₦airaland Forum

Faith during Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

Mt. 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
Mt. 9:21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Mt. 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Mt. 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Mt. 9:28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Mt. 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;

Mt. 13:54 Coming to his home town, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
Mt. 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Mt. 13:56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
Mt. 13:57 And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his home town and in his own house is a prophet without honour.”
Mt. 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Mt. 21:19 Seeing a fig-tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
Mt. 21:20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig-tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Mt. 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
Mt. 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mk. 9:21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
Mk. 9:22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
Mk. 9:23 “`If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Mk. 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Jn. 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Jn. 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Jn. 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

If you have been baptized into Jesus Christ, prove to God in every possible way that you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. God will fill you with the fullness of His Holy Spirit and all things shall become possible for you.

https://media.breitbart.com/media/2018/02/carabinieri-640x480.png

A 29-year-old Nigerian migrant drug dealer has been arrested by police in the Italian commune of Pollenza after being accused of killing an 18-year-old girl and chopping her into pieces.

The Nigerian, identified as 29-year-old Innocent Oseghale, was arrested earlier this week by Italian Carabinieri after the body of 18-year-old Pamela Mastropietro was found dismembered and dumped on a street with parts of her body stuffed in suitcases, Il Giornale reports.

The Carabinieri in nearby Macerata were able to identify the Nigerian in connection with the murder after examining CCTV footage from the area.

Investigators say that the 18-year-old had been living at a drug addiction recovery centre since October but had suddenly left the centre last Monday. Using a variety of sources, from CCTV footage to witness testimony, they were able to determine that the 29-year-old drug dealer was the last person to see the young woman alive.

Forensic investigators from Rome were dispatched to the residence of the migrant, who was living in Italy on an expired visa. They were able to find clothes belonging to the victim, some of which were soaked with blood.

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/02/italian-teen-allegedly-killed-chopped-pieces-nigerian-migrant/

Word of Testimony

Re. 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Only a person who has been baptized into Jesus Christ (water baptism) can overcome by the blood of Jesus. Any other person can speak words.

Word of testimony is living with Jesus Christ by faith. It is by faith because you testify what you are not really experiencing in the flesh. But if you endure in your testimony, surprisingly, you begin to reign with Jesus in reality.

He. 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Ge. 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Ge. 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God formed the universe by giving a command. However, before God gave the command, He first of all released His Spirit to be able to reach the limits of the universe. (See Pr. 8:22-30.) We can see this principle at work in Ge. 1:2-3. In order for God’s command, “Let there be light”, to be effective, God first of all got His Spirit to hover in the neighborhood where the light was to manifest.

Jn. 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The mighty arm of God is ready to save and uplift at any time, but unbelief prevents the arm of God (the light) from acting. In order to bring the Spirit of God into our hearts, we must display our belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2Co. 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” [Psalm 116:10] With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
2Co. 4:14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
2Co. 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Do you truly believe that we have died with Jesus and that the one who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also raise us up with Jesus? Continually show your belief by your testimony. As you do so, the darkness in your heart will begin to diminish and the light of God will be able to penetrate.

I give you thanks the Most High God, for you have rescued me and every member of my family from the dominion of darkness and you have brought us into the kingdom of your dear Son Jesus Christ, in whom we have redemption (Col. 1:13-14). Thank you gracious Father, for by your grace we have been united with Jesus Christ in his death and you are raising us up together with him. Thank you Holy Father as you raise us up from sin into righteousness. Thank you everlasting Father as you raise us up from the dominion of death into eternal life in Christ Jesus. I give you praise glorious Father God as you raise us up from poverty into the unlimited wealth of your divine power (2Pe. 1:3). I magnify your holy name, Lord God Almighty, as you raise us up from the curses that dominated our lives into your unlimited blessings (Ep. 1:3).

The Practice of Faith

He. 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Col. 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Faith is to believe the message that came from God through Jesus Christ. What is this message?

1Co. 15:1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
1Co. 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
1Co. 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1Co. 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

2Ti. 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
2Ti. 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
2Ti. 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
2Ti. 2:11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
2Ti. 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
2Ti. 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

The above passages of Scripture help us to capture the message from God through Jesus Christ, or the gospel. The message is that Christ died for our sins, he was buried and he was raised from the dead. The message goes on to say that if we died with Jesus Christ, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. This is the complete gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is to believe the complete gospel.

The practice of faith is to die with Jesus Christ and live with him. If we endure in our dying and living with him, we will begin to reign with him.

Mk. 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Mk. 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Ro. 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Ro. 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

A person dies with Jesus Christ through baptism in water into the name of Jesus Christ. It is water baptism that unites us with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and hence with the blood of Jesus.

Living with Jesus is by word of testimony (Re. 12:11)—baptism into the word of God; cleansing by washing with water through the word (Ep. 5:26). Word of testimony is calling what you do not see as though you are seeing it. It is continuing word of testimony that purifies the heart.

Mk. 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Mk. 16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

If we continue to live with Jesus through word of faith, we will begin to reign with him.

Creation of a Pure Heart

Ps. 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Ps. 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Ps. 51:10 implies that a pure heart can only be created by God. How do we get God to create a pure heart in us? Is it by praying like David, or what?

Ac. 15:8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
Ac. 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

1Pe. 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Ac. 15:9 says that God purifies a heart by faith. 1Pe. 1:22 says that a person purifies himself/herself by obeying the truth. Note that “obeying the truth” of 1Pe. 1:22 does not necessarily mean “keeping the laws of God”. “Obeying the truth” should have something to do with faith. My conclusion is that God purifies the heart of a person who practices faith.

If you look at Ep. 5:27, you will see that the people that Jesus will snatch up to himself during the rapture must be perfect--perfect obedience. In order to be able to obey God’s commandments perfectly, a person must possess the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. In order for a person to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, a person must have a pure heart.

Mt. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Ps. 24:3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
Ps. 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. [Or swear falsely]

No person living in this world has a pure heart by default. How does a person develop a pure heart?

Timing of the Crossing of the River Jordan

De. 1:3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them.
De. 1:4 This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
De. 1:5 East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

Jo. 4:18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran in flood as before.
Jo. 4:19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.

Jo. 5:10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites
celebrated the Passover.

Drinking of the water from the rock (Numbers 20) occurred in the first month of an ancient Hebrew calendar year. From the passages above, it is clear that the Israelites crossed the River Jordan and went into the Promised Land in the first month of the next year. The Israelites crossing of the River Jordan is a type of the rapture. Will the antitype also happen in the first month of an ancient Hebrew calendar year? Very likely! If the 144,000 Israelites arise in March 2018, it is very likely that the rapture will take place in April 2019.

Tribulations

Nu. 20:20 Again they answered: “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.
Nu. 20:21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

Nu. 21:1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them.

Nu. 21:4 They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
Nu. 21:5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Nu. 21:6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.

Nu. 21:21 Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
Nu. 21:22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king’s highway until we have passed through your territory.”
Nu. 21:23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

Nu. 21:33 Then they turned and went up along the road towards Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.

Nu. 22:1 Then the Israelites travelled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
Nu. 22:2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
Nu. 22:3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
Nu. 22:4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
Nu. 22:5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, [That is, the Euphrates] in his native land.

Shortly after the Israelites drank water from the rock, all sorts of hindrances appeared to mitigate against their movement to the Promised Land. In the same manner, shortly after the rise of the 144,000 in the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar in 2018, all sorts of tribulations will appear. These tribulations will be posed by the kingdom of darkness, with the aim of preventing the people of God from entering the Promised Land. Even though wars will be common place during this, the most dangerous act by the forces of darkness during this period will be the release of seducing spirits, which is the antitype of the encounter between the Israelites of old and Balaam son of Peor. The encounter between Israel and Balaam occupies four whopping chapters in the book of Numbers, just to show its spiritual prominence. Numbers 26 shows that by the time the Israelites were having the encounter with Balaam in the plains of Moab, they were within sight of Jericho in the Promised Land. Many Israelites died in the plains of Moab, not because of wars but due to succumbing to seducing spirits. In the same way, very close to the rapture, many devout Christians will fall away from the faith. The spiritually-minded will actually know that rapture is about to take place (1Th. 5:4).

Re. 6:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”

The ancient Hebrew calendar year that begins on March 17 2017 will be the time of the opening of the seals of Revelation 6. The opening of the seals is well described in my thread: https://www.nairaland.com/3549267/predictions-2017-end-time-events. In that thread I expected the opening of the seals to occur in the ancient Hebrew calendar year in which we are now; the seals will now be opened in the next ancient Hebrew calendar year.

The First Month of the Ancient Hebrew Calendar in 2018

Nu. 20:1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

The event of Numbers 20, which is a type of receiving the power of resurrection occurred in the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar. Jesus resurrected from the dead in the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar. The firstfruits of Israel (Ro. 11:16, Re. 14:4) will also arise and begin to shine (Is. 60:1) in the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar.

On September 23 2017, the sign of Revelation 12 appeared in the sky. The sign was like a signpost with the inscription, “Watch out!” During the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar in 2018, the 144,000 elect of Israel will commence their ministry. Their ministry will be very much like Jesus’ earthly ministry. They will make millions of people around the world to rise up to the level of holiness required for the rapture.

Ez. 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

If you look at Ep. 5:27, you will see that the people that Jesus will snatch up to himself during the rapture must be perfect--perfect obedience. The state of perfect obedience can only be reached if the Holy Spirit fully dwells in a person. The only way to receive fullness of the Spirit is through spiritual cleansing, by washing with water through the word of God (Ep. 5:26).

BlaqCoffee109:
This is a Blessing... Praise and Blessing be to The Most High Christ Jesus.

Blessed are you @BlaqCoffee109.

Cleansing Her by Washing with Water through the Word

As stated above, anyone who meets the two requirements of Ep. 5:25&26 will experience resurrection and subsequently be snatched up to heaven. It is easy to explain that the requirement of Ep. 5:26 is simply baptism into Jesus Christ, in water and in the Spirit. But what about the requirement of Ep. 5:26? Ep. 5:26 is actually related to Re. 12:11.

Re. 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Satan brought so much evil upon the human race—sin, death, poverty and curse. Jesus Christ redeemed everyone that is baptized into him from all evils. Yet we still see all these evils tormenting the people of God. Why? It is up to the people of God to overcome Satan and all his evils by the redemption that Jesus Christ has already accomplished for them. All it takes is word of faith. Since I came to this understanding, I do wake up in the night and before daybreak to do spiritual pronouncements like this one:

Praise be to God, who has rescued me and every member of my family from the dominion of darkness and who has brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus Christ, in whom we have redemption (Col. 1:13-14). There is now no condemnation for me and members of my family, for we are God’s new creations in Christ (Ro. 8:1). Sin and death have no dominion over me and members of my family, for we are born of God. I and members of my family shall not sin because no-one that is born of God continues to sin (1Jn. 3:9). I and members of my family have overcome sin in our lives by the blood of Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ himself bore our sins in body on the cross that we may die to sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds we were healed (1Pe. 2:24). In the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, let the Holy Spirit of God put to death in me and in every member of my family every misdeed of the flesh, every act of the sinful nature; that we may die to sins and live for righteousness (Ro. 8:13, Ga. 5:19). Let the Holy Spirit of God me and every member of my family with righteousness, holiness and the redemption of our bodies (1Co. 1:30), in the name of Jesus Christ.

You can see that the above prayer centers on cleansing from sin and putting on holiness. I pray similarly for freedom from the powers of death, including sicknesses, diseases and infirmities; then replacing death with divine life. I also pray similarly for freedom from poverty and then replacing poverty with the wealth of heaven—divine power. I also pray for freedom from very curse and replacing curses with the blessings of God in Christ. Consequently, night times and early hours of the day have become periods of enjoyment for me. The spiritual exercises are usually followed by interesting dreams.

The Power of Resurrection

Nu. 20:1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
Nu. 20:2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
Nu. 20:3 They quarrelled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!
Nu. 20:4 Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?
Nu. 20:5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
Nu. 20:6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell face down, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
Nu. 20:7 The LORD said to Moses,
Nu. 20:8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so that they and their livestock can drink.”
Nu. 20:9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him.
Nu. 20:10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
Nu. 20:11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
Nu. 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

God gave the ordinance for purification from sin in Numbers 19 in preparation for the event of Numbers 20. Only a holy child of God can receive the power of resurrection.

2Ti. 2:20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
2Ti. 2:21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

In order for a child of God to receive living water or divine life from the Holy Spirit, the child of God must be purged of sin and thereby become holy. How does one practice the ordinance of Numbers 20 today? Ep. 5:26 describes it.

Requirements for Entering the Promised Land

Ep. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Ep. 5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Ep. 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ep. 5:25-27 presents all that is required in order for any human being to experience resurrection and then move into the Promised Land. The first requirement (v. 25) is that the human being must be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ro. 6:3)—baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit. The second requirement is that the person must become holy by cleansing himself/herself by spiritual washing through the word of Christ. Ep. 5:27 describes the rapture of perfected sons of God. Anyone who meets the two requirements of Ep. 5:25&26 will experience resurrection and subsequently be snatched up to heaven—the Promised Land.

Nu. 19:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
Nu. 19:2 “This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.
Nu. 19:3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
Nu. 19:4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times towards the front of the Tent of Meeting.
Nu. 19:5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned — its hide, flesh, blood and offal.
Nu. 19:6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.
Nu. 19:7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening.
Nu. 19:8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.
Nu. 19:9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.
Nu. 19:10 The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the aliens living among them.

By the time the events of Numbers 19 occurred, the Israelites were near their Promised Land. It was at this time that God gave the ordinance for purification from sin. It is a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and the gentile people of God. This ordinance does not require a fresh sacrifice to be made each time there is need to cleanse from sin. Instead, it requires that the ash of a previous sacrifice be put in water and the solution be used for cleansing from sin.

He. 13:11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.
He. 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

The blood of Jesus that was sacrificed for us on the cross is the ash the today’s people of God must combine with water through the word of God in order to purify from sin and become holy.

1Co. 10:1 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.
1Co. 10:2 They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
1Co. 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food
1Co. 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
1Co. 10:5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
1Co. 10:6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
1Co. 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” [Exodus 32:6]
1Co. 10:8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
1Co. 10:9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did — and were killed by snakes.
1Co. 10:10 And do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel.
1Co. 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
1Co. 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Always have the above passage of Scripture in the coming months, because it will play out before all the people of God. We are about to dive into the end-time tribulations. We must through much tribulations enter the kingdom of God (Ac. 14:22).

Praise be to God for giving this country somebody like Obasanjo. I pray that Obasanjo will help to steer this country to sanity before his exit. Which other person in this country can perform this kind of role he is performing?

Kei144:
Jesus Christ is at the seventh level of divinity (Re. 5:6), just like God (Re. 4:5). The 144,000 Israelites most likely will not reach up to the seventh level of divinity; probably something like sixth level. The people that belong in the manchild of Re. 12:5 will be at varying levels of divinity, which will be assigned to them at the judgment seat of Christ (2Co. 5:10).

2Co. 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
2Co. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Some Christians say that Apostle Paul taught them that good works are not necessary, but merely belief in Jesus Christ. But "belief in Jesus Christ" is actually living by his teachings. The teachings of Apostle Paul happen to be the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 2Co. 5:9, Apostle Paul clearly teaches that we should make it our goal to please God; God is only pleased by our burnt offerings--sacrificial living. In 2Co. 5:10, we see that those who make the rapture will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to be placed in divinity levels that correspond to the extent of the sacrificial living they carried out on earth.

The last time I heard that line, "You shall become like God," was in Genesis...when Eve took the bait.

It's such a lie.

Jesus said that when we are in heaven, we shall be like the angels in heaven. Yet Jesus is always on the throne.


New age nonsense is more than nonsense, it's very dangerous.

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message3739366/reply66924198

Angels are sons of God. A son of God is like God. It is just that there are different levels of godliness or divinity. Only God and Jesus are at the seventh level. I don't think that any angel is at the seventh level of divinity; Lucifer was afraid of a human being rising to a higher level of divinity than angels, which Jesus has done. I think that Jesus Christ is the only human that will ever be at the seventh level of divinity.

1Co. 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1Co. 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
1Co. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1Co. 15:23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Da. 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

1Co. 15:23 and Da. 12:3 show us three categories of human sons of God. Jesus Christ alone occupies the highest category. The next category is occupied by the elect of Israel, the 144,000 Israelites--the firstfruits (Re.14:4). The third and lowest among the three categories is occupied by the remaining human sons of God--those that will be taken up to heaven in the rapture.

In Da. 12:3, those that will shine like stars forever are the elect 144,000 Israelites. They will lead many to righteousness; they together form the woman of Revelation 12. The people that the 144,000 Israelites will lead to to perfection form the manchild that is born by the woman of Revelation 12. They are the sons of God that will be taken up to heaven in the rapture. According to Revelation 12, the 144,000 Israelites will not be taken up to heaven in the rapture of the saints.

Jesus Christ is at the seventh level of divinity (Re. 5:6), just like God (Re. 4:5). The 144,000 Israelites most likely will not reach up to the seventh level of divinity; probably something like sixth level. The people that belong in the manchild of Re. 12:5 will be at varying levels of divinity, which will be assigned to them at the judgment seat of Christ (2Co. 5:10).

Burnt Offerings in the New Testament

Ep. 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Ep. 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ph. 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

1Pe. 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him —
1Pe. 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Living a life of love is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. However, note that sacrifice is acceptable to God if it is done at the temple of God. Hence, sacrifice that counts is the one done towards the people of God, or with a view to drawing people near to God. It is unfortunate that today’s churches now emphasize paying tithes and sowing seeds to churches and not sacrificing to people of God, who are the real temples of God.

https://www.nairaland.com/4287136/getting-glory-god

Burnt Offerings in the New Testament

Ep. 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Ep. 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ph. 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

1Pe. 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him —
1Pe. 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Living a life of love is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. However, note that sacrifice is acceptable to God if it is done at the temple of God. Hence, sacrifice that counts is the one done towards the people of God, or with a view to drawing people near to God. It is unfortunate that today’s churches now emphasize paying tithes and sowing seeds to churches and not sacrificing to people of God, who are the real temples of God.

What to do so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you

Ex. 29:42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;
Ex. 29:43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.
Ex. 29:44 “So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.
Ex. 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

Le. 9:6 Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”
Le. 9:7 Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”

Jn. 8:29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

God dwelling with a person, or that the glory of God appears in a person, means that the person has acquired some level of divinity. In order for a person to rise up to this level, Ex. 29:42 says that burnt offering must be made regularly by the person. Le. 9:6-7 says similarly. Jn. 8:29 puts the condition this way; the person must always do what pleases God. What is it that pleases God?

Ge. 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.
Ge. 8:21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart:

God is always very pleased with burnt offerings. Note that burnt offerings are made on a suitable altar built for God, usually in front of the temple of God. Today, the only temples that are acceptable to God are human beings. Hence, today’s burnt offerings are not animal sacrifices of the ancient times.

This is a follow up to my previous thread, https://www.nairaland.com/4265332/hidden-treasure, in which we saw that the hidden treasure is to become like God, by rising up to the seventh level of divinity. In “The Hidden Treasure” we saw that redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ is the basis upon which any human being could grow in divinity. “The Hidden Treasure” ends by stating that a person must sell everything in order to be able to buy divinity (Mt. 13:44). Now we want to go into what it means to sell your world in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

U.S. Attacking North Korea Would Be ‘Like Trying to Get Rid of Allah,’ Retired South Korean General Says

A U.S. attack on North Korea would be countered by indoctrinated soldiers fighting with religious fervor on behalf of their leader, Kim Jong Un, who has developed a cult following, a retired South Korean general said.

"I try to explain to the Americans: If we have to go into North Korea, it is not going to be like going into Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s not going to be like toppling [ex-Iraqi President Saddam] Hussein,” retired Lieutenant General In-Bum Chun said at a London think tank event Wednesday. “This would be more like trying to get rid of Allah.”

Chun, who stopped serving 18 months ago and lives 35 miles from the border with North Korea, explained that even soldiers who defect have “an innate belief in their system which is close to ridiculous."

Beginning at age 14, all North Koreans receive 100 hours of training annually on shooting a weapon, firing a rocket-propelled grenade, throwing a grenade, making a tent and other survival skills, according to Chun.

“North Korea is militarized far beyond the [West's] imagination," he said.

The North’s air force of about 1,000 fighter jets, while is out of date, could launch kamikaze-style attacks, said Chun, who served in South Korea's military for nearly 40 years.

If attacked, North Koreans would stay loyal to Kim for the near future, he said.

"They have a system where five to 10 families are organized into a group, and if a single person from that group misbehaves, the entire five or 10 families go to the gulag or are executed, so everybody spies on everybody else,” Chun said. “It is a great mechanism for keeping people under control.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-attacking-north-korea-trying-201935970.html

Senator Insists Trump Used ‘Vile and Racist’ Language

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/01/13/us/13DC-CONG/merlin_132147785_5875f115-081d-4952-8903-526c06011f29-master768.jpg
President Trump during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Thursday.

President Trump on Friday offered a vague denial about the language he chose to use about immigrants during a private meeting with lawmakers at the White House on Thursday, when he reportedly referred to African nations as “shithole countries.”

But Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, said on Friday that the president did use the term “shithole,” repeatedly, during the course of the meeting on immigration — which Mr. Durbin attended. The senator described Mr. Trump as saying “things which were hate-filled, vile and racist.”

In a Twitter post on Friday, just hours before the president was scheduled to sign a proclamation to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Monday, Mr. Trump appeared to parse the language he spoke about immigrants from different regions of the world.

The president wrote that he never said of Haitians, “take them out.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/us/politics/trump-immigration-congress.html?emc=edit_na_20180112&nl=breaking-news&nlid=54795170&ref=cta

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/01/12/us/politics/12dc-cong1/12dc-cong1-master768.jpg

President Trump on Thursday balked at an immigration deal that would include protections for people from Haiti and some nations in Africa, demanding to know at a White House meeting why he should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” rather than from places like Norway, according to people with direct knowledge of the conversation.

Mr. Trump’s remarks, the latest example of his penchant for racially tinged remarks denigrating immigrants, left members of Congress from both parties attending the meeting in the Cabinet Room alarmed and mystified. He made them during a discussion of an emerging bipartisan deal to give legal status to immigrants illegally brought to the United States as children, those with knowledge of the conversation said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the meeting.

When Mr. Trump heard that Haitians were among those who would benefit from the proposed deal, he asked whether they could be left out of the plan, asking, “Why do we want people from Haiti here?”

The comments were reminiscent of ones the president made last year in an Oval Office meeting with cabinet officials and administration aides, during which he complained about admitting Haitians to the country, saying that they all had AIDS, as well as Nigerians, who he said would never go back to their “huts,” according to officials who heard the statements in person or were briefed on the remarks by people who had. The White House vehemently denied last month that Mr. Trump made those remarks.

In a written statement, Raj Shah, the White House deputy press secretary, did not deny the account of the meeting on Thursday or directly address Mr. Trump’s comments.

“Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,” Mr. Shah said. “Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation.”

But the president’s vulgar language on a delicate issue left the fate of the broader immigration debate in limbo and had the potential to torpedo the chances of achieving the deal being sought to protect about 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. And they drew a backlash from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, many of whom called Mr. Trump’s utterances unacceptable at best and plainly racist at worst.

Representative Mia Love, a Republican of Utah who is of Haitian descent, demanded an apology from the president, saying his comments were “unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values.”

“This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation,” Ms. Love went on in an emotional statement that noted her heritage and that said her parents “never took a thing” from the government while achieving the American dream. “The president must apologize to both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned.”

“As an American, I am ashamed of the president,” said Representative Luis V. Gutiérrez, Democrat of Illinois. “His comments are disappointing, unbelievable, but not surprising.” He added, we can now “say with 100 percent confidence that the president is a racist who does not share the values enshrined in our Constitution or Declaration of Independence.”

The reactions were extraordinary bipartisan rebukes to a sitting president, but they only fanned what has been a long-simmering debate over Mr. Trump’s views and talk on race.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/us/politics/trump-shithole-countries.html

2018: The Glorious New Beginning"
Bishop Bill Hamon, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

For those who are co-laboring with Christ Jesus, it is going to be a glorious and prosperous year. It will be like the original Day of Pentecost, "Suddenly they were endued with power" by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 60:3 is also being activated as a commission to the Church as we enter the "Dispensation of the fullness of the times" (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 10:7). Now, delay shall be no longer, but all the mysteries and prophecies that the prophets have spoken shall be revealed and fulfilled.

In 2018, the Church will begin to "arise and shine" as they receive the new empowerment and start revealing and demonstrating the glory of the Lord. For the wicked of the world and the lukewarm in the Church—it will be a year of darkness and fearful anticipations. The true followers of Christ Jesus will know how to appropriate the new thing that God will begin in 2018. They will fulfill God's purpose in this appointed time. God is activating the time for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to begin filling the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14; Nu. 14:21; Ez. 12:26-27; 1 Thess. 5:4-.

http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=19467

2018: A Year of Light and New Beginnings
Bill Burns, Kremmling, CO

The 8 in 2018 represents a time of new beginnings, and the title of this message is: 2018 A Year of Light. This means that in this year of 2018, God's people will have the opportunity to receive more spiritual light to abide in. This will enable God's people to see more clearly in that which He is revealing.

Isaiah 60:1-2, "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you."

The time of your spiritual light has come. Darkness will cover the earth, but you will have God's light so that you may see more clearly. The Hebrew year of 5778 is also confirmation. Again, the number 8 represents a time of new beginnings.

A Time To See

Luke 9:27-29, "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Kingdom of God. Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening."

At that time Peter, James and John saw a greater reality of Jesus in the Kingdom of God. They saw Him in greater clarity than ever before. I believe that we shall also see things differently in 2018 than we have seen before. We will have greater vision and greater understanding of God's purposes from now on.

http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=19468

Double post!

It is not good to be looking for a wife during NYSC or to marry when you haven't established your direction in life. I know that it is customary for Yorubas to marry so early in life. The story in the OP is just the result of such an early marriage. The stress of two young people coping with the demands of a full-fledged family when they are not standing well on their feet took a great toll on the emotions of the two married youths. If the man were a little more experienced, he would have been able to manage the emotional reactions of the wife even when he is financially challenged. He would have tried to accommodate the wife's reactions to the hardship she was experiencing; it takes some maturity.

Let this be a lesson to younths who get engaged in the university or during NYSC. Don't rush into marriage without being sure that you are ready. When the heat comes, all the beauty that caused the attraction that led to marriage become obscured.

In this year 2018, people of God will begin to grow in divinity at a remarkable rate. The kingdom of darkness will also react in a remarkable way, leading to end-time tribulations.

Is. 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Is. 60:2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Is. 60:3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

How will this remarkable growth in divinity come about?

Mt. 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

Mt. 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Mt. 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Mt. 7:9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Mt. 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
Mt. 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Why the people of God have not grown remarkably in divinity up till now has been because it was hidden to them by the dark forces that rule this world. The churches have been busy formulating all sorts of doctrines that pursue all sorts of goals. Unfortunately, the only goal that really matters has been sidetracked all along, and it is growing in divinity.

In Mt. 13:45, the merchant knew what he was looking for. When the people of God understand what the ultimate treasure is all about, it is only then that they can ask God precisely for secrets of His kingdom. God's promise in Mt. 7:7-11 is that He will release the secrets if we ask Him with all our heart. If we have in our hearts both worldly desire and desire for the hidden treasure, we may not receive revelation of the sectrets of the kingdom of heaven.