DEATH: Public Enemy Numero Uno!
Just before noon on Thursday, Harry B. Farris, one of my high school classmates died. Even though I have not seen him since graduation in ’67 we “befriended” each other recently on Facebook. No one I know knows how he died, but it is really isn’t relevant. What is relevant is that death the number one enemy of life; stands to reason, doesn’t it?
Logic and reason are no longer rational ways of thinking in this age, not only in the world, but especially among the church. It is written in 1 Co 15:26 that the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. It is also written in Heb 2:14 that through his own death Jesus Christ might (would) destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Death is still with us and it will continue to be a part of our lives until it is destroyed; it will always be an enemy.
The reason it is an enemy and always will be is because it takes us away from those who love us and those we love.
Practically every religion in the world, including Christianity, teaches
something contrary to this (I go into this subject in detail in my book.) In a sense of time, death can be viewed as the threshold to a new life with Christ, but not immediately. Until death is destroyed, the grave will be the victor. No believer will see Jesus until the gathering together when the dead in Christ will rise as it is written in 1Thessalonians 4:16.
This time period that elapses could be days, years, centuries and even millenniums. For some it has been millenniums. To the dead, who are not conscious of anything, the rising from the dead will be the next thing they are aware of. To the living, the separation is much to bear. Until death is destroyed it will continue to sting the living as 1Corinthians 15:55 describes.
I was snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez one summer off of an anchored boat. When I came up from a deep dive my head, shoulders and arms became engulfed in a Jellyfish. This was the worst sting I have ever felt and lasted about a month before the scabbed over welts healed. As bad as this sting was it pales in comparison to the death of a loved one, no matter how old they were, or young. Nothing stings like death.
Can you see how logic and reason have been removed from all rational thought processes? Please pray for Harry’s family and loved ones as they learn to deal with this tragic event. God bless and keep you.
Water Baptism is All Washed Up
The book of The Acts of the Apostles shows the transition from the Law of Moses to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. What we should see if we have not been spiritually blinded (a lot have been and cannot see it), is that John fulfilled the purpose of his ministry according to Acts 13:25. We are told by Jesus himself in 1:5 that in the future (which is now), believers would be baptized with holy spirit, not water.
In 18:25 a married couple who were believers, named Aquila and Priscilla, took aside another believer who spoke and taught the ways of the Lord Jesus fervently, but knew only of the baptism of John. It that these two expounded to him the way of God more perfectly.
in 19 the apostle Paul found a group of disciples who did not know anything about spirit baptism (which first occurred in 2:4). He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. They said they had not heard that there was any such thing. Paul then asked them “unto what then are you baptized?” They said, “John’s baptism.” Ac 19:4-7 goes on to say:
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7 And all the men were about twelve. KJV
No one receives the gift of holy spirit which represents Christ in you with water baptism. This is why I say, “it is all washed up!” Our young supposedly “Pastors” are continuing in the same error that has been perpetrated by the church for centuries. This is the spirit of antichrist, to teach for faith and practice, that which is contrary to the revelation received by the apostle Paul from our Lord, Jesus Christ himself.
Paul told Timothy that many things like this would happen. I cannot believe that they who practice and teach such things do so knowing it is not the “way of God more perfectly.” 2Cor 4:4 says that many people are blind to the truth. I used to think that only applied to those who did not believe at all. Now, I know it applies to those who supposedly believe, as well.
Through the ages since Acts 2:4 cunningly devised fables have been handed down from generation to generation. These developed into “sophisms,” plausible, but fallacious arguments meant to render one wise in a sinister acceptation. They look good on the surface, but with a little digging you find they are completely erroneous. 2Ti 4:4 and 2Pe 1:16 speak of them.
I pray that all who practice false doctrine will soon see the error of their ways. It sickens me to see and hear of pastors touting the number of people they perpetrate this error upon. I heard one say recently that he was going for a Guinness Book of World Records for the number of water baptisms. People end up thinking they are saved, when they are not. What a rude awakening they may have after the Rapture, to see they are still here. It is a shame.
God bless,
Water Baptism is All Washed Up
The book of The Acts of the Apostles shows the transition from the Law of Moses to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. What we should see if we have not been spiritually blinded (a lot have been and cannot see it), is that John fulfilled the purpose of his ministry according to Acts 13:25. We are told by Jesus himself in 1:5 that in the future (which is now), believers would be baptized with holy spirit, not water.
In 18:25 a married couple who were believers, named Aquila and Priscilla, took aside another believer who spoke and taught the ways of the Lord Jesus fervently, but knew only of the baptism of John. It that these two expounded to him the way of God more perfectly.
in 19 the apostle Paul found a group of disciples who did not know anything about spirit baptism (which first occurred in 2:4). He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. They said they had not heard that there was any such thing. Paul then asked them “unto what then are you baptized?” They said, “John’s baptism.” Ac 19:4-7 goes on to say:
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve. KJV
No one receives the gift of holy spirit which represents Christ in you with water baptism. This is why I say, “it is all washed up!” Our young supposedly “Pastors” are continuing in the same error that has been perpetrated by the church for centuries. This is the spirit of antichrist, to teach for faith and practice, that which is contrary to the revelation received by the apostle Paul from our Lord, Jesus Christ himself.
Paul told Timothy that many things like this would happen. I cannot believe that they who practice and teach such things do so knowing it is not the “way of God more perfectly.” 2Cor 4:4 says that many people are blind to the truth. I used to think that only applied to those who did not believe at all. Now, I know it applies to those who supposedly believe, as well.
Through the ages since Acts 2:4 cunningly devised fables have been handed down from generation to generation. These developed into “sophisms,” plausible, but fallacious arguments meant to render one wise in a sinister acceptation. They look good on the surface, but with a little digging you find they are completely erroneous. 2Ti 4:4 and 2Pe 1:16 speak of them.
I pray that all who practice false doctrine will soon see the error of their ways. It sickens me to see and hear of pastors touting the number of people they perpetrate this error upon. I heard one say recently that he was going for a Guinness Book of World Records for the number of water baptisms. People end up thinking they are saved, when they are not. What a rude awakening they may have after the Rapture, to see they are still here. It is a shame.
God bless,
The 2nd Coming of Christ is NOT the Rapture
The 2nd Coming of Christ
The Internet and God
I don’t know how anyone has ever been successful at anything until the Internet came along; not really. How did we accomplish anything without it? For one, I think we believed God a lot more than we do now. All the different ways of marketing on the Internet can be mind boggling and defeating. All the things you supposedly have to do to be successful is overwhelming.
Prayer is still the number one ingredient to success. When I started my first Roofing Company in Whitestone, NY, I din’t have a cell phone or a computer. I came up with a catchy name, Cry Wolfe Roofing and my wife answered the phone when anyone called my number. I returned calls every evening, made appointments when it was convenient and followed through. I built a business based on quality, responsiveness and kindness. I thanked God for every job and I sowed the seed He blessed me with into ministries that promoted His Word.
The second biggest key to success, abundant sharing. Most people go by the word tithing which implies giving 10% of your income to a charity. No matter what you call it, it is a biblical principle that most successful people apply. Giving of your time and money to others is a great principle for success.
People are constantly building their own towers of Babel. The Internet is one such tower. If God’s not in it then it’s all about you. Do you want to be a “self-made man” or Spirit-made?
Blogging Sucks
Who really has time to “blog?” I really don’t think it makes a whole helluva lot of difference how frequently you blog except for the fact that you lose a lot of time when you could be doing something a lot more constructive! People who have time to blog regularly are obviously either very blessed financially or they have nothing better to do with their time.
Pastime
My favorite pastime is fishing/boating. Tomorrow I am going with a friend here at our apartment complex who has a boat. God bless him! Fishing is fun, but Catching is even better! Whenever I come home with no fish, Joanne says where’s the fish? I say, I went fishing, not catching! Ha!
I have been a Deep Sea fisherman in the Sea of Cortez for 21 years. Here in California it is predominantly bottom fishing for Halibut and White Sea Bass. I have yet to catch one. It is a whole new paradigm for me, a big learning curve.
It is a lot like rightly dividing the Word. You know something one way your whole life, then you learn that there is another way to understand the Bible. You’re resistant at first, thinking you know all you need to. Over time you end up making “investments” in new equipment, become humbler, and learn about “grace.” You start listening to people you never thought you would.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t have a pastime, an activity that brings them closer to God and the Lord Jesus and their fellow man, outside of their normal everyday activities. Even Jesus took time for himself.
What do you do to get away from “it all?”
Home of the Rightly Divided Word 