Apostle Paul's Prison Perspective

The Apostle Paul, writing from prison, tells the amazing and sad story of Preachers who were preaching the Gospel in a manner meant to add to his own personal woes!

They did this, Paul explains, because they did not understand he was “set for the DEFENSE of the Gospel”.

No doubt they blamed Paul’s characteristic boldness and passionate adherence to the whole Word of God as being “insensitive, unloving”, and even “unlearned”!

Yet Paul rejoiced, that in any case, the Gospel was still being preached.

What a magnanimous heart of grace the Holy Spirit developed in this battered “prisoner of the Lord” who was to about to give his blood to grow to maturity the Church Christ birthed by giving His!

Those who propagate, yet never defend the Gospel, can perhaps see in Paul’s example the need to do so to achieve similar effectual ministries.

For instance, one of Paul’s most powerful, effectual Epistles is Galatians, which is a pure defense of the Gospel of grace.

In it, he calls for a curse on ANYONE, including himself or even an angel from Heaven (not a demon) who would distort the Gospel in any way.

Those who do defend this precious Gospel should go on doing so, as the need is great!

New born babes in Christ need the spiritual discernment only obtained by “rightly dividing” the Word of God. Only balanced teaching can provide such guidance.

All such Preachers/teachers should also beware of resentment towards those who opt for positivity over balance, yet still preach the Gospel.

Let us thank God the Gospel message and power does not depend on the perfection of the messengers!

Intro 2 Calatians

Life in a Look

Life in a Look

Revival Prep

Falling away or catching away

Christ is coming!

First Love Renewed

1 Gospel, 2 audiences, 1 body

A Crumb of His Power Delivers

One Sin Bars from Heaven

Paul Knows one

 https://youtu.be/Df9JGldT_to

Born again info

Up from the grave He Arose by Voice of Eden (VOE) for Jesus Calls

Hypocritical Influence by Deniz22

Hypocritical Influence by Deniz22: Save the baby, dump the rest

Six Progressive Circles of Bible Teaching

FIRST CIRCLE: ETERNITY PAST

1. The Triune God exists: The Father, The Word, The Holy Spirit.

2. The slaying of the Son of God for sinners (first laid plan of God)

3. Satan rebels during Heavenly worship; is cast out with 1/3 of the Angels

4. God’s creation plan for man (“Let US make man in Our image”)

5. The salvation plan for man (John 3:16)

6.  the predestination of the elect for future blessings (based on the                     foreknowledge of God)

7. God's over all purpose: all shall know He is God, and be blessed.

SECOND CIRCLE: TIME BEGINS

1. Creation of the world, including Adam and Eve

2. Satan tempts; Adam and Eve sin and die spiritually and physically

3. God preaches the Gospel to Adam and Eve. They and Abel believe and        live. Cain disobeys, dies.

4. God destroys the sinful world by flood, except for righteous Noah and          his family.
5. Noah offers sacrifice post flood, God pleased, vows never to flood the          world again, even though sinners will abound. Rainbow is His seal.

6. Noah's son disrespects him and is cursed (not eternally) 

7. God confuses languages at Tower of Babel to disperse the people to              populate all the earth.

THIRD CIRCLE: GOD CALLS ABRAHAM, 

MAKES COVENANT WITH HIM,

FORMS THE NATION ISRAEL

1.  God calls Abraham to the Promised Land. God gives him a Covenant           with promises, some only for Jews, some for all people

2.  Abraham learns faithfulness, offers Isaac, is known as the friend of God.        Isaac continues bearing witness of the true God in Canaan.

3. Jacob becomes “Israel”, and preceded by Joseph, goes into Egypt,                sheltered 400 years, grows large, becomes enslaved to a cruel Pharaoh. 

4. God delivers Israel, causes Egypt to pay them for their slave labor, gives them the Law, leads them back to the Promised Land by Moses

5. Israel rebels against taking the land, severely reproved for 40 years.              Finally obey God and enter the land under Joshua after Moses dies.

6. Israel fails to fully occupy the land; God uses Judges and Gentile nations      to repeatedly correct Israel. Samuel is chosen to guide unruly Israel.

7. Israel rebels and demands an earthly king. God allows the people to              choose Saul. Saul fails to fully obey God and is rejected.

FOURTH CIRCLE: STRONG ISRAEL UNDER DAVID, 

DIVIDED AFTER SOLOMON’S SIN. 

CHRIST IS COMING!

1. King Saul and Jonathan die in battle.Turmoil within the nation, but        God makes it clear David is to be King. David does not manipulate.

2. Israel established as a strong Kingdom under God’s choice, King David.     The 12 Tribes are united, prosper under David's strong leadership.

3. David desires to build a temple for God after his restoration from sin.             God says no. David humbly stockpiles materials for the Temple.

4. After David's death, King Solomon, gifted with God’s wisdom, helps            Israel to prosper, builds magnificent temple.

5. Solomon's heart is led from God to idols by his foreign wives. As a              result, the Kingdom is split into North/South factions after his death.

6. Israel continues as the Kingdom of Judah (Northern) and Kingdom of          Israel (Southern) under various kings. Both eventually went AWOL.

7. Prophets main prophecy? Christ is coming, and Israel, though unfaithful      and chastised for it, will yet rule the nations in peace under King Jesus. 

FIFTH CIRCLE: ISRAEL’S KING IS BORN, 

ISRAEL CRUCIFIES HIM,

 HE LIVES AGAIN, 

THE CHURCH IS BORN

1. Jesus conceived in the virgin Mary, only begotten of God, born sinless

2. Although God, Christ voluntarily serves God the Father as His Servant,        by the power of the Holy Spirit

3. Jesus, though tempted in all ways, never sins, proves by miraculous              works He is of God, rebukes false teachers, teaches God's truth.

4. Many Jews believe Him, but leaders of Israel officially reject and crucify      Him. God holds the nation responsible for this crime.

5. Christ atones for all sin, rises from the dead to build His church through        His Apostles, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Israel set aside.

6. Christ returns to Heaven, Holy Spirit comes on believers, the Church is        born, an event unforeseen by the Old Testament Prophets. 

7. Holy Spirit baptizes Jewish believers into a spiritual body, 3000 Jews               saved. Apostles instruct them daily. Great joy!

SIXTH CIRCLE: CHURCH FLOURISHES,

CHURCH RAPTURED, 

TRIBULATION BEGINS

 SECOND COMING 

MILLENNIAL KINGDOM BEGINS 

SATAN DEFEATED

GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH 

NEW JERUSALEM COMES TO NEW EARTH, 

SINLESS ETERNITY WITH GOD ENSUES
1. Persecution begins as believers are added to the church. Peter the first to      preach to the Gentiles.

2. Saul converted, becomes Apostle to the Gentiles, given the full church         revelation directly from Christ,Church completed, raptured.

3 Tribulation begins, many converted, martyred. World-wide persecution of     Jews, God pours out various expressions of His wrath on sinners.

4. Christ returns, rescues and converts Israel, He chains Satan in the abyss,       judges the Gentile nations; destroys the goats, welcomes the sheep.  

5. Gentile believers treated just like Jews as God promised by the Prophets       and thus fulfilling the promise Abraham would bless all families. 

 6. Millennial reign of Christ; righteousness and peace in the whole earth.         Satan loosed at the end, forms army of rebels, destroyed by Christ.

6. Christ judges the wicked at the Great White Throne, sends them to the          Lake of Fire forever.

7. New heavens and new earth created; New Jerusalem comes.to new earth      from Heaven. Eternity of bliss with Lord Jesus Christ and all believers.

The Apostle Paul's Prison Perspective

The Apostle Paul, writing from prison, tells the amazing and sad story of Preachers who were preaching the Gospel in a manner meant to add to his own personal woes!

They did this, Paul explains, because they did not understand he was “set for the DEFENSE of the Gospel”.

No doubt they blamed Paul’s characteristic boldness and passionate adherence to the whole Word of God as being “insensitive, unloving”, and even “unlearned”!

Yet Paul rejoiced, that in any case, the Gospel was still being preached.

What a magnanimous heart of grace the Holy Spirit developed in this battered “prisoner of the Lord” who was to about to give his blood to grow to maturity the Church Christ birthed by giving His!

Those who propagate, yet never defend the Gospel, can perhaps see in Paul’s example the need to do so to achieve similar effectual ministries.

For instance, one of Paul’s most powerful, effectual Epistles is Galatians, which is a pure defense of the Gospel of grace.

In it, he calls for a curse on ANYONE, including himself or even an angel from Heaven (not a demon) who would distort the Gospel in any way.

Those who do defend this precious Gospel should go on doing so, as the need is great!

New born babes in Christ need the spiritual discernment only obtained by “rightly dividing” the Word of God.

Only balanced teaching can provide such guidance.

All such Preachers/teachers should also beware of resentment towards those who opt for positivity over balance, yet still preach the Gospel.

Let us thank God the Gospel message and power does not depend on the perfection of the messengers!

http://www.gracelighthouse.org/new-man/

New Man Radio is now being heard once a week in Belize as we share the Letter to the Galatians, verse by verse!

Many thanks to Laurel Gage Almquist, David Almquist, and Victor Hernandez, Pastor of Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center in Belize for helping to make this expansion possible through the Lord..
Special acknowledgment of Forestdale Church and Pastor Bruce Hanlon for their prayer and financial support of this radio outreach of the Gospel of grace.
...

Please pray the saints in Belize will be strengthened in their most holy faith and that others will "taste and see that the Lord is good" for the very first time!
You can hear our first four half-hour messages on line here:
http://www.gracelighthouse.org/new-man/

Don't Trust Fairy Tales

For you, what is the most memorable thing from Walt Disney's story of Pinocchio?

Most people will mention the little wooden puppet's nose growing out of normal proportion whenever he lied.

Ever since the movie was released in 1940, the growth of Pinocchio's proboscis, fueled by personal prevarications, has been routinely employed in political satire cartoons from all segments of the political spectrum.

Small wonder we almost immediately and universally remember it first when we think of Pinocchio!

However, I would suggest the greatest wonder of the story of Pinocchio, is not his nose as integrity indicator, but that he became a real, live boy!

This was his goal and it was dependent on him becoming a good, moral person...um…puppet.

He achieved this and was then rewarded with a transformation from wood to flesh.

This wonder is usually forgotten, obscured by the sensation of his telescoping nose.

Many seem to believe Christianity teaches a kind of Pinocchio theology.

It's generally believed people are motivated by promises of immortality to be good.

Truth be told, most think they have a head start on being good, only needing a little sprucing up here and there.

So the reward of Heaven is anticipated, which is only fair in their mind, since they feel they have met the required obligation of being a good person.

Christianity is far away and beautifully different than such a concept however.

God gives life, not to wooden people, but to dead people with hearts of stone.

This spiritual state of deadness is alienation from the life of God.

The symptom of this condition is sin, as in going against the revealed will of God.

This sickness is terminal and all such afflicted are hopeless, except Christ saves them.

The good news for sinners is Christ died to pay the penalty for all sin!

Now He can give this eternal, spiritual life, not at the END of earthly life, but at some point,
DURING the life experience...if in fact, it is received at all.

When life is received, real spiritual life wherein all can increasingly know God, it is by simply believing His promise, and not by keeping a promise we made to God.

What Pinocchio had to strive for was the REWARD of physical life.

What God has provided...life, true life, is a GIFT, ours by simply believing the living Word of God.

What seems so right to men, as in the Pinocchio story, about EARNING life, is seen in the scriptures as the GIFT of God, to the glory of God. Believe today and receive eternal life immediately!

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16 NKJV)