.... then you are his forever more... and nothing on earth or in heaven can take you away from Him.
You may still slide back.. and fall into temptations and live with sins... but he would love you no less. The only difference is that in your shame, you will not feel very comfortable going to him... and in doing so... you will lose a close personal relationship with him... but you will never lose your salvation.
Now, there are people who went through the motions of confessing and baptism, but didn't really believe it in their hearts... it is all for naught... because God looks to the heart of a person... that's why it is so hard for us as humans to look at a person and determine if he is truly a Christian or not. Only God can see into a person's heart and will know who truly believes in him and who doesn't.
Jammed, this is a loaded question… one that could open doors for me to offend some people… but here is what I will say…
Yes, there are many religions out there, and they all teach similar philosophies, and differs in many core beliefs. Believe it or not, I have always been interested in different religions, and have done some self-studies on them. The one thing that I have found in my journey is that they are all about a sense of spirituality… they all teach that there is another realm beyond our physical one… the one that we can touch, feel, and see. Most of all, they all exist to provide us with hope… hope of the future… hope of something better after death.
The biggest that I have found is that in Christianity, our God is alive. He is real and most important of all, he is not just there for us after death… but he is for us right now, each and every day of our lives.
The second biggest difference is that each and everyone of us, who have accepted that Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we can go to God directly… and laid our worries and problems before him… and once we do that, we are overcome with a sense of peace because we know and trust that he will take care of them. He will resolve them in such a way that is even better than the scenarios that we have envisioned in our minds… for our resources are limited… as well as our brain capacity… but He has unlimited resources for everything is his… and he is the creator of all things… including our scientific ideas and inclinations… so he can and he will help us… from the biggest thing to the smallest thing.
With other religions, the entity that they pray to or worship is not alive, is not currently active in their daily lives… and often times, they can not approach that entity personally, they must go through someone who has been trained specifically for that purpose.
'so kuv noog tias...even though mus church..muaj kev hlub thiab kev sib pab heev li..and vajtswv yeej hlub yus..yeej hlub sawvdaws mas..
but nws puas muaj ib yam abtsi qhia tias..."koj yuav tsum ua kiag li no mas koj thiaj yog kuv ib tug menyuam tiag tiag lawm"?'
I will assume that when you say, “mus church,” you are referring to someone who has accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior and has been baptized already. If this is the case, then the answer is NO. To be a child of God, that is all that you have to do.
I will throw in something a little extra….
Now, there are scriptures that teach that if you had truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you would want to strive to be more like him. Truthfully, that is a slow and life-long process. Although some people seem to think that it is an instantaneous event as soon as you are baptized. It’s not. I have read in the Bible and heard people talk about that you will know a true believer by their fruits; however, life experience have taught me that some people are good reader/ listeners… and they can pretend to bear the fruits of the Spirit, but it is only an outward display that does not come from their hearts. So really, only God can judge who is a true believer and who is not.
Quote
'kuv noog li no..vim kuv paub tias...some druggy uas nyob tom qab choj xwb los..thaum nws tag kev lawm and tsa suab hu vajtswv...vajt swv yeej hlub thiab yeej pab...llol'
As for the druggy under the bridge… if and when he truly called out to God to save him… from the bottom of his heart, and pray the prayer of salvation, then yes, God does accept him and help him. And it would be a long struggle for him to overcome his drug habit, but when he has truly learned to let go of his problems and lay them at God’s feet, the Holy Spirit will guide him and strengthen him… and in time, he will overcome his drug habit and will turn his life around.
I just want to add that when you go to the hospital, it is because you are sick. And when you get there, you will be lying down next to other people who are sick. I have never heard of a person who is fully healthy and wants to be checked into the hospital. Furthermore, the hospital would not even admit him to be checked into the hospital. So, in conclusion, all the people who have been admitted to the hospital are all sick people who needs the care of a physician and his team.
It is the same for Christians. We go to church because we know we are sinners, saved by the Grace of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ only. We also know that our fellow church members are struggling with their own sins. If they or we were perfect, we would not need God and we would not need to go to church… so have some compassion and understanding for your fellow Christians… and continue to love them and pray for them when they fall.
Stole this from Wind's journal... lolz... I was wondering... who is she quoting... hahahaha...
4/12/2011
-Trust in God, not in men.
LL, the bf and I watched the story of King Saul and David. It was kind of confusing but I went back and read about their story in the Bible. King Saul was Apostle Paul, right?
No, King Saul is from the Old Testament, probably some 1,000 years before the Apostle Paul (Saul before he met Christ in the desert).
He was the first king of all of the tribes of Israel. Saul was chosen the first king of Israel after the sons, and potential successors, of the high priest Samuel were rejected by the people as corrupt (1 Samuel 8:1-9).
Oh ok. Thanks! So where in the Bible is the story of Apostle Paul?
This is from FB. Thought I share it.
Accept Jesus as your Savior by praying this simple prayer: Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe that you died upon the cross for me, and that you shed your precious blood for the forgiveness of my sin. And I believe that on the third day, you rose from the dead, and went to Heaven to prepare a place for me. I accept you now as my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and set me free from my sin. And, because you are my Savior, Jesus, "I shall not die, but have everlasting life". Thank you Jesus
Thank you Wind. I should have just let you lead the Bible Study Class... next time.
LL, men are all hypocrites, right?
Matthew Chapter 4:1-11
1. The tempation to be self-sufficient (vv. 2-4)
Jesus didn't become controlling, even with His legitimate needs. He trusted God.
How do you deal with the tempations of leadership? Study Jesus' method for combating these familar temptations of legitimated needs.
Jesus definitely set the the bar for all of us.
Beauty of it is that he has already created the trail through the jungle, all we have to do is follow in his footsteps.
Matthew Chapter 4:1-11
3. The temptation to be powerful (vv. 8-10)
Jesus wouldn't take a shortcut to gain power or worship.
From my understanding of what I've learned in Sunday school, judgement only happens during the rapture and only for those that hadn't already accepted Christ. And I'd thought that you will finally go to heaven during the rapture, not directly after death.
I'm all confused.
Thanks!
The only thing I have accepted so far is that God's time is not like our time. A 1000 years in our time may just be one day in God's time.
I have not found many scriptures on this, just a few... but from listening to people who died, went to heaven/ or hell... and come back... it would seem that what Jesus said here is true... that our spirit will be with him upon death.
Luke 23:43 (NIV)
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Philippians 1:23 (NIV)
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
To me, these verses indicate that while our bodies remain on earth, our spirits goes to heaven and are with Jesus (aka God aka the Holy Spirit). Especially what I highlighted in the verse right above... that those who are asleep in Jesus, he will bring with him... so... if he is "brining them..." they must be with him already.
And then there is the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16
19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,c where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
I'm here.
My second point on my last post about opening minds and debate was not for your but for everyone who is in here and saying this and that so just want to point to them and not for your per se..
I believe that what we have is what we work for and nothing is given to us by God....and if what you say is true, and let just say it is then I would like to keep 100% for myself to use because yeah, I'm selfish... ;D
Matt 5:4
...those who mourn. This speaks of mourning over sin, the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation without regret. The "comfort" is the comfort of forgiveness and salvation.
Matthew 5:5 the meek
Meekness is the opposite of being out of control. It is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:23... "gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Gentleness... better translated "meekness" is a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, while having no desire for revenge or retribution. In the New Testament, it is used to describe 3 attitudes: submission to the will of God (Collosian 3:12), teachability (James 1:5,6), and consideration of others (Ephesians 4:2).
Self-control refers to restraining passions and appetites as instructed in 2 Peters 1:5,6... "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindess love.
Teaching about Vows
33You have also heard that our ancestors were told, You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.o 34But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, By heaven! because heaven is Gods throne. 35And do not say, By the earth! because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, By Jerusalem! for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36Do not even say, By my head! for you cant turn one hair white or black. 37Just say a simple, Yes, I will, or No, I wont. Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
This is from the NLT online. Is this teaching about swearing and/or making promises? Just curious.
I like the definition of meekness here.
Matthew 5:33 - You shall not swear falsely expresses the teaching from Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Dueteronomy 23:21, 23.
Matthew 5:34 do not swear at all
This should not be taken as a univeral condemnation of oaths in all circumstances. God Himself confirmed a promise wiht an oath in Heb. 6:13-18 and in Acts 2:30. Christ Himself spoke under oath in Matthew 26:63-64. And the law prescribed oaths in certain circumstances (e.g., Numbers 5:19, 21; 30:2,3).
What Christ is forbidding here is forbidding here is the flippant, profane, or careless use of oaths in everyday speech. In that culture, such oaths were often employed for deceptive purpposes. To make the person being victimized beleive the truth was being told, the Jews would swear by "heaven," "earth," "Jerusalem," or their own "heads," not by God, hoping to avoid divine judgment for their lie. Hmong people do this too... except swearing by Jerusalem.
But it all was in God's creation, so it drew Him in and produced guilt before Him, exactly as if the oath were made in His name. Jesus suggested that all our speech should be as if we were under an oath to tell the truth.
Hi LL,
For our Bible Study group we read Romans 5. I was still a little puzzled after the reading and discussion. Could you break it down for me? When you have time, babe. Thank you.
Wind
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Not only with the perception of faith, but in the glory of Heaven. As stated in Hebrews 12:14... "Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord." ...Rev 22:4 states that they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. This means that someday, in heaven, we can look on God's face without harm b/c we are now holy.
Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV): "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:"
To pursue ... holiness requires:
1) drawing near to God with full faith and a cleansed conscience
2) a genuine acceptance of Christ as the Savior and sacrifice for sin, bringing the sinner into fellowship with God. Unbelievers will not be drawn to accept Christ if believers' lives do not demonstrate the qualities God desires, including peace and holiness... wow... that's powerful. That's a heavy weight on the shoulders of those of us who ARE Christians.
Absolutely inspiring.
Matthew Chapter 4:1-11
The Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness right after His baptism by John, reminding us that ast least part of His preparation for ministry came from a wilderness experience.
Does this sound familiar? Quality leaders can almost always point to a wilderness experience as part of their leadership preparation - a hard and dark time in our lives. During this time, our motives get purified, our backbone solidifies, and our calling gets clarified.
The devil tempted Jesus for 40 days in the wilderness - a screening process to see what Jesus would give up and how He would trust God to provide. In his book, In the Name of Jesus, Henry Nouwen reminds us that the three tempations of Jesus corresponds to three tempations leaders face today:
1. The tempation to be self-sufficient (vv. 2-4)
Jesus didn't become controlling, even with His legitimate needs. He trusted God.
2. The temptation to be spectacular (vv. 5-7)
Jesus refused to become a stunt man. He didn't perform in order to become a celebrity.
3. The temptation to be powerful (vv. 8-10)
Jesus wouldn't take a shortcut to gain power or worship.
How do you deal with the tempations of leadership? Study Jesus' method for combating these familar temptations of legitimated needs, gifting, and fame. jesus provideds our standard for defeating temptation. He never lost.
Amen.
Are we on Matthew 6 now?
lol.
I really like the teachings on Chapter 6.
Sorry, I forgot...I'm an hour ahead of you guys!!
You know, I'm stuck on the words "poor in spirit." What does "in spirit" mean?
I've looked at the bible and have seen references to: "humble in spirit", "patient in spirit", "erred in spirit", "grieved in spirit", "strong in spirit", and "rejoiced in spirit."
Still studying this...
Wind, maybe this will explain it in a more eloquent way... reference Matthew 5:1-16. (Courteousy of NKJV Family Foundations Bible Study)
Blessed Attitudes
Parents are typically very intentional about working on their children's behavior and helping them develop a character that is most like Jesus. Yet frequently we do this by responding to negative behaviors and trying to root them out. Perhaps it's even more essential for parents to dig deeper to help their children shape more positive, more God-honoring attitudes.
The list of Beattitudes in Matthew 5 is a good place for parents to begin. Perhaps we should consider selecting one or two and focus on modeling those to our children. But living out these characteristic s - humility, mercy, purity, righteousness, and a hunger for God (which are virtues of the heart) - will likely cause us to do and say what seems strange to the world. Which is the primary reason why I really wanted to know and understand each of the Beattitudes because within this chapter is the set of description of the ideal attitudes that ALL Christians - parents and children - should be continually building into their lives.
Be proactive in teaching ourselves and our family to give when others take, love when others hate, and help when others abuse.
Loving heavenly Father we come to you this hour asking for your blessing and help as we are gathered together. We pray for guidance in the matters at hand and ask that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm. Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work. Help us to work together and encourage each other to excellence. We ask that we would challenge each other to reach higher and farther to be the best we can be. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This has been a very profound message to me over the years.
I just finally understood this phrase.
Thank you, LL. Even in your busy schedule, you came to lead the Bible Study. I will be back to read through these later. Enjoy your day and God bless!
LadyLionness,
Question not related to Bible study but I am curious. Are your explanations your own words or from the side notes of the Devotional Bible by Max Lucado that you posted?
Which one of the three would you say it's more helpful? I'm not new to studying the Bible but I want to be resourceful for some friends. I'm not going to do any actual Bible studying with them...just clarifying things for them if/when they come to me. Like you, I don't want to mislead anyone.
What is faith at work?
Isn't helping others enough? From what I understand, people do the Lord's work 'cause they are called to do so? What if I never get that calling or if I can't understand, don't believe, that there is a calling for me, what does that make of my faith?
While there were a lot of things in chapter 7, not too many things jumped out at me in chapter 8, so unless there is something you want to discuss in chapter 8, I will talk about these verses and then move on.
Matthew 8:19 - 22
Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. Often it means great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security. jesus didn't have a place to call home. you may find that following Christ costs you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits. But while the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christ's deciple is even higher. Discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.
Jesus was always direct with those who wanted to follow him. He made sure they counted the cost and set aside any conditions they might have for following him.
AND believe it or not, He knows us better than we know ourselves... even though we have chosen to follow him and might think we are ready to serve as the young man in these scriptures, Jesus knows when we are NOT ready yet and so and puts things in the way to keep us still in the wilderness until we are ready to go and set aside our conditions before he really call us into service.
Just remember that while we may not be of service to him yet, the decision to follow him should not be put off, even though other loyalties compete for our attention. Nothing should be palced above a total commitment to living for Christ. And for now, maybe the only commitment he is asking from you is to study His Word and to abide in him so that he can produce fruits through you.
Matthew 7:1-5
Jesus' statement "Judge not" is against the kind of hypercritical, judgmental attitude that that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement against all critical thinking, but a call to be discerning rather than negative. Jesus said to discern false teachers, and Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:1,2) and trust God to be the final judge (1 Cor 4:3-5).
Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in other s are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Our unbroken bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others' faults while ignoring your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.
Hi,
I thought to pass this to you so you can pass it on to anyone that may need such to ease whatever they are facing.
Colossians 3:8 (NIV) - But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Todays commentary by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
All of these vices are based upon self-gratification. Anger and rage can be used to manipulate things to get our way. Malice and slander are attempts to discredit those that disagree with us. Filthy language can be used to intimidate others into submission. But for the believer, our lives are to be sacrificial; preferring others to ourselves. To rid ourselves of these carnal power plays makes us available to serve others better.
But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy and not
sacrifice." For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
This passage is very strong:
Matthew 10:
37If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
The problem with that is: some people don't want to be helped. I have a co-worker who told me she doesn't want to go to Heaven b/c it's going to be soooooooo boring up there.
What you explained signifies "humbleness". The problem with so many leaders, especially xwbfwb, is that they are not humbled. They think b/c they are a licensing xf, their words are gold and everyone should just do what they say. I have an issue with people like that.
John 20:21-22
So Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
Just like Jesus, we need to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Many people do not realize that Jesus was a Spirit-filled man. They think He lived His amazing miraculous life on His own power as God the Son. But when Jesus chose to become a man, He did not call on His infinite power as the Son of God, but rather ministered as a man in dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22; 4:18). He was filled with the Spirit (Luke 4:1). He was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1). He was sent by the Spirit (Luke 4:18). He preached in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:18-19). He cast out demons in the power of the Spirit (Acts 10:38).
Do you see Gods message to you today? If the Lord Jesus, who lived as a man without a fallen nature, so thoroughly depended on the Holy Spirit for His ministry into the lives of those around Him, how much more do we, who are so weak and fallen and sinful, need to constantly depend on the Spirit to lead and anoint and empower us for ministry!
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the
law said to him, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.
He answered, A wicked and
adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign
of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days
and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace, where the people will cryJesus often uses these terms to refer to the coming judgement. The wailing indicates sorrow or remorese, and gnashing of theeth shows extreme anxiety or pain. Those who say they don't care what happens to them after they die don't realize what they are saying. They will be punished for living in such selfishness and indifference to God.
and grind their teeth with pain.
Matthew 15:10-12
10 After Jesus called the crowd to him, he said, "Listen and understand what I am saying. 11 It is not what people put into their mouths that makes them unclean. It is what comes out of their mouths that makes them unclean." 12 Then his followers came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees are angry because of what you said?"
Matthew 15:13-20
13 Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted himself will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Stay away from the Pharisees; they are blind leaders. And if a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a ditch." 15 Peter said, "Explain the example to us." 16 Jesus said, "Do you still not understand? 17 Surely you know that all the food that enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then goes out of the body. 18 But what people say with their mouths comes from the way they think; these are the things that make people unclean. 19 Out of the mind come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and speaking evil of others. 20 These things make people unclean; eating with unwashed hands does not make them unclean."
Galatians 5:19-21
19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins, 20 worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, 21 feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God's kingdom.
Do people actually study the bible here in your forum, or you're just talking to yourself ::)
Matthew Chapter 16:12
Then they udnerstood that He did not tell them to beware of leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Survey: (I will need everyone to chime in.)
Which way do you guys prefer?
1. Reading one chapter per week with indepth discussions like James Chapter 4 and 5.
BoyRescue,
I really like this. I was confused about this too because I have seen some well-to-do Hmong people who don't seem to abuse it or hoard it. And then I think about Solomon and David... and Job .... and Abraham... they were rich too.
I have heard many people preaching and saying that in order to be Christlike, we ought to live poorly. A few years back, I was praying and was reminded by God that he does bestow richness on people so we need to ask him.
Hello, Folks.
Sorry about the long absence. So many things were happening and then the holidays.
I have finally recovered from my trip to Cali, so I will continue with the Bible Study Class again tomorrow.
We will finish Matthew Chapter 18 (vv. 21 - 35) and start on Chapter 19. Hope to see you all here.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/1%20Corinthians%2013.1-13))
This is a description of agape love. It is described as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails.
I try to challenge women today to think of the word submission in other terms. The word does not mean, as some think being a slave or allowing yourself to get walked on or abused. Instead, submission will more often involve things like supporting your husband, believing in him, giving him respect. Those words help describe what submission really means.
My role as a wife is to support my husband. I am to believe in him, respect him, and help him as instructed in Genesis 2:18, 20. I want to help my husband become all that God intends for him to be. That doesn't mean, of course, that he's not also helping me to become all God intends me to be! We do that for each other. But my primary role is to be a helper, to believe in him and to support him in what he believes God is calling him to do.
When we first started talking about joining with others to launch a ministry to married couples and families, I was free to voice my concerns and express my opinions. Once the decision was made (in this case, a decision we both believed was God's will for us), my assignment was to respect, support, and encourage my husband as he gave leadership to the ministry. He has told me many times that my believing in him gave him courage. When we wives demonstrate respect for our husbands, we make it easier for them to do what God has called them to do.
13 Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so he could put his hands on themn and pray for them. His followers told them to stop, 14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children." 15 After Jesus put his hands on the children, he left there.
16 A man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?" 17Jesus answered, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. But if you want to have life forever, obey the commands." 18 The man asked, "Which commands?" Jesus answered, "'You must not murder anyone; you must not be guilty of adultery; you must not steal; you must not tell lies about your neighbor; 19honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.'" 20 The young man said, "I have obeyed all these things. What else do I need to do?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."22 But when the young man heard this, he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.
[size=0.75em]8 [/size]I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=NCV#) from God. [size=0.75em]9 [/size]It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. [size=0.75em]10 [/size]God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.
][/size][size=0.75em]8 [/size]For it is by graceyou have been saved, through faithand this is not from yourselves, it is the gift (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=NIV#) of God[size=0.75em]9 [/size]not by works, so that no one can boast.[size=0.75em]10 [/size]For we are Gods handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
23 Then Jesus said to his followers, "I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter (http://www.biblestudytools.com/ncv/matthew/passage.aspx?q=matthew+19;matthew+20) the kingdom of heaven. 24 Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When Jesus' followers heard this, they were very surprised and asked, "Then who can be saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "This is something people cannot do, but God can do all things." 27 Peter said to Jesus, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?" 28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, when the age to come has arrived, the Son of Man will sit on his great throne. All of you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left, and they will have life forever. 30 Many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future
9 So are we Jews better than others? No! We have already said that Jews and those who are not Jews are all guilty of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say:
There is no one who always does what is right,
not even one.
11 There is no one who understands.
There is no one who looks to God for help.
12 All have turned away.
Together, everyone has become useless.
There is no one who does anything good;
there is not even one. Psalm 14:13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.14.1-Ps.14.3&version=NCV)
13 Their throats are like open graves;
they use their tongues for telling lies. Psalm 5:9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.5.9&version=NCV)
Their words are like snake poison. Psalm 140:3 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.140.3&version=NCV)
14 Their mouths are full of cursing and hate. Psalm 10:7 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.10.7&version=NCV)
15 They are always ready to kill people.
16 Everywhere they go they cause ruin and misery.
17 They dont know how to live in peace. Isaiah 59:78 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa.59.7-Isa.59.8&version=NCV)
18 They have no fear of God. Psalm 36:1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.36.1&version=NCV)
19 We know that the laws commands are for those who have the law. This stops all excuses and brings the whole world under Gods judgment,20 because no one can be made right with God by following (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3&version=NCV) the law. The law only shows us our sin.
10 But those who depend on following the law to make them right are under a curse, because the Scriptures say, Anyone will be cursed who does not always obey what is written in the Book of the Law.11 Now (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3&version=NCV) it is clear that no one can be made right with God by the law, because the Scriptures say, Those who are right with God will live by faith.12 The law is not based on faith. It says, A person who obeys these things will live because of them.13 Christ took away the curse the law put on us. He changed places with us and put himself under that curse. It is written in the Scriptures, Anyone whose body is displayed on a tree is cursed.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christs, then you are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Laborers in the Vineyard
1 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-1.htm)For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-2.htm)When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-3.htm)And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-4.htm) and to those he said, You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And so they went. 5 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-5.htm)Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-6.htm)And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, Why have you been standing here idle all day long? 7 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-7.htm)They said to him, Because no one hired us. He said to them, You go into the vineyard too.
8 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-8.htm)When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first. 9 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-9.htm)When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-10.htm)When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-11.htm)When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-12.htm) saying, These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day. 13 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-13.htm)But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree (http://nasb.scripturetext.com/matthew/20.htm) with me for a denarius? 14 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-14.htm)Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-15.htm)Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?16 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-16.htm)So the last shall be first, and the first last.
Death, Resurrection Foretold
17 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-17.htm)As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-18.htm)Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-19.htm)and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock (http://nasb.scripturetext.com/matthew/20.htm) and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.
36 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-36.htm)Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, Sit here while I go over there and pray. 37 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-37.htm)And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-38.htm)Then He said to them, My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. 39 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-39.htm)And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. 40 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-40.htm)And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-41.htm)Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-42.htm)He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. 43 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-43.htm)Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-44.htm)And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-45.htm)Then He came to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-46.htm)Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!
39 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-39.htm)And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-40.htm)When He arrived at the place, He said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. 41 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-41.htm)And He withdrew from them about a stones throw, and He knelt down andbegan to pray, 42 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-42.htm)saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. 43 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-43.htm)Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-44.htm)And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-45.htm)When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 (http://bible.cc/luke/22-46.htm)and said to them, Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
20 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-20.htm)Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-21.htm)And He said to her, What do you wish? She said to Him, Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left. 22 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-22.htm)But Jesus answered, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They said to Him, We are able. 23 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-23.htm)He said to them, My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.
24 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-24.htm)And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-25.htm)But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-26.htm)It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-27.htm)and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 (http://bible.cc/matthew/20-28.htm)just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
TH,
He knew way before this moment that someone will betray him. He even reveal it at the pass over supper that it would be Judas.
Judass Bargain (http://nasb.scripturetext.com/matthew/26.htm)
14 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-14.htm)Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-15.htm)and said, What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you? And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-16.htm)From then on he began looking for a good opportunity (http://nasb.scripturetext.com/matthew/26.htm) to betray Jesus.
17 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-17.htm)Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover? 18 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-18.htm)And He said, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. 19 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-19.htm)The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-20.htm)Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-21.htm)As they were eating, He said, Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me. 22 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-22.htm)Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, Surely not I, Lord? 23 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-23.htm)And He answered, He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-24.htm)The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 (http://bible.cc/matthew/26-25.htm)And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, Surely it is not I, Rabbi? Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself.
21When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me. (http://bible.cc/john/13-21.htm)22The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. (http://bible.cc/john/13-22.htm)23There was reclining on Jesus bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. (http://bible.cc/john/13-23.htm)24So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking. (http://bible.cc/john/13-24.htm)25He, leaning back thus on Jesus bosom, said to Him, Lord, who is it? (http://bible.cc/john/13-25.htm)26Jesus then answered, That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him. So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (http://bible.cc/john/13-26.htm)27After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, What you do, do quickly. (http://bible.cc/john/13-27.htm)28Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. (http://bible.cc/john/13-28.htm)29For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, Buy the things we have need of for the feast; or else, that he should give something to the poor. (http://bible.cc/john/13-29.htm)30So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. (http://bible.cc/john/13-30.htm)
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peoples sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation . 20We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christs behalf: Be reconciled to God.21God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them,Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them. 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 Say to the daughter of Zion,
Behold your King is coming to you,
Gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.
8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,
Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!
10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? 11 And the crowds were saying, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.
24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
12 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-12.htm)And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-13.htm)And He said to them, It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER; but you are making it a ROBBERS DEN.
14 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-14.htm)And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-15.htm)But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David, they became indignant 16 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-16.htm)and said to Him, Do You hear what these children are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF? 17 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-17.htm)And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
18 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-18.htm)Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-19.htm)Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you. And at once the fig tree withered.
20 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-20.htm)Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, How did the fig tree wither all at once? 21 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-21.htm)And Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will happen. 22 (http://biblehub.com/matthew/21-22.htm)And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
18 Hnub tom qab thaum sawv ntxov, Yexus taug kev rov mus rau tom lub nroog, nws tshaib plab. 19 Nws pom ib tsob txiv ncuavpias nyob ntawm ntug kev, nws txawm mus saib, tiamsis tsis pom muaj txiv li, tsuas muaj nplooj xwb. Yexus hais rau tsob ntoo hais tias, "Txij no mus koj yuav tsis tau txi txiv ib zaug li lawm!" Tamsim ntawd tsob txiv ncuavpias txawm cia li qhuav lawm. 20 Thaum cov thwjtim pom li ntawd lawv xav tsis thoob thiab hais tias, "Ua li cas tsob txiv ncuavpias no yuav tuag sai ua luaj li ntawd? " 21 Yexus teb hais tias, "Kuv qhia tseeb rau nej hais tias, yog nej ntseeg tiag tiag, neJ yeej muaj cuabkav ua tau ib yam li kuv ua rau tsob txiv ncuavpias no. Tsis tas li ntawd xwb, yog nej hais rau lub roob no hais tias, 'Cia li txav lawm nram dej hiavtxwv,' ces lub roob yeej yuav mus raws li nej hais. 22 Yog nej ntseeg tiag, nej thov yam twg, nej yuav tau yam ntawd."