Are They All Healed When You Pray?
Everyone in the healing ministry experiences failure when praying with others
for healing. “Failure” in this connection is simply not seeing the healing happen
that you prayed for. “Failure” in prayer is never absolute because God always
recognises our genuine efforts.
But we can reduce the percentage of failures by giving attention to the possible
causes. This article briefly discusses some of the causes and suggests some
solutions.
1. Faith
The disciples once asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17. 5). His reply
may seem somewhat obtuse. He certainly did not respond to them as they
expected, telling them what they could do if they had even the tiniest amount
of faith.
Is there a lesson for us here? Most certainly! It is, perhaps, twofold. Firstly,
we use what faith we have got at the time. An obvious implication since Jesus
did not do what they asked. Secondly, we need to improve the quality of the
faith we have. Another clear, perhaps even clearer implication of Jesus’
response.
How? Not easy to give a short answer. But look at the life of someone like
Smith Wigglesworth. (Never heard of him? You really do need to get down
to your nearest Christian book shop!). Reading the biographies about create
considerable enthusiasm in oneself - at first. Then you might begin to get
frustrated after the first four or five. Why? Because none of the writers (can?)
tell you how he came to have such great faith. He certainly did not start with it!
In conversation recently a lady pointed to the real reason: “I felt disgusted with
myself,” she said, “because of the great love he had for the Lord”. That is the
ultimate key.
2. Time
We do not, however, love God in isolation from his people. In his first
letter, at 4. 20 John tells us that a person is a liar who says he loves God
while hating his brother. Indeed, he says that anyone who does not love his
brother, whom he has seen, cannot claim to love God, whom he has never
seen.
We need to love those we pray with enough to spend whatever
amount of time is necessary to get to the root of their problem and so pray
effectively for them. Failure here is an important cause of
nonhealing.Yet Jesus has commanded us that: anyone who loves
God must also love his brother.
3. Unfocussed Prayer
In fact, this follows from the last point. We need to spend time making an
adequate assessment of what is wrong with the person only so
that we can pray specifically into that situation. This is something my wife
and I lay considerable stress on in our book “The Keys To Praying For Healing”.
Is importance cannot be overlooked.
One can spend considerable time teaching individuals how to pray with
other for healing, laying stress on how specific the prayer should be. But
so many people, when it comes to actually praying, fall back into something
like “Oh Lord, please heal him/her in all the ways he/she needs healing”.
Somehow, God is so good that no prayer is a waste of time, but this kind
of prayer probably comes very close! Certainly, praying like that will not
result in many healings.
Focus your prayer exactly on the problem. If they have cancer,
or a damaged vertebrae, or Aids, or a cold, pray exactly into that!
Letting God Be God
Anyone can pray with another for healing. And anyone can see that healing
take place - because God’s love for us is so great. However, his knowledge
and wisdom are also very great and he sees things differently to us. So we
shall not always know why a particular healing does not happen. Sometimes
it is down to the factors we are discussing here. Sometimes it is due to similar
ones we do not have space to included here.
But sometimes nonhealing is due to something which we shall never know
about. We need to do all we can, certainly. But when that has been done,
there will always be cases which defy explanation. On the other hand, there
will also be cases where God works in such a sovereign way that we are left
speechless at the “how” and the “why” of it.
Sometimes, in either of these instances, we just have to let God be God”
5.Gifting
Anyone can pray with another for healing. But if we feel called into the
healing ministry, we really ought to get ourselves prayed with for a gift of
healing.
Just as God can heal without us, so he can empower us without any
assistance from anyone else! But unless we know ourselves to have been
specifically blessed in this way, we really ought to seek the prayers of others.
What others? Well, any Christian who know what he/she is about. But there
does seem to be a definite advantage in being prayed with by someone known
to have a gift of healing themselves. Many healers will themselves
testify to this. God can give when anyone asks, but…
About The Author
A K Whitehead
Web Site: www.christianword.co.uk
Experience: Over twenty years in Christian healing and teaching.
Qualifications: B.A., M.Phil., Camb Univ Cert in Religious Studies
Conditions of use: This article may be reproduced on condition
that it is unaltered and that all this information is included.
About the Author
A K Whitehead
Web Site: www.christianword.co.uk
Experience: Over twenty years in Christian healing and teaching.
Qualifications: B.A., M.Phil., Camb Univ Cert in Religious Studies
Conditions of use: This article may be reproduced on condition
that it is unaltered and that all this information is included.
Writing your own spells is what every practicing Witch aspires to. The ability to craft your own spells gives you an advantage over “ready made” spells you can find in other places. This is because you will be putting your own emotion and energy into the spell in it’s creation… it will be more “special” to you, and that is the secret of casting successful spells.
If you want to learn black magic, all of the below holds true.
The ingredients and tools that you use are purely dependent upon not only what traditional magickal properties they might possess, but also what they mean to you as far as symbology goes.
There are different ways to set up the wording of your spells. They can be as simple as a two line “charge” to enforce your will, rhyming couplets (my personal favorite, since it helps me to better remember the words without referring back to written instructions), eloquent and lengthy prose to charge the spell to the energy of your will, or simply the use of repeating or chanting a single word over and over again.
Everything that you put into the spell - the ingredients, the words, the time of day, etc - come together with your desire, emotion, and belief to bring your desired outcome (sometimes within a day).
A quick word of warning: you should “steer clear” of casting spells to harm or control other people in any way. Not only does this go against the Witchcraft Ethics and Responsibilities I went over before - but trying to control someone else (or cause harm to them), opens doors in the future that you may not want opened. I have seen people loose everything because they practiced Magick in ways that go against common morality. Always make sure your heart is in the right place, and that you feel good about casting a spell.
Now, here are the things you will want to do while creating your spell. Make sure to write down an outline for the spell on paper so you won’t forget anything.
• Even if your spell is sounding silly as you write it - keep writing, as long as it is coming from your heart, and is for an intense desire that you have.
• Unless it is an emergency situation, plan out the best timing for when to cast the spell - planetary influences, moon phases, etc.
• When you have finished your spell, write it down in your Book of Shadows.
• Record the results of your spell, and any feelings you had while casting it in your Book of Shadows
• Revise the spell as necessary (in your Book of Shadows) as you figure out what went right and what went wrong.
I have included an easy 12-step formula for you to use when creating your own spells in the Home Academy. I also walk you through a full example of a secret spell I wrote many years ago (and I have never showed anybody until now). Not only will it give you a great example to follow when you write your own spells, but it is also a spell you can use for yourself. I promise, you’ll love it!
Rose has been practicing different forms of Witchcraft for over 27 years. For more information on black magick learning visit her site The Ask Rose Ariadne Witchcraft Site”
Do you have trouble taking a day off? Boy, I do. When I take a day off I lie around all day, read novels, eat whatever I want, take a nap, and generally do whatever I want. It’s awful. I get depressed, I don’t feel well, I don’t accomplish anything.
Did you catch that last phrase? “I don’t accomplish anything.” Well, of course not, it’s a DAY OFF. But do you ever feel that way? That you should be accomplishing something even when you’ve told yourself and others that you’re taking a day off?
Do you work on weekends? Evenings? Do you eat at your desk? I do all those things, sometimes. And what it means for me when I’m doing those things is that I’m “out of balance.”
Now, balance for me may not look like what it looks like for you. That’s another article entirely, one I haven’t had time to write yet. But what balance looks like for me is basically that I can lie down and read a book or sit on the couch with my husband and watch a movie without feeling like I “should be accomplishing something.”
It’s that simple. For me, anyway. I don’t always have to be accomplishing something. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to be at loose ends, it’s okay to enjoy a novel rather than studying or reading a heavy non-fiction tome. It’s even okay to play a computer game.
Where I get in trouble is when I go to the other end of the spectrum, usually because I’m depressed or discouraged, and spend all my time reading novels or playing computer games. Again, that’s another article.
But my point, and yes, I do indeed have one, is that it’s OKAY to take a break. You don’t need to be accomplishing something every minute of every day. I once told a very wise woman that I just had so much to do, I didn’t know how I was going to get it all done, and I was stressed beyond belief. She looked me deep in the eyes, nodded, and said, “Do you have a trashy novel?” She then offered to lend me one if I didn’t, so I could go home, spend the afternoon reading it, and get up refreshed to do the things that needed to be done.
Downtime is essential if you’re going to accomplish the right things. You can’t run on adrenaline indefinitely. It will catch up with you, and you’ll get a cold, strain a muscle, or worse.
So don’t worry about accomplishing anything for a few hours today. Go read a trash novel. I have a pretty good one you can borrow if you’d like.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.
The following is an actual letter I sent to a close Christian friend in 1999, immediately after being diagnosed with HIV. I hesitated going public with this now, not wanting to throw fuel on the fire of those who would cruelly abuse this information against me in a vain attempt to discredit what I say and write on many controversial topics, narrowly focusing on this imperfect messenger rather than concentrating on my God-given biblical message.
However, I trust that the many principles involved here - the process of conversion, love and forgiveness, faith and patience, how perfection is our goal and destiny, how deadly serious sin is, making the most of our experiences, the amazing grace of God, etc., can benefit others who are able to glean something positive from such life experiences to bless their own lives and others and glorify God. ****************************************************************
My Christian friend from NFO, Jen, emailed me when she found out about Tony, other than being sorry to hear it: “I really hope that this may be some sort of wake up call - you’re too smart to do some of the stuff you do, and you have a lot of friends who worry about you…”.
She knows, because I’ve talked with her a lot, that I’ve been far from a disciplined Christian when it comes to sex outside of marriage. She’s a “born-again virgin,” to her credit, vowing never to have sex again until marriage - so help her God!
The wake up call if TOO LATE, in one sense. After finding out that Tony had the dreaded disease, I thought it’s more likely I would have it since I’ve been more “risky” than him (and we’re only friends), so I went and got tested to play it safe (pun intended). Well, I was devastated yesterday morning to have the nice and pretty lady tell me that she “didn’t have good news.”
I’ve been diagnosed with HIV by the Eliza test and it’s been backed up/confirmed by the European blot test. My first thought was where is the highest building to jump off of, as tears filled my eyes, and then I was in that dream state where this can’t be happening, this is all unreal, I’m watching a movie, how will I tell mom and Kim and Lisa and everybody, why did I have to be so stupid? Why couldn’t/didn’t I stop sinning and live? As Cher sings, “If I could turn back time.” But the woman tried to comfort me that whereas most people used to die within 2 years, now many are living up to 10 years without any symptoms. I also don’t have any symptoms now.
She gave me all the information and numbers and places like David’s House and MCO to help out people like me with no insurance (and now I’ll NEVER be able to get any), all the information that I never wanted to hear or have to receive (probably like you now, sorry)….
I went and told mom in person, as Bob suggested, and she told Kim who cried with me on the phone, and they’re going to tell Lisa. Of course, I could live a “normal” life and outlive everybody, one never knows. All I know is I prayed to God years ago, in my beloved Israel, that I wanted to be in His Kingdom NO MATTER WHAT - even if it took AIDS to help me get and stay straight. Well, it looks like God might let my body be destroyed to save my soul; or He’ll let me have it, if He doesn’t heal me (and He could), to keep me celibate (since He knows I won’t go out and give it to others like some wicked people I know).
Mom said, “God hasn’t let you live this long to let you die now.” I just hate the selfishness of sin, how I’ve now hurt and affected my family, and then there’s the STIGMA that a struggling Christian writer would have AIDS! But God promises everything works together for good, for those of us who are called according to His wonderful Purpose.
This is only my second day of “living with AIDS” and I’m already sick and tired of thinking and/or worrying about it. Of course I had another test done right then and there just in case, however unlikely, that they switched my blood tube with someone else’s. Anyway, life goes on.
Shabbat Shalom,
Your bro,
David
I hear it all the time. Cries from Christian women who want desperately to serve the Lord, but who feel overwhelmed. “I almost dread going to PTO meetings or church services anymore because I just know somebody else is going to ask me to help with something,” they say. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to help, but there are only so many hours in my day. I feel like I’m just going to explode if I don’t get some relief.”
What usually follow these statements are apologies. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to complain. I’ve been blessed with so much that I have no choice but to give back. And I really am glad to do it. Anyway, as a Christian, I’m obligated to say ‘yes’ when called on to help. Plus, if I don’t do it, it simply won’t get done.”
Does any of that sound familiar to you? Have you found those same statements coming from your own mouth? Do you rush around all throughout your days doing for others whether you have time to do it or not? Do you cringe whenever the phone rings and the voice on the other end starts with, “Let me ask you something”? Do you have too much stress, not enough time, and a boatload of guilt for feeling the way you do? Then you most likely suffer from “I Can’t Say ‘No’” Syndrome.
The Bible Says It’s OK To Say No
While your intentions are probably good, the effects of your actions often turn out to be horrendous. Your husband fusses that you’re running yourself ragged. Your children complain that you have no time for them. You gripe under your breath about everything because you’re so sensitive.
Are you aware that it’s all right to say “no”? In fact, the Bible says it is OK to say “no.” Jesus, himself, clearly took time to rest as can be seen in Mark 4:38 among other passages. Even the son of God (in human form) knew His human body, mind, spirit, and soul needed a break from time-to-time. You, too, are expected to rest and take care of yourself. How else can you make your body a living sacrifice… a temple… as the Bible instructs?
Feeling Guilty Is Biblically WRONG!
This is a real shocker to most people. In cases like these, Satan, not God, uses guilt to sway our actions. Psalm 69:5, Isaiah 6:7, Isaiah 27:9, and countless other passages of scriptures refer to the sin of guilt. Jesus died for our sins. That means, when we repent of our sin, it is wiped clean. There is no guilt.
Satan often uses the ploy of false guilt to overwhelm us. Don’t let him work his tricks on you. This is nothing more than an attempt to keep you trapped and feeling depressed about not spending every minute of every day doing something for someone else.
God doesn’t want you run down and tired all the time. How can you effectively serve Him if you barely have enough energy to get out of bed? Why would He want someone “praising” Him who is disgusted and cranky? Walking the tightrope of “I Can’t Say ‘No’” is not God’s idea of a fruitful life.
There Is A Better Way
Take time for yourself. Have you ever been on an airplane? Do you remember the spiel the flight attendant gave before take off? It went something like this: “In the event of a decrease in pressure, an oxygen mask will fall from the panel above your head. If you’re traveling with an older person or child, please secure YOUR OWN mask first so that you may better assist your travel partner.” Even the airlines know you have to take care of yourself before you can effectively take care of anyone else.
Pray about the things people ask you to do. Actually wait for an answer from God before you give an answer to the committee chairman, the scout troop leader, or whoever else is asking for your help. Others will respect you when you tell them you’ll pray about their request… especially if you really do it!
You are not trapped. There is a way to overcome “I Can’t Say ‘No’” Syndrome. The first step is admitting you need help. Once you do that, you’re open to living a freeing and more peaceful life than you ever thought possible.
© 2004 Kimberly Chastain
About the Author
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping Christian women make the most of their lives. She is the author of the on-line course, “I Can’t Say No” and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms, a free e-book. If you suffer from “I Can’t Say ‘No” Syndrome, visit Kimberly’s site today for the details on an exciting email course that’s sure to set you free! http://www.christianworkingmom.com/online.htm.
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Revelation 20:1-20:10
Politics and Christianity There has been many an article about this past election. Some, praising Christians and some condemning them. As for me being a Minister, I’m disappointed in both sides. Politics have no place in the Church. Jesus would not have voted for neither. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Our war is with the spirit and not with the flesh. God ordains the Powers that be. Vote, but don’t get involved in all the rhetoric, the damage has been done, its time to repair it.
Our missions as Christians are too, 1. Worship God. 2. Preach the Gospel. 3.Be instant in season and out of Season
4. Seek out the Lost if the Church just did as our Lord commanded, it would not have brought this hate toward Christians. Politicians speak of peace in the Middle East, but the Christian community should know better. Look at Gods prophecy for the Middle East. Rev 20:1-10
Rev 20:1-10 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Let me ask a question now that you’ve heard these passages from Revelations. Do you really believe that John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Church is True? How many says yes? Raise your hands. Then how can we believe any politician that says that there is going to be peace in the Middle East?
John said in just these few passages that “And I saw”, John was stating facts, a future presentation of war and destruction in the Middle East. 1.”And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.”
2. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” 3. “I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus.” I had a brother, the other day; tell me that He doesn’t read prophecy because He can’t do anything about it. This is a common mistake that many Christians make. Prophecy is as important as the rest of Scripture. Warning after warning from Christ about the impending destruction of the enemies of Israel, and still many want to ignore the facts of the Bible. Many churches will not even acknowledge that the Book of Revelations is for our time. Many clame that the Book of Revelations has been fulfilled. Paul even warned us not to be deceived by any means. 2Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. We as Christians from time to time make mistakes and as Paul states many time and even Our Lord Jesus stated, none of us are perfect only God Himself is perfect. Let us learn from our mistakes and go out into the world and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Time is running out and we all must be about our Fathers business. Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Our Lord commands us, to seek out the Lost for Gods Kingdom, and Brothers and Sisters that is a fulltime job.
2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Let us now all, be about our Fathers business and start repairing the damage that has been done, learn from mistakes, repent, bear the burden and go on. James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Lift up you eyes Children, Our Repentance Draweth nigh.Here is an artical that was posted in a local paper,I thought it reflects the trend amoung Christians; Politics shouldn’t be preached at church
In response to condolences to Democrats of Nov. 5, 2004, my condolences now go out to your church, or maybe I should say lack of churches.
I have lived a rather long life as men go. I have never heard as much perverted gospel coming from pulpits. Many have taken the grace of God and turned it into a Republican campaign gathering.
When anything is preached other than the gospel from the pulpit, it becomes a cult. When anyone is preached except Jesus Christ, he becomes the anti-Christ. (The word anti in this case means instead of — in place of.) Read I John 2:18. “To all those prophets of Baal, it will be a terrible day when you stand before the great white throne for judgment.”
There is nothing wrong with voting for any candidate of your choice. More than one million American servicemen have died in combat so you could have that privilege.
Jesus Christ died for all. I Timothy 4:10 — to suggest that God favors the rich over the poor or the whites over the blacks or any other discriminatory idea is pure blasphemy.
If you have heard politics preached from your pulpit, I would strongly advise you to change preachers or churches because that is not a church of the Living God. Read II Corinthians 11:13-15.
ars
About the Author: Author and Founder of A.R.Smith Sermons International. http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/
Source: www.isnare.com
Moslem America
Part 1.
Aljazira, is the propaganda machine in the Middle East and now we have been introduced to the Bridges network in the United States. Bridges was developed to bridge the gap between Moslems and Americans, or so they say. The Moslem religion is based on Mohamed and not on Christ. They reject Jesus as the Son of God and as a Nation based on Christianity we must reject any form of antichristian influence on our children. Antichristian activities have increased markedly in the past 30 years and will continue to grow until the United States makes an alliance with the Muslim nations against Israel. Zech 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Not all will believe in Christ but he will judge all. Do people really believe this world will go on forever? If we don’t turn to God now, God will turn on us. The Lie; The Muslim creed; Belief in Allah’s Lordship, Oneness, and Attributes:
We believe in Allah’s divinity; that is he is the Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Manager of all affairs.
We believe in Allah’s god ship; that is, He is the true God and every other so-called deity is false.
We believe in His names and attributes, that is He has the most magnificent names and the sublime perfect attributes.
We believe in His oneness in all of this, that is, He has no associate in His divinity, His God ship, His names, or His attributes.
The changing of the Word of God; The Lie; The Muslims believe that Jesus said; “As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for the Messenger of God, {Mohammad} who shall bring salvation to the world. By the living God, in whose presence my soul stands, I am not the Savior whom all the tribes of the earth expect.” The Truth; Mar 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mar 1:6-7 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. John 1:7-8 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. John 1:29-30 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
The Lie; The Muslims believe that God did not need a Son that Gods Deity was and still is singular.
The Truth; Heb 1:1-14 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Now the Scripture tells us that, The Blind shall lead the blind and both shall fall into the ditch. Have the American people become blinded by war and the lack of understanding of the Bible prophecies? Have the people become tired of well doing in the world that an alliance between them and the forces of the antichrist will come into effect, that they are willing to give up God for a form of peace? The war in Iraq is a war of prophecy. How do I come up with this assumption? Simply, go to southern Iraq and read the walls of the temple there, its all written in stone. Read, Daniel, Isa., and Revelations. Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:8-12 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. We are not here to speak idol words of comfort and songs of peace, but we are here to spread the true Gospel and to warn them that are lost to the impending destruction of everything that is physical. The closer we get to the return of Christ the more and more we must shout out the warnings of the enemy encroaching upon the camp of the Saints. We must get upon the walls and blow the trumpets, sounding out the warning of war. This is a war of Good and Evil, right and wrong, Rightiousness and unrighteousness. We keep building bigger and bigger and have ignored the truth that is before our eyes. Lets look at the beginning again; “Bridges was developed to bridge the gap between Moslems and Americans” 2Co 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. I stand here today and will prophecy, “There is coming a time that the forces of good will make and alliance with evil for, the sake of the ones in the military, to prevent additional killing on both sides. Look my brothers and sisters at the head lines in the news, 1.” NAJAF, Iraq - Thousands of mourners attended funerals Monday and Iraqi authorities detained 50 suspects in connection with an explosion in the Shiite holy city of Najaf that killed at least 54 people and wounded 142.”
2.”On Sunday, car bombs tore through a Najaf funeral procession and a main bus station in the nearby Shiite city of Karbala, where at least 13 people were killed and 33 were wounded.”
3.”The chopper attack that killed 16 U.S. soldiers provided the most frightening indication yet that the shadowy Iraqi insurgency is growing more sophisticated and more deadly.” 4.”Attacks on the Rise
Two U.S. soldiers were killed and nine wounded on Tuesday in Iraq. It was the most serious attack since major combat was declared over on May 1. Does this mark a new phase of violence?” “With fewer Western journalists covering the war-torn nation, the true grim picture of continued violence isn’t getting out.” 5.Israel:” Sharon said that if terrorism continues ahead of the implementation of disengagement, Israel would respond harshly, much harsher than its current responses” They shall make a pact for peace with the stipulation that Israel will become both enemies to the East and the West, the North and the South. This will be an unholy alliance, revoking the sovereignty of Israel and her people, deigning Her the right to exist, for a short-lived peace between the Moslem Nations and The Western World alliances. 1.”And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” 2.” for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” 3. “what communion hath light with darkness?”
4.”what concord hath Christ with Belial?” 5.” what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
End part 1.
About the Author
A.R.Smith Sermons International,A Voice for Christ
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/
Lee: 3. The [Theonomic] bestiality argument. If you reject the validity of the Mosaic case law, then you have no basis for asserting that bestiality is contrary to God’s will. The only way we know that God abhors bestiality is because He has revealed this in Exodus 22:19.
Lee Again. …. The idea is that if you reject the civil law, ….. if you throw out this verse, then you are left without any proof-text anywhere in the Bible in which God prohibits bestiality. The reply here is to turn the tables on the theonomist: “On what basis can you say that pornography is sinful?” If he answers, “Pornography is included in the general Biblical prohibitions against sexual immorality” (zana in Hebrew = porneia in the NT), you gently suggest that the same would be true of bestiality.
Us: Note that “turning the tables on the Theonomist” here, involves NOT ANSWERING his question, but instead aims to show BOTH views arbitrary. He has advocated here the “Tu Quo Que” fallacy, in drawing attention away from the inadequacies of his position by pointing to what he sees as a weakness in an opposing view, without addressing the questioned soundness of his own position. In other words, He cannot answer the challenge, and he hopes that we have none for his.
Us Again: Hope springs eternal. We know that pornography is unethical because the Bible teaches that public nudity is unethical. And pornography publicizes nudity (This is true by definition). Ergo, the Bible condemns pornography as sin, the sin of porneia, or sexual immorality. There are over a dozen clear texts to that effect in the Bible. Here are a few.
Ex. 20:26 — “neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”
Here, God requires no steps leading to the altar, so that when priests walk up it to conduct holy matters, they don’t raise their knee (and thus their outer-wear high enough to expose their undergarments to those below. This shows that one’s nakedness must remain a private affair.
Leviticus 18:8 indicates that one’s nakedness is proprietary (private property) — that it comes with covenantally-regulated property rights — saying, “The nakedness of thy father’s wife thou shalt not uncover; it is thy father’s nakedness.” Likewise, Paul affirms that a husband’s body belongs to himself and his wife mutually and exclusively.
Ezek. 16:36-37 and 23:18 respectively use the phrase “uncover your nakedness” with “promiscuity” and “prostititution.” This shows that the sin of public exposure of one’s nakedness (and thus of pornography) is the sin of sexual immorality (Gk. porneia). Other passages imply the same conclusion. See Is. 47:3; Lam. 1:8; Mic. 1:11; Nahum 3:5, etc.
Finally, Revelation 3:18 notes that public nudity is shameful. It reads: “I counsel you to buy form me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness ….”
Lee: One of the many problems with theonomy is that it has a positivistic view of law: only that which is specifically stated to be unacceptable to God is sinful. But that just isn’t the way the moral will of God works.
Us: Coincidentally, it isn’t the way Theonomy works either. One of the many problems with critics of Theonomy is that they often criticize it before taking the time to actually understand it. Theonomy is NOT ethical positivism, as this refutation (written by a Theonomist) itself SHOWS.
Lee: The Bible never says that cheating on your income tax is sin. But we know it is, because cheating on your income tax is a form of stealing. And stealing is not an act of love, for love does no harm to its neighbor (Rom. 13:10). We don’t have to have a specific verse for each and every imaginable sin to know it is sin.
Us: The above argument is self-refuting. It begins by suggesting the Bible never says that tax-witholding is sinful, and then shows exactly HOW (with a few missing premisses, but we’ll cut Lee some slack here) the Bible says the act in question is sinful. Perhaps Lee means that the Bible never says so explicitly, but only implicitly. This does nothing to help Lee’s case since the Bible shows the legitimacy of reasoning (good and nec. consequence) from the Scripture (Acts 17:3, etc), and Theonomists believe the whole Bible.
In the end, Theonomy is a whole-Bible for all-of-life proposition, not a one-to-one, verse-to-sin proposition (what Lee calls “positivism”).
Moreover, Lee’s claim above, “We don’t have to have a specific verse for each and every imaginable sin to know it is sin,” is ambiguous. If the Bible does not somewhere forbid a certain deed — either implicitly or explicitly — it is not sin. “All sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:1). Thus, without knowing the law of the Lord, one cannot know whether his actions are sinful or not.
Thus, rejecting the Mosaic legislation leaves one with no objective basis for saying “beastiality is sin.” This is why Lee never answered the question, but preferred to offer the Tu Quo Que fallacy instead.
By the way, when is Lee going to offer a detailed and comprehensive “alternative blueprint” for society? We’re still waiting.
Lee: 4. The [Theonomic] Romans 13 argument Paul says that the civil magistrate has been authorized by God to punish the wrongdoer and to reward those who do good. Where does the civil magistrate find divinely-approved, just standards for determining who is a wrongdoer, and what his punishment should be, if not in the Mosaic civil law?
Lee Again: First, the civil magistrate has access to the same moral will of God as all men ….. thus, the civil magistrate, whether Christian or non-Christian, has sufficient resources for distinguishing between good and evil, at least in principle, in order to discharge his God-given responsibility of punishing criminals without needing to appeal directly to the covenantal revelation of the law given to Israel.
Us: The Bible nowhere teaches that natural revelation is sufficient for anything but to condemn the wicked by their actions and consciences. General revelation has nothing like the detailed, specific, comprehensive and clear ethical instructions as the written revelation. The alleged civil sufficiency of natural revelation would have made most of the OT unnecessary in the first place. This is Lee’s homemade wicked-brew theology.
Moreover, Deut. 4:5-8 shows that the OT civil legislation is intended to function as the law of every nation. This is precisely because natural revelation is not sufficient for the task. Jesus said “The Sabbath was made for MAN,” (Mark 2), not “The Sabbath was made for Israelites under the Old Covenant. Ecclesiastes 12 concludes, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of MAN.”
The Law of the Lord is wisdom (Deut. 4), and God commands all men to be wise. Ergo, the commandments in the OT bind all men to the perpetual obedience thereof, unless and until, God Himself says otherwise — in the OT or the NT. This means that most of the Mosaic laws continue to bind all men, and we can know precisely which ones no longer do. The Scripture is sufficient.
Lee: Second,….. Biblical teaching actually prohibits the civil magistrate from enforcing the covenantally-specific legislation God revealed to Israel [because] the civil law given to Israel was theocratic in nature …. this theocratic intolerance of covenant-breaking is inappropriate for implementation by the nations of the world, none of which can rightly claim to have been covenantally set apart by a special, redemptive act of divine providence as was Israel.
Us: This non-sequitur says “covenantally peculiar,” therefore “not for other nations.” Deut. 4 says “covenantally peculiar,” SO THAT “other nations will admire and adopt this law.” Lee also assumes here the “civil and judicial sufficiency” of natural revelation, for which there is no biblical warrant whatsoever.
Lee: …If the theocratic ideal were applied in non-covenanted nations, it would necessitate the destruction of all its population except for those fortunate enough to be members of those Christian denominations sanctioned by the state as legitimate.
Us: Who told you that? Things are getting weird now. First, since all nations are duty-bound to obey God, their first duty (after repenting and believing the gospel of Christ) is to establish a national covenant with Christ, the King of kings, so that the law of the Lord would be applied as the law of the land by covenanted (peculiar) nations only. See Carson’s “Christian Social Mandate” (part 1) for more on this.
Second, national covenanting is a reformation and biblical tradition based on the divinely-approved examples of men like King Josiah [and plenty of other biblical texts], who caused the people to covenant with the Lord to do all his holy will. The Bible notes this fact with much approval.
Third, the law mandates no penalty for “not joining a church,” so where Lee gets this “destruction for all but church members” thing is beyond us. In a theonomic (i.e. Christian) nation, Church members would “fortunately avoid destruction” the same way everyone else would — by refusing to commit a capital crime. The law applies equally to all. Also, not every sin is a crime,and most sins are not capital crimes. The law forbids both lust and coveting, for example, but specifies no civil punishment for either. Notice Lee offers no proof whatever for this outlandish claim because there is none to offer. This is “autonomous theology” (make it up as you go) at its finest.
Lee: Not only does the state lack the competence to make such determinations, but Scripture never grants the state such authority in the first place (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7).
Us: Lee just tackled the referee. A few lines up, the civil magistrate (leaning to the light of nature) was all about “sufficient ethical resources” to perform his duties. Now (when leaning to the vastly-superior special revelation) the same ruler utterly “lacks competence to make such determinations.” He seemed pretty competent when playing for our team. But using the “perfect” moral standard, the Law of the Lord, he instantly becomes incompetent. Again, this inverts the Bible’s teachings about the true relationship between general and special revelation.
Lee: In fact, it is just when the state begins to assume theocratic pretensions that it becomes, inevitably, a persecuting state properly identified in Scripture not as the kingdom of Christ but Babylon, in whom is found the blood of the prophets and the saints (Rev. 18:24; 17:6).
Us: Huh? When the saints rule a nation, and do so by the perfect moral standard, they become Babylon, which kills the saints? How does the perfect moral law make saints suicidal? Why should pagans be deemed competent, but the saints incompetent? Why doesn’t the Holy Spirit make men MORE (not less) competent to rule?
Moreover, All states are theocracies. Every nation has its gods (final authorities), and these final authorities have law-codes (legal standards). It is never a question of “Theocracy vs. No Theocracy,” but only a question of WHICH final authority a nation will adopt. By opposing “theocracy” Lee falsely pretends that neutrality in such matters is possible.
It comes down to choosing Jesus as King, with his law imposed as the law of the land, or some other final authority with arbitrary and unjust laws. There can be no neutrality. Rejecting the Law of Christ as the law of the land amounts to rejecting Jesus Himself as King. How much better to affirm the crown rights of King Jesus (see Psalm 2).
Lee: Finally, for Christians today to desire the state to wield the sword on behalf of the church is not only imprudent but singularly incompatible with our Lord’s commission to the church to proclaim the gospel of eternal life to the nations and to bring honor to that gospel by good deeds of mercy and love.
Us: No Theonomist (that we know of) wants the state to wield the sword of behalf of the Church. Romans says “He is God’s servant.” This is not an ecclesiocracy passage. The king of Israel was to study in the law daily, so that he became an expert in it to do justice and judgment somewhat independently from the priests. That is the biblical model. If the magistrate (congress, king, president etc.) needs a little help, he can read the confessions and creeds of the Reformed Church.
Moreover, the original WCF, not the theologically-challenged version so popular today, rightly says that the civil magistrate may convene church councils and request assistance from the church in understanding some difficult passage or other — for wisdom is found in the council of the multitude. But he is to take order in the Church just as Paul said, “The rest will I set in order when I come.” This is what Josiah did. For more on this topic, see Carson’s “Defending The Faith Of Jesus: Of The Civil Magistrate And The Westminster Confession.”
Lee: To be sure, we warn all men of the impending wrath that awaits all who do not turn from their sin and put their faith in Christ. But that wrath is presently on hold, because God’s patience is intended to lead men to salvation (2 Pet. 3:9, 15).
Us: Again, the Bible (Romans 1:17ff, 13:1ff) opposes Lee’s conclusion. “God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men.” It is not “on hold,” but delegated to the civil magistrate, who punishes the wicked with the sword on God’s behalf. That is what it means to say, “He is God’s Deacon,” and again, “Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” This means that God has given a monopoly on vengeance (The Sword) to the civil magistrate, His Deacon, to carry out divine vengeance against the wicked as the divine law specifies.
CONCLUSION: Throughout his arguments Lee has offered no real answers to any of the Theonomic challenges he has cited (except Matt. 5:18-20, which we granted). He did not adequately answer the No-Other-Standard argument, nor any of the many NT case law applications available to us, nor the beastiality argument. He merely invoked this or that fallacy: either-or fallacy, Tu Quo que, question-begging, straw man (repeatedly misrepresenting the Theonomic view), and other non-sequiturs. Surprise: he never offered a detailed and comprehensive alternative to the legal code specified by the position he opposes.
This ought to leave the reader with the distinct impression that the law of the Lord is perfect, and that Lee Irons’ home-made theology, with which he intends to replace the sufficiency of Scripture with the light of nature, is wholly unbiblical and untenable. The contrary to the Theonomy still looks impossible from here because you cannot beat something with nothing.
Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and essays on all manner of diverse topics. These aim to glorify God and offer people real help to live wisely and well. You can visit Carson’s websites at http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (The Omniblog, where Carson blogs everything) or http://extremeprofit.blogspot.com (Carson’s Day Trading Outpost). Thanks for stopping by.
Many an atheist and theologian have sat down for coffee to debate the reality of the biblical literature and the purported stories handed down by religion over the generations. The atheist will usually state the obvious and say it is but a false story. And the theologian will either take a complete literal interpretation of agree that some is indeed a matter of speaking and cite examples of interpretations, translations and various re-writes. Some Christians will yell and scream;
“Why should I believe it’s a false story? Just because some guy named James Winthrop from Denver Colorado, says so?”
In over hearing just such a debate at a Starbucks Coffee shop recently, I chuckled as this debate is as old as the religion and its predecessors combined. The gentleman went onto explain; “I am not saying you should follow me. I have no desire in controlling your life like those who wrote up all that poppycock and utter hokum to control the mindless masses. What I am suggesting is that you observe your surroundings and ask god to come visit your butt and when he does not show up maybe that might be a sign, not from god, but from reality.”
Of course this set off a firestorm in the Christian believers mind and so I moved closer and continued sipping on my Frappachino, knowing that one of these days I am going to have to put some more money on my Starbucks Card indeed. The Christian said;
“What proof do you have that it’s false? Were you there? Were you living when it happened to say that these men “duped” us?”
The atheist, I am assuming maybe he was agnostic then indicated that he had no proof actually and said; “None of course not but I did watch L. Ron Hubbard create a religion from scratch in the present period. And followers and believers are abounding.”
Infuriated the Christian stated; “I find it very interesting that atheists fight so hard against something that they claim they don’t even believe!”
Then I thought to myself you know from my perspective it seems that No, I think the problem is the constant preaching, witnessing and loud conversations at coffee shops and the incessant ridiculous non-ending, asinine comments that Hurricane Katrina was because god was angry or pray for this or the other thing? Indeed I do believe that is a form of mental illness. But the atheist or agnostic said;
“Why do you assume I am an atheist? Does you little mind wish so much to classify me, because I am unpleasant to you in some way?”
The Christian said; “Well then; On the other hand since Christians are right, you have a lot more to lose. If you’re ready to roll the dice, then that’s your choice.”
The atheist or agnostic then stated; “Sure that is a common BS comment from those who don’t get it. But you have more to lose if you live your life in fear, guilt and for something else which does not even exist rather than living your life experience for all there is to offer; the pain, sorrow, joy and laughter and all that is. I have read your Biblical doctrines and works and all the others and to tell you the truth they are rather similar in nature the more of this literature you read. I do not refuse philosophical discussions. But you have not brought up anything I have not heard before.”
Do you think Christians and atheists will ever get along? Do you think they can agree to disagree? How can they live together with so much religious fundamentalism around? It seems there is such a large gap of separation one has to wonder what can be done if anything? Consider this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
II Timothy 3:16, 17 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS.
We will take a closer look at this verse to see what gems the Word of God can enlighten us with.
Most business decisions are made by executives that worry about the bottom line or profit. Our lives should get no less attention. What is profitable what is not? II Tim. 3:16, 17 gives us the foundation and the purpose of the Word of God in our lives.
Most people are interested in profit and what the Bible declared is profitable is not always interesting or even liked by Bible believing people. Doctrine is good and most people that are spiritual at all enjoy some doctrine, we will call doctrine right teaching.
Reproof that is a different animal though we may like to reprove others, but we do not care to be reproved ourselves. The reproof of the Word of God should be acceptable and be taken with thankfulness.
The third thing the Bible tells us is profitable is correction. We can correct our wrong ways by the Word. The hard part is admitting that one is wrong and that one needs correction. Practice is how we learn to be corrected gracefully.
Beyond correction is instruction in righteousness. God’s ways are righteous. We need to know them so we can walk in them and so be instructed in righteousness.
The object of all profitable work of the Word as declared in this verse is that the man of God might be perfect, perfectly moral I think not as so many others think, but perfect in that he can fulfill the work for which he was created.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT. AND THESE WORDS SHALL BE IN THINE HEART: AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN, AND SHALT TALK OF THEM
WHEN THOU SITTEST IN THINE HOUSE, AND WHEN THOU WALKEST BY THE WAY, AND WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, AND WHEN THOU RISEST UP.
Not one person can love another person without actually knowing that person the same is true with God. No one can truly love God unless one knows His Word. David said, THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE (Psalms 119: 11). Evidently David knew this was the counsel of God.
In the Gospels believing is the requirement for resurrection, as John 3:16 states, it was necessary for those parents who loved their little ones and wished that they be resurrected, to teach them the Word as soon as they could talk and grasp it. The Word of God was to be the main topic of conversation in the home. Many Hebrew children memorized long passages and some even learn all the OT from memory. It was only natural that the children should grow up as believers. This is a profitable lesson for today too.
Colossians 3:16 LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 states that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, no doubt the Apostle Paul had in mind all Scripture written up to this time. That then would include the entire Bible as we have it today the exception being Second Timothy, the book that Paul was writing. II Timothy also is given by inspiration.
We note in the verse before, Paul writes in vs. 15 and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy up to this point had access to all the Scripture except this one last epistle, that we being revealed to him via Paul’s writing.
All Scripture was God-breathed. We are always interested in that which is profitable, and rightfully so. What can be more profitable than the Scriptures that speak of the unsearchable riches of Christ?
The Scriptures are profitable;
- For Doctrine. This refers to teaching. Our teaching concerning the dispensation of the mystery is found in Ephesians 1-3 especially. Also much doctrine is set forth in Colossians.
- For Reproof. If we have proof, then we should have conviction. This is the meaning of the word. The Word can only reprove when it is believed. Reproof then comes from being convinced of the truth.
- For Correction. This is the only place this word is used. It means to right up again, set to rights, to restore. A fence post holds up the fence, if it falls it must be corrected or stood up right again so as to get the protection of the fence. The same is with the Word of God.
- For instruction in righteousness. The word here is sometimes translated discipline also it can mean to teach. The goal of the instruction or teaching is to go on to righteousness. To the Biblical Israel the righteousness of God was set forth by the law. Today God deals with mankind righteously in grace because of the work of His Son. We have an imputed righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. There is also righteousness that is to be put in practice in the daily lives of a Christian.
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly (not thoroughly) furnished unto all good works. This is the result. It has to do both with walk and ministering to the believers.
The daily practice of a believer who is a member of the Body of Christ is outlined in Ephesians chapters 4 to 6. Living a walk that is worthy of the calling of God.
Perfect in this verse II Tim. 3:17 means to be fitted, furnished means to be equipped. So one is to be fitted and equipped for every good work.
To make the message a little bit simpler, join the first part of the verse and the last part in this fashion, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Paul Griffitts, editor of the Good News Letter from Believer.com http://www.believer.com/goodnews/GNL.html
Believer.com is a Christian Bible Study Center http://www.believer.com
