Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Bible Question:
This week in New York -- despite the warning received ten months ago on September 11, 2001 -- the United States came into one accord with the United Nations, the European Union and Russia in setting the stage for Israel to concede covenant land which was promised to her by God. Not only did Secretary of State Colin Powell effectively REVERSE President Bush's implied withdraw from endorsing a Palestinian State "until a change of Palestinian leadership" takes place, but on July 19 President Bush sealed the matter by reconfirming his commitment to establishing a Palestinian State WITHIN THREE YEARS. The spiritual covering over the United States was significantly weakened during the peace process in New York. America has now chosen her path, and this path will ultimately require a response from God. Unless America changes her present course, one can easily foresee severe natural disasters in the coming months... economic tensions, unprecedented earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other judgments as God lifts his hand of angelic covering from the United States of America. And what takes up the time of the Christians? Foolish debates on who God will use in these last hours. Just look at the volume of postings on such foolishness as does God put women into ministry... will God use a women? None of these lead to the saving of souls but are merely the puffed up minds filled with opinions. What witness is all of this to the JW’s that you have been debating? If God wants to use another dumb donkey to same my lost loved ones, I say so be it! Yes even a women would be fine with me if He so ordains her. The Pharisees would debate deep sayings but could not discern the signs of the times. Lets let God be God! If HE saves souls through a women, even if the PHARISEES say HE shouldn’t, who knows, that soul may be one of the two witnesses of the end times. No man comes to the Father except that the Spirit Draw, so if a women preaches and God saves, HALLELUJAH! It is God that gives the increase, and He is the judge of the work! A women is still the better choice than having to wait till the Rocks cry out. I have many lost loved ones that I really care less who God uses to save them. I really doubt that if any of those on this forum against women preacher, had a child drowning, you would not stop a women from throwing out the life line. Is not the soul worth more than the body? Time is running out, let your righteous energies be used for the Kingdom of God to the saving of souls which is His heartbeat. He will take care of the women who get out of their place. Sad to say though, God may very well be calling women to pick up the slack for too many men that have ran from the call for many years. Who is the Blessed of God... the one called or the one that obeys the call? It seems to me that Christians are too busy rearranging the pictures on the wall while the house is burning down. |
Bible Answer: While I agree with your basic theme, I disagree with your closing remarks. As I understand your exhortation, it is similar to Paul's instruction in Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." Your advice to stop the seemingly endless debate over technicalities has merit. However, you close with "Time is running out..." and "it seems to me that Christians are too busy rearranging the pictures on the wall while the house is burning down." Peter cautions against putting too much emphasis on external events, at least in our personal suffering for Christ. 1 Peter 4:12 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." As for world events, I believe there is nothing humanity can do to trigger Christ's return or in any way influence God's timing. Psalm 144:3-4 "O Lord, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Jesus cautions against thinking we know when the end will come, for even He did not know. Matthew 24:35-37 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Finally, for us as workers in the Lord's field, there is at least one problem with assuming we are close to the last harvest. It is that we stop cultivating/sowing and focus solely on those ready to be harvested. Any farmer will tell you, if you don't plant for the next season, this year's harvest will indeed be the last. By proclaiming the end times, you proclaim that there is no point to invest in next year's fields. |