Foundation Of Salvation
Mood:  bright
Topic: Salvation Foundation

                                    THE FOUNDATION OF SALVATION

                                                  By: Elder John Neal

 

 

Eph. 2: 19-22, Verse 20 “And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

The closer that we come to the catching up of God’ true church, the more we see or hear of people turning their backs on the Lord, for the pleasures of this world. Apostle Paul wrote in II Tim. 3:1-8, we are living in perilous times, dangerous times, having a form of godliness but denying the power of it; from such turn away.” We are living in the days that Paul was talking about. Many have a form of godliness, but they are denying the power of it. They are not possessing what they are professing. This is the age of apostasy, or the falling away from the truth, but if someone has never had the truth, what are they falling away from?

It is the act of professing Christians, who deliberately reject the revealed truth as to the deity of Jesus Christ, of the redemption through his blood, his atoning and redeeming sacrifice on Calvary, to be born again of the water and of the Spirit.

Apostates: depart from the faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity. They dress like a Christian should dress, they can even talk as a Christian talks, but their heart is not right with God. They may fool man, but they cannot fool the Lord. II Tim. 4:4 says, “They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Many run to the churches for help, for a shelter from the storms of life, and find little help. Many want to hear the truth, but what they find is a watered down sermon. Preachers preach on the book of Revelation, but they don’t offer the people a plan of Salvation. God does have a plan you know.

The churches today have left the foundation, that God’ church was built on. Many have left the old ways, the old paths. Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your soul, but they said, we will not walk in it.”

 

 

The Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. 2:20-22, that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief corner stone.”

Many have left the foundation, and the Chief corner stone, and have tried to build the temple our own way, we cannot do it. Without the true foundation, how can there be any salvation? Psa. 11: 3 “If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

 

What foundation of salvation did Jesus and the Apostles give us?

St. Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.” We realize that the rock was not Peter, but it was upon Jesus Christ himself, that his church was to be built. It was Peter who opened the door of Christian opportunity to Israel on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2: 38-42). And to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, (Acts 10: 34-48). Peter, when asked, men and brethren, what shall we do?” Verse 38 tells us that Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

I have heard it said that if the Holy Ghost is a gift, then there is nothing that I have to do to receive it. Even with a gift, you have to reach out your hand and accept it. It is there for those that will reach out with their mind, their soul, and seek Jesus Christ, the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. It comes the same way every time. Just like it did in Acts 2:1-4, verse 4 says “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

It did not come any other way in the Bible, and it does not come any other way today. If you have the Holy Ghost, then you would be speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. If the preachers don’t have it, then they can’t preach it. It is easier for them to say that it is not for people today, that it was only for the apostles. Does that mean that salvation is not for people today?

Jesus, on the cross of Calvary, cried out, “It is finished.” It was not a cry of defeat, but of victory. He had completed the plan of Salvation, the very one he had entrusted to Peter, and passed on down through generations and given to us. Do you really believe that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary for his plan of Salvation, that man could do it his own way? God left no room in his plan of Salvation for mankind to insert his opinion. I don’t think so. This is God’ plan.

 

Our salvation is built up on Jesus crucified and upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone. The foundation of our salvation is, repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

Anyone can say I have the Spirit of God, well, if they have, then where is their evidence? It is a gift, but only if you will believe that it exists, and reach out to God in prayer, and accept it.

Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord, our God shall call.” If you feel as if God is calling you, what do you think he is calling you to? He is calling you to repentance, to this one plan of salvation, that was passed on down to us. Not a plan for denomination. He died for one plan for all mankind, he didn’t start denomination, man did. Man can never be satisfied, I wonder why?

Jeremiah 2:12-13 “Be appalled (astonished) O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cistern, broken cistern, that can hold no water.”

Peter, on the day of Pentecost preached repentance. Jesus tells us in St. Luke 13:1-5 verse 3, “I tell you, nay, but, except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” And again in verse 5 “I tell you, nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.”

John the Baptist came preaching repentance. St. Matt. 3:2 “And saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus also preached repentance. St. Matt. 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Peter on the day of Pentecost, preached the baptism in Jesus name: for Jesus tells us in St. John 3:1-12 verse 3 “I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He goes on to say in verse 5 and verse 7 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” This sounds to me like we must all be born again of the water and the Spirit.

The New Birth is faith in Jesus crucified, washed in his blood. The blood of the Lamb of God. Being placed in the water by immersing, signifies the death of Jesus. Coming up out of the water, signifies the resurrection of the Lord.

You don’t come up out of the water, by pouring water over some-ones head, or sprinkling water on their head. We are trying to cleanse our soul, by doing what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples, to be baptized in the name of Jesus, not in titles, but in the name.

 

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not a name, they are what Jesus is St. Matt. 28:19 and in Col. 2:9, 12. “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Verse 10 “And ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” What is the Godhead? The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and we are complete in Him.”

In what name do we believe that the Apostles Baptized in? I have heard it said by one preacher, that we do not need to be baptized. That baptism does not cleanse us, and he was referring to I Peter 3:21. “The like figure unto which even baptism doth now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

We are not trying to cleanse the filth of the flesh, but the sins of our soul, which the baptism in Jesus name does. Unless the name of Jesus is applied to the baptism, all that person has done is gone down into the water a dry sinner and came up a wet sinner, their sins still remain with them. It is not the water that cleanse the soul, but the name, that we are cleanse by. This is all part of the foundation of salvation.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost also preached, the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Someone may say “I don’t need all of that, all I have to do is do the best I can, and God will understand. I Peter 1:16 says, “Be ye Holy, for I am Holy.” And I ask you, how can you be holy without God. All I can say is good luck, you’re going to need it.

Jesus died for this plan of salvation, the Apostles, all but John, were martyred for it, and people today want to ignore it. Acts 2:38 tells us ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Which came to them in Acts 2:1-4 Verse 4 tells us they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It is as real today as it was over three thousand years ago. I cannot read in Gods word, where nor when he changed his plan of salvation, but man never get tired of trying to do it their own way. If a preacher does not have it, he cannot preach it. They try to dismiss it, but it is not going away. It will either save our soul, or else condemn us.

If only people would seek the Lord, often enough and hard enough, and open their minds and heart, and believe, they too could receive the same Holy Ghost that Peter is talking about.

Romans 10: 9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The word “shall” according to the dictionary, means future tense. Verse 13- 14 says “ for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him who they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And verse 15, tells us, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”

A Preacher, if he is indeed sent by God to preach his word, will explain to the man or woman what they must do so they not shall be, but are saved. They must go by God’ plan of salvation, that was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, when the church was born.

How many plans do we believe that Jesus left us? Did he make a different plan of salvation, according to each denominational belief, that we can believe what ever we want to, and still be saved? Or did he leave one plan for all men to follow? Jesus was crucified on Calvary for this plan. The Apostles (all but John) were martyred for this plan. They were put in prison, beaten and stoned to death, for this plan, that we could have this solid foundation of salvation. May you build your spiritual house upon this same foundation, for Jesus is the Rock that this foundation is built upon, and may you find this same plan of salvation.

 

Friend Or Foe
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Friend Or Foe

 FRIEND OR FOE

By: Elder. John Neal

Pastor Of The Shining Light Apostolic Church

James 4: 4 says, “Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.”

How can this scripture be made any plainer than what James wrote? It’s harsh, but true. There is nothing hid here. It needs no translation, no interpretation, it says what it means, and means what it says.

The choice is up to each individual. Do we want to be a friend of the world, or the world system, or a friend of God? One way leads to salvation, the other leads to damnation. The one leads to Heaven the other leads to Hell. There is no way to sugar-coat it. It speaks for itself.

Isaiah 30: 9-10 says, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord, who say to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.“ I cannot believe that anyone would want the Lord for an enemy. Preachers preach “God is love,” Yes, He is, but God also has a wrath, that we do not want to see.

Jesus is coming back soon to gather up his people. The ones that have made themselves ready. He is not coming back for just any church, but for His true Church. A church made up of individuals that are ready to go back with him. Many may say, but I’m not ready, I have been putting off coming to the Lord. When I go to church, I come home feeling more confused than I was when I came to church. All I feel is depression and confusion.

Isaiah 1: 18 tells us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Let us reason together. God would no man be lost and go to hell. Salvation is not to be taken lightly. Where we spend eternity is weighed in the balance. God is waiting to see what you’re going to do.

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We were born in sin, and in iniquity were we shapened.” We can have forgiveness for all of our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The scripture said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Is not this a wonderful thing to know? Why should we want to spend all eternity in a place of torment, when heaven is within our grasp?

Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for us. He took all our sins, and nailed all of them to the cross. He became sin for us. We may all ask ourselves the same question as in Heb. 2: 3 “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”

There is no escape if we neglect our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is going to be judged by the Lord, for every deed we have done in this body, judged for every idle word spoken, every thought that we have, for many have very evil imaginations.

Let us reason together a little more. Are the pleasures of this world worth going to hell for? A few moment of pleasure, worth missing out on an eternity of joy and peace, eternal life; walking on streets of pure gold, and seeing Jesus in all His glory?

Nobody likes to hear the word, “hell” but it is a reality. It was not thought up to call some child into obedience.

Revelation 20: 15 “And whatsoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.” I don’t know about you, but I had rather be found in the Book of Life. This is reality, it’s too later to sugar coat the word just to please someone. There is no feel good message, but thank God there is hope for all through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul looked at himself one day and said; “Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. ( Rom. 7: 24-25)

Are you a friend of Jesus or a foe? He leaves the choice up to you. But if you want to be a friend, then I will tell you what to do. James 4: 7-8 says, “Submit yourselves, therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.”

The reason that we sometimes have trouble doing the right thing, is because we are going about it the wrong way. Many people keep trying to resist the devil by their own strength, and can’t, because they have not first submitted themselves to God. God is where our strength lies, not in ourselves.

The flesh is weak, as Apostle Paul wrote. The catching up of God’s true church, I feel, is not far off, and instead of getting caught up, many are going to be caught off. This is no time for sugar-coating God’s word. Are we still reasoning together? I hope so. It is time for us to get serious with the Lord.

St. Luke 13: 3-5 Jesus said, “I tell you, nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

I hope to help you get a better understanding of God’s word, that some soul may be saved. That you may find hope, and find encouragement to read the Bible for yourself. If we can put aside denominational belief and look at God’s word honestly. Think about it. God did not make denominations, man did.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, with the authority that Jesus had given him, opened the door to the true church. One church, one belief or doctrine, that of the Lord. “For upon this rock, I am going to build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Tell me, where did the rest of the beliefs come from? There was and still is only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

My faith, my belief is the Apostolic faith. It is the same belief that Peter, Paul and the other apostles were martyred to bring to us.

What was the first message preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, when the people asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2: 37-39) Peter stood up and boldly answered, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord, our God, shall call.”

If you feel the Lord is calling you, if Jesus is dealing with your heart, please, take heed and find a church that is teaching the same gospel that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. It is too late to be playing church.

Why do I have to be baptized in Jesus’ name? You may ask, and I think that is a reasonable question. Ask yourself, who shed his blood, and died on the cross for us? Was it not Jesus?

Col. 3: 17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the father by him.” Is not baptism word and deed?

Also, Col 2:9 “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Who makes up this Godhead? The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And we are complete in Him.” (Jesus) Don’t look for another, for there is no other Savior, and he is coming back.

The Holy Ghost that Peter spoke of on the day of Pentecost Acts 2: 1-4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit Gave them utterance.” If you can believe it, you can receive it. It has not changed, the Spirit of God still comes the same way, with power and with other tongues.

Many say that the book of Acts is not for us today, that it was only for the apostles, but that is not true. They are not preaching what Peter preached, or any of the rest of the apostles, for they all had the selfsame Holy Ghost, it does not come any other way.

A lot of people, too many of them, have become stubborn, hard headed, too grounded in what Grandma believed, or Grandpa believed, they will never come to the simple truth of the gospel. They feel, “What was good enough for them, is good enough for me.” Are you willing to bet your soul on it? “We have eyes, but we see not, ears, but hear not, a heart, but we feel not.” Please, let us reason together.

Look around you, see the time in which we are now living. Hear the word of the Lord. What is the Spirit saying to His church today? Listen, not to my words, but to the words of Jesus, words of Peter and Paul, they all died for the gospel that was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. When we go to church we need more than just a feel-good feeling kind of service. We need one that is powered by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I am not of the same belief that my parent were. Jesus dealt with my heart and saved me one day, and he led me to the church of his choice, not mine. I had no idea what apostolic meant. I knew nothing of the baptism, or of the Holy Ghost, but Jesus taught me. He made me a believer. He can also do the same for you, if you will let Jesus have his way in your life, he can and he will make a believer out of you.

Apostolic is a way of life, a saved life, not a denomination. If you can believe it, you can receive it.” Then you will know for yourselves that the Holy Ghost comes with tongues. This is the only proof in the Bible that a person has been “Born of the Spirit.”

Jesus told Nicodemus in St. John 3: 3-10, “Jesus answered, and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Verse 5 tells us, Except (or unless) a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

It goes on to say, “Marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth (willeth) and thou hearest the sound of it, but you cannot tell from where it cometh, and where it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

This happened on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:2-4 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire (it did not say that it was fire, but that it appeared as of fire) and sat up on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with others tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Jesus went on to say, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that which we do know, and testify to that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.”

Many today can testify and be a witness, that these things are real. It is for all that will let themselves believe. Does not reasoning tell you, that Jesus knows those that are born again of his Spirit? There is no one who can fake Jesus out. You may deceive yourself, you may even deceive others around you, but there is no way you can deceive Jesus. He knows who He has placed his Holy Spirit in. May God bless each and every one of you, and may you let the truth of God’ word shine into your hearts

Nature
Mood:  down
"Mother Nature" This is a topic that relay gets to me, and how any one that believes in God can use this term, i will not under stand. I have been told it is Just a "Catch Praise" well if it is, then i would be letting it go real fast. I know these people will have to stand in front of God one day, and answer to it. I would at the least just drop the "Mother" and use "Nature" would that be so hard? ( No ). Most of the ones that say it, are "weather People", i wonder if they know where the words or Praise came from, just one of those "Bad" Habits that was passed down. There is "NO" Mother Nature, but why do they not use "Father Time" or "Mother Freedom" when talking about the Time of day, or when talking about our Freedom??. Something about the weather brings out the "Mother Nature" Praise, the praise is NOT in the Bible it is Not in the Dictionary, but the Dictionary does say what a "Mother" is {A female parent}. So where is the Female Parent of this Nature??, I think the ones that have a "Habit" with this Praise can stop it if they wanted to, it has to start somewhere. I know this is not a life or death thing, but over all "I" feel that it is just more "Professional" and "Mature" to just say "Nature" and NOT! Mother Nature. After all it is in the "Nature" of things and Not in the "Mother Nature" of things that the Rain falls, the sun shines, and things Grow, is it not? Now if we could get the weather people to understand this, and NOT! think that they or some mother Nature was in charge of the Weather, we all would be better off. Because "Mature" all ways has a way of making them look kinda foolish sometimes {Does it not?}. Oh, yes the science is getting better and it does work & save life's now, but when it comes right down to it, how many times do they say "It will rain today" and it does not!, or "It is NOT! going to rain today" and it does?. So when it comes down to it only "Nature"{God} really knows for sure..********

American Soldiers
Mood:  not sure
Topic: American Soldiers

Greetings everyone  ;) Bishop Murphy sent me this the other day, and we feel this is a great idea and thing to do. I saw a "Poll" the other day, and it asked the Question "Do you feel that America Does enough to Help our Veterans" This might not be the excite way it was said, but it is the same meaning. I know i voted "No" and most of the votes were "No" as i have posted else where on the forum, America has all Most forgot  some of the Men that have fought for this country, I feel we should "NEVER" have Men that have helped defend the USA, Homeless and living on the streets and under Bridges, They Fought for the Freedom for us to live in "Our" Houses and yet they have "None" Of there Own, this is Just Not Right. So If you can send a "Card" to these Men & Women at the Address Below. Please Do.
And have a Great Holiday Season  ;D

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Water Baptism
Mood:  bright
Topic: Water Baptism

Water Baptism

Is it Necessary?

 

 

We find in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything under the Sun. There is a time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to break down and a time to build up. Now the scripture lets us know that we are living in the end times....dangerous times....evil times, a time when men will become lovers of themselves (II Tim. 3: 2) and without natural affection, having the form of godliness, (the appearance of being a Christian) but denying the power thereof. (That power is the power of Jesus Christ).

It is now time to break down our old way of life...our old habits and build up a new way of life in Jesus Christ. The only way we can do this is by taking on the name of Jesus Christ through the water baptism. We are baptize into the likeness of his death and rise up out of the water in the likeness of his resurrection. If we want to be his bride...we must take on His name.

There are many people today who feel that it is not necessary to be baptized, but the scripture plainly tells us in St. Mark 16: 16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” If you believe the Bible, this makes it very clear, that we must be baptized. Let us go a little farther so there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that baptism is necessary.

You may not realize it, but we are living in the end times. The time just before the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A time when people seem to be playing games with religion, just like the blind leaders leading the blind. (But this is my soul and I want to make sure it’s in good hands). There are preachers that get up in the pulpit and tell you that you don’t have to be baptized and that the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues don’t mean anything. That it’s not necessary. That it don’t happen today, that it was just for the apostles. That’s not true. Don’t you believe it. I want to tell you, take heed and beware for the Bible tells me, “Be not deceived, for God is not mocked.”

Jesus tells us in his own words in St. John 3:5 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” Since these are the last days, or the end time that we are living in, the scripture says that the people will have etching ears and will not endure sound doctrine. (II Tim. 4: 3-4) They want to hear something pleasing to them, something that makes them feel good, because if they excepted the truth they would have to give up some of the things of this world, that they don’t want to give up. I know one lady who said, she would come to church, if she didn’t have to give up her pants. Which do you think is more important the pants or the soul?

II Tim. 3: 1 lets us know, “That in the last days perilous times shall come.” Look around you, you don’t have to take my word for any of this. Dangerous times, and that’s the way it is today. You cannot pick up your newspaper and read without reading where someone has been killed, robbed or beat to death, as if a human life meant nothing. Turn on your T.V. and you will hear the same thing. Without natural affection. Yes my friend, these are perilous times we are living in. In these last days there is so much confusion, so many different spirits, and they all claim to be of God, claiming to be right.

But if we will read our Bible we can find that I John 4:1 tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” If a preacher or anyone else tells you....you do not have to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission (forgiveness) of your sins, then he is not of God, and is deceiving you.

If there was ever a time we needed the divine protection of Jesus Christ in our lives, it surely is now. It is time we stopped playing with religion and find out what, “Thou saith the Lord.” Not what, “Thou saith some man.”

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up and delivered his first sermon with great boldness. The church of Jesus Christ had begun. Peter had been endowed with power from on high, and he held the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. (Acts 2:14- 40 also St. Matt. 16:19) We can find in Acts 2:38 that on the day of Pentecost, “Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” as you can see for yourselves this verse tells us very clearly that we must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus has left us all without an excuse. For Jesus, Himself was baptized of John the Baptist in the river Jordan, leaving us an example. He was not sprinkled nor was water poured over his head. The scripture said, he was baptized. The word “Baptize or Baptism means: To immerse, dip, or plunge under water.

When one is baptized into Christ or takes on his name, this signifies union with him; and this union involves sharing in his death, burial, and resurrection, of which the baptism is a symbol. Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Also Col. 2:12)

Let us keep in mind that the baptism with water and the baptism of the Holy Ghost are two different baptism. But we must receive them both in order to enter into the Kingdom of God or to be saved. For the word “Except” means “Unless.” So unless we are born of water (which is the baptism in Jesus’ name) and born of the Spirit ( which is the gift of the Holy Ghost) we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Read the scripture for yourselves, the apostles Peter and Paul and Jesus Christ himself, told us what we should do and what we should not do. May God bless.

What Makes A Christian
Mood:  not sure
Topic: A Christian

"What makes a Christian?"

                                              Sister. Betty Neal

                                                              And

                                                Bishop Michael Neal, D.D.

                                               

   This world is packed with people calling themselves Christians, but are they all Christians?  To my way of thinking there are four types of Christians,  {so called.}

1-  II Tim. 3:1-6,  This chapter is talking about the time of Apostasy, or a Great falling away, from the faith. for you have to have something, before you can fall away from it.  Paul was talking about it, warning people of it, over two thousand years ago.  It happened then, and it is happening now.  Apostasy, Is the act of professing Christian, who on purpose, eyes wide open, reject the truth of Gods' word, and turns a back to the world and away from God.  I said professing, but not possessing.  There is a difference.

2-  II Tim. 3:5 Tells us that they have" a form of Godliness, but denying the power of it, from such turn away."  These people depart from the faith; but not from the outward appearance of Christianity.  They have a form of being a Christian.  They dress up on Sunday, and go to church {More Like a Club or a place to get together} with a Bible under their arm, sing songs, testify, give their offering, but far some reason they have fallen away from the faith.  They have on purpose, rejected the faith, the truth that was once delivered to the saints by the apostles.  But take a look at them, they look like everyone else, but inside where you can't see, they are empty, for to reject Jesus Christ is to be empty. 

Another type, are the ones that may be in error concerning the truth, which may be the result of ignorance to the word.  Acts 19: 1-6  John the Baptist disciples,  "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?  But they answered,  "We have not so much as heard whether there is any Holy Ghost.   Now, sometimes this is the pastor’s fault they do not believe, so they cannot or will not teach it to the people.  The blood will be on their hands that preach not the true word of God.  In truth, and in power of the Holy Ghost.

We Note that even in the days of Paul that the people were turning from the True word of God, (Galatians 1:6) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
(Galatians 1:7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

As we still see today that the word of God has been so Perverted that it is hardly recognizable from the the word Preached by the Apostles, But the world puts the words God, Lord & Christ to what ever they want and call them-selfs "Christians". But as we look more a Paul himself said in (Galatians 1:8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

He did not stop with saying it once he repeated himself again in
(Galatians 1:9) As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. The Gospel and Christians have forsaken their First "Love" { Jesus Christ } and have gone after "False Teaching" having the Form of Godliness but denying the "Power" their of.  We must Remember that to call oneself a "Christian" we Must first put "ON" Christ and to put on Christ we Must "Live" His True word and let his word come a live in Us, then and only then we can call our selfs a "CHRISTIAN"

But concerning the ones in ignorance, could it be they have been snared by Satan?  II Cor. 4:3  "But if our gospel is hidden or veiled it is hidden to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."  Could that be the reason that they are lost?  Is this then their only destiny?  If the veil was lifted by the truth, can they be saved, like Israel?  II Tim. 2:25-26  "And that they recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by  him at his will."

3- Another type is found in the parable of the wheat and the tares.  The Tares believe that they are the wheat.  They set beside the wheat in the pews in the house of God, so therefore they believe that they are the wheat, but the Tares can never be saved for the Tares are all they are, and all they will ever be.  They can never be the wheat.  They  cannot, nor will not, ever be able to change their nature.  These were never in the faith, for Satan sowed the tares among the wheat.  These are found in the church as well as outside the church.  Take a good look, we can't tell them from the wheat, only the angels, at the last day may separate them.  For they have grow up in the church, growed attached, close to the wheat.  Wherever the children of God are, there also are the children of Satan.

But concerning the ones in ignorance, could it be they have been snared by Satan?  II Cor. 4:3”But if our gospel is hidden or veiled it is hidden to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."  Could that be the reason that they are lost?  Is this then their only destiny?  If the veil was lifted by the truth, can they be saved, like Israel?  II Tim. 2:25-26”And that they recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

3- Another type is found in the parable of the wheat and the tares.  The Tares believe that they are the wheat.  They set beside the wheat in the pews in the house of God, so therefore they believe that they are the wheat, but the Tares can never be saved for the Tares are all they are, and all they will ever be.  They can never be the wheat.  They cannot, nor will not, ever be able to change their nature.  These were never in the faith, for Satan sowed the tares among the wheat.  These are found in the church as well as outside the church.  Take a good look, we can't tell them from the wheat, only the angels, at the last day may separate them.  For they have grow up in the church, growed attached, close to the wheat.  Wherever the children of God are, there also are the children of Satan.

What makes a Christian?"  You must be baptized in the name of Jesus, to be covered by his blood.  You must go down in the water to be buried in like matter as Jesus Christ was, to rise up out of the water, or resurrected in like matter as Jesus Christ, to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and to walk in the newness of life.  Walk as Christ walked, showing forth the attributes of Jesus.  A Christian shows forth Christ in the way that we walk, in the way that we talk, the way that we dress.   In our attitude, and in our spirit.  It is more than just saying "I am a Christian."  Anyone can say that.  Tares will not, nor can not ever become "Christ like," for they are like their master Satan.  I John 3: 2  "Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."  But don't misunderstand, apostasy shall continue.  I John 2: 19  They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made manifest or made known, that they were not all of us."

 

 

 

Can You Believe It
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Can You Believe it ??

Can You Believe It

                                           By: Sister Betty Neal          

 

You know I find it very interesting that there is all kind of Churches in the world today.  There is the Baptist, the Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, and Catholic Church, etc.  And each one teaches something different, yet each one claims to be the truth and nothing but the truth.  The Apostle Paul said in I Cor. 1:10-17  "Now I beseech you (that means, I beg of you, or to ask earnestly) by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

   Paul went to many cities, and preached in many churches.  Churches that were in the homes, or in the synagogues, but whether the apostles were in a church in Phili, Galatians, Ephesus, or Rome, I ask you, did Paul or any of the apostles bring in a different truth, or a different gospel to each of these churches?  No he did not.  So if Paul did not, and Peter did not, and the rest of the apostles did not bring in another gospel, but they all preached the same thing.  Why do not preachers, preach the same truth that they preached?  Why do we have so many different beliefs, if everyone is preaching the truth, as they claim?

   Gal. 1:6-9 Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel which is not another, but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But that we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accused.

   Are there some of us that do not have the unperverted gospel of Christ?  Or do we all believe that we all have the one true gospel of Christ?  Let us reason together:  Did Paul and Peter preach One Lord, one faith and one baptism at one church, and then preach the trinity at another?  Did they preach and teach baptism in Jesus' name at one church, and the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost at another?  No, they did not.  They did not intend to bring confusion and division to the house of God, but there is confusion and division in the churches today.  I Cor. 1:12-13  "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, or I of Appollos, or I of Christ.  Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  I think not.

II Peter 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the scriptures.  Also verse 17-18  they both (Peter and Paul) received the Holy Ghost the very same way.  Both spoke in tongues.  Paul said,  "I speak in tongues more than ye all."  Do you actually believe that they did not preach this at every church that they went to?  Neither can I believe Peter preaching one gospel at one place, and Paul preaching something different at another.  What kind of mess would that be?  But we have the very same thing today.  Is it not the same Spirit or is it?  Paul said in Gal 1:8-9  "But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."  Paul wanted us to understand this so he repeated it,  "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  Verse 10  "For do I now seek the favor of men or of God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I yet please men I should not be the servant of Christ.

 

   A preacher cannot please both man and Jesus Christ, like he cannot serve two Gods, the Lord Jesus Christ and Satan.  We do not need men pleasers.  Every denomination has the truth, or so they say, yet they each teach different doctrine, how can that be.  They claim to have the truth, but I ask of you, how many truths are there?

Some people believe, just go to any church on Sunday.  Why should I go to just any church, when even the basic things of the bible are not taught.  One preacher baptizes in the name of Jesus, the next one baptizes in the trinity.  They have never figured out after all these years who the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are.  But the one who teaches Jesus knows who they are.  There is only one that gave his life on the cross of Calvary.  Only one that is coming back for His Church.  "There is no other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ.  Not Mary, not Paul, not Peter, but Jesus.

   One church believes in speaking in other tongues as evidence of having the Holy Ghost, others believe that as soon as you say the sinner’s prayer, "We are born again."  That is not so, let me ask you, How did Peter and Paul know that they had been born again of the water and of the Spirit?  Acts 19 chapter tells us how they knew that John the Baptist' disciples had been born again and Cornelius household, Acts 10 chapter (the Gentiles)

   Every church believes that they have the only access to the truth.  Every soul in those churches, believe that they are saved, and other churches are not.  Tell me, how can they all have the whole truth?  Some of them have a part of the truth, and others don't have any.  Are the preachers only teaching as much as they know, but don't know enough to be preaching?  Were they called by God or did they think that preaching would be a good vocation?  We don't need more preachers.  We need more preachers preaching the truth.  Are they preaching just what they are told that they can preach, like " Don't step on my toes, by coming down to hard."  Just preach "God is Love," that is a safe subject.

Time is running down, we don't need showmanship in the pulpit, we need leadership.  Souls are ignored in the shuffle.  I was sitting in church one day and I heard a sister whisper just enough for me to understand her, when the preacher was reading I Thess. 5:14  "comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all men."  She whispered softly, "What about me?"   How many more sitting in churches today fell the same way?  They are concerned about their soul, and they need help, but they are not getting it.  We need preachers that are not ashamed to shed a few tears for the unsaved of this world, instead of taking an ego trip and trying to act so holy.  If a preacher is not called by God to preach his word, then that preacher has no business being in the pulpit.  But I am sorry to say, there are many preaching, that don't know what they are saying.

   The Holy Ghost is needed to preach His word.  A sermon, which anyone can acquire from the internet or through the mail that someone else has prepared for them, but a message is from God.  He has messages, you know.  If you have,  "Eyes that can see, ears that can hear, and a heart that can feel"  A heart of flesh, not of stone.

   Churches may be getting bigger, but not better, for they are just teaching half-truths.  Churches are getting so big they can't hear that little whisper,  "What about me."

   Many preach the Rapture, but do they believe that it is soon to come.  Jesus is coming back.  "Can you believe it?"   Sure, sermons sound good, and everyone can go home feeling good, but messages are from God.  Some toes may get stepped on to be able to save some soul. 

   If the Holy Ghost is leading some preacher, then you can be assured he is preaching the Apostrine, the same teaching that Peter and Paul preached.  It's time preachers got serious about the ministry.  In the days we are living in, is no time for a clown in the pulpit, cracking jokes.  Jesus, is coming back.  No, we don't know the exact day, but he said it in his word, and I believe it.  Can you believe it?  It is time to get our soul saved.  Do you believe it?

 

 

 

 

Walking In The Light
Mood:  happy
Topic: The Light

The thought : Walking in the light of God's word.

Isa. 5:20 says:  "Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."

   Now we know that every body is not going to be saved.  Everybody does not want to be saved.  Now they may not know it, but they are walking in darkness.  If we do not have Jesus in our lives, if we do not walk in the light of God's word, and worship him as the King of King's, and Lord of Lord's, if we do not live our lives for him each day, and thank him every morning, noon and night, for just giving us life, breathing air into our body.  If we do not set aside some times each day to pray, to read his word, to meditate on his mercy and his goodness.  Then we are walking in darkness for Jesus is the light of the world.  St. John 8:12  "Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, "I am the Light of the World.  He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  We need to make a decision, do we call evil good, and good evil.  Do we call bitter sweet, and sweet bitter, or do we call it just like it is, sin is sin, whether it is in a pain of blue jeans or a three piece suit.  You could place "sin" in a box, and tie it with a beautiful ribbon, with a bow on top of it, but sin still lives in the box.  You might even camflody it as love, but unless it is as God ordained it in marriage, it still remains sin.  We are to walk in the light, as we come to the light, for sin lives in the darkness.  Things that are evil, unholy, and ungodly live in the darkness.  You may perfume it, bathe it, but it still stinks to the nostrils of God.  Psa. 119:105  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  God's word show us where we are now standing with him, and a light shows us what steps to take next.  The world is living, and walking in darkness, but to them they say they are walking in the light, and you can't tell them any different.  They are as dead men walking, if they are not walking in Jesus, who is the "Light of the world."  What the world see's is artificial light, not the spiritual from God.   "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  St. John 9:5  No one can hide their sins in the darkness, no matter how hard they try.

 

 

I Cor. 4:5  "Until the Lord come, who both will bring to light, the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsel of the heart."  God gives every man the right to choose, and I am sorry to say, most men choose sin, because they love the darkness.  In our home we feel safe, for there is light in our home.  Not the natural light, but the spiritual light, because we try to see to it that Jesus lives there with us and in us.  But once we go outside we step into a world of darkness, and the only light we have is the light we take with us inside, which is the Holy Ghost.  Satan is the Prince of this world, he is the Prince of darkness.  Isa. 59:9  "Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness over take us, we want for light, but behold obscurity, for brightness, but we walk in darkness."  Obscurity:  means, conceal, confuse, darken, gloomy, hard to make out.  We look outside, and we say it is daylight, the darkness of the night is over, but to some it is still dark.  Their minds are dark, they live in darkness, because their minds are evil, their desires are evil.  St. Matt. 6:23  "But if thine eye be evil, the whole body shall be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness."  Jesus was the Light of the world.  Even though he no longer walks the earth in human form, he walks it in his sons and daughters.  We are now the Light of the world.  So let your light shine that others may see Jesus Christ in us.  St. Matt. 5:16  "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorfy your father which is in heaven."  If we do not have Jesus, who is the light of the world, for our light comes from him, and if a person does not have Jesus in their lives, then how can they have any light.  Their light is only artificial light.  Artificial Christianity, or pretending to be the real light as the Pharesees.  The world cannot have the light, and leave Jesus out.    The Church world cannot have the light and leave Jesus out.  Everyone out there in the world that has Jesus Christ in their lives, let your light shine that some other soul may see the light and you may help them along life's way.  May God Bless.   

 

Thru The Looking Glass
Mood:  happy
Thru the Looking Glass."  When we look at ourselves, what do we see?  Do we see ourselves as we really are?  Or are we like Alice in wonderland, looking at a make believe world?  James tells us that after we see ourselves in the mirror, we go away, I guess satisfied with what we see looking back at us.  But are we seeing only what we want to see?  Are we truthful with ourselves?   Is all we see the outer man, our physical body, the natural man?  Read James 1: 22-25.  How do other people see us?  How do we see ourselves ( naturally, Spiritually)  When we look into the perfect mirror of God word, how do we see ourselves?  God looks on the inside.  We need to ask ourselves "How does the world see us?  We are in this world, but we are not suppose to belong to it.  Does the world see us as one "Of them?"  If so, something is sadly lacking, something is wrong, if we fit into their life style.  Jesus said come out from among them and be ye separate.  If we are worldly conformed, we need to examine ourselves.  What separates a good person from a bad person, a saint from a sinner?  A very fine line, my friend.  A very fine line.  We are all subjected to the same desires, wants, needs, weakness, even as Jesus was in his time here on earth.  Everyone walks that fine line, between light and darkness.  Just a little nudge is all that is needed.  It is the keeping power of Jesus, that separates a true saint from a sinner.  If the world see us as a "good old boy; buddy, buddy, if it looks on us as just one of the boys, we are marching to the beat of the wrong drummer.  How do we "the Church,"  see the world?  Do we see it as hopelessly lost, that no one else wants to be saved?  That all are saved that are going to be saved?  This world, as we see it, will not be saved, the world will be destroyed, but as long as there is life, there is also hope, and the ability to make a choice, and a change.  How does the World see the Church?  Some see it as a haven, in time of need. Some see it as a building, filled with hypocrites.  A little boy in church one day asked his mother,  Do we have to pay to get into heaven?  I guess one of the main questions is:  How does the Church see itself?  I believe it looks upon itself as a queen in all her splendor, million dollar churches,  Thousand attending every Sunday.  It sets lofty.  But we find in Revelation 3:15- 17  "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know est not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

The Old Signs
Mood:  surprised

 

 

“The Old Signs”

 

The other day while driving in my old hometown, that has grown over the years

We were looking for a building at the intersection of two roads. My Mom & Dad

Were with me and my wife, and my Mother said that the old land marks had changed or move so much that it was hard to recognize where we were at or

Where we were going. At the time, I did not think much about what she had said

However, later it came to me that there is a message in there. The verse came to me in Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. We {Man Kind} have changed so many things in the world we use to know, some good and some not so good. I know in my short life span (50) years I have seen many changes in the towns around me that I grew up in, so much that it is had to remember how things use to be. When so many things change it becomes hard to find my (Our)

Way in the places, we use to know so much about. The word of God in Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; we know that the word of God does not change nor does God himself. Man has changed the word of God so much to try

And fit and justify there way of Life, that it would be hardly know to the Saints of Old. The Old Paths and Old Signs that were left by Peter & Paul have been taken down and new ones put up pointing in the Wrong direction and so many

Are losing the way. Even those I am afraid in the Apostolic Faith, we read in

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. All so we find in Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The Deadly Thing is false Teaching’s, so we know that we that keep the Old Paths, see, and look for the Old Signs will

Be the “Very Elect” for it says “IF it were Possible” we know that if we stay upon

The way of Holiness, we will find our way to where we are going. We will see and hear of the new ways and new signs that man has put up before us but we

Know that they are not the true way. 2 Peter 2:15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; we must not lose our way no matter

How the Signs change or things change around us, we must Not love the new ways with all of it “Trappings‘” we Must keep on the Old Paths and follow the

Old ways that were set Long ago First by the Lord Jesus and then by His Apostles. For Paul him self said in 1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! And In Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. We Must Look for the signs that the

Old saints like Paul Taught and Preached and Woe be it to the ones that do and have, moved, and Remove these old signs and the old paths. For if we get Lost on this road and go down it too far, we may get lost and Never find our way back as so many have. We must keep our eyes upon Jesus For he is our Guide and our way keeper, the world may change around us, but we must not change around the World! So no matter how the world may change and look different

We must keep on the Path that is laid before us, and to make it to the End which is life ever lasting!!

  Written & Posted By Bishop. Michael Neal, D.D. ( J.C.A.M.I. )