Monthly Archives: May 2013

Scriptural Facts About Heaven

By Sophia Christiaan, May 31, 2013

Jesus said to go and preach “the Kingdom” and make disciples of Jesus Christ. The reality of heaven waiting after this life provides hope and consolation for mankind to know that this is not all there is. This is just a temporary place, and eternity is what happens after death.

Jesus wanted to give us the heavenly realities to focus on (Colossians 3) to make it through life on earth. God the Father also wanted us to know how much he loves us, by sending his Son to die for us, and by preparing something unspeakably awesome for us in heaven.

Here are some things we know about heaven from Scripture:

No more death, grief, tears, sorrow, or pain:
Revelation 21:4 NLT “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

God has prepared something unimaginable for us:
1. Corinthians 2:9 NLT “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who [...]

By |May 31st, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Scriptural Facts About Heaven|
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God Can Do It

What you as a Christian need to know is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He always does what He says! (See 2. Corinthians 1:19) God gives you the Holy Spirit and works miracles among you because you believe the message you heard about Christ. (See Galatians 3:5) I always say this; that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere with anybody! Why? “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 NLT “and what is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NLT Just have faith in God, because that pleases Him greatly! (See Hebrews 11:6) Remember that “faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 NLT That is why whenever God promises you something, you can count on it through faith that He will do it, no matter how impossible it might look! God demonstrates that throughout history, as we can read in the scriptures. He miraculously led the people of Israel out of [...]

By |May 30th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on God Can Do It|
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A True Christian

Being a true follower of Christ is all about actions that speaks louder than words! A true Christian knows what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. That’s why a true Christian also gives up his or her life for his or her brothers and sisters. A true Christian doesn’t understand how it is possible for someone who has enough money to live well, to show no compassion when he sees a brother or sister in need. How can God’s love be in that person, the true Christian would ask? (See 1. John 3:16-17)

When God’s people are in need, the true Christian is ready to help them. He or she is always eager to practice hospitality. (See Romans 12:13) The true Christian cheerfully shares his or her home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. (See 1. Peter 4:9) Because, “what good is it, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister [...]

By |May 30th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on A True Christian|
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Bad Leaders

There are lots of Christians who have been wounded by self-centered, narcissistic church leaders. Here is a typical example from the Bible about Diotrephes, who “loved to be the leader.” He refused to have anything to do with teachers who were traveling for the Lord. He made evil accusations against them and refused to welcome them. He also told others not to help them and when they did help, he put them out of the church. (See 3. John 1:5-10) Diotrephes, and others like him, are manipulating and controlling people in the church for their own personal interests instead of loving and caring for them. They never learned what it means “not to lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” 1. Peter 5:3 NLT

This is what the Bible says about what you should do when dealing with the selfish controlling attitude of bad pastors and leaders like Diotrephes; “don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they [...]

By |May 30th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Bad Leaders|
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Understand Your Calling

By Sophia Christiaan

We have to understand our callings. When you are called as an evangelist, all you want to do, and what you are good at, is helping people find salvation in Christ. Your spirit is always busy figuring out how to reach out to the world with the Gospel.

When you are a teacher, you don’t mind digging deep into complicated scripture to dig out hidden treasures, and you relish in the idea of helping people get more knowledge and understanding of the Word.

When you are an apostle, you have a gift of pioneering new works for the Kingdom and a gift to put the right people in the right positions in ministry.

When you are a pastor, you can never get enough of encouraging people and always have an embracing attitude toward everyone. You love people and love to be a source of strength and encouragement to them. You have infinite patience with struggling or disobedient Christians.

When you are a helper, you are good at, and delight in helping other servants of God. You always have an eye for [...]

By |May 29th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Understand Your Calling|
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Why You Don’t Get What You Ask For

The reason some Christians are not getting what they ask God for, is simply because their motives are all wrong; they only want what gives them pleasure. These Christians have evil desires that war within them. They complain, quarrel, and fight among each other, and are jealous of what others have. They scheme, and some even go so far to kill to get what they want. These Christians, instead of being friends of God, are making friendship with the world and therefore they have become enemies of God. They are prideful, and God opposes them by not giving them what their evil desires want! (See James 4:1-6) What a mess! When you become a born-again Christian, your only goal in life is supposed to be pleasing God and not yourself! (See 2. Corinthians 5:9) You are not living for yourself anymore, but you are living to honor God! (See Romans 14:7-8) God will be the one working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (See Philippians 2:13) And that’s why you can [...]

By |May 29th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Why You Don’t Get What You Ask For|
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Condemned By Hypocrites

The harder they preach against, and unmercifully condemns you for committing sexual immorality and adultery, watch out, because they are often the ones who are doing it themselves! History has showed that more than once. They are like the religious leaders in the Bible who teach others that it’s wrong to commit adultery, yet they commit adultery themselves (see Romans 2:20). They are like the ones who went to spy on a woman having sex with another man, so they could catch her in the act of committing adultery and having her stoned to death as the law required in the Old Testament. But Jesus challenged these hypocritical religious teachers by saying to them: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” None of them could throw a stone at the woman, because Jesus exposed them as being sinners themselves (see John 8:1-11). Yes, their evil intentions were exposed when the light shined on them, for the light makes everything visible (see Ephesians 5:13-14).
It’s exactly the same with many of those hypocritical [...]

By |May 28th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Condemned By Hypocrites|
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Accuser Of The Brethren

“The accuser of our brothers and sisters” (See Revelations 12:10) is never interested in mentioning anything good you have ever done in the name of God, but instead he will accuse you of doing everything wrong. He will repeatedly, preferably anonymously, accuse you of being evil, a deceiver, a psychopathic liar, an imposter, a rapist, and even compare you to a serial murderer like Ted Bundy for instance, among other things.

“The accuser of the brethren,” as another Bible translation calls it, is the embodiment of Satan who disguises himself as a true follower of God, like an angel of light (See 2. Corinthians 11:14), acting all sanctimonious and holy, like he never does anything wrong and as if he is always way better than you are. But deep down in his heart “the accuser of the brethren” is full of hatred and jealousy, and wishes nothing more than to see you destroyed and discredited, as the Bible says: “If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living [...]

By |May 27th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Accuser Of The Brethren|
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Abuse Of Women

Can Christian women leave their husbands who emotionally and physically abuse them? Or do they have to endure being cursed, yelled and screamed at, called names, criticized and put down, threatened with violence or abandonment, intimidated, isolated from family and friends, disrespected, being constantly told that they are too much trouble, forced to have sex, being limited and controlled by every move, and on top of everything being blamed for the husband’s own abusive behavior? Do Christian women need to stay with their husbands when they are being beaten, slapped around, kicked, choked, spit at, and pushed around?
You might think that some of these male Christian leaders in the churches would have the decency to counsel abused and battered women to leave their husbands, but instead they encourage them to stay with their abusive husbands under the banner of “God hates divorce.” This is an absolute travesty and in violation with the scriptures that makes it very clear that God hates the sin of abuse, when it says: “I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who [...]

By |May 27th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on Abuse Of Women|
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False Doctrines Of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jesus Christ said 3 defining things, as you can read in the Bible:

Number 1: “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NLT

Number 2: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16 NLT

Number 3: “And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” Revelations 22:18-19 NLT

Now how in the world can somebody think that a Mormon, also known as belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, would go to Heaven? They are not born again, and therefore [...]

By |May 26th, 2013|Archives|Comments Off on False Doctrines Of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses|
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