law of the land

Many people quote "law of the land" as if it was in the Bible...

I have yet to find it...

It seems to come from the Latin lex terrae (or legem terrae in the accusative case). It refers to all of the laws in force within a country or region, including both statute law and common law.

The usage that appears to be the foundation of our modern understanding in English speaking countries likely comes from the "law of the land clause" in the 1297 Magna Carta:

No Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land.[1]

Some "Christians" will cite the "law of the land" as if it was a Biblical concept that establishes the "divine right of kings", that every form of Government and every leader is hand picked by God, that everything they do, they do as God's servant, and that everything Government does, it does as the Hand of God and we should comply and go along with it no matter what.  They then pull Romans 13 out of context to support their presupposition and promote an erroneous belief that civil government must be submitted to regardless of how evil or immoral its laws might be making them de facto slaves and worshippers of the state.

Blind support of government is a hazardous thing.

Note that the atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany were all perfectly and even meticulously "legal" and supported by laws put into effect by democratically elected representatives.

The laws were of course immoral, but the government sponsored church of the time said that since God instituted government, then we should follow whatever the "law of the land" was without question.

This left even "christians" without the moral grounding to say "no" to things that were clearly against God's law because they were "legal" according to man's law.

As did Germany’s pastors and Christians in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, America’s pastors and Christians suffer from a  fallacy leads them to believe that by serving the state, they are serving God. In their minds, one cannot be “right with God” if they are not totally submissive to the state.

Here are several scriptural examples of nations and kingdoms that are out of God's will.  If the nation was sovereignly controlled by God, then why would the nation be acting outside of God's will?  Scripture demonstrates that the level of corruption in government and its leaders actually reflects the level of corruption in the nation.

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,"if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,"if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” Jeremiah 18:7-10

[[TODO: add more examples here]]

Scripture reveals the role and place of government in God's plan.  Due to sin in the world and the hardness of people's hearts God has established the concept of governments in order to protect life, liberty, and property of earth dwellers.  While authority of governments ultimately comes from God, and certainly God steers even the most corrupt and evil governments to accomplish His plan, the balance of scripture shows that governments can create and enforce laws that are contrary to God's Law and that not everything a government or leader does is an expression of God's will.

While the phrase "law of the land" does not appear in the Bible, there are scriptural examples supporting the concept of "civil disobedience" in instances of believers -vs- the laws of men in cases where the laws of men are contrary to the Law of God.

In Exodus 1, the Egyptian Pharaoh gave the clear command to two Hebrew midwives that they were to kill all male Jewish babies. The midwives disobeyed Pharaoh and “feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17). The Bible goes on to say the midwives lied to Pharaoh about why they were letting the children live; yet even though they lied and disobeyed their government, “God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them” (Exodus 1:20–21).  I would suggest that God's favor to the midwives was not necessarily due to their lying but in spite of it and more for their fearing God and preserving the lives of the children.

In Joshua 2, Rahab directly disobeyed a command from the king of Jericho to produce the Israelite spies who had entered the city to gain intelligence for battle. Instead, she let them down via a rope so they could escape. Even though Rahab had received a clear order from the top government official, she resisted the command and was redeemed from the city’s destruction when Joshua and the Israeli army destroyed it.

Another example of civil disobedience in keeping with biblical submission is found in 1 Kings 18. That chapter briefly introduces a man named Obadiah who “feared the Lord greatly.” When the queen Jezebel was killing God’s prophets, Obadiah took a hundred of them and hid them from her so they could live. Such an act was in clear defiance of the ruling authority’s wishes.

In 2 Kings, the only apparently approved revolt against a reigning government official is recorded. Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, began to destroy the royal offspring of the house of Judah. However, Joash the son of Ahaziah was taken by the king’s daughter and hidden from Athaliah so that the bloodline would be preserved. Six years later, Jehoiada gathered men around him, declared Joash to be king, and put Athaliah to death.

Daniel records a number of civil disobedience examples. The first is found in chapter 3 where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden idol in disobedience to King Nebuchadnezzar’s command. The second is in chapter 6 where Daniel defies King Darius’ decree to not pray to anyone other than the king. In both cases, God rescued His people from the death penalty that was imposed, signaling His approval of their actions.

In the New Testament, the book of Acts records the civil disobedience of Peter and John towards the authorities that were in power at the time. After Peter healed a man born lame, Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and put in jail. The religious authorities were determined to stop them from teaching about Jesus; however, Peter said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20). Later, the rulers confronted the apostles again and reminded them of their command to not teach about Jesus, but Peter responded, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

One last example of civil disobedience is found in the book of Revelation where the Antichrist commands all those who are alive during the end times to worship an image of himself. But the apostle John, who wrote Revelation, states that those who become Christians at the time will disobey the Antichrist and his government and refuse to worship the image (Revelation 13:15) just as Daniel’s companions violated Nebuchadnezzar’s decree to worship his idol.

Some summary points can be drawn from scripture as follows:

• Christians should resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work nonviolently within the laws to change a government that permits evil by prayer, by sharing the Gospel, by spreading truth, by appealing to lawmakers, by campaigning, by voting, by training up the next generation to think Biblically and critically, etc...

• Civil disobedience is permitted when the man's laws or commands are in conflict with God’s laws and commands

• Civil disobedience is permitted to protect the lives of the innocent and God fearing

• If a Christian disobeys an evil government, unless he can flee from the government, he should be prepared to accept that government’s punishment for his actions.

• Christians are commanded to pray for their leaders and for God to intervene and have government fulfill its role of protecting life, liberty, and property so that we can carry out our commission to share the Gospel of salvation: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

To sum up in one statement:

We must obey God rather than men - Acts 5:29

consequences of taking a stand

there are times to take a stand

there are times for "civil disobedience"

when man's laws conflict with God's laws

we should obey God rather than men

however, do not be surprised or dismayed when taking a stand comes at a price

there are consequences for disobeying the laws of the enemy's "kingdom"

for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago it was being thrown into a fiery furnace, but the Lord was in the furnace with them

for Daniel it was being thrown into a Lion's den, but the Lord was in the furnace with them

for the Apostles, first century Christians as well as the majority of the remnant of true Christians throughout history it has been betrayal, imprisonment, torture, and execution.

that ye may put difference between holy and unholy

And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Leviticus 10:8-11

The LORD made a rule for the priesthood not to drink strong drink before attending or leading public meetings and ceremonies.  This was because it could impact their ability to differentiate between holy and unholy and clean and unclean.

Occult is a lucrative business

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” –Acts 19:19

Judgments in the earth

"For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Proverbs 26:9b)

God's judgments in the earth are a mercy, they are to wake up the hard hearted so that they turn to Him.  Even the seemingly 'harshest' judgements are preferable in comparison to an eternity burning in Hell.  

He loved us enough to put us ahead of Himself.  He suffered the penalty in our place so that we don't have to bear the wages of our sins in death.  Because of Him we can have life and life eternal.

Duty to expose deeds of darkness

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

Snared

If I be snared by the enemy
Let me be snared doing what is right in God's sight

Lucifer music leader

Musical instruments were incorporated into Lucifer when he was created...

Ezekiel 28:11-19

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets (tambourines) and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

in the face of evil

How can you look at yourself in the mirror, or your wife and kids in the eyes and do nothing in the face of evil?

like a flood

Isaiah 15:19

...When the enemy comes in like a flood

Job 1:14-19

A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

brother against brother

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death

Matthew 10:21



Will the private statements we make on the phone, facebook, email, texts, etc be used against us to pit our own family and friends against us?

Nations get the leaders they deserve

The choice is between Jeraboam or Rehaboam, which boam (bum) do you want?

how can they hear without a preacher?

Some pastors are afraid if they preach about the return of Messiah that they may loose some of their flocks...

If they had been preaching the entirety of scripture in the first place, then their flocks would have been made up of people anticipating Messiah's return...

If you don't protect the sheep from the wolves, you are going to loose them anyway...

warn or indoctrinate?

Does distopian fiction such as George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Suzane Collins Hunger Games serve to warn us about a totalitarian future, or does it romanticize it, implant concepts of inevitability in our minds, and serve as a roadmap to those who believe we would actually be better off in such a society?

knowledge of wickedness

Many will be in a frenzy as the knowledge of wickedness increases

Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around, while knowledge increases. Daniel 12:4

sealed

Those who will worship the Beast and/or the Image of the Beast will be sealed unto him by being "marked" with his symbol, name, and/or number.


Rev 13:15-18

And he [false prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

[the mark or seal is an equalizer] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to recieve a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Rev 14:9-11

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.


Rev 15:2

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.


Rev 16:2

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Rev 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

counterfeit

a counterfeit can only promise something you already have...

everything the father of lies promised to Adam and Eve was something they already had...

red flags

"historic Christianity" or "traditional Christianity" are cover terms for calvinism

when to worry...

when doing wrong stops being uncomfortable

when perversity no longer is an affront to you

when you have built up a tolerance for sin

when you are acclimated instead of affronted

your heart is hardened

haughty spirit

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall - Proverbs 16:18

Filled with and Immersed in the Holy Spirit

Salvation precedes being filled with and immersed in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit convicts an unbeliever to bring them to salvation in Messiah (John 16:8-11)

After salvation, the Holy Spirit works in the believer through the process of sanctification, crucifying the flesh daily and "Walking in the Spirit"

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16

Additionally a person can seek to be immersed in and filled with the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost, Luke makes it clear that this gathering of 120 are all “brothers”  or “disciples”. They had already put their trust in the resurrected Christ and were obeying His command to receive the Holy Spirit’s power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5,8).

Peter and John prayed for the believing Samaritans to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-18).

Saul is converted to Paul. Later, Ananias lays hands on him and prays for him to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17).

In the Gentile Pentecost account of Acts 10, Luke portrays the Italian military officer Cornelius and his household as devout, God-fearing, giving, and consistently prayerful. Peter affirms the salvation of Cornelius and his Gentile friends in the opening statement of his sermon (verses 34,35). In fact, Cornelius’ Spirit baptism was an obvious indicator to Peter and his Joppan travelmates that this group had been saved previously (verses 47,48).

The Ephesian Pentecost of Acts 19 is full of indicators that Spirit baptism was separate from salvation/regeneration and occurring afterward.  The previous chapter describes Apollo’s credentials: “mighty in the scriptures,” “instructed in the way of the Lord,” “fervent in spirit,” “teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus.” Even Priscilla and Aquila helped complete his theology. The final word mentioned about him is that he could demonstrate by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. No wonder Acts 19:2 calls his Ephesian converts “disciples.” These are the very disciples to whom Paul ministers Spirit baptism.

Peter reveals a separate and afterward theology in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:38,39).  Jesus Himself makes this promise only to believers/disciples in Luke 24 and Acts 1, not those who need to be regenerated.

Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have power to be witnesses and carry out the will of the The Father

The Holy Spirit:
- convicts us unto righteousness
- is our Comforter
- leads us into truth
- aligns our steps
- brings to our remembrance God's Word
- helps us to discern truth (truth is spiritually discerned)
- generates the fruits of the Spirit in us
- equips us with spiritual armor and weapons
- uses our natural talents and blesses the works of our hands
- gives us spiritual gifts as He wills
- equips us to fulfill ministerial roles and functions

Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus told us that we would do the same works He did and even greater ones...

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  John 14:12

Signs should follow believers...

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18

Promise of the Father of power from on high...

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[a] until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49

Power to be witnesses is from the Holy Spirit...

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

once saved?

Once saved, always saved...

can we loose our salvation through bad works, when we could not gain salvation through good works to begin with?

the question is not whether you can loose it once you have it... the question is, were you ever really saved to begin with?

defense against deception

Doorway to deception is doubting God's Word

Hath God surely said?

Once the door is opened, lies can be injected.

(+) Addition - Some add to the Word of God things that are not in there, or say you can only unlock the meaning of scripture by interpreting it through the "lens" of another book (ie: Book of Mormon, Scientology, Koran, etc)

(-) Subtraction - Some subtract from the Word of God, may cause doubt that it is really something Jesus said, or deny the either deity of Jesus or the humanity of Jesus.

(X) Multiplication - Some multiply or magnify one aspect of the scripture at the expense of others, must take the Whole Counsel of God because scripture balances scripture.  (ie: Word of Faith, Calvinism, etc)

(/) Division - Some say they are the only ones with the truth and everyone else is wrong.  Scripture is of no private interpretation.  It is not some man that we should go to for truth, but instead we go to Scripture trust the Holy Spirit to open the scripture to us.

We do not look to men, traditions of men, doctrines of demons, or worldly religions.  Men will always fail, but God never fails.

We look to Jesus and His Word as revealed in the scripture.  We must each study to show ourselves approved and search the scriptures daily to know what things are true.

position to judge

i'm not in a position to judge

only God is in a position to judge

i'm not in a position to say what is right or wrong

only God determines what is right or wrong, good or bad, is sin or not sin

if i speak other that in accordance with what God's Word says, then i'm setting myself up in the place of God, a place i'm not worthy to inhabit

Accidentally on purpose

Once is an accident

Twice is suspicious

Three strikes your out

Wicked Pride

In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Psalm 10:4

two gatherings of Israel

Prior to the first coming of Messiah, prophecies concerning Messiah were confusing.  There was much debate over whether there would be two Messiahs, one a suffering servant (Son of Joseph) and another a reigning king (Son of David) or if Israel was to do the suffering and the Messiah to do the reigning, etc...   It is now clear that there is one Messiah, and He came once to suffer and die for our sins, then rise in victory and will return again to rule and reign.

Similarly, there has been much confusion about the gathering of Israel together.  

Many get confused when looking at scriptures that talk about a day when Messiah will gather the faithful of Israel together to form a nation, yet there are also scriptures that talk about children of Israel being gathered together not because of their faithfulness, but for the sake of God's Name (completion of His promises, whether Israel is faithful or not) and this gathering of Israel is in preparation for the Tribulation where He will 'sanctify' His people and prepare them for His return where He will gather together the believing remnant. (Isaiah 66:8; Ezekiel 36:17-24)

The closer we get to the time described by prophecy, the clearer and more understandable the prophecy becomes.

It is becoming clear that the nation of Israel formed in 1948 was the gathering of Israel in unbelief for the purpose of the rise of Antichrist, rebuilding the temple, and the Great Tribulation.

After the tribulation, Messiah will return and gather the faithful remnant of Israel, who have repented and accepted Messiah and were preserved through the tribulation to form the nation of Israel that will exist through the millennial reign.

Both gatherings are fulfillment of prophecy, and both gatherings are accomplished according to God's Will and by His hand.

Whether gathered in belief or unbelief, keep in mind that nations are judged according to how they have treated His chosen and the nation of Israel.

Texas

Christians from Texas are not expecting the rapture, but THE GREAT ROUNDUP!

When silence is not golden

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:God will not hold us guiltless.Not to speak is to speak.Not to act is to act. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

would not have believed

“The kings of the earth, and all inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.“ Lamentations 4:12

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland

As someone who has marinated in the Word of Faith for several years, I speak from personal experience as someone who has walked in the shoes of one who has sincerely believed and preached error.  I am motivated by compassion to speak the truth in love to those who are still in those shoes.  I do not have anything against these folks and do not intend to address anything about them personally.  I only address doctrines they have taught in their own words.  In any case where I am in error, I hope to be corrected.  In any case where they have changed, matured, developed, and corrected their teachings, I will gladly annotate so.

There are good things in Word of Faith, but there are also some areas in which they go too far...  I will try to address many of the areas where they cross the line...

Doctrine of "little gods"

The bible says: 

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me - Isaiah 45:5

Satan tempted Eve by saying "you will be like god" - Gen 3:4

Peter and Paul refused worship and said they were "men like yourselves" Acts 10:26; Acts 14:12

The teaching of there being many gods is polytheism, it elevates man to god-hood and lowers God to man-hood.

Copeland says:

Kenneth and Gloria with Paul and Jan Crouch on TBN saying they ARE gods.

http://youtu.be/Y7AAvNhOvT4

That we do not have a god in us but that we are a God.

“You don’t have a God in you. You are one!” - The Force of Love audiotape

That Adam was God manifest in the flesh.

"God's reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself, and in the Garden of Eden He did just that. He was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even. . . . Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. . . . Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh." - Following the Faith of Abraham I, side 1

God and Adam are the same size

God spoke Adam into existence in authority with words. These words struck Adam's body in the face. His body and God were exactly the same size." - Holy Bible, Kenneth Copeland Reference Edition 1991, 45, emphasis in original

Adam looks the same as Jesus and God

"[Adam] was the copy, looked just like [God]. If you stood Adam upside God, they look exactly alike. If you stood Jesus and Adam side by side, they would look and sound exactly alike."

Authority of the Believer IV 1987, audiotape #01-0304, side 1

"Adam was made in the image of God. He was as much female as he was male. He was exactly like God. Then God separated him and removed the female part. Woman means 'man with the womb.' Eve had as much authority as Adam did as long as they stayed together."

Sensitivity of Heart KCP Publications, 1984, 23

"As a believer, you have a right to make commands in the name of Jesus. Each time you stand on the Word, you are commanding God to a certain extent because it is His Word."

Our Covenant with God [Fort Worth, TX: KCP Publications, 1987], 32

Death on Cross was Insufficient, had to go through 'spiritual death' as well as physical 

Set aside diety as a man, then was re-deified by taking on satan's nature, being tortured in hell, then was 'born again' as god

“When Jesus cried “It is finished!” He was not speaking of the plan of redemption. There were still three days and nights to go through before He went to the throne. He was referring to the Abrahamic Covenant. Jesus’ death on the cross was only the beginning of the complete work of redemption” (Kenneth Copeland, “Jesus – Our Lord of Glory”, ( Believer’s Voice of Victory, April, 1982, p. 3).

"He [Jesus] is suffering all that there is to suffer. There is no suffering left apart from Him. His emaciated, poured out, little, wormy spirit is down in the bottom of that thing [hell]. And the Devil thinks he's got Him destroyed."  - Believer's Voice of Victory" program [21 April 1991]. This message was originally delivered at the Full Gospel Motorcycle Rally Association 1990 Rally at Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas

“He [Jesus] allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell….He allowed Himself to come under Satan’s control…every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him….They tortured Him beyond anything anybody had ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer.” (Kenneth Copeland, “The Price of It All,” 3.)

“For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer. Some people don’t want to believe that. They want to believe that after His death, Jesus just stayed in that upper region of Sheol that the Bible calls paradise, but they’re mistaken! If He had simply stayed there, there would have been no price paid for sin.” (Believer’s Voice of Victory, Vol. 19, No. 9, Sept. 1991)

“… Jesus died two deaths. He died physically and He died spiritually. When Jesus was made to be sin, He was separated from God… When His blood poured out, it did not atone. It did away with the handwriting of the ordinances that were against us… Jesus spent three horrible days and nights in the bowels of this earth getting back for you and me our rights with God…” (doctrinal statement dated March 12, 1979)

"That Word of the living God went down into that pit of destruction and charged the spirit of Jesus with resurrection power! Suddenly His twisted, death-wracked spirit began to fill out and come back to life. He began to look like something the devil had never seen before."  -  The Price of it All," Believer's Voice of Victory 19, 9 [September 1991]:4

"He [Jesus] was literally being reborn before the devil's very eyes. He began to flex His spiritual muscles. . . .Jesus was born again--the firstborn from the dead the Word calls Him--and He whipped the devil in his own backyard. He took everything he had away from him. He took his keys and his authority away from him."(Ibid., 4-6.)

"It wasn't the physical death on the cross that paid the price for sin..anybody could do that"  -  What Satan saw on the day of Pentecost

“Every prophet that walked the face of the earth under the Abrahamic covenant could have paid the price if it were a physical death only” “When he said ‘It is finished’ on that cross, he was not speaking of the plan of redemption. The plan of redemption had just begun, there were still three days and three nights to be gone through.” “[Jesus] accepted the sin nature of Satan in His own Spirit, and at the moment that He did so, He cried ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’.” “He [Jesus] was down in that pit and there he suffered the punishment for three horrible days and nights for Adam’s treason... There is a new birth takes place in the very depths of the earth, when the command of God says ‘That’s enough, loose him and let him go’.”  - What Happened from the Cross to the Throne

God has no right to the earth at all, he needs an invitation

"God had no avenue of lasting faith or moving in the earth. He had to have covenant with somebody. . . . He had to be invited in, in other words, or He couldn't come. God is on the outside looking in. In order to have any say so in the earth, He's gonna have to be in agreement with a man here."

God's Covenants With Man II 1985, audiotape #01-4404, side 1

God is the greatest failure in the Universe

"I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is....The biggest one is God....I mean, He lost His top-ranking, most anointed angel; the first man He ever created; the first woman He ever created; the whole earth and all the Fullness therein; a third of the angels, at least--that's a big loss, man. . .  -  Praise-a-Thon program on TBN [April 1988]

God lives on a mother planet

"Heaven has a north and a south and an east and a west. Consequently, it must be a planet."

Spirit, Soul and Body I 1985 audiotape #01-0601, side 1

"You don't think earth was first, do you? Huh? Well, you don't think that God made man in His image, and then made earth in some other image? There is not anything under this whole sun that's new. Are you hearing what I'm saying? This is all a copy. It's a copy of home. It's a copy of the Mother Planet. Where God lives, He made a little one just like His and put us on it."

Following the Faith of Abraham I, 1989 audiotape #01-3001, side 1 

Kenneth Copeland

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/word-faith.html

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/crj0119a.txt

http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/faithsay.html

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/copeland/general.htm

Word of Faith

http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/discernment/church-issues/word-faith/the-jesus-died-spiritually-doctrine-of-the-word-faith-teachers

Word of Faith Teachers - Origins and Errors of their teachings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDuo6HCINcc

three strikes, you're out

A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject Titus 3:10

the problem of Lilith

The only place that "liliths" appear in the Bible is in Isaiah 34:14 which is a list of wild animals or demons -- likely both in that the infestation of wild animals often is a physical representation or manifestation of the infestation of demons.

Isaiah 34:14 is one verse is a series of verses outlining the judgments of God against nations that have turned their backs to Him.  Taken in context, it is clear that one of the judgments or consequences of rejecting God is that the nation will become the abode of demons and wild unclean animals.

Judgment on Bozrah and Edom  Isaiah 34:6-15

For the LORD holds a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Wild oxen will fall together with them—young steers and mighty bulls.

Their land will be drenchedi with blood, and their soil will be swollen with fat.

For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for Zion’s cause.

Edom’s streams will be turned into burning sulfur, and its dust into sulfur; its land will become pitch.

It will burn night and day, and will never be extinguished.

Its smoke will rise from generation to generation, and it will lie desolate forever and ever.

And no one will pass through it.

“But hawks and hedgehogs will possess it; owls and ravens will nest in it.

God will stretch out over it a measuring line, and chaos, and plumb lines of emptiness, and its nobles.

They will name it “No Kingdom There,” and all its princes will come to nothing.

Thorns will grow over its palaces, nettles and brambles its fortresses.

It will become a haunt for jackals, a home for ostriches.

And desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and goat-demons will call out to each other.

There also liliths will settle, and find for themselves a resting place.

Owls will nest there, lay eggs, hatch them, and care for their young under the shadow of their wings; yes indeed, vultures will gather there, each one with its mate.

This concept of a land becoming the abode of demons and unclean birds is common to prophetic literature and the same phenomena is described by John in Revelation

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Revelation 18:12)

Contemporary to Isaiah at the time (~725BC) was increasing wickedness of Israel and adoption of the surrounding Assyrian, and Babylonian pagan religions.  It would then be these nations (whose religions that they chose over God) that would invade and overtake the northern kingdom of Israel (~722BC) and later the southern kingdom of Judah (~586BC).

Artifacts from the period reference lilith (a.k.a. lamia) only as a demon or classification of demons from Assyrian myths.  They are often depicted as demons that seek to seduce men to their deaths, similar to if not just another name for a succubus. It would not be unusual for Isaiah to include this term in his list of demons that will infest a nation that has turned its back on God since the terms would be familiar to his audience.

Lilith demons only begin to appear in jewish myths and mysticism during the captivity in Babylon and later Assyria.  They are not documented or described in jewish literature until the Babylonian Talmud was compiled over 900 years later in the 3rd-5th centuries AD.  Even so, it was until another 500 years later in the 8th-10th centuries when the demon Lilith is described as "Adam's first wife" in the anonymously compiled medieval text called the "Alphabet of Sirach".

This makes it unlikely that the "liliths" Isaiah had in mind when this verse was penned were related to the "Lilith, wife of Adam" myth.

In any case, one cannot hang an entire doctrine on a single verse, especially if that doctrine contradicts and conflicts with the rest of scripture.

Also, we should never reinterpret clear and unambiguous versus to make them fit a particular interpretation of ambiguous and unclear verses.  Instead, the clear and unambiguous verses should be used to clear up the ambiguous.

The problem of "Lilith" is that it conflicts with the justification for our salvation.  Sin and death didn't enter into the world through "Lilith", it entered in through one man, Adam.  Since it came into the world through one man, then our salvation can be made by one man, Jesus.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned ... For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many ...  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:12-21)

Being that liliths consistently refers to a class of seductive demons it is not surprising that this shaky myth continues to distract people from the true word of God and to leave them questioning the reliability of scripture.  Since it was Satan's first step in seducing Adam & Eve into sin by leading them to question "Yea, hath God said..."

a new heavenly body awaits us

 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1

when the door shuts

Then the LORD shut him in...  And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. - Genesis 7:16, 23

“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are”  -  Luke 13:25

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:22-24

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Matt 25:1-12

correction

Whoever loves discipline is wise, but he who hates correction is stupid - Proverbs 12:1

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  Proverbs 9:9

Correct a wise man, and he will love thee...  Proverbs 9:8

Wise men love to be corrected, for they know it is the only way to be wiser (Pr 9:9). This is true, even if the correction hurts (Ps 141:5). They know that true love will rebuke and wound them, and they prefer this to the kisses and deceitful love of enemies (Pr 27:5-6). When you reprove such a man, he will appreciate and love you for it, so do it (Pr 25:12).

It is easy to ignore things and just let them slide.  Talking to someone about difficult things may lead to a confrontation, make them mad, or cause them to not want to be around you.

But, if you really care for someone, you care enough to let them know when they are a path to destruction and be willing to speak the truth motivated by love...

Whoever does not discipline his son hates him, but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.
Proverbs 13:24

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts. Hebrews 12:6

through the fire

In all the land, says the LORD, two thirds of them shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left.

I will bring the one third through fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will test them as gold is tested. They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them. I will say, "They are my people," and they shall say, "The LORD is my God."

Zech 13:8-9

Consequences for ignorance

Hosea 4: 6 My people perish from a lack of knowledge.

quips of wisdom

better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it

Endurance: last man standing wins -- even the weakest fellow can beat you if he outlasts you

do the right thing, even when it costs you -- and, doing the right thing will often cost you

do the right thing, it is the right thing to do...

better to be poor with integrity than rich with ill-gotten gains -- of course, it is even better to be rich with integrity

You get more of the behavior you reward

Save early, save often

Love is a choice made every day, every hour, every minute

Inconsistency destroys credibility

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning

No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning;

no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you.

Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

1 John 3:6-9

should we cover sin?

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 17:9
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Reading these verses, it would seem that we should just ignore and cover up the wrongdoings of others...

Taken by themselves, these verses seem to be in conflict with scripture that tells us we are not to tolerate evil, but instead to expose it...

For example, we see the consequences of covering up sin in the book of first Samuel.  By doing nothing to restrain or punish his sons, Eli sent them to hell. Therefore, had he really loved them, he would have made certain that they not only knew that their behavior was evil but regretted ever behaving that way. By failing to act in accordance with love, he not only lost his sons but also brought God’s condemnation on himself (read 1 Samuel chapters 2 and 3).

Good ole' James comes to the rescue with the resolution to these seemingly contradictory concepts:

James 5:20
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

The easy way out for ourselves is to ignore and cover up the wrongdoing of others.  However, if we love someone, we will be willing to do the hard thing and seek to correct them and have them repent, turn from their error, in order to save them.  Once they have repented, it is the Love of God, not us, that can then cover their sin.

If someone has behaved sinfully, we can and should love them and not harbor hatred of them for our own sake (Luke 17:3-4).  However we are NOT obligated to trust them or put them in a position where they can harm us or someone else again.

Instead of hiding or ignoring their sin, we are obligated to do the most loving thing and ensure they are held accountable for the behavior so that they can realize what they did was wrong and come to repentance and a saving relationship with Jesus.

do not bring abominations into your house

Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it:but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Deut 7:26

multiplying horses

Only he must not amass horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt to obtain more horses. For the LORD said you must never return that way again.
Deut 17:16


Horses in the time of the Kings of Israel were considered an offensive weapon similar to tanks would be today.  The kings of Israel were not to rely on the strength of their own offensive arsenal, but instead rely on Yaweh.

prosperity

If it really worked the way those prosperity preachers say, then why aren't they sending me money so they can get rich?

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

good churchmembers

Most modern churches are more concerned with teaching folks how to be good churchmembers rather than how to be strong Jesus followers...

disrespectful

A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.
Billy Graham

Lord's Supper

Luke 22:7-20
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He [Jesus] sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”


Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.


Introduction

The Lord's Supper, also called communion or the eucharist (meaning "thanksgiving" in Greek), holds deep significance for a believer and should not be underestimated. More than just a memorial to remember Jesus' death and resurrection, the Lord's Supper is also a declaration of one's continual dependance upon Christ's life and a regular reminder of His soon return.

Luke 22:19
“do this in remembrance of Me”

Communion is about remembrance, about looking back to Jesus’ last supper with the disciples, which in turn reminds us to be thankful for the sacrifice of his body and the shedding of his blood. Important as this is, there is no special “sacrament” here. Rather, the talk is of “ordinance”. We take Communion together regularly because Jesus told us to, “in remembrance of me”.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

The presence of Christ takes on a special nature when “two or three” gather around this meal. It is a celebration and time of union of individuals as the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

The Apostle Paul talks of communion looking forward in anticipation. Communion anticipates the return of Jesus. This adds a richness of hope and expectation to an event which doesn’t need to be only a sombre recollection of sacrifice.

Communion, then, is about remembering, anticipating and celebrating what God has done, will do and is doing. The ritual itself isn’t the sacrament. The bread and the wine have no unique quality. They are significant because they are part of a bigger mystery in which God reconciles us to himself, to each other and to the whole of creation. The “sacrament” is in the gathering. This is an event about which we should have no uncertainty or ambivalence.


Historical Background

Passover Instituted

Read Exodus Chapter 12


Lord's Supper Instituted

Observance of the Lord's Supper began when Jesus initiated it at His last meal during Passover before His death with His disciples. It was a revelation of what the Passover foreshadowed. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in:

I Corinthians 11:23-26:
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant] in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

Thus, the Lord's Supper involves partaking of two elements, bread and grape juice (or wine) and is preceded by a blessing or prayer of thanksgiving.


The Two Elements

I Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?



1) The Bread, Representing the Body of Jesus

Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, who brings bread up from the earth.

By partaking of the bread in communion, we acknowledge that Jesus is our source of life. Indeed, He is the Bread of Life whereby we may satisfy our spiritual hunger. He said,

John 6:51
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world"

Bread signifies the body that was broken, so when Jesus broke the unleavened bread and gave it to His disciples, He illustrated that His body would be broken in order that our body may be whole both now and completely so in the Resurrection.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Also, the broken body of Jesus ushered in the new covenant, signified by the temple veil tearing in two.

Matthew 27:50-52
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

Hebrews 10:19-20
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh

This "new and living way" is by His Spirit, allowing us to approach God with a heart made pure by the blood of Jesus. Furthermore, the resurrected body of Jesus validates the new covenant, because the same Holy Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit dwelling in the children of God, Who will raise them, too, at the last day!

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.


Finally, the breaking of bread with other believers signifies fellowship within the Body of Christ and unity by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41-42
Then those who gladly received his [Peter's] word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The Body of Christ is strengthened and Jesus is glorified when the Body serves one another in humility and shares blessings in selfless love.

I Corinthians 10:17
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread [Jesus]"


2) The Cup, Representing the Blood of Jesus

Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

The symbol of a cup represents a measure or portion, and blood signifies suffering and death. Blood is the life of the body. The wages of sin is death. Jesus' blood was poured out to make atonement for our sin.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

The Father gave Jesus a cup of suffering to drink, requiring Him to be the sacrificial Lamb of atonement for sin and to pour out His sinless blood through a torturous death; for only the shed blood of Jesus can cleanse and make permanent atonement for all sin (see I John 1:7).

Jesus cried out in Gethsemane, "Abba [Daddy], Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" (Mark 14:36). Later, Jesus said to Peter, "Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11). Jesus submitted Himself to His Father's will and drank the dark and terrible cup of wrath for our sin. "For he [the Father] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

By partaking of the communion cup, we are remembering the atonement that Jesus purchased for us and committing to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath for our sin, and we partake in His sufferings for righteousness' sake. Jesus said, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). Paul knew from experience that all who "live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12). And Peter encouraged believers to respond to persecution even as Christ did:

I Peter 2:21-23
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously"

The Lord's Supper gives believers the opportunity to identify themselves with Jesus, Mediator of the new covenant, and show that they are willing to experience both His life (power) and death (suffering) in their daily walk. The apostle Paul said it best: "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11). Just as the Passover was a symbol of the old covenant, so the Lord's Supper is a symbol of the new. Christians remember the sacrificial death of the Lamb of God for their sin (bondage) while anticipating the consummation of their salvation in the Kingdom of heaven (Promised Land). King David knew only the old covenant, yet by faith he declared, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:13).


Biblical Warnings

Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

The Lord's Supper should be taken seriously, with respect and introspection.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 11:17-22
Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.


Examine Yourself

I Corinthians 11:27-34
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[d] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.


Because of the significance of identifying with Christ in communion, unbelievers and hypocrites (those who profess to be Christians but live according to the world) should not participate. Everyone else should examine his own heart prior to partaking the Lord's Supper to be certain of a pure conscience toward God.

The word "discern" in this context means to make a distinction or set apart the holy from that which is common; it means to not regard "the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing"

Although you should certainly rejoice and celebrate the finished work of Christ's death and resurrection, be sure you also

I Thessalonians 2:12
"walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory".

Eating and drinking unworthily has to do with trying to identify with Christ but elsewhere living like the world (a hypocrite). We are warned to turn from sin before identifying with Christ so as not to come under judgment. Paul said,

I Corinthians 5:6-8
"Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.".

Paul gave some additional warnings about the right approach to the table of the Lord. The Corinthian church had divisions over their communion meal because some people were selfish and overindulgent while others left hungry. Paul corrected them sternly, saying that this was not the Lord's Supper at all. He said,

I Corinthians 11:33-34
"Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry [wait] one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation".

Paul understood that the purpose of the Lord's Supper was to remember Christ and His example of love and servanthood, not to feast and indulge. One interpretation of Paul's correction here is that whenever the Body of Christ comes together, there should be unity in eating and drinking; if everyone is not eating, then no one should eat. If anyone is hungry, Paul said, let him eat at home - instead of eating, for example, while the rest of the Body is worshipping the Lord.



Bond of Fellowship

Communion illustrates fellowship with the Lord and with His Body. We read:

* Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus (I Corinthians 1:9, 1 John 1:3).
* Our fellowship is through the Holy Ghost (II Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:1).
* Believers fellowship in the Gospel. We all are partakers in the saving power and message of the good news (I Corinthians 9:23; Philippians 1:5).
* Those who walk in the light have fellowship with each other (1 John 1:7).
* Some may break fellowship with the Body, as one who betrays a brother (Leviticus 6:2, John 21:20).
* If we say we have fellowship with Jesus Christ, but walk in darkness, we lie (I John 1:6).
* Righteousness and unrighteousness cannot walk in fellowship together (Psalm 94:20, I Corinthians 10:20, Ephesians 5:11).

So precious is the bond of fellowship portrayed in communion that it cannot be shared with other "gods." Paul said,

I Corinthians 10:21
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils"

No one can serve two masters (see Luke 16:13), neither can a person keep idols in his or her heart while fellowshipping with the Lord. Some may pretend to do so (as a hypocrite), but the Scripture says,

James 4:4
"Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God"



Looking Ahead

Last but not least, the Lord's Supper is a time to anticipate the day when we will see our Lord and King face to face. He will drink of the fruit of the vine for the first time since His death, just as He said: "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:29).

There will be a great marriage supper of the Lamb and judgment on the wicked (see Revelation 19:7-18).

In that day, those who do not share in the cup of the Lord will have their own cup of judgment to drink (Psalm 75:8, Revelation 14:9-10)




Questions and Answers

Here are a few questions that some may ask about the Lord's Supper.

Q: How often should communion be observed?

A: There is no biblical guideline for how often a group of believers should observe the Lord's Supper. In light of Jesus' instruction to do it in remembrance of Him as well as Paul's teaching in I Corinthians 11, communion should be held periodically as a reminder of believers' mutual fellowship (koinonia in Greek) with the Lord and with one another. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (I Corinthians 10:16). A general guideline to follow would be to not take communion so often that it becomes ritualistic and routine, but often enough that believers benefit from the reminder.


Q: Does the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of the Lord, as some churches teach?

A: Certainly not! This is a perversion of the spiritual truth Jesus taught in John 6:53-56 about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The Catholic church has built a whole doctrine called transubstantiation on this one passage, ignoring the fact that just a few verses later, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). In addition, God forbids the practice of eating blood and would never command His children to do something He had already forbidden: "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat" (Genesis 9:4, see also Deuteronomy 12:23). Those who teach this unscriptural tradition would rather have you eating Jesus than placing your faith in Him. If that weren't enough, Catholic priests allegedly have the supernatural power to turn the bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is blatant idolatry, for they are exalting themselves to the position of God. The Bible teaches that all spiritual life comes through faith in Jesus; for He said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Jesus is not physically with us now; our communion with Him is by His Spirit.


Q: Is it okay to use alcoholic wine in communion?

A: The biblical mandate here is this: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:21). While some believers have the liberty to drink wine on occasion (we are not to be drunk with wine - see Ephesians 5:18 and I Timothy 5:23), other believers count it as sin. Let every one be convinced in his own heart, "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). A believer who has the liberty to drink wine with a pure conscience should "take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" (I Corinthians 8:9). In Christ there is liberty, but the Body of Christ is not to use that liberty as an occasion to the flesh (see Galatians 5:13). We are to consider others ahead of ourselves and honor the Lord in everything we do. "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31). Those who prepare the communion elements should be sensitive to the weaknesses of those they serve; for example, if there is a new believer who has forsaken alcohol with his old life, it is probably not a good idea to serve him alcoholic communion wine.

Conclusion

The Lord's Supper is a symbol of the new covenant we have with God by Christ Jesus. This covenant is the "new and living way" whereby we follow God's law written on our hearts by the power of His Spirit. The next time you participate in the Lord's supper, remember not only Jesus' death and resurrection, but also reflect on the deeper meaning that He is your continual source of spiritual life.

jealousy and covetousness

one thing that sticks in my craw is the redefinition of terms

it is interesting how covetousness has been redefined as "jealousy" and the original meaning of jealousy has been lost...

today we say that one person is jealous over what another person has...

that is NOT jealousy, that is covetousness.

covetousness is desiring something that is not rightfully yours, and it is a sin.

by calling covetousness "jealously", it seems to take the sting of sinfulness out of the behavior in people's minds.

also, the loss of the true meaning and role of jealousy causes us to question God's character when the God reveals jealousy as one of His characteristics.

jealousy is actually the opposite of covetousness...

jealousy is the guarding of something that is rightfully yours...

to best understand this, we can examine the role of righteous jealousy in the marriage covenant.

there are affections of a husband that should only be reserved for his wife

the wife has every right to be jealous over those affections that are rightfully due her only and no one else.

by the same token, there are affections of a wife that should be reserved only for her husband

the husband has every right to be jealous over those affections that are rightfully due to him and to no one else.

matter of fact, i would question a person's profession of love if they were never jealous.  lack of any jealousy is an indicator of a lack of any true healthy emotional attachment.

the marriage relationship is often used to help us understand our relationship with God and helps us to understand how God is jealous over our affections that are due to Him and Him alone.

that is why the first and second commanded are what they are, written by God Himself with His own finger, God describes Himself as jealous:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make up for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shalt not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:3-6

God has demonstrated His great love toward us through His paying the ultimate price for us, and He is righteously jealous concerning our attentions and affections that are due Him.

while covetousness is a sin, jealously is an essential component of Love.

perfectly legal

Blind support of government is a hazardous thing.  

Note that all the atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany were all perfectly and meticulously "legal" and supported by laws put into effect by democratically elected representatives.  

The laws were of course immoral, but the government sponsored church of the time said that since God instituted government, then we should follow whatever the "law of the land" was without question.  

This left even "christians" without the moral grounding to say "no" to things that were clearly against God's law because they were "legal" according to man's law.

This is due to an erroneous interpretation of Romans 13 that civil government must be submitted to regardless of how evil or immoral its laws might be. This fallacious interpretation of Romans 13 (which is taught in practically every Christian school and college in America) has made them de facto slaves and worshippers of the state. 

As did Germany’s pastors and Christians in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, America’s pastors and Christians suffer from national “exceptionalism.” 

This fallacy leads them to believe that by serving the state, they are serving God. In their minds, one cannot be “right with God” if they are not totally submissive to the state.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

wanting more

the pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more...

one thing that is prevalent today is covetousness.

our marketing saturated society has not only made covetousness "ok", it has made covetousness an essential part of our daily lives.

Concerning nations...

Those who say that we should submit willingly to government because all governments were established by God, need to read the following...

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,"if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,"if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” Jeremiah 18:7-10

Blind support of government is a hazardous thing.  Note that all the atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany were all perfectly and meticulously "legal" and supported by laws put into effect by democratically elected representatives.  The laws were of course immoral, but the government sponsored church of the time said that since God instituted government, then we should follow whatever the "law of the land" was without question.  This left even "christians" without the moral grounding to say "no" to things that were clearly against God's law because they were "legal" according to man's law.

the blind

 Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? - Luke 6:39

friendly

Public service announcement to girls and women everywhere:

Don't be fooled and don't be naive...

Men see relationships with women differently than women see relationships with men...

Men are friendly with a women for one reason and one reason only...




friendly: anything beyond common courtesy and politeness

last days

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come 

For men will be:

lovers of themselves,
lovers of money,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
unloving,
unforgiving,
slanderers,
without self-control,
brutal,
despisers of good,
traitors,
headstrong,
haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

2 Timothy 3:1-4

permissiveness

letting others do whatever they want is not love, it is permissiveness

God is the God of Love, not permissiveness...

suffer for righteousness sake

suffer for the sake of righteousness 1 Peter 3:8-15

righteousness includes standing for righteousness even when none other stands with you

it is not laying down letting others walk all over you