2nd Sermon
Word of God
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This sermon is all about the Bible.Ā This sermon is about the people, the stories, the times and events of the Bible. Ā This second sermon focuses on the biblical language in respects to the name of God, the factual plot elements of the Apostles and wisdom of the New Testament Epistles, and lots more useful and fun information about the Bible.Ā Hallelujah! Praise Father God!
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Ā Last Updated: Thursday, 18 February 2016 00:26
Sermon 2.0
2nd Sermon Home
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The Word
Thank You Lord Jesus, for the faithfulness of the Apostles and wisdom of the Epistles, so that I may learn of God's love for me some 2k years later...
my soul thanks You Hallelujah! Praise Father God!
This sermon covers the many names of God found in the Hebrew scriptures.Ā Them the meaning, history and etymology of hallelujah followed by a lesson from King David.Ā The source of truth is analyised.Ā Discussion about God's discipline methods (He does it because He loves you).Ā Instructions about how to put on the whole armor of God.Ā The all serious question of evil is covered.Ā As well as what the Bible has to say about Sata, demons and evil.Ā Ā
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Ā Last Updated: Thursday, 07 April 2016 16:00
Sermon 2.1
Name of the Lord
Ā These are the Hebrew names from the Old Testament for God... His Titles Revealed in Scripture:
"ELOHIM"
"EL"
"ELAH"
"YHVH" ××××
"ELOHIM" (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form.
In Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth."Ā Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible.
Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God.
1.) Elohay Kedem - God of the Beginning:Ā
(Deuteronomy 33:27)
2.) Elohay Mishpat - God Of Justice:Ā
(Isaiah 30:18)
3.) Elohay Selichot - God Of Forgiveness:Ā
(Nehemiah 9:17)
4.) Elohay Marom - God Of Heights:Ā
(Micah 6:6)
5.) Elohay Mikarov - God Who Is Near:Ā
(Jeremiah 23:23)
6.) Elohay Mauzi - God Of My Strength:Ā
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Psalm 43:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the piano will I praise thee, O God my God.
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7.) Elohay Tehilati - God Of My Praise:Ā
(Psalm 109:1)
8.) Elohay Yishi - God Of My Salvation:Ā
(Psalm 18:46)
9.) Elohim Kedoshim - Holy God:Ā
(Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19)
10.) Elohim Chaiyim - Living God:Ā
(Jeremiah 10:10)
11.) Elohay Elohim - God Of Gods:Ā
(Deuteronomy 10:17)
"EL" is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis.
12.) El HaNe'eman - The Faithful God:Ā
(Deuteronomy 7:9)
13.) El HaGadol - The Great God:Ā
(Deuteronomy 10:17)
14.) El HaKadosh - The Holy God:Ā
(Isaiah 5:16)
15.) El Yisrael - The God Of Israel:Ā
(Psalm 68:35)
16.) El HaShamayim - The God Of The Heavens:Ā
(Psalm 136:26)
17.) El De'ot - The God Of Knowledge:Ā
(1 Samuel 2:3)
18.) El Emet - The God Of Truth:Ā
(Psalm 31:6)
19.) El Yeshuati - The God Of My Salvation:Ā
(Isaiah 12:2)
20.) El Elyon - The Most High God:Ā
(Genesis 14:18)
21.) Immanu El - God Is With Us:Ā
(Isaiah 7:14)
22.) El Olam - The God Of EternityĀ
(Genesis 21:33)
23.) El Echad - The One God:Ā
(Malachi 2:10)
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"ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God.
25.) Elah Yerush'lem - God of Jerusalem:Ā
(Ezra 7:19)
26.) Elah Yisrael - God of Israel:Ā
(Ezra 5:1)
27.) Elah Sh'maya - God of Heaven:Ā
(Ezra 7:23)
28.) Elah Sh'maya V'Arah - God of Heaven and Earth:Ā
(Ezra 5:11)
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"YHVH" is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD".
Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters".
YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15).
Therefore, YHVH declares God's absolute being - the source of everything, without beginning and without end. Although some pronounce YHVH as "Jehovah" or "Yaweh," scholars really don't know the proper pronunciation.
The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D., out of fear of breaking the commandment "You shall not take the name of YHVH your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).
(Today's rabbis typically use "Adonai" in place of YHVH.)
32.) YHVH Elohim - LORD God:
(Genesis 2:4)
33.) YHVH M'kadesh - The LORD Who Makes Holy:
(Ezekiel 37:28)
34.) YHVH Yireh - The LORD Who Sees/provides:
(Genesis 22:14)
35.) YHVH Nissi - The LORD My Banner:
(Exodus 17:15)
36.) YHVH Shalom - The LORD Of Peace:
(Judges 6:24)
37.) YHVH Tzidkaynu - The LORD Our Righteousness:
(Jeremiah 33:16)
38.) YHVH O'saynu - The LORD our Maker:
(Psalm 95:6)
Names of God: The Lord Revealed in YHVH is the Lord Revealed in Yeshua (Jesus)
The LORD who revealed Himself as YHVH in the Old Testament is revealed as Yeshua (Jesus) in the New Testament.
Jesus shares the same attributes as YHVH and clearly claims to be YHVH.
In John 8:56-59, Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham (who lived some 2000 years earlier), Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Those Jewish leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be YHVH.
This is clearly established when they tried to stone Him to death for what they considered blasphemy under Jewish Law.
In Romans 10:9, Paul declares, "if you confess with your mouth Yeshua as LORD... you shall be saved." Immediately thereafter, in Romans 10:13, Paul backs up this declaration by quoting the Old Testament, "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD (YHVH) will be saved" (Joel 2:32).
Calling on Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord is the same as calling Him YHVH, because Yeshua (Jesus) is YHVH (LORD), the Messiah foretold throughout the entire Old Testament.
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References: (shared materiel on August 17, 2015)
allaboutgod.com/names-of-godĀ wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_GodĀ
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Ā Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 February 2016 18:46
Sermon 2.2
History of Hallelujah
Hallelujah....
And there will be much rejoicing if the glory of God...
Revelation 19:1 (ESV)
Rejoicing in Heaven
19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out āHallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God"
For most Christians, "Hallelujah" is considered a joyful word of praise to God, rather than an injunction to praise him. "The Alleluia" refers to a traditional chant, combining the word with verses from the Psalms or other scripture.Ā
In contemporary worship among many Protestants, expressions of:
"Hallelujah"
"Praise the Lord"Ā
Both are acceptable spontaneous expressions of joy, thanksgiving and praise towards God, and requires no specific prompting or call or direction from those leading times of praise and singing.
The word hallelujah was widely made famous from Handelās historic classical masterpiece Messiah (1741) āHallelujah Chorusā.
Messiah (HWV 56) composed in 1741 by German composer George Frideric Handel, used scriptural text from the King James Bible, popularizing the Psalms and Jesus's Gospel of Peace.Ā His idea was to tell the entire story of the Christ through passages of Scripture put to music. He would begin with the Old Testament prophecies foretelling the ministry of Christ, move to the New Testamentās accounts of the birth of Jesus, then forward through his death and resurrection, all seen through the eyes of the writers of Scripture.
Messiah was Handel's sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and no direct speech. Instead, the lyrics are an extended reflection on Jesus Christ as Messiah.
The text begins in Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels.
In Part II, Handel concentrates on the Passion and ends with the "Hallelujah" chorus.
In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven.
In an age when illiteracy was widespread and written copies of the Bible were expensive and rare, Handel's music became a masterpiece that spread the beauty of God's love for us. He seems to have immediately understood how important such a composition about the life of Jesus could save lives and bring people into the Kingdom.Ā George Frideric Handel was born in Germany in 1685, the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach. His father wanted him to study law, but when it became apparent that the young Handel was musically gifted, his father reluctantly agreed to let the boy study music.
Reference on 10/13/15 from: wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)
Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. The the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning.
Hallelujah is a Hebrew word meaning āpraise ye YAH (Yahweh).ā
Hallelujah, as a transliteration, appears four times in the NIV and NASB (Revelation 19:1ā6)
It takes the form āalleluiaā in the King James Version.Ā In modern parlance, both hallelujah and alleluia mean āpraise the Lord,ā a phrase that appears, in English, over fifty times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament (NIV).
The word hallelujah in Revelation 19 is used in heaven, where a great multitude has gathered before the throne in the immediate presence of God Himself.Ā It is the wedding supper of the Lamb.Ā The enemies of God have been overthrown, and the gospel has triumphed.
In a victory celebration, all heaven renders praise, a song of thanksgiving uttered by all holy beings united.
Godās righteous victory over His enemies
(Revelation 19:1ā3),
His sovereignty
(verses 4ā6),
and His eternal communion with His people
(verse 7).
The sound of the outpouring of praise and worship is so overwhelming that the apostle John can only describe it as ālike a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunderā
(verse 6).
Handelās version of the great chorus in heaven, as glorious as that music is, is only a feeble foreshadowing of the magnificence that will be expressed by the heavenly chorus as we sing,
Ā Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 February 2016 18:42
Sermon 2.3
Life Lessons from a Great King
According to the Books of Samuel, David was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel.Ā Ā
And according to God in the New Testament, a direct ancestor of Jesus.Ā His life is conventionally dated from 1040ā970 BC, and his reign over Judah from 1010ā970 BC.Ā Ā
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1.)Ā King David was an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
2.)Ā Jesus was often called "Son of David."
3.)Ā God called David a man after His own heart.
1.)Ā David was courageous and strong in battle, trusting in God for protection.
2.)Ā He was loyal to Saul, despite Saul's crazed pursuit of him.
3.)Ā David loved God deeply throughout his entire life.
1).Ā King David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He then tried to cover up her pregnancy, and when he failed with that, he had her husband Uriah the Hittite killed.
2.)Ā He took a census of the people, willfully violating God's command not to do that.
3.)Ā King David was sometimes lax, or absent as a father, not disciplining his children when they needed it.
1.)Ā Honest self-examination is necessary to recognize our own sin, then we must repent of it. We may try to fool ourselves or others, but we cannot hide our sin from God.
2.)Ā God always offers forgiveness for our sins, but we cannot escape the consequences.
3.)Ā God highly values our faith in him. Despite life's ups and downs, God is ever-present to give us comfort and help.
christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/a/King-David
The Books of Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles are the only Old Testament sources of information on David, The phrase ×××Ŗ ××× (bytdwd), read as "House of David", and many scholars confirm to be a likely plausible match to the existence in the mid-9th century BC (900 years Before Christ) of a Judean royal dynasty called the House of David.
David is depicted in the Bible as a valorous warrior of great renown, and a poet and musician credited for composing much of the psalms contained in the Book of Psalms.Ā King David is widely viewed as a righteous and effective king in battle and civil justice.Ā He is described as a man after God's own heart in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22.
David is an important figure to members of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths.Ā Biblical tradition maintains the Messiah's direct descent from the line of David. In Islam, David is considered a prophet.
www.behindthename.com/name/david
Acts 13:22 says,
āAfter removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: āI have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.āā
The following words describe the heart of David as seen in his own writings:
(All verses New International Version)
1.Ā Humble ā Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Psalm 62:9
2.Ā Reverent ā I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
3.Ā Respectful ā Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9
4.Ā Trusting ā The LORD is my light and my salvationā whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my lifeā of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
5.Ā Loving ā I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1
6.Ā Devoted ā You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7
7.Ā Recognition ā I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1
8.Ā Faithful ā Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
9.Ā Obedient ā Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34
10.Ā Repentant ā For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:11
Davidās example is a great road map for how we are to live our life.
www.ronedmondson.com/reasons-david-is-called-a-man-after-gods-own-heart
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."Ā
1 Samuel 17:50 (NIV)
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.Ā
1 Samuel 30:6 (NIV)
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.Ā
2 Samuel 12:12-13 (NIV)
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die."
Psalm 23:6 (NIV)
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.Ā
Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:08
Sermon 2.4
Where does truth come from?
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Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:06
Sermon 2.5
God disciples His children out of love
1.) God disciplines to Punish Us
Psalm 89:30-32
The need for punishment is a hard but necessary truth.Ā Never involves wrath.Ā God's wrath is reserved for unbelievers.Ā Ā
2.) God disciplines to Protect Us
3.) God disciplines to Purify Us
Ā Hebrews 12:10
He wants us to radiate Peace
God loves you even when you don't love Him
God's love never quits
God loved you before you were born
God's love will never let you go.
God loves you and wants you with Him
God's love changes Everything
God is LoveĀ
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Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:02
Sermon 2.6
Full Armor of God
The perfect defence?
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The following Scripture (in 3 translations: NIV, ESV and GNT) is about how the full armor of God protects belivers...
Helmet
Helmet of Salvation, (Jesus Christ)
Shield
Shield of Faith, (Knowing and Trusting God)
Belt
Belt of Truth, (Knowing God's Will)
Sandals
Sandals of Peace, (Sharing the Gospel)
Sword
Sword of the Spirit of God, (the Word)
Ā Ā Ā and the
Breastplate
Breastplate of Righteousness (Discipline and Obedience)Ā
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devilās schemes.Ā
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Ā
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.Ā
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lordās people.
Ephesians 6:10-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:10-18 Good News Translation (GNT)
10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.Ā
12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.Ā
16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.Ā
18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.
About this Scripture: Prepare my feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faithāof which Christ is āthe author and perfecterā (Hebrews 12:2)ā is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
www.crossroad.to/Victory/Armor
Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination.
A ālying tongueā is one of the things He describes as ādetestable to Himā (Proverbs 6:16-17).
Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:11
Sermon 2.7Ā
Wicked Important Lesson about Evil
Dictionary English definition of EVIL:
evil as an adjective
1. profoundly immoral and malevolent.
"his evil deeds"
synonyms: wicked, bad, wrong, immoral, sinful, foul, vile, dishonorable, corrupt, iniquitous, depraved, reprobate, villainous, nefarious, vicious, malicious
antonyms: good, virtuous (of a force or spirit) embodying or associated with the forces of the devil.
"we have been driven out of the house by this evil spirit"
2.) harmful or tending to harm.
"the evil effects of high taxes"
synonyms: cruel, mischievous, pernicious, malignant, malign, baleful, vicious
antonyms: good, beneficial (of something seen or smelled) extremely unpleasant.
"a bathroom with an evil smell"
synonyms: unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, horrible, foul, disgusting, filthy, vile, noxious
"an evil smell"
antonyms: pleasant
evil as a noun
1. profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force.
"the world is stalked by relentless evil"
synonyms: wickedness, bad, badness, wrongdoing, sin, ill, immorality, vice, iniquity, degeneracy, corruption, depravity, villainy, nefariousness, malevolence
Ā
2. a manifestation of this, especially in people's actions.
"the evil that took place last Thursday"
synonyms: abomination, atrocity, obscenity, outrage, enormity, crime, monstrosity, barbarity
"the evils of war"
Ā
3. something that is harmful or undesirable.
"sexism, racism, and all other unpleasant social evils"
synonyms: harm, pain, misery, sorrow, suffering, trouble, disaster, misfortune, catastrophe, affliction, woe, hardship
"nothing but evil would ensue"
Answer: Evil is what is morally wrong, sinful, or wicked. Evil is the result of bad actions stemming from a bad character. Biblically, evil is anything that contradicts the holy nature of God (see Psalm 51:4).
Evil behavior can be thought of as falling into two categories: evil committed against other people (murder, theft, adultery) and evil committed against God (unbelief, idolatry, blasphemy).
From the disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9) to the wickedness of Babylon the Great (Revelation 18:2), the Bible speaks of the existence of evil.
Goodness has existed as an attribute of God from all eternity. While God is perfectly holy and just, He is also perfectly good. Just as God has always existed, so too has goodness as it is a facet of Godās holy character. The same cannot be said for evil. Evil came into being with the rebellion of Satan and subsequently entered the physical universe with the fall of Adam.Ā As Christian apologist Greg Koukl has said, āHuman freedom was used in such a way as to diminish goodness in the world, and that diminution, that lack of goodness, that is what we call evil.ā When God created Adam, He created him good, and He also created him free.
However, in creating Adam free, God indirectly created the possibility of evil, while not creating evil itself. When Adam chose to disobey God, he made this possibility a reality.Ā The same scenario had previously played out when Satan fell by failing to serve and obey God. So it turns out that evil is not a direct creation of God; rather, evil is the result of persons (both angelic and human) exercising their freedom wrongly.
While evil is certainly real, it is important to recognize that evil does not have existence in and of itself. Rather, it only exists as a privation (or a parasite) on the good.Ā It exists in the same way that a wound exists on an arm or as rust exists on a car. The rust cannot exist on its own any more than cold can exist without the existence of heat or darkness can exist without the existence of light.
Despite the horrible effects of evil on our world, the Christian believer can take comfort in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded for us in the Gospel of John, āI have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.Ā But take heart! I have overcome the worldā (John 16:33).
More importantly, we look forward with great anticipation to our home in heaven where the ultimate evil, death, will finally be destroyed along with the āmourning, crying and painā which it inevitably produces (Revelation 21:4).
Shared on 10/1/15 at 1115 from
www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-evilĀ
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Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:11
Sermon 2.8
Know your enemy
Various forms of mental diseases can also be attributed to demons. In at least two cases of demon possession treated by Jesus during his ministry, the demons had so affected the minds of the victims to cause abnormal behavior. One man lived among tombs, a practice considered unclean during this time, and created a disturbance day and night (Mark 5:4, 5).
A young boy possessed with a demon involuntarily went into an apparent convulsion when he encountered the presence of Jesus (Luke 9:37-42). In both instances, the victims engaged in some form of self-destruction and physical mutilation of the body. After the demon was cast out of the person, the apparent mental problem disappeared.
For the Christian, our final moral code of ethics is the Bible. Those who oppose God would also oppose, the morality of the Bible. Demons are instrumental in leading both the saved and unsaved into moral compromise. One of the often-used names for demons in the Bible is āunclean spirit,ā an appropriate name, as they tarnish everything they influence. When Israel left Egypt, God gave them the land of Canaan. One of the reasons God wanted them in a separate land was that the heathen nations had given themselves over to unclean spirits and had become: corrupted (Lev. 18; Deut. 18).
There is much confusion about demon possession. Demon possession is the culmination of a volitional rejection of God and a volitional acceptance of Satan and his demons.Ā A person does not become possessed by demons on a casual basis.
Demon possession is the opposite of the filling of the Spirit just as some Christians are more effective when filled with the Holy Spirit, so some unbelievers have greater demonic power as a result of their demonic possession. The same word is used of the Holy Spirit controlling inEphesians 5:18 as Satanās control of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
Demon possession and demon activity is more commonly recognized in third world countries. However, there is increasing evidence of demonic activity in our Western society because of its waning Christian influence. As our nation turns from God and more people worship Satan and demons, there will be more evidence of demon activity in our society.
Many have conjectured about whether or not demons can āpossessā or āinfluenceā believers. Since the Bible is silent concerning Christians being āpossessed,ā it has much to say concerning demonsā possible influence on us and of our need to be aware of their desire to adversely affect our wall with God.
The short answer is no. Satan and his demons may tempt us, but they cannot dwell within us.
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
- John 14:15-17
Thus, you see, the Holy Spirit lives in every child of God. Additionally, Jesus says in verse 23:
āIf anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.ā
Not only does the Holy Spirit dwell in every Christian, but the Father and the Son, through the Spirit, dwell in every Christian.Ā No demon, nor the devil himself, can dwell in a Christian if the Father and the Son or the Holy Spirit are dwelling in that Christian.Ā Ā
God and the devil cannot dwell in the same place or in the same person.
God emphasizes in His Word the Holy Spirit lives within those who have repented of their sins, have accepted Jesus as their Savior, and have thus been born into the family of God.
"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
- Romans 8:9 ESV
The Holy Spirit who lives in a born-again child of God bears witness with that personās spirit that he is a child of God. If the devil or a demon lived in that Christian, and possessed that Christian, the Holy Spirit could neither dwell in that person or bear witness that such a person was a child of God.
One of the chief difficulties of living for God today is not the social pressures or inconvenience of life; it is the spiritual battle in which we are engaged.Ā Our enemies are demons. Paul observed,
āFor we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.ā
- (Eph. 6:12).
The phrase āthe rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evilā refers to demons and their activities.
Part of the work of demons, particularly as it relates to the Christian life, is doing battle with Christians on the spiritual level.Ā This condition is the reason behind the apostolic imperative,Ā
āPut on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.ā
- (Eph. 6:11).Ā
Without spiritual help from God, the Christian is unable to win the battle against demons.Ā
Matthew, Mark and Luke record numerous examples of individuals who were either cruelly afflicted or possessed by demons (demon possession occurs when an evil spirit completely takes over a personās mind).
Christ expelled demons (often called āunclean spiritsā in the Gospels) from many people. Demons are so real and so powerful that Jesus also taught us to pray on a daily basis for God to ādeliver us from the evil oneā (Matthew 6:13).
The fact that Jesus taught us to include this in our daily prayers emphasizes that demons should be taken seriously. They truly exist; they are not just scary figments of the human imagination to be toyed with as some form of entertainment.
I pray every day for Godās protection from the spiritual danger of Satan and the demons.
It must be frustrating to demons after they had accomplished some evil scheme to later find out that they were carrying out the will of God. Satan did not realize what God wanted to do in Jobās life when he caused him physical suffering.
Also, God used āan evil spiritā to accomplish his will in the life of Saul, Israelās first king (1 Sam. 16:14).
1 Samuel 16:14 (NIV)
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
On another occasion, God used āa lying spiritā to deceive the false prophets of an evil king (1 Kings 22:22, 23).Ā At the end of the Great Tribulation, demons will be used by God to gather the nations of the world to battlefields of Armageddon (Rev. 9:16). God is able to use even demons to accomplish his will.
Shared on 10/1/15 at 1115 from
www.biblesprout.com/articles/hell/demons
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Ā Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 February 2016 18:44
Sermon 2.9
7 things the Bible says about evil
So what is evil?
Ā
1. Evil is real.
That is to say, we distort the Bible and do ourselves a profound disservice by minimizing the existence of suffering. God invites us to acknowledge our pain.
The Psalmist wrote, "I believed, even when I spoke, 'I am greatly afflicted'" (Psalm 116:10).
2. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In some ways, talking about a "problem of evil" is a false start. A better quandary to start with would be the problem of sin. How quickly we rush to raise a self-righteous fist while our other hand digs in the cookie jar.
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?" (Ezekiel 18:25).
3. God is good.
Whatever we say about God's sovereignty over evil (and say we will; see below), we must never imply that God is corrupt, that he somehow nurses a dark side.
"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one" (James 1:13).
4. God ordains all things that come to pass, including evil.
God does whatever he pleases (Psalm 135:6).
To be sure, this means he clothes lilies and feeds birds (Matthew 6:26, 28).
But he also makes lightning (Psalm 135:7).
He strikes down firstborn children and kills mighty kings (Psalm 135:8).
Our God holds sway over the good, the bad, and the ugly.
"I form light and create darkness," he says.
"I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things" (Isaiah 45:7).
5. Man is responsible for his actions.
Lest we fall into fatalism, we should remember that God's sovereignty never excuses wrongdoing.Ā When a man commits murder, the blood is on his hands.
"For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" (Luke 22:22).
6. God did not spare his own Son.
The cross speaks to our theology of suffering in at least two ways. First, it shows us that God can will something to happen that he opposes.Ā Proverbs 6:16-17 tells us that God hates "hands that shed innocent blood." And yet he sent his Son to suffer precisely that fate. Is this a mystery? Absolutely. But it is not nonsense.
We can look at evil and with no contradiction say, "This is wrong, and God has willed that it take place."
Listen to how Peter describes the crucifixion: "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men" (Acts 2:23, emphasis mine).
Second, the cross demonstrates that God regards our affliction not as something strange to the palette, but as a cup he has drunk to the dregs.Ā By giving up his own Son, God entered into our pain. He knows what it's like to suffer loss.Ā But he also did more.Ā By putting his Son to grief, God turned grief on its head.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
This brings us to the final point.
7. Heaven works backwards.
"They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory." - C. S. Lewis
Ā Jesus taught us that God has a purpose for all our suffering (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
Shared on 10/1/15 at 1105 from
www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-things-the-bible-says-about-evil
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Ā Last Updated: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 22:13
Sermon 2.10
History of Paul
Hallelujah....