Transformation Through Mind Renewal (Part 1)

 

The Gifts of Healings

 

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 6)

 

The Gift of "Special" Faith

 

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 5)

 

Discerning of Spirits

 

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 4)

 

The Word of Wisdom: Gifts of the Sprit (Part 3)

 

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 3)

 

The Word of Knowledge (Gifts of the Spirit, Part 2)

 

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 2)

 

Gifts of the Spirit (Part 1)

 

Did God Kill David and Bathsheba's Child?

 Some excellent insight for my fellow "Vindicating God" apologists: 

2 Samuel 12:15 says, ".... the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick." People are often perplexed by this passage because they feel that God punished an innocent child for King David's adultery.

This is ignorance of Scriptural language and how God is said to "strike" or "smite" someone (the Hebrew word for "struck" is also rendered "smite" in the KJV). 2 Chron. 13:15-20 tells how God "struck" King Jeroboam by DELIVERING him into the hands of his enemies. This means that Jeroboam forfeited God's protection. It does NOT mean that God personally harmed him.

The same is true in regards to David and Bathsheba's son. Because of David's sin, God could not protect the first child of this adultery. Edward Andrews, a Biblical apologist who has written many books, offers what I believe to be one of the best explanations I have read on this.

* Disclaimer: Whenever I quote from someone's book, it does not mean that I agree with EVERYTHING they teach.

“He did not step in and save the child, when he had the power to do so. However, he is not directly responsible, because he did not make King David and Bathsheba commit the acts that led to the child being born, nor did he bring an illness on the adulterine child, he just did not move in to protect the child, in a time that had a high rate of infant deaths.”

Andrews, Edward D. If God is Good: Why Does God Allow Suffering (Cambridge, Ohio: Christian Publishing House, 2015), pp. 6, 7

The Powerful Name of Jesus (Part 1)

 

Praying in Tongues: How This Benefits You (Part 2)

 

The Law of Giving and Receiving (Part 3)

 

Praying in Tongues: How This Benefits You (Part 1)

 

The Law of Giving and Receiving (Part 2)

 

God's Gift of the Holy Spirit: How to Receive It

 

The Law of Giving and Receiving (Part 1)

 

Liberty from Legalistic Bondage in Christ

 

The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit

 

All of God's Promises are "Yes" in Christ

 

How to Hear the Voice of the Spirit

 

Zoe - Abundant Life in Christ

 

Developing Your Spirit-Man to Hear the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Is Salvation Only By an Irresistible Will of God?

 Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13)

Is Salvation Only By An Irresistible Will of God?

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
 

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

 “For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom. 10:13; World English Bible)

Commentary: The context of John refutes the notion that God has irresistibly willed certain individuals for salvation and others for reprobation since we are told that those who He made sons of God had to receive Him. The word “receive” in John 1:12 means “to take, to choose, select” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). This implies an act of the will on man’s part to procure what is being offered to him by God. Moreover, the word “whosoever” (or “whoever”) removes the idea that God had any preselected individuals in mind. On the contrary, it is God’s will for all to be saved and for none to perish (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). While man cannot become a child of God of his own will apart from Christ, he must willingly receive the offer of Christ for his salvation (Matt. 23:37).

No Condemnation in Christ

 

Developing Your Spirit-Man to Hear the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

 

Accepted and Favored in Christ

 

Growing Up Spiritually

 

The Gosepl of Peace by Pastor Ray Zimberlin

 

Our Inheritance in Christ

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Is God’s Predestination Irresistible Fatalism?

 Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

Is God’s Predestination Irresistible Fatalism?

“But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” (Luke 7:30)

“in him in whom likewise we have obtained an inheritance, having had the way marked out beforehand according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Eph.  1:11; Jubilee Bible 2000)

Commentary: Calvinists have attached a philosophical meaning to words such as “predestinated” and “will” that is more in line with pagan determinism than with consistent Biblical truth. However, God’s “will” is not an irresistible “decree of God” but simply His expressed desire (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Moreover, the word “predestinated” simply means “to mark off boundaries beforehand.” In other words, God has already established His “counsels” (purposes and plans for the believer’s blessings and privileges) ahead of time. While His counsels are fixed, no individual’s future is fixed. One can accept or reject God’s counsel (Psalm 106:12-15; 107:8-12).

Do You Want God’s Best or Second Best?

 

Chosen and Predestined in Christ

 

Are We Called to Cope or Conquer?

 

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

 

Practical Wisdom for Marriage and Family (Part 2)

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: How Does the Lord Direct a Man's Steps?

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered 

“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

How Does the Lord Direct a Man's Steps?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.” (Proverbs 21:29)

Commentary: Proverbs 16:9 serves as another text by Calvinists to support their claim that men do not possess free-will, therefore, every event and every act of men has been foreordained by God. Yet, it is another case of Calvinists failing to actually read the passage as well as allowing Scripture to interpret itself. The text says that a man’s heart, not some uncontrollable divine influence, deviseth his way. Hence, the text itself repudiates the Calvinist claim that men lack free-will. Moreover, the Lord directing a man’s steps does not equate to divine puppetry. Prov. 3:5-6 states that this directing is related to God’s guiding and leading in cooperation with men. Such guidance is only for those who are upright. A person can devise plans but he will have no success apart from receiving God’s guidance and direction. Hence, Prov. 16:9 would be better translated as “.... but it is the Lord who guides their steps” (Easy-to-Read Version) or “.... but it is the Lord who leads them in the right way” (Easy English Bible).

 

Practical Wisdom for Marriage and Family (Part 1)

 

We Have Wisdom in Christ

 

Marriage is a Covenant

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?

 

Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered

“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” (Prov. 16:33)

 

Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?

“Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.” (1 Sam. 14:41-42)

 

“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:24-26)

 

Commentary: In Scripture, when lots were cast BEFORE THE LORD it was their method of receiving guidance from Him to help them decide correctly (Lev. 16:8; Josh. 18:6-10). As seen in the 1 Sam. 14 and Acts 1, this type of lot casting was done with prayer. It is this manner of casting lots that is being spoken of in Prov. 16:33. The passage is not speaking about God determining the outcome of every gambling endeavor. Joel 3:3 says, “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink” (see also Obad. 10-12). God is not a party to child prostitution; therefore, He does not determine the outcome of those who gamble for them (Matt. 18:5, 6, 10, 14).

Separation from the Destructive Power of Sin and Satan

 

Husband, Love Like Jesus

 

Redeemed from Sin, Sickness and Satan in Christ

 

The Role of the Wife

 

Our Right-Standing in Christ

 

Receive Jesus' Peace: A Mother's Day Message

 

Our Throne Rights in Christ

 

Satan’s Tactics for Destroying Marriages and Families (Part Four)

 

Super-Conquerors Over Satanic Forces

 

Satan’s Tactics for Destroying Marriages and Families (Part Three)

 

Ascension and Enthronement with Christ

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLDNnfofkS4

#InChrist #UnionWithChrist #bornagain #identification

Satan’s Tactics for Destroying Marriages and Families (Part Two)

 

"In Christ" (Part 2)

 

Satan’s Tactics for Destroying Marriages and Families (Part One)

 

"In Christ" (Part 1)

 

Easter or Christ’s Resurrection?

 

Eight Ws for Spiritual Warfare (Part 3)

 

Satan and the Origin of Evil (Part 6)

 

"Does God Destroy" - Free Kindle Book (Until March 24, 2024)

 Does God Destroy? (Free Until March 24)

English: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3JKYPL3

Spanish: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW18PKZT

Eight Ws for Spiritual Warfare (Part 2)

 

Eight Ws for Spiritual Warfare (Part 1)

 

What is Faith (Part 4)

 

What is Faith (Part 3)

 

Satan and the Origin of Evil (Part 5)

 

What is Faith (Part 2)

 

Satan and the Origin of Evil (Part 4)

 

God Can Turn It Around

 

What is Faith? (Part 1)

 

Crucifying the Flesh (Part 2)

 

Crucifying the Flesh (Part 1)