(Mat 5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
TEACHINGS - DEVOTIONS - PRAYER REQUESTS
Most people have a family member or close friend who has passed away. We loved these people and we will remember them forever. A problem develops when the longing does not subside for some people or when they feel guilty about something that happened between them and the deceased. This is when people call upon mediums to help them making contact with the deceased. I had a short discussion on this in the previous post (http://salty-earth.blogspot.co.za/2015/10/may-we-make-contact-with-dead.html?m=1), but is it possible? What does The Bible say about the ability of the dead to communicate? Rev 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last, Rev 1:18 and the Living One, and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, Amen. And I have the keys of hell and of death. Jesus appeared to John and gave him the vision which is now called The Revelations of Jesus Christ. He declared that He has power over hell and death. Now that we know this, let us start from the beginning. Gen 2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Man did not become a living soul after Jehovah God formed his body of the dust of the ground. It only happened when God breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. A living soul cannot exist without a body or breath. Ecc 12:6 or ever the silver cord is not loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern; Ecc 12:7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. This "spirit" that is referred to is the breath of life that God breathed into man's nostrils. What happens when somebody dies and the breath leaves the body? Remember, a living soul cannot exists without a body or breath. Joh 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, Joh 5:29 and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation. These two verses refers to the second coming of Jesus. There is resurrection for us, but the kind of life we live now will be a factor as to which resurrection we will experience. We have now determined, according to The Bible, that a living soul cannot exist without a body or breath and that everybody will be resurrected. What happens in between? Back to the Word of God. Psa 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man in whom there is no salvation. Psa 146:4 His breath goes forth; he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. It does not matter; king or president, their thoughts perish when they die. Psa 115:17 The dead do not praise Jehovah, nor do any who go down into silence. The dead cannot praise God, saved or unsaved. Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten. Ecc 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; nor do they any longer have a part forever in all that is done under the sun. According to The Bible, the dead knows nothing, there is no reward for them and they have no memory. There are no feelings of love, hate, envy etc. They have no part to whatever is happening on earth. Ecc 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go. Do want you have to do now because you cannot do anything after death. Job 14:10 But man dies and is cut off; and man expires, and where is he? Job 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, and a river falls away and dries up, Job 14:12 so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be awakened out of their sleep. The dead does not have any power. He will stay in his grave until Jesus' second coming. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; 1Co 15:52 in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. 1Co 15:55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" There will be living people when Jesus comes. At that moment the saved and the dead who served the Lord will be clothed with immortality. This is how and when we will receive eternal life and overcome death. 1Th 4:13 But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 1Th 4:15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. 1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. There is hope. Our loved ones who served the Lord before they died will rise up at the sound of God's trumpet. Together we will meet Christ on the clouds in the air. We will see them again if we keep on serving God. What about Luke 16:19-31. This is the story about the rich man and Lazarus. It is a parable. We cannot use parables in teachings. Jesus used parables to convey "the moral of the story". Summary: 1.Jesus has overcome death and has power over it. 2.A living soul cannot exist without a body and breath. 3.The dead cannot think. 4.They cannot praise God. 5. They know nothing and have no feelings. 6.The dead are powerless and cannot do anything. 7.They will stay in their graves till the second coming of Jesus. 8.The living saved and the dead who served God will receive the gift of eternal life when Jesus comes. 9.Take comfort, we will see them again. The Bible tells us that the dead knows nothing, cannot do anything, and is powerless, cannot think and have no feelings. There is no mention of restless spirits or ghosts. Who do the mediums speak to when they call up spirits? Remember, Satan also knew your loved ones, so it would be easy to call up their memories.
GOD'S CHARACTER vs THE CHARACTER OF GOD'S LAW Steven Dubee
GOD vs THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1.God is spiritual (Joh 4:24)His Law is spiritual (Rom 7:14) 2.God is love (1 Joh 4:8)His Law is love (Mat 22:37-40) 3.God is truth (Joh 14:6)His Law is truth (Ps 119:142) 4.God is righteous (1 Cor 1:30)His Law is righteous (Ps 119:142) 5.God is holy (Isa 6:3)His Law is holy (Rom 7:12) 6.God is perfect (Mat 5:48)His Law is perfect (Ps 19:7) 7.God is good (Luk 18:19)His Law is good (Rom 7:12) 8.God is just (Deu 32:4)His Law is just (Rom 7:12) 9.God is pure (1 Joh 3:3)His Law is pure (Ps 19:8) 10.God is unchangeable (Jam 1:17)His Law is unchangeable (Mat 5:18) Ps 111:7-8 declares that God's Law stands forever. It cannot be done away with even if we try. If we want to do away with His law; we can just aswell do away with Him. How do you seperate the One from the other? There are these four verses that people generally use against the Law: Col 2:14 KJV Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Eph 2:15 KJV Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Rom 6:14 KJV For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal 3:10 KJV For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Gal 3:13 KJV Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:23 KJV But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Before we tackle this topic headon can we just clarify what sin is according to the Bible. 1Jn 3:4 KJV Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. It is as clear as daylight that the Word of God declares the transgression of the law as sin. Note, this is a new testament verse, written long after Jesus assended to heaven. When we think about the law, Moses comes to mind. He was very involved in writting down laws. This issue is the reason some of us forget that God's Law and Moses' law are different. 2Ki 21:8 KJV Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. Let us have a look at God's Law. Exo 31:18 KJV And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Deu 10:1 KJV At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. Deu 10:2 KJV And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. Deu 10:3 KJV And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. Deu 10:4 KJV And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me. Deu 10:5 KJV And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me. There are a few things we will find in these verses: 1. Written by God 2. Written with God's finger 3. Written on stone tablets 4. Placed in the Ark 5. Named the Ten Commandments This law was actually written twice by God, on stone tablets with His finger. The first time Moses broke the tablets. Now Moses' law Deu 31:9 KJV And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. Deu 31:24 KJV And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, Deu 31:25 KJV That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Deu 31:26 KJV Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. Lev 23:10 KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: Lev 23:13 KJV And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. Lev 23:24 KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Lev 23:25 KJV Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Lev 23:26 KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Lev 23:27 KJV Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 1. Written by Moses 2. Own handwritting 3. In a book 4. Put in the side of the ark 5. Named- The Book of the Law 6. Against the people 7. Wave sheaf offerings 8. Meat snd drink offerings 9. Ceremonial sabbath days If we go back to the verses used against the law we will notice that these verses are truly against the law; Moses' law written in a book, that is against the people and deals with offerings and ceremonial sabbaths. None of them touches God's Law. Eph 2:8 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 KJV Not of works, lest any man should boast. The Balance Rev 22:14 KJV Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Yes, we are under grace through faith, but why? Because we have sinned. How do we identify sin according to the Bible? The transgression of God's Law. Do we need to obey God's Law? Yes! Jas 2:17 KJV Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Jas 2:20 KJV But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Jas 2:10 KJV For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas 2:11 KJV For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 1Jn 5:1 KJV Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1Jn 5:2 KJV By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn 5:3 KJV For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Heb 10:15 KJV Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, Heb 10:16 KJV This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Heb 10:17 KJV And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Without the LAW there is no SIN. Without SIN we do not need GRACE. Without GRACE there is no need for CHRIST. Without CHRIST no GOSPEL is needed. Without the GOSPEL who needs a PREACHER. Without a PREACHER there will be no CHURCH.
This is not a formal teaching, just a short piece to get us thinking. Many people try to make contact with dead family members through mediums. TV programs around this subject have millions of viewers around the world. In South Africa we also have forefather worshipping on a huge scale. Can these mediums really make contact with the dead? Where are the dead and can they influence us in any way? We will have a look at it in a later lecture. Our immediate problem is the thousands of Christians trying to make contact with spirits of their dead family members or who partake in forefather worshipping. What is God's response to this and what does The Bible say about it? I am going to quote just two verses from The Bible. Lev 20:6 And the soul that turns to mediums, and to spirit-knowers, to go lusting after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. God does not want us to try and contact the dead. It does not matter whether your loved one was saved or not, He will turn away from you. Isa 8:19 And when they shall say to you, Seek to the mediums and to wizards who peep and mutter; should not a people seek to their God, than for the living to the dead? If somebody refers you to these mediums, God asks you to turn towards Him. He is alive.
