Sunday, December 23, 2007

It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.



  • It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
    Luke 13:33"Jesus said" Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

  • 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the" divine nature, " having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
    5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
    6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
    7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
    8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
    10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
    11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
    12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.


It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
A prophet is one through whom God speaks, one appointed to reveal the will of God to His people. One of the greatest of these prophets was God's own Son, "Jesus Christ"
Hebrews 1:2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
Luke 24:19 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.


People seldom think of Jesus Christ as a prophet, but a prophet He was. His message,> "the Gospel of the Kingdom of God" is filled with prophecy. His message explains and clarifies the destiny of mankind, revealing the way God will accomplish His master plan.


Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
The record of Jesus Christ's birth, life, ministry and death is one of history's most powerful confirmations of the reliability and accuracy of Bible prophecy.
Precise details about Jesus' birth, ministry and crucifixion were accurately foretold hundreds, even thousands, of years before He was born. Specific events and circumstances foretold centuries earlier came to pass exactly as the Hebrew prophets had predicted, providing compelling evidence of their credibility and substantiating the accuracy of their messages.
Could their words hold meaning for us today? Did you know those same prophets tell us what Jesus Christ has planned for the future>>>>your future?
We already know that Jesus promised to return to earth. That promise is an excellent example of prophecy. He also promised to finish the work He began at His first coming. Throughout the Bible the life and mission of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, are depicted as examples of His devotion to the welfare of people. Many prophecies yet to be fulfilled are directly related to the future work and mission of Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:28
For he will finish the work, (On earth) and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (33 1/2 years)
Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
John 17:4
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work (On earth) which thou gavest me to do.Now Its up to us to beleive it!!!
Dillard Munsell dillmunsell@yahoo.com Study with us while it is still time Wed. 6:30 In Home

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Was Jesus God? Is Jesus God?


Was Jesus God? Is Jesus God
Is Jesus God? The answer to this question is the only real dispute surrounding the historical Jesus. No legitimate scholar today denies that Jesus is a historic figure that walked on this earth about 2,000 years ago, that he did remarkable wonders and acts of charity, and that He died a horrible death on a Roman cross just outside Jerusalem. The emotionally-charged dispute focuses specifically on whether Jesus was God incarnate who rose from the dead three days after His Crucifixion.
Was Jesus God? Is Jesus God? Only Alternatives
Was Jesus God? Is he still God? Many people have dealt with this "spiritual" dispute by intellectually accepting Jesus as a great man, great teacher, or great prophet. However, Jesus and His inspired followers didn't (mince) means => a : to cut or chop into very small pieces b : to subdivide minutely; especially : to damage by cutting up)> words when they declared Him to be God (John 10:30-38, Matthew 16:13-17, Mark 14:61-64, John 14:6, Hebrews 1:8, Colossians 1:16, John 12:40-41 (READ THESE SCRIPTURES BELOW.) Therefore, any type of intellectual compromise calling Jesus a "good man" is logically inconsistent. Why? Because there are really only three legitimate alternatives for the identity of Jesus Christ. He is either a liar, a lunatic or our Lord and God. Since Jesus claimed to be God, His claims are either true or false. If false, He must have been a liar, deliberately misleading the multitudes. Or, He was a lunatic, sincerely believing Himself to be God, when in reality He was just a man. However, if Jesus was a "good man," as most people now agree, how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? There is only one logically consistent alternative - He must have been telling the truth. In addition to the logical inconsistency, the remarkable historical, archaeological and manuscript evidence shows that Jesus was neither a liar nor a lunatic. Again, the only position left is that His claim is true. Jesus is Lord and God.
The only real argument that remains, is that Jesus was just a legend or myth. There is little likelihood that Jesus' claims are legend. There just wasn't enough time for any legendary development of the story to replace what really happened. For instance, we now know that the Gospels were written 30 to 50 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. More dramatically, we now date some of the early Christian creeds, proclaiming the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to 3 to 10 years after His crucifixion. This includes Paul's letters to the Corinthians, Romans and Galatians. Finally, if Jesus' claim of deity was a myth, the early Jewish opponents of Christianity would surely have presented the fact that these claims never happened. Unlike modern skeptics, the Jewish rabbis never denied that Jesus made the claim that He was God. Instead, they called Him a liar, and tried Him for blasphemy.
Was Jesus God? Is he God? The Only Answer
Was Jesus God? Is Jesus God. Once you have asked all your questions, weighed all the evidence, and tested all the arguments, you will ultimately be confronted with this question. In Mathew 16:15, Jesus put it this way, 'But who do you say that I am?' One of His disciples, Simon Peter, replied: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' What is your reply?
John 1 v1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John 10:30-38 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Matthew 16:13-17 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mark 14:61-64 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Colossians 1:16 For by him (JESUS) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
John 12:40-41 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
A Proof word from History "Flavius Josephus"
The Jewish Antiquities are a kind of world history, and Flavius Josephus' view is biblical. In the past, God used the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Greeks to punish or to rescue His chosen people; now it was the Roman's turn to punish them. This was something the Greeks and Romans of his age could understand all too well. In almost every case, you can read 'Fortune' or 'Destiny' or 'Fate' instead of 'God'; on the other hand, when Flavius Josephus uses one of these common pagan expressions, he must have had the Jewish God in mind.
One of the most remarkable passages in the Jewish Antiquities is the 'Testimonium Flavianum':
At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one should call him a man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of the people who receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and among many of Greek origin. He was the Messiah. And when Pilate, because of an accusation made by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him previously did not cease to do so. For he appeared to them on the third day, living again, just as the divine prophets had spoken of these and countless other wondrous things about him. And up until this very day the tribe of Christians, named after him, has not died out.
[Jewish Antiquities, 18.63-64]
It is unlikely that a pious Jew like Flavius Josephus would have written that Jesus 'appeared to them on the third day, living again'; consequently, there has been a lot of scholarly debate about the explanation of this strange remark. Some argued that we had to admit that Flavius Josephus had become a Christian; others maintained that it was made up by some Byzantine monk who copied the Jewish Antiquities. The latter explanation can be ruled out because a more or less identical text had been found in an Arabian translation of a part of the Jewish Antiquities. In 1991, John Meier has suggested that Josephus did in fact mention Jesus, but that the text was glossed by a Christian author. His reconstruction of the text is as follows:
At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of the people who receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and among many of Greek origin. And when Pilate, because of an accusation made by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him previously did not cease to do so. And up until this very day the tribe of Christians, named after him, has not died out.
Even in this reconstruction, this text is of monumental importance. Not only is Flavius Josephus the only first century non-Christian writer mentioning Jesus' life, teachings and death independently of the of the gospels, but he also suggests that Jesus was innocent. A straightforward report would have told that Pilate executed the man from Nazareth because he was considered to be the king of the Jews. But instead of naming the accusation, the Jewish historian names the accusers. Since he usually delights in writing about the deserved punishment of rebels and pretenders, the fact that he does not inform us of the charge, means that he thought that Jesus was innocent.

Study with us. Dillard Munsell dillmunsell@yahoo.com 6:30

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Now faith is the substance!



"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

What is faith?
A. The Bible gives its own definition of faith.
Hebrews 11:1
B. Scripture says that believing God is the greatest thing we can do.
John 6:28-29 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(Even Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith) Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
C. There is a difference, however, between having faith & believing. "Read this two times"
1. The faith God requires is more than a factual knowledge of His Person.
Even the demons know who Jesus was.
Mark 1:24 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Mark 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
2. There must be an outworking of that inner conviction. Faith is perfeted
(Completed, matured) in works. James 2:18.Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
D. Unbelief is sin.
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
II. Every individual has been given a measure of faith
(Rom 12:3), For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
A. But faith grows.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
B. Faith must be tried, to be proven true.
Psalms 18:30, As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.Psalms 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
James 1:3, 4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 1:6, 7 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

C. It can be disturbed (overthrown) & lost through useless disputations, false
doctrine, and "vain babblings."
2 Timothy 2:16-18 / 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
III. How is faith increased?
A. Worship.
Romans 4:16-21 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Jude 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
B. The Word of God.

1. The spoken ("rhema") word.
John 4:39-42; 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. The written Word.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
C. Prayer.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
D. Miracles (signs & wonders).
Exodus 4:30-31 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Acts 9:42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
John 2:23; Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 7:31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
John 11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
E. Fulfillment of prophecy.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

IV. We need not strive for faith. It is given to us freely by God.
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
A. "Faith cometh."
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
B. It is a gift (unearned).
John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
I Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
C. "Your faith groweth." (It is a fruit of the Spirit--not a work of the flesh.)
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
D. Its Author & Source is God, not our will.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
V. Faith is one of six of the most basic & fundamental doctrines of the New Testament.
Hebrews 6:1, 2 Therefore leaving the (six) principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Should already live and know?)
http://keepinminddavedill.blogspot.com/2006/12/six-principles-or-oracles-of-god-is_10.html
A. Without faith there can be no salvation.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 5:1-2 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

B. Without faith we cannot stand victoriously in spiritual warfare against the enemy.
Ephesians 6:16 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
C. Without faith we cannot worship God.
Hebrews 3:1919So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 11:7 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
D. Without faith we cannot know the blessings of answered prayer.
Mark 11:22-24 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
James 1:6-7 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
E. Without faith, we cannot even profit from the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:22 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
F. Without faith, God's promise of healing is made void to us.
Matthew 8:13 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 9:28-30 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Luke 17:19 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Acts 3:16 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts14:9 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
James 5:14-16 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
G. Without faith, we cannot minister deliverance.
Matthew 17:19-20 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
H. Without faith, we cannot enter into God's rest.
Hebrews 3:18 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Hebrews 4:2-3 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
I. Without faith, we cannot inherit the many promises of God.
Hebrews 6:12 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews11:33 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
J. Without fiath, we cannot operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
Romans 12:6 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
K. Without a consistent life of faith, we cannot know the joy of our salvation.
Romans 15:13 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 16:34 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
1 Peter 1:8 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
L. "Without faith, it is impossible to please Him."
Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
VI. The world says that seeing is believing. But Jesus said, "Blessed are they which have not
seen, and yet believe." For "faith is ... the evidence of things not seen."
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Dillard Munsell Bible study Wed. 6:30 dillmunsell@yahoo.com

Thursday, April 12, 2007

The leaders who don’t lord it over


The leaders who don’t lord it over, but serve those they lead, will change the world through the people they serve.
Our democratic, capitalistic society has always rewarded those who rise to the top with money, power, glory, and independence. But the big question is what they do when they get there. Do they drive big cars, have lots of servants, push people around and live to read about it in the paper the next day? This image is so prevalent that we have come to expect it from star athletes, entertainment celebrities, CEO’s, and your average everyday lottery winner. We know what to expect.
But leaders like this don’t change anyone, other than to make them jealous or resentful. Consider Jesus – one who could have had the world at his feet, instead, got down on his hands and knees at the feet of those he was leading. He could have had riches and he chose to be poor. He commanded all power, but used it to heal the sick. He could have been known far and wide, but he chose to remain obscure. The only kings he ever entertained visited him when he was but a child, before anyone knew who he was. He could have come down from the cross and brought hell to pay on his accusers, but he chose to stay there and die for us.
And what exactly did he say about leadership? “The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11) Of course he would say this because this is what he did, and how can anyone be greater than he? If you are filling any kind of leadership position, from assistant soccer coach to CEO, think about how you can serve those you lead.
Once I had the privilege of meeting two brothers that owned a manufacturing company. These two guys walk among their people. They don’t throw their weight around; they throw themselves around, meeting all the needs they can. They are committed to the families of their employees and they provide counseling services for those with more serious problems. They very rarely fire anyone. If there is a problem, they really try and fix it. They take a personal responsibility for the welfare of every family. They go to bed at night wondering how everybody is. Every Christmas, they throw a banquet for their employees and their families, followed by an overnight stay at a local hotel with an indoor swimming pool. (That is a big deal in December) They are following Christ’s model of leadership, and they are making a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
The message today is to think about those we are serving today and how they are doing. How can we make it better for them? Christ will then be evident in you.
G/B Rod ……………………….Las Vegas

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Will our our forefathers be in the resurrection?



1 Corinthians 10;1-4 1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (Christ preached to them through Moses?) Sounds like it!!)

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. KJV

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (These people were justified before Christ was born and died.)
(You will notice there was no law before Moses, only Faith and Grace.) (If you will notice also our forefathers had a lot of faith.
(They pleased God without the law.!!)

Hebrews 11;1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders (our forefathers) obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. (UH???)
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; (as a normal man.)
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Our forefathers lived by faith.) There was no Jew or Gentile in those days.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.16 For he hath prepared for them a city.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob blessed both the sons of Joseph;
24 By faith Moses 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 "Esteeming the reproach of Christ" greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Christ back then??? Yes!!
27 By faith he forsook Egypt as seeing him who is invisible.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; (NOTICE>)that they might obtain a better resurrection:
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (THINK!!!>Will God put them together with the (US) at the resurrection? Was the promise the Holy Spirit the one at Pentecost? They were not alive at Pentecost!!) THINK!!! Can you help me understand this?

Tribes of Israel and their Stones.
Tribe of Juda------Stone Jasper / Jews
Tribe of Rueben-----Stone Sapphire
Tribe of Gad----Stone Chalcedoney
Tribe of Asher---- Stone Emerald
Tribe of Nephthalim----Stone Sardonex
Tribe of Manasses---- Stone Sardius
Tribe of Semion---- stone Chrysolite
Tribe of Levi----Stone Beryl
Tribe of Issacher----- Stone Topaz
Tribe of Zabulon-----Stone Chrysoprasus
Tribe of Joseph----Stone Jacinth
Tribe of Benjamin-----Stone Amathyst

Dillard Munsell dillmunsell@yahoo.com