Results 421 - 440 of 635
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: inmyheart Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
421 | In Acts 12:10, who opened the gate? | Acts | inmyheart | 71144 | ||
Dublin, He was led safely by the angel out of danger, Acts 12: v. 10. Guards were kept at one pass and at another, which they were to make their way through when they were out of the prison, and they did so without any opposition; nay, for aught that appears, without any discovery: either their eyes were closed; or their hands were tied, or their hearts failed them; so it was that the angel and Peter safely passed the first and second ward. Those watchmen represented the watchmen of the Jewish church, on whom God had poured out a spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, Rom. xi. 8. His watchmen are blind, sleeping, lying down, and loving to slumber. But still there is an iron gate, after all, that will stop them, and, if the guards can but recover themselves, there they may recover their prisoner, as Pharaoh hoped to retake Israel at the Red Sea. However, up to that gate they march, and, like the Red Sea before Israel, it opened to them. They did not so much as put a hand to it, but it opened of its own accord, by an invisible power; and thus was fulfilled in the letter what was figuratively promised to Cyrus (Isa. xlv. 1, 2): I will open before him the two-leaved gates, will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. And probably the iron gate shut again of itself, that none of the guards might pursue Peter. Note, When God will work salvation for his people, no difficulties in their way are insuperable; but even gates of iron are made to open of their own accord. This iron gate led him into the city out of the castle or tower; whether within the gates of the city or without is not certain, so that, when they were through this, they were got into the street. From: Matthew Henry Bible Commentary |
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422 | barnabas enabler of paul? | Acts | inmyheart | 73703 | ||
Barnabas: Encourager and Enabler Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-27; 11:22-26; 15:36-41 Biblically, we traverse four chapters of the Book of Acts to discover gems in the life of Barnabas. Joseph, who was called Barnabas ("one who encourages"), sold a field and gave the proceeds to the apostles (4:36-37). When the apostles were frightened of Saul, Barnabas vouched for his good character (9:26-27). The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check out the situation in Antioch, and he welcomed the new converts with joy (11:22-24). Barnabas sought out Paul to minister with him in Antioch, where believers were first called "Christians" (vv. 25-26). Barnabas and Paul decided to make a second missionary journey, but instead went their separate ways when Barnabas insisted that Mark go with them (15:36-41). From this lesson, we gain insight into the life of a Christian as manifested by one of the early saints, Barnabas. Here we learn that it is important for us as believers to take the posture of encourager in the life of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Too many of us are critics instead of encouragers. We can also learn from Barnabas's generosity. He could not keep the blessing of the Lord to himself; he had to share it with the people of God. We learn of his outreaching spirit as he makes the first missionary journey with Paul. God bless |
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423 | Acts 15:38 | Acts | inmyheart | 73962 | ||
Acts 15:38: This scripture directly links Paul's refusal to take Mark with them to the fact that Mark departed from them prematurely on their first missionary journey. That still leaves many questions about what Mark's motives were for the departure, but suffice it to say that Paul thought Mark's reasons were inadequate. This reveals an attitude that Paul had towards those in leadership which we would do well to imitate. Paul did not want to spend his time ministering to his own team. He needed only strong, mature help. The weak or wounded should not be put on the front lines for their own sake as well as the sake of the mission. Whatever Mark's problems were, they were resolved so that he went on to become a mighty man of God. There is no reason to believe that Paul was against that. In fact, Paul's treatment of Mark here could have been an inspiration to him to grow up. God Bless |
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424 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73323 | ||
What is the will of God? I Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues ... I Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth...What is it then? I will pray with the spirit... I Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all. I Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. The apostle Paul wrote this section of Corinthians to correct error in use of the manifestations in public worship. When the Corinthians got together they all wanted to (because of course all can!) speak in tongues. In fact they were all doing it together at the same time. So Paul wrote to let them know what should be the order of things in public. But he also made it clear that tongues in your private worship of God was not only good. It was God's will, it was Paul's practice [more than ye all], and it was a commandment of the Lord. Does God want you to speak in tongues? ABSOLUTELY! God bless |
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425 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73343 | ||
BradK, Jesus Christ said believers would: John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is [almost here], when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Jesus Christ declared that believers would "speak with new tongues." It does not say apostles. It does not say "only in the first century." It says "them that believe." Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Ten days later these men (and about 3 thousand others) received the promised holy spirit and they spoke in tongues. Speaking in tongues is not a special gift as some declare. Speaking in tongues is the proof on the outside that you are born again with holy spirit on the inside. You cannot see spirit. But you can see the evidence of it when a believer speaks in tongues. They saw it on Pentecost as the apostles spoke in tongues and asked "What do we have to do to be saved and have this ability as well?" They were not asking about the spirit that they could not see. They were asking about the tongues they heard. "How can we speak in tongues, Peter?" Peter told them about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because to be saved you must "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" [Romans 10:9-10]. Once they believed, the promise of holy spirit [which includes the ability to speak in tongues] was theirs: Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent [change!] and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall [absolutely!] receive [the Greek word is lambano which means to receive outwardly in evidence or manifestation] the gift of the Holy Ghost. The people asked Peter about the tongues they had just heard. Peter told them that when they believed they too would speak in tongues. They too would receive the gift of holy spirit and they too would manifest it outwardly by speaking in tongues. There is only one gift: the holy spirit from God. There are many ways to use it, tongues being one. Speaking in tongues is the proof you have the holy spirit on the inside. Its main function is your private worship of God - it is perfect prayer. But in every record in Acts where a group of believers is first born again of God's spirit the outward evidence or proof to those "witnessing the birth" is the new believer speaks in tongues. Thank you for your response, however, I only gave my post in reply, not to debate. As you know this topic has been well debated and your point is well understood, and there would be no success in further discussion. God bless YOU!!! |
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426 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73354 | ||
BradK, "Discuss" debate, it is your intention :) I would disagree that the Bible says tongues is the least of all gifts. I believe that you have misunderstood I Corinthians 14. Paul was not talking against tongues, but was only declaring that prophecy was better than tongues in the context of corporate worship (the context of I Corinthians 12, 14 indicates that Paul is speaking of corporate worship) because prophecy can be understood by all, whereas tongues cannot. Paul was concerned about the edification of the church (I Corinthians 14:12, 26). Tongues would only edify the individual speaking in tongues, but not the body (I Corinthians 14:2-4). Paul was not downplaying tongues. He was only explaining to the Corinthians that in corporate worship, the edification of the whole body should be the main concern. In fact, Paul put tongues on the same level of prophecy if those tongues were interpreted: "I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying" (I Corinthians 14:5; emphasis mine). In the context of provoking the Corinthians to edify the body Paul said, "Even so, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret" (I Corinthians 14:12-13). If tongues were interpreted, they would bring edification to the body just as would prophecies. That Paul was not against tongues-speaking, even in the context of corporate worship is evident. Notice that in I Corinthians 14:5 Paul said he wanted everyone to be speaking in tongues. That is hardly tantamount to Paul discouraging tongues or saying that tongues are the most undesirable gift. He even says, "Forbid not to speak in tongues" (I Corinthians 14:39). He only placed limits on the exercise of uninterpreted tongues so that the body would be edified, rather than just the individual. God bless |
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427 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73416 | ||
BradK, I do not believe that Christianity is a religion. Religions are man's ways of worshiping God. Christianity is what God did for us in Christ Jesus. Christianity is truth. Christianity is the way of a Father [God] with his family [us]. Truth does not have "sides to argue about"; nor does it need to be defended. Truth simply needs to be presented and believed. So, if you want discussion . . . God bless you - |
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428 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73477 | ||
Hank-- No, not at all. However, I have come across that teaching not long ago, and Paul's writings would look like this; "I wish you all spoke with languages, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with languages, unless indeed he interprets, that the assembly may receive edification." 1 Cor 14:5 Tongues and lips, as defined by Scripture, can only mean one of two things. When you see the word "tongue" in your Bible it means either a "physical tongue" or "a language." The same goes for "lips," which can only mean, "physical lips" or "a language." "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." Gen 10:5. The word "tongue" used here we find clearly is in reference to "languages" of other nations. That would support those who oppose speaking in tongues, and I believe in speaking in tongues. Jude verse 20 says "But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." Hank, thanks for responding, I respect your stand and your input. God bless |
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429 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73574 | ||
John, Let me say, "I hear you," but your intent was not to give me your definition of religion, for this thread is not on that topic. I believe you were taking advantage, to point out your "saved by faith alone" doctrine, which I also don't believe. However, if we started a new thread on this topic, that would fall under "pushing one's religion" and I know you don't want to violate those terms of use. Gracefully In Christ |
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430 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73635 | ||
1Cr 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. No, I'm not offended at all :) God bless |
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431 | Are Tounges a sign of Spiritual Baptism | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 73695 | ||
John, Once again, that would be another topic on a different thread. God bless |
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432 | Speaking in Tongue | Acts 2:4 | inmyheart | 160778 | ||
Simply put, the truth in never the problem. God bless |
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433 | Jesus' name baptism? | Acts 2:38 | inmyheart | 48333 | ||
Hi Mommapbs, I just read this post, and I agree that baptism is not a prerequiste for forgiveness. On the other hand, when does a person get baptized? Do you plan on getting baptized in the future? Or is it just a personal decision, or command of God? Or should I not ask so many questions :) Thank you for considering this matter! Blessings and Love in Jesus Name. |
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434 | Jesus' name baptism? | Acts 2:38 | inmyheart | 48403 | ||
Hi Mommaphs, Thank you for your response. I sense your tender heart, and what lays ahead shall be greater then the latter. Oh how precious are the children in the eyes of the parents, how much more so in the eyes of God. I exalt thee Lord! Yes, I'm including your children on my prayer list, and we will declare the Word of God over them! May God richly bless you |
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435 | Holy Spirit evidence of Salvation? | Acts 2:38 | inmyheart | 51295 | ||
Mommapbs, Blessings you my friend, I pray that all is well with you and your family. I happened to log on to check a certain post and I came across yours. I'm however on my way out to a meeting and I don't have the time to respond to you, but I will when I get back, OK! However let me say that you present a very good question or maybe even a good statement, and it is well worth the time to see what God's Word say's (not opinions) about the Holy Spirit. Looking forward to reponding to your question. I encourage you to keep on with your work in the Lord. God Bless |
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436 | Holy Spirit evidence of Salvation? | Acts 2:38 | inmyheart | 51360 | ||
Mommapbs, Greetings Well I'm back. Let me say I was prepared to answer your question, then I read your post to Robert. Then I read your post as you suggested him to do. Now I have two questions to answer. First of all, refering to your post, 'water baptism unnecessary for conversion', you stated "after his encounter with the Lord, Saul (Paul) was in Damascus for THREE DAYS (ACT 9:9) prior to being (water) baptized!" Was he "unsaved" during this time? My answer is yes, Paul was not yet converted (saved). Act 22:12, Paul notes that it was Ananias, A man with credentials as a good Jew who received him into the faith that is in Christ. Verse 14 Ananias explains the will of the Father. Verse 15 his calling. Verse 16 Paul is baptized that same day! However, is baptism necessary for salvation? Well, your reference is Act 2:38, while baptism with water was the EXPECTED symbol for conversion, it was not an criterion for salvation. We are not addressing the fact whether the Holy Spirit is given AFTER or before baptism, we are addressing receiving the "gift of the Holy Spirit." Act 2:39 is saying, The Promise is to you: then, the "GIFT" of the Holy Spirit will be given to them as it was given to the original group of disciples: and as it will be given to succeeding generations of those who believe. Back to Act 2:38, Peter gives them something to "do" in response to their question. This means that we must "do" something to be saved; we must 'do" something to follow Jesus. It doesn't just "happen." notice I mentioned "do" and not "work". Even in the act of "repent" we must "do" something, e.g. turn our direction around from the way we were going. Act 10:44-48, These God-fearing Gentiles are saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized. There salvation, apparently, each one of these Gentiles responded to the message of Peter with believing faith in their hearts, so that they were actually saved while they listened. The moment of a person's salvation isn't necessarily when they raise a hand or come forward at an evangelistic invitation, it is more likely at the moment they surrender to God and embrace Jesus in the sincerity of their heart. Gentiles had probably been saved in the eight years since Pentecost, but they were saved as they embraced Judaism as well as Christianity, Gentile may have been saved but they were saved as Jews, not Gentiles. In closing, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit as they did in Acts 10 PRIOR to their water baptism! After their baptism they received the GIFT of the Holy Spirit. What's the difference? God blessings Mommapbs |
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437 | Holy Spirit evidence of Salvation? | Acts 2:38 | inmyheart | 51403 | ||
Brother Tim, Thank you for responding. Acts 10:45, I believe this is where (also Acts 2:38) people split on their understanding of the Holy Spirit. Meaning, can you recieve the Holy Spirit twice! This is not what is being spoken of. You wrote concerning Acts 10:45, "Yet, this is the order which occurs. They repent, recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit and then are baptized as a result of their salvation" I'm saying, they repent recieve the Holy spirit and are baptized, and then recieve the gift (enpowerment) of the Holy Spirit. What happened in the upper room on the day of pentecost? Peter is not refering to water baptism, and my friend, this is where the saints of God split. We can go round and round, some saints are mindset and some have open minds, Let God be true, the evidence of God in our lives is Love. All that really matters is reaching out for lost souls and bring them the Living God, Amen! I fellowship where I do because God led me there, and I'm growing, and you can probably say the same for yourself. I encourage you my friend to be about your Father's business, as I also will do the same. See you next time, and may you continue to be a blessing to all that you reach. God Richly Bless You! |
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438 | tithing | Acts 13:39 | inmyheart | 65223 | ||
In the churches of Corinth and of Galatia, when on a certain occasion money was needed for the saints' (that is, apparently, the poor of the church of Jerusalem), the apostle Paul, with a founder's authority, directed or gave order: "Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper," I Corinthians 16:2. Here four things may be noticed about this method of raising a charitable fund: 1. It seems to be assumed that every one would give. 2. Givings were to be stored beforehand. 3. Giving was to have reference to prosperity. 4. Giving, or laying by, was to be exercised every Lord's day. And it should be observed that sometimes collections, enjoined by the apostle, were on behalf of Christians outside the churches in which the contributions were made. Other instructions upon giving, taught by Paul to his Galatian converts, seem to occur in connection with their support of the ministry, for he says: "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," Galatians 6:6-7 Give to your local body of believers, your church. God will lead you to the right one. God Bless |
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439 | tithing | Acts 13:39 | inmyheart | 66021 | ||
In addressing the Christians at Corinth, Paul entered more fully into the right of Christian ministers to the support of the faithful, I Corinthians 16:1, whilst to the Christians at Rome, his words on the subject of almsgiving may serve as a broad general principle for all churches. "If the Gentiles have been made partakers of their [the Christian Jews'] spiritual things, they [the Gentiles] owe it to them [the Christian Jews] also to minister unto them in carnal things," Romans 15:27. The Christians of Philippi, likewise, may be mentioned in this connection, their liberality being recognized by the apostle, who wrote that "in the beginning of the Gospel no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but ye only: for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need," Phil.4:15-17. There were other churches where, for good reasons, Paul chose to forego personal remuneration, I Cor.9:12, but he did not thereby give up his right thereto; for, with the Corinthian Christians, he argues thus: "Have we no right to eat and to drink? . . . What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? . . . If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? . . . Know ye not that they which minister about sacred things eat of things of the temple, and they which wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? Even so did the Lord ordain that they which proclaim the Gospel should live of the Gospel," I Cor.9:4-14. Here the apostle seems to have in mind two sources of maintenance for the Jewish priesthood. The one probably included tithes brought to the storehouse of the temple, Nehemiah 10:37-40, and the other consisted of those portions of the sacrifices which were brought to the altar and retained by the priest, Deuteronomy 18:3, as signified by the words: "They which wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar." Some may contend, however, that the law was abrogated under the Gospel. If so, how much of the law, and in what sense? Is the law so abrogated as that we may now, at our pleasure, murder, lie, and steal? Would that all who for excuse argue that the law is abolished, and so try to evade their responsibility as to setting aside a proportion of their income for God, could be thus quickly convinced! Have we not already seen that Christ came to fulfill the law -- to confirm it to the least iota? Matthew 5:17-18, and fulfilling is the perfecting, not the destruction, of anything. Hence the payment of tithes and offerings applicable to the support of the ministry, and to other religious and charitable works, is clearly the duty of Christians, unless it can be shown that Christ repealed God's law previously promulgated. And this, as Leslie writes (Divine Right of Tithes, Toronto edition, p. 81): "He never did, but rather confirmed it by approving the tithe payments of the Pharisees, and by ordaining that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. Some would have the Gospel merely eleemosynary -- nothing due, but all freewill offerings. But was this so in the Temple? I trow not: for though there were freewill offerings, there were also tithes and other offerings, the withholding of which was counted as robbery. Moreover, if the ministers of the Temple were sure of at least a tenth, whilst the ministers of the Gospel are not sure of a hundredth part of some men's incomes, where is the truth or appropriateness of the apostle's comparison?" Besides, what was it that the Lord ordained? That every man should give just what he pleased? This men could do without any ordinance being issued to that end. That which leaves every man perfectly at his own liberty is no law at all; and if every an were left thus to act, Christ ordained what amounted to nothing. [The Rev. Richard Duke, of Stirling, Ontario, an earnest advocate of tithe-paying, in support of his conviction that the tithe law is binding upon Christians, argues thus: 1. It is a principle in jurisprudence that when the reasons which originated a law continue to operate, and there is no explicit repeal of the law, the law remains in force. And this principle appears to have the lucidity and force of an axiom . . . 2. That which passed away was the symbolical and figurative. Tithing was neither one nor the other, but a duty issuing from the moral law, which is of perpetual force. 3. True, there is no formal re-enactment of the law of the tithe. But why should such a formal re-enactment be looked for? The law had not become obsolete; it was not indifferently observed. On the contrary it was conspicuously honored in the observance. Similarly there is no formal re-enactment of the Sabbath law; but Christians recognize the law respecting the seventh of time, and by a parity of reasoning should recognize the law respecting the tenth of substance. "I also agree, your view of tithing is not a true teaching." |
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440 | Is believing the same as knowing? | Acts 15:11 | inmyheart | 65703 | ||
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that "God raised him from the dead," you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Greetings, we confess the Word of God, that Jesus did die for our sins and God raised Him back from the dead, and because He is not dead, He lives. Jesus did not just die and now is living. God sent His only Son to be that ultimate sacrifice, to redeem us from our sin, He paid the debt that He did not owe, becauce we had a debt that we could not pay. In short, we must speak the whole truth, never compromise His Word. |
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