THE CHURCH

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Watch this wonderful video about the Church in China. You will be blessed.

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THE REASON JESUS WENT TO THE DESERT FOR 40 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYING.

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Why did Jesus go into the desert for 40 days fasting, praying, and being tested by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)? A few Old Testament texts might shed light as to why.  The two most prominent persons in the Old Testament and in the Jewish faith are Moses and Elijah. Moses led the exodus (Israel’s escape from slavery in Egypt), and it was through Moses that God gave his law or Torah to his people. And if you recall, it was Moses and Elijah who had the honour of appearing with Jesus at the Transfiguration to talk with him about “the exodus” that he was to undergo (Luke 9:31).  What do Moses and Elijah have to do with Christ’s fasting in the desert? Surprisingly, there is a tie-in: Both Old Testament figures also fasted for 40 days. After traveling through the desert, Moses and the people came to Mount Horeb:  (Exodus 34:27-28) “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with them I have made a covenant with you and with I...
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IN ISAIAH 59:19, IT IS NOT THE ENEMY THAT COMES IN LIKE A FLOOD.

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Most of us are familiar with this portion of the scripture:  (Isaiah 59:19 KJV)   “…… When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him . The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible seems to suggest that it is the enemy that will come in like a flood. Well the enemy is not the one that will come in like a flood rather it is the Lord that comes in like a flood (a rushing stream). The translators of King James Version of the Bible departed from the ancient versions which resulted in the misconception. The Amplified Version of the Bible puts it better: Isaiah 59:19 (AMP): So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come in like a narrow, rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives [overwhelming the enemy] In other words, He (Jehovah) shall come like a rushing stream which the breath of Jehovah (i.e., a strong and mighty wind) drives. It will mean that...
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JACOB DID NOT WAIT FOR 7 OR 14 YEARS BEFORE LEAH/ RACHEL WERE GIVEN TO HIM. HE TOOK BOTH WIVES IMMEDIATELY.

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Many Christians thought that Jacob worked seven years for Laban, realized that Laban deceived him to marry Leah, and then worked seven more years before finally getting married to Rachel. However the bible shows that he took both Leah and Rachel immediately before he began serving Laban. For clarity, I advise you to read this Jacob's story in other translations of the Bible aside King James Version (KJV). Meanwhile lets look at look at some of the facts from the Bible: (Genesis 29:21 KJV) And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Please note that the 7 years of service required of Jacob were the total dowry and not the customary waiting period before a wife was given to the groom. In other words, Jacob took Leah after the customary waiting period which was a couple of days just like we read in vs 21. Notice that he said, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled" implying a certain number of d...
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DID GOD REGRET CREATING MAN IN GENESIS 6:6?

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Genesis 6:6 is one of those difficult verses in the bible of which different bible commentators have varied interpretations. The verse seems to suggest that God regretted His action of creating man on earth. But how can one attribute regret to the All-Knowing God?  Genesis 6:6 (ESV) And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.  Genesis 6:6 (KJV) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  Genesis 6:6 (NASB) The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  The Hebrew word translated as “ regretted ” or " repented"  or " sorry"  in the above verse is yin'nā'hem , from the root word nacham . The word is exclusively about emotions: a feeling of pain, sadness, or unhappiness. The word does not imply that God feels He has made a mistake, or that He wishes to have done differently .  However, this wo...
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IS PRAYER TO SAINTS OR MARY BIBLICAL?

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The issue of Catholics praying to saints is one that is full of confusion. It is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church that Catholics do not pray TO saints or Mary, but rather that Catholics can ask saints or Mary to pray FOR them. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that asking saints for their prayers is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for us. However, the practice of many Catholics diverges from official Roman Catholic teaching. Many Catholics do in fact pray directly to saints and/or Mary, asking them for help - instead of asking the saints and/or Mary to intercede with God for help. Whatever the case, whether a saint or Mary is being prayed to, or asked to pray, neither practice has any biblical basis. The Bible nowhere instructs believers in Christ to pray to anyone other than God. The Bible nowhere encourages, or even mentions, believers asking individuals in heaven for their prayers. Why, then, do many Catholics pray to...
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UNDERSTANDING THE GIFT OF PROPHECY: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORETELLING, FORTH-TELLING AND FORTUNE TELLING

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There is so much misunderstanding in the Church today regarding the gift of prophecy. Many people believe that prophecy only refers to telling something before it happens. However, even in the Old Testament, the messages of the prophets contained as much, if not more, about the present than they did about the future. In Hebrew, the word translated prophecy is based on the word stem nābā, which simply means “to speak by divine inspiration, either in prediction or simple discourse.”  “ Prophecies ” is transliterated (i.e. brought straight over from Greek to English) from the noun  prophēteia . It is made up of  pro , meaning “before, in time or position” and a form of the verb  phēmi , meaning “to tell.” The verb form of this word can refer  EITHER : Foretelling  (predicting or telling something before it happens). It seeks to predict the future. It predicts or reveals personalities, occurrences, circumstances that will hap...
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WHY JESUS HAD TO GO BACK TO HEAVEN BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD BE SENT.

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There is a simple and clear truth regarding the Holy Spirit which many people miss. The Bible clearly and simply reveals that the Holy Spirit was GIVEN to Jesus from the Father and then literally 'poured out' upon God's people. However Jesus needed to go back to heaven before this could happen. Let's take a look at some scriptures:  (John 7:38-39) 'He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)'  (John 16:7) 'Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.'  (John 20:17) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Fath...
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Three That Bear Record: Understanding 1 John 5:8

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“And there are three that bear record in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” — 1 John 5:8 (KJV) This powerful verse doesn’t just offer poetic symbolism — it gives us three divine witnesses on earth that testify to the truth of Jesus Christ. These witnesses stand as irrefutable evidence that Jesus is the Son of God , and they each confirm a specific aspect of His identity. Let’s explore each one. 1. The Spirit Bears Record In John 15:26 , Jesus said: “But when the Comforter is come… He shall testify of me.” And again in Romans 8:16 , we read: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” From His baptism, when the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16), to the outpouring at Pentecost and beyond — the Holy Spirit continues to testify of Jesus' divine sonship. The Spirit bears record through: Divine revelation Internal witness in the believer's heart Prophecy, ...
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WHY DID JESUS CALL SIMON, PETER (ROCK)?

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Most of us are very familiar with the story in Matthew chapter 16 where Jesus said that Simon, who was one of His disciples, is Peter (which means rock). The question is, why did Jesus call him Rock? (Matthew 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Matthew 16:18 NLT) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Before we answer the question, it is of note that there are many Believers and non Believers alike, who do not accept Peter as the Rock. They usually twist the above verse and play on words from the Greek translation such as: (Matthew 16:18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art PETROS , and upon this PETRA I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  They say that what Jesus called Simon was " Petros " which refers ...
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WHO IS THE DEVOURER IN MALACHI 3:11?

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The phrase "rebuke the devourer" is found in the book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament.  (Malachi 3:11 KJV) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. In this verse Malachi records a wonderful promise of God to the nation of Israel.  The Hebrew word translated “devourer” means “eater” and refers to the locust or caterpillar or any such creature that devours crops. The NIV translates Malachi 3:11 as “I will prevent pests from devouring your crops.” The “devourer” could also refer to plant diseases—really, anything that would destroy Israel’s crops: the NLT says, “Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.” Swarms of locusts were common in the Middle East in those days and could destroy virtually all the produce of an entire country. The devastation brought by locusts could be horri...
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