Breathingbook

Archive for February, 2010

For those of you who are interested in knowing more of the Greek definitions for Chapter one of the Hebrews study, I’ve just made a pdf available which you can get to by clicking this link or going to the introduction page of the Hebrews Study up at the top. I’ll be putting up more definitions as I figure all these things out, and you’ll be able to find the additions there when I get them done. 

By the way, you’ll need the Adobe reader installed in order to read this and you can download that here.

I also just want to take a moment to write a special thank you to all who’ve dropped by to read this blog – especially those of you who’ve come back again and again. I want you to know I’m dedicated to continuing with doing postings on a regular basis. If I don’t get a post up on a regular basis within a few days, I apologize. Please know I’m doing my best to do just that… working to maintain the site, write and prepare things for the blog, and deal with daily life matters, which I’m sure you all know plenty about in your own lives.

I sure do hope you’ll keep keep coming back. You are all such a blessing to me.

God bless you!

Loris

God’s church is tempted in many ways, none the least than when they are given gifts from a supernatural God, but are not given understanding.

The obvious place any Christian should look for any explanation is in God‘s Word, but if someone is unskilled as to how to find that information, it can be a challenge. No more challenging than when an unskilled believer sees scriptures pointing to the gifts in the bible, but then someone tells them it’s not good to ask such questions or God doesn’t use those gifts anymore, because they’ve become obsolete. It is true that a new believer asking questions about spiritual gifts is not what’s most important for them to learn first – basic doctrine is far more important – but every believer needs to know the scriptures about spiritual gifts and understand them. Unfortunately, if they don’t, they’re very likely to go looking where they ought not go for some kind of answer.

We need to love all the brethren with compassion and gentleness.

Knowing scripture is vitally important, but let’s reign in all the scriptures together to a full knowledge of them and include what the Bible says about spiritual gifts. As we stand upon the infallibility of Scripture, let’s look at all of it as current for today and not allow fear about past abuses of the gifts to thwart us in our cause. God is a good God and He will supply what we need according to His will (Phil 4:19).

Let us not turn from the challenge of teaching proper doctrine about Spiritual gifts, but instead embrace it. Let us not retire to traditions of the past, as the Jews did in their day, and missed the coming of their Messiah, but boldly approach the throne and lay this issue at Jesus’ feet and follow through faithfully.

Not only is inquiring about gifts not a bad thing, but it’s very important for believers to approach God for answers. Howbeit, His answer might sometimes be “No” but we learn none the less.

Due to the fact that spiritual gifts can be counterfeited by fallen angels, (evil angels can give special powers and authority to mankind Lk 4:5-7, Gen 6:2-4; Job 1:6,2:1; Psa 97:6-9, or Demons, Fallen angels, Little gods), it is imperative that those who have been given gifts or currently operate in the gifts know God’s Word for themselves so they cannot and will not be deceived. For whenever a believer doesn’t understand or know the scriptures about the gifts they operate in, they become more at risk for pure deception from darkness.

Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday I wrote about Spiritual Warfare on our Minds, where the enemy tries to pervade your thoughts or reasoning with his own pervasive ideas to draw you away from the truth of God’s Word.

2 Cor 10:4,5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Going hand in hand with Spiritual Warfare on the Mind is the subject of repentance, for if we allow ourselves to agree with the thoughts the devil sends us contrary to God’s Word, we must repent and change the way we think about those things. If we do not, then the devil has us right where he wants us: separated from the truth of God.

Repentance aligns very closely with forgiveness. Though most Christians know they must forgive others or not be forgiven (Mat 6:14-15), not many understand repentance. This is puzzling, is it not? After all, repentance is foundational to the Christian life. For example,

John the Baptist first came preaching repentance,

Mat 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

The apostles preached repentance:

Mk 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Acts 5:31-32 Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

Jesus, Himself, preached repentance and said He had not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Lk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Repentance is actually changing the way we think about something around to align with how God thinks. It is what one is supposed to do before seeking forgiveness.

Though oddly misunderstood, repentance is not something we can do all by ourselves, but is actually something God has to give to us. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings! It’s been a while since my last post about demons being fallen angels. Sorry for the delay!

You may ask, what is Spiritual Warfare? Paul writes about principalities, powers and rulers of darkness in high places in Eph 6:11,12

Eph 6:11-12 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

If you are a believer, chances are pretty good you’ve encountered spiritual warfare. One of the most common forms of Spiritual Warfare is the attack upon our thoughts to mislead and draw us away from the truth of God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul wrote,

2 Cor 10:4,5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

the weapons of our warfare are not carnal The Gk word for weapons here is hoplon and means the instrument or utensil we use to fight with. The Gk word for warfare is strateia and refers to military service; implying one must be constantly on the alert as a good soldier of the military would be. The Gk word for carnal is sarkikos and means pertaining to the flesh. Thus, the instruments we use to fight our strategic warfare in the spiritual realm are not the same as those used in the physical realm (the flesh).

but mighty through God The Gk word for mighty is dunatos and means powerful or the ability to be powerful. Thus, we are able to be powerful through God. We are not powerful because of anything we might or can do, but only through the grace of God and God alone who delivers us. Read the rest of this entry »

Since I keep referring to demons being fallen angels, I figured I’d put this post up so y’all would know where to find that in scripture. In a way, it’s another preliminary for the ongoing Hebrews study. I hope you find it helpful.

In Rev 12:3,7-10, it revealed to us that Satan is also known as the Devil, the great Red Dragon, the Serpent, and the Accuser.

Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great Red Dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Rev 12:7-10 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the Accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Satan also has his own angels (Rev 12:9) who are in league with him. Just as Satan is a fallen angel, these “angels” in league with Satan also are “fallen angels.”

Rev 12:9 And the great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

But that’s not all to the names in the Bible that Satan is known by. In Isa 14:5-22, Satan (the Devil, Red Dragon, Serpent, and Accuser) is also known also as “Lucifer” and in Ezek 28:11-19, as the king of Tyrus. It is in Ezek 28:14 that we specifically see where scripture shows that Satan is also a certain type of angel called “the anointed cherub.” Read the rest of this entry »