Luke 9Herod the Tetrarch, reincarnation, loaves and fish, Kingdom Of God, Kingdom Of Heaven, if anyone wishes, knowing others in heaven, count the cost, cremationLuke 9:3, Our JourneyLuke 9:3Take nothing for your journey Jesus humanity; John 4:6 and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well.Paul, on his journey expected help from the Christians in 2 Corinthians 1:16to pass your way into Macedonia and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.God is our help; It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the End of our journey, He is also at every stopping place. Elisabeth ElliotLuke 9:3, Take A Staff Or NotLuke 9:3 "Take nothing for your journey airo, Meaning: to raise, take up, lift Matthew 10:9 "Do not acquire gold, or silver ktaomai, Meaning: to acquireMark 6:8and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey airo, Meaning: to raise, take up, lift Luke 9:5, Shake The Dust Off Your Feet NAU Luke 9:5 "And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Matthew 7:6, 10:14 Mark 6:11 Acts 13:51 Luke 9:5, Shake The Dust Off Your Feet Luke 9:5, Shake The Dust Off Your FeetWhat Is Most Holy/Precious Thing You Have?The gospel of Jesus Christ!Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.Romans 1:16 the gospelis the power of God for salvation1 Timothy 1:11the glorious gospel of the blessed GodMark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?Acts 13:51 Luke 9:5, 10:11 Mark 6:11 Matthew 7:6, 10:14, What Is Most Holy/Precious Thing You Have? Luke 9:13, Loaves And Fishes

https://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&tab=wm#inbox/13d5f0b36c877f20Luke 9:13 John 6:9 Mark 6:38 Matthew 14:17, Loaves And FishesWho Is This GuyHerod the Tetrarch ?Luke 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarchwas greatly perplexed Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,Mark 6:14 And King Herod heard of these miraculous powersMatthew 2:15 He remained there until the death of Herod [After Herod the The Great (his dad), then Herod the Tetrarch]

File:Brooklyn Museum - Herod (Hrode) - James Tissot - overall.jpgLuke 9:7 Herod the Tetrarch Coin of Herod Antipas.Obverse (left), inscription TIBE PIAC (Tiberias, where the coin was minted)within a wreath; reverse (right), upright palm branch surrounded by the inscription HPWOY TETPAPXOY (of Herod the Tetrarch), L (year 33 = AD 29-30) in fields (Jensen 2012: 46).

Herod AntipasTetrarchofGalileeandPerea

Coin of Herod AntipasReign4 BC 39 ADBornBefore 20 BCDiedAfter 39 ADPlace of deathGaulPredecessorHerod the GreatSuccessorAgrippa IWivesDaughter ofAretas IVofNabateaHerodiasDynastyHerodian DynastyFatherHerod the GreatMotherMalthace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_TetrarchLuke 9:8, Reincarnation, compass.orgDear Compass, Would you please address the question of reincarnation? It is linked with the New Age and evolution versus Creation and the sovereignty of God. Is there a good verse to use to refute this?ANSWER:The lie of reincarnation began back in the Garden of Eden when Satan told Eve that she wouldn't die if she ate the forbidden fruit.The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!"Genesis 3:4Satan's been repeating that lie for 6,000 years because there's an obvious, fleshly appeal to the "not having to die" idea. If we could come back and try to "get it right" time after time, that would mean we would always have another chance. But the Bible says that everyone must die once (Rapture excepted).. . . it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.Hebrews9:27There have been three people who the Bible says did not die.Elijah, who was taken up in the world's first UFO.As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.2Kings2:11Elijah is to reappear asGenesis 3:4 Malachi 4:5 Matthew 11:14 Mark 6:15 Luke 9:8 John 1:21 James 5:17 Hebrews9:27, ReincarnationLuke 9:8, Reincarnation, compass.orgone of the two witnesses who show up in Revelation 11 and will die after 31/2 years of work (Revelation 11).Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.Malachi 4:5There is no record of John's death, only speculation. Jesus said that he wouldn't die until He came again.So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"John21:21-23John himself said he must prophesy again to many "peoples, nations, tongues and kings."And they said to me, "You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings."Revelation10:11This is an unfulfilled prophecy. This makes him logically a good possibility to be the other witness in Revelation 11.Enoch, who walked with God, did not die.Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.Genesis5:24We can only speculate that, since he was "taken/transported" to heaven, he may be counted like those who are Raptured in the future. He is unlikely to be the second witness since he's not Jewish (lived prior to Abraham).Genesis 3:4 Malachi 4:5 Matthew 11:14 Mark 6:15 Luke 9:8 John 1:21 James 5:17 Hebrews9:27, ReincarnationLuke 9:9 John the Baptist: The First NT MartyrNAU Luke 9:9 Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him.There are three martyrdoms are recorded in the New Testament: John the Baptist in ca. AD 31, Matthew 14:10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.Stephen in ca. AD 35, Acts 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"James the apostle in ca. AD 44, Acts 12:2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.Mt 14:4; Mk 6:18; Lev 20:21 Matt 11:11, Luk 16:16], Acts 11:26Luke 9:13, Five Loaves And Two FishNAU Luke 9:13 But He said to them, "You give them something to eat!" And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.1 Samuel 21:3 "Now therefore, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found."Horace Bushnell said, Trust God for great things; with your five loaves and two fishes, he will show you a way to feed thousands.1 Samuel 21:3 Matthew 14:17 Luke 9:13 Mark 6:41, Five Loaves And Two FishLuke 9:16, Five Loaves And The Two Fish Is In All 4 GospelsNAU Luke 9:16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving [indicative imperfect active] them to the disciples to set before the people.Matthew 14:19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds,Mark 6:37-41"Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?... 39 And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties..twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish.Luke 9:13, Five Loaves And The Two Fish Is In All 4 GospelsLuke 9:13 12 the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the crowd away find lodging and get something to eatJohn 6:5-9 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat? 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"Luke 6:20Kingdom Of God, Kingdom Of HeavenLuke 6:20 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'Luke 9:1-2 And He called the twelve together, 2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, " Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. There is nothing in Scripture, or in Jewish literature, that indicates any Jewish understanding, or teaching of a difference in the phases kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God. Luke 9:23, Wishes To Come After MeNAU Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)Oswald Chambers said, God does not have to come and tell me what I must do for Him, He brings me into a relationship with Himself where I hear His call and understand what He wants me to do, and I do it out of sheer love to Him When people say they have had a call to foreign service, or to any particular sphere of work, they mean that their relationship to God has enabled them to realize what they can do for God. Luke 14:27 18:22 9:23 Mark 10:21, 8:34 John 5:40, 7:37 Matthew 23:37 22:3, 11:28, 16:24, Wishes To Come After Me, Come to Me, Come, Follow MeLuke 9:25, Life =Heaven Or HellNAU Luke 9:25 "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?Mark 8:36, Matthew 16:26 Blaise Pascal said, Between us and heaven or hell there is only life, which is the frailest thing in the world.Psalm 49:7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for himJob 27:8 "For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, When God requires his life?1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.Job 27:8 Matthew 16:26 Mark 8:36 Luke 9:25 1 John 2:15 Psalm 49:7, Life =Heaven Or HellLuke 9:30Will We Know Each Other In Heaven?NAU Luke 9:30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,I get asked a lot if we will know each other in heaven.Shows that many people recognized Christ after His resurrection. In Luke 16:23-25, people recognized each other and communicated with each other. The rich man even tried to order Lazarus around again, send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongueBut Abraham said, "Child, rememberAnd here in Luke 9, we have Jesus, Moses, and Elijah being recognized by Peter, James and John.We are also told that in glorified bodies we will be "like Him".Remember in 1 Samuel 28:3 how Samuel was recognized by Saul.Philippians3:21 Luke 16:23-25 Matthew 17:3, Luke 9:30 Mark 9:4, Knowing Each Other In Heaven?Luke 9:33, Tabernacles, Feast of BoothsNAU Luke 9:33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah "-- not realizing what he was saying.

Ezra 3:4 Nehemiah 8:14 Zechariah 14:16 Leviticus 23:34 John 7:2 Mark 9:5 Luke 9:33 Matthew 17:4 Micah 4:2, Tabernacles, Feast of BoothsLuke 9:33, Tabernacles, Feast of Booths Jerusalem Inspiration, In the times when the Temple stood on the Temple Mount, Jews were commanded by God to appear before Him on the three major festivals: Sukkot (Tabernacles), Passover and Shavuot. Michah describes a time in the future when not only Jews will want to visit the Lord in Jerusalem, but non Jews from around the world will flock to Jerusalem. Are we seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy in our times? Jerusalem Photo Trivia, Todays photograph taken by Win Robins portrays the waving of the four species taken on the holiday of Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles).Ezra 3:4 Nehemiah 8:14 Zechariah 14:16 Leviticus 23:34 John 7:2 Mark 9:5 Luke 9:33 Matthew 17:4 Micah 4:2, Tabernacles, Feast of BoothsLuke 9:59-62, Count The CostNAU Luke 9:59 And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Permit me first to go and bury my father." 60 But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."Following the Lord sometimes means making tough choices, and your loyalty to Jesus must be greater than your loyalty, desire, love of, or passion for anything in this world.Luke12:53, 14:26, Matthew19:29Luke 9:59-62, 14:26,12:51-53 Matthew19:29, Count The CostLuke 9:60, Cremation, The LORD Buried MosesI find 101 uses of "buried" in the NAS Bible, 18 of "burial." The references I found for "burn" or "burning" are not good; 1 Kings 13:2, Revelation 17:16, Deuteronomy 12:31.Many argue against cremation because our bodies belong to the Lord, they believe that it is a pagan, unbiblical practice.In Genesis 50:25, we see that Joseph wanted his bones kept, preserved, and transported to the holy land to be buried. (Gen. 25:10, I Cor. 15:51, Deut. 34:6,7)The Christian witness is of a resting in the grave waiting for the call from our Lord. The planting of a seed metaphor is appropriate.nullnull

Luke 9:16, The Two FishNAU Luke 9:16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.If Jesus tried to feed the 5000 today... nullLuke 9:16, The Two FishIf Jesus tried to feed the 5000 today... null

THE ENDnullLuke 12:51 Matthew 19:29 Luke 9:59-62 Today is December 11, 2012Verse of the Day -- Luke 12:51Jesus said, "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;"THOUGHT FOR THE DAYChristianity sometimes means making hard choices.MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR THE DAYCommitting your life to Christ means your loyalty to Jesus is greater than your loyalty to your family.They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.Luke 12:53See also Luke 14:26 and Matthew 19:29. Luke 9:59-62 records a man who wanted to go home to bury his father before he left to follow Jesus and another who simply wanted to go home to say goodbye before following Jesus. But Jesus rebuked both saying,"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."Trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior is a HUGE step in one's life. It means you will follow Jesus regardless of the costbecause in the end, you know it's worth the price.Luke 9, Others Ppt, Discipleship, Take Up Your Crosshttp://www.slideshare.net/CarlosOliveira72?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=ssemail&utm_campaign=favorite_slideshow

http://www.slideshare.net/CarlosOliveira72?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=ssemail&utm_campaign=favorite_slideshowMatthew 14:19, Five Loaves And The Two Fish Is In All 4 GospelsMatthew 14:19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds,Mark 6:37-41"Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?... 39 And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties..twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. Luke 9:13 12 the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the crowd away find lodging and get something to eatJohn 6:5-9 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat? 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"Proverbs14:12 Jeremiah 29:13 Numbers 22:24-26 Luke9:23-24, 13:24 Matthew 7:13, Narrow GateQuestion: "Will more people go to heaven or to hell?"

Answer:The question of whether there are more people in heaven or hell is answered by Jesus Himself in one succinct passage: Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew7:13-14).

This passage tells us that only those who receive Jesus Christ and who believe in Him are given the right to become children of God (John1:12). As such, the gift of eternal life comes only through Jesus Christ to all those who believe. He said I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Its not through Islam, Buddha, or other false gods of mans making. Its not for those wanting a cheap and easy way to heaven while continuing to live their own selfish and worldly lives on earth. Jesus only saves those who fully trust in Him as Savior (Acts4:12).

So, what are these two gates in Matthew7:13-14? They are the entrance to two different ways. The wide gate leads to the broad way, or road. The small narrow gate leads to the way that is narrow. The narrow way is the way of the godly, and the broad way is the way of the ungodly. The broad way is the easy way. It is attractive and self-indulgent. It is permissive. Its the inclusive way of the world, with few rules, few restrictions, and fewer requirements. Tolerance of sin is the norm where God's Word is not studied and His standards not followed. This way requires no spiritual maturity, no moral character, no commitment, and no sacrifice. It is the easy way of salvation following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). It is that broad way that seems right to a man, but end is the way to death (Proverbs14:12).

Those who preach a gospel of inclusiveness where all ways lead to heaven preach an utterly different gospel than the one Jesus preached. The gate of self-centeredness, self-absorption, and a proud, holier-than-thou mindset is the wide gate of the world that leads to hell, not the narrow gate which leads to eternal life. As a result, most people spend their lives following the masses who are on the broad road, doing what everyone else does and believing what everyone else believes.

The narrow way is the hard way, the demanding way. It is the way of recognizing that you cannot save yourself and must depend on Jesus Christ alone to save you. Its the way of self-denial and the cross. The fact that few find Gods way implies that it is to be sought diligently. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). The point is this that no one will stumble into the kingdom or wander through the narrow gate by accident. Someone asked Jesus: "Lord, will those who are saved be few? He replied, Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke13:23-24).

Many will seek to enter that narrow door, the door of salvation, but will not be able. They are unwilling to trust/rely on Jesus alone. They are unwilling to pay the price. It costs too much for them to give up the world. Gods gate is a gate through which one cannot carry the baggage of sin and self-will, nor can one carry the accoutrements of materialism. The way of Christ is the way of the cross, and the way of the cross is the way of self-denial. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke9:23-24).

Jesus knows that many will choose the wide gate and the broad way which leads to destruction and hell. Correspondingly, He said that only a few will choose the narrow gate. According to Matthew7:13-14, there is no doubt that more will go to hell than to heaven. The question for you is, then, on which road are you?

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandJesus Among Other gods by Ravi Zacharias.GotQuestions.orgviaicontactmail3.comPhilippians3:21 Matthew 17:3, Luke 9:30, 16:23-25 Mark 9:4, Knowing Each Other In Heaven?QUESTION FOR THE DAYDear Compass,Where in the Bible does it discuss Christians knowing each other in heaven? When we leave this earth, we leave our bodies behind so how will I know my father, mother, husband, children, etc.? Or have I been misled and we really won't know each otherwe will only recognize God?

ANSWER:Yes, we will recognize God, and Scripture also indicates that we will recognize each other. When we die, our spirit goes to heaven.we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.2Corinthians 5:8At the Rapture, those who have died in Christ and those alive in Christ will get new bodies.in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.1Corinthians15:52We will have a new eternal body similar to Jesus' new body after He died and was resurrected.who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.Philippians3:21People recognized Christ after His resurrection.Luke 16 gives us a glimpse of the after-life. It discusses people in hell as well as people in paradise (pre-cross, waiting to be transferred to heaven after the Messiah's death paid for their sins). They recognized each other and communicated with each other:And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame." But Abraham said, "Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony."Luke 16:23-25Also, Moses and Elijah were recognized when they stood on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.Matthew 17:3Moses had died; Elijah was biding time. Therefore, we should be able to recognize each other in heaven even before we get our new eternal bodies at Rapture.In his bookHeaven,author Randy Alcorn correctly teaches that since the greatest commandment is to love God and then to love others, we know that God takes great pleasure in our love for each other. He concludes that "Our source of comfort isn't only that we'll be with the Lord in Heaven, but also that we'll be with each other." One of the passages he quotes follows:But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.1Thessalonians 4:13-14, 17-18Philippians3:21 Luke 16:23-25 Matthew 17:3, Luke 9:30 Mark 9:4, Knowing Each Other In Heaven?Matthew 17:3 Luke 9:30 Mark 9:4 Hebrews 9:27 Revelation 11, The Two WitnessesIs Enoch One Of The Two Witnesses?Sunday, February 23rd, 2014Bible AccuracyNew TestamentOld TestamentThe Book of RevelationQ.Re: Hebrews 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.This verse makes me think that it will be Enoch in the tribulation, not Moses. If these witnesses die in the tribulation like the Bible says then Moses would have died twice and Enoch not at all. If it is Enoch then everyone that has ever lived would have died once. what do you think?A.In my study titledThe Two Witnesses of RevelationI show how the ministries of the two witnesses and the miracles they perform are reminiscent of Moses and Elijah.I also explain thatHebrews 9:27is a principle not a rule. Several biblical figures have died more than once. Elijah raised a boy from the dead (1 Kings 17:22), Jesus raised several: Jairuss daughter (Mark 5:40-42) the widow of Nains son (Luke 7:14-15) and Lazarus (John 11:43-44), and Paul raised a man who had fallen out of a third story window and died (Acts 20:7-12). I also believe that Paul himself was raised from the dead (Acts 14:19-20). These people all died again later. And if you believe that inMatt. 17:12Jesus said that John the Baptist was Elijah, then Elijah died, too.I remain persuaded that the two witnesses inRevelation 11are most likely Moses and Elijah.1 Corinthians 15:44, 51 Luke 9:60 Deut. 34:6,7, Cremation, The LORD Buried MosesDLK says; I find 101 NAS uses of "buried" in the Bible, 18 of "burial." The references I found for "burn" or "burning" are not good; 1 Kings 13:2, Revelation 17:16, Deuteronomy 12:31.

Question: I do not recall your ever having addressed the subject of cremation. Is it unbiblical? Isn't it a heathen practice? Also, don't our bodies belong to the Lord?Response: Everything we have and everything we are is the Lord's. There are a number of ideas on the subject of handling human remains. We'll comment on some of them, then give our position.In Genesis 50:25, we see that Joseph wanted his bones kept specifically so that he might be buried in the Promised Land when God's people returned there (Ex 13:19, Josh 24:32). This wasn't intended as a requirement for everyone but as an assurance to the people that God would be faithful to release them from exile. According to the scriptures, Joseph commanded the embalming of his father, Jacob. Later, Joseph's body was also embalmed (Gn 50:26). For other examples of bones being left intact, see Jeremiah 8:1.The "dust and ashes" as used in Genesis 18:27 is simply a figure of speech expressing Abraham's humility and reverence before the Lord. Job 30:19 similarly uses the term. (Note: People in biblical times and lands would sometimes express their sorrow and mourning by throwing ashes over their heads. Or they might speak of being "on the ash heap." Neither of these has any implications concerning cremation or embalming.). What we're trying to point out is that a word study of "bones" and "ashes" might be edifying but may not apply nearly as much as what seems far more important: understanding that God will do what He says He will do, which is to raise us in our glorified bodies at the last day. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that regardless of how one dies (even if in an explosion or, as in Hebrews 11, sawn in half), the Lord would have any difficulty in resurrecting our bodies. "I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jer 32:27).Yes, pagans often dispose of bodies through burning. They also embalm (the Egyptians, for example) and surround the dead with great wealth. Today, there is a unique argument that "morticians make an idol of our bodies"! Any mortician (or mortician's client, for that matter) is accountable for his own spiritual condition. Whether someone else (pagan or otherwise) worships his own (or someone else's) body need not and should not apply to one's decision; it is the heart upon which the Lord looks."To dust we shall return" doesn't require or command that we do anything in order to reach that state. The Bible speaks of the body being sown a natural body and raised a spiritual one. We cannot oppose cremation on scriptural grounds; neither does the Bible recommend it. There may be some practical considerations, as, for example, bodies that were burned during the bubonic plague. Although there is plenty of scriptural precedent for embalming the body, there is not for cremation. Insofar as embalming is a practical consideration, we can also see that cremation may on occasion be a practical choice. In New Orleans, the water content of the soil does not allow the burial of coffins, and above-ground tombs are limited.Let me encourage you to be at peace about the subject, since the Lord is far more concerned about what you do while you live in your body than after you leave your "earthly tent" to meet Him face to face.Dave Hunt, November 1, 2010Dear Pastor and Mrs.,This is your copy of the November newsletter.Printable (PDF) versions of our newsletters are located here. Our newsletters in audio format art listed here.Click here to view the newsletter on our website.Products featured this month are located here.CremationQUESTION FOR THE DAYDear Compass, What does the Bible say about cremation?ANSWER:Cremation isn't found in the Bible. The Bible only mentions being "buried." For instance, Abraham searched for a worthwhile burial place for his wife Sarah when she died (Gen. 23:19) and he was eventually buried there himself (Gen. 25:10). Jesus said, "allow the dead to bury their own dead" (Luke 9:60). It is important to note that God, who could have cremated Moses, instead, "buried" him (Deut. 34:6,7). So there is honor involved with how you treat a loved one's body when they've passed away. There was also the obvious practical reason for burial -- to prevent disease and odor. It is unlikely that cremation is a sin because: 1) After a few hundred years, regardless of how you were buried, the body turns to dust, 2) Cremation is not much different than being buried at sea, and 3) God will "change" (I Cor. 15:51) you into a new body with different, eternal characteristics and does not need the old, mortal body anymore since it was sinful (Rom. 6:6,12). Therefore, however you "bury" your loved one, through burial or cremation, it should be done with honor and dignity.Is Cremation Forbidden?Saturday, April 19th, 2014Church DoctrineQ.I was speaking to a Christian friend who said in their church they are going to do a Bible Study on cremation. I would like to know what Scriptures says in this regard. At death will we be condemned for cremating our body?A. In the past it was thought that by cremating ones body there would be nothing left for God to raise at the Resurrection, as if such a thing would exceed Gods abilities. But even a casual understanding of the embalming and burial process reveals that it creates just as big a problem as cremation. Then theres the fact that within a short period of time after burial a dead body decomposes to dust.Speaking of our body, the Bible saysBy the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return(Genesis 3:19)In summary, there isnt any Biblical basis for this view, therefore there can be no condemnation for having a dead body cremated.http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/is-cremation-forbidden/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29Why was Moses depicted with horns?Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergWhen we look at pictorial representations by many medieval artists we cannot help to notice that in their rendition Moses curiously appears with horns!How did great Christian artists such as Michelangelo, among hundreds of others, conceive of the idea that Moses had horns?To put it simply - something got lost in translation.Michelangelo's MosesWe read in Ex.34:29: And when Moses came down from the mount Sinai, he held the two tables of the testimony, and he knew not that his face washornedfrom the conversation of the Lord (English translation of Latin Vulgate).What eventually became the Latin Vulgate Bible mistakenly translated the wordnot with the idea of shining/radiance, but with an idea of grown horns (since in Hebrew without vowels it can be translate both ways).Why was Moses depicted with horns?, 2 Corinthians 3:7 Acts 7 Luke 9:29 Mark 9:2 Habakkuk 3:4 Ezekiel 43:2 Matthew 17:2 (Insight by Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg)Sons Of ThunderSons Of ThunderTuesday, April 29th, 2014GraceThe Holy SpiritQ.I have been so blessed by gracethrufaith. My question is: Why were James and John given the name Sons of Thunder and what is its meaning?A.Many believe that Jesus chose this nickname because of the dispositions of these fisherman brothers. Apparently, they were short tempered and over reactive. Luke tells of the time when Jesus and his disciples were walking through Samaria. Coming to a village, Jesus sent runners ahead to ask about accommodations for the night. The Samaritans, who hated the Jews, refused them. James and John wanted to call down fire from Heaven and destroy the whole town (Luke 9:51-56).These brothers were both close friends with Jesus, who charged John with caring for Mary as he was dying (John 19:26-27). James was the first of the original disciples to be martyred (Acts 12:2), and John was the last to die, the only disciple who wasnt martyred. Reading Johns letters shows how the Holy Spirit tempered his fiery personality into a loving father figure in the early church.http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/sons-of-thunder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/sons-of-thunder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29The Bread of Life, Father Son and Holy GhostKJV Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Sandra Giffin tells that, While babysitting some children from another family, I asked each of them to take turns saying the blessing at mealtimes. The difference in our family prayer styles didn't go unnoticed by my 5-year-old daughter. The next morning at breakfast, she bowed her head and proceeded to pray, "Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy toast.

NAU Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Sandra Giffin, Guilford, MO.Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."Luke 9:23, Deny Yourself And Take Up Your Cross Believer To FollowerFriday, July 4th, 2014Christian LifeQ.I have a question about verse Luke 9:23. Is this verse talking about sanctification? or eternal salvation? And finally, what are we to deny ourselves? Thank you for your time.A.Luke 9:23says,If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.After salvation, this is the most important message of the Gospel. If we want to be a follower of Jesus we should set aside our selfish ambitions for life and seek His will for us instead. Thats what the phrase deny himself and take up his cross daily means. InRomans 12:1-2Paul urged us to offer our whole beings as living sacrifices to God. He said we should no longer conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. The way he might say this today is that we should abandon our secular world view and adopt a Biblical world view instead.InMatt. 6:31-34Jesus put this still another way. He urged us to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness and in return He would accept responsibility for all of our needs. In short, the Lord has a purpose for our life and if we give Him permission, Hell fulfill that purpose in us and make sure we dont have to worry about anything along the way. You have my assurance that you wont find a better deal anywhere.As you look around you, its easy to see that most Christians dont do this, so it cant be a salvation issue. Its something you can only do after youre born again. It turns you from being a believer into a being a follower, from living a defeated secular life into living a victorious Christian life (1 Cor. 9:24-25). In doing do you will bear much fruit (John 15:5) and store up much treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21).http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/believer-to-follower/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29WHAT'S INERRANCY? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? [Excerpts]It's the Historic Position of the ChurchWHAT'S INERRANCY? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? [Excerpts]It's the Historic Position of the Church:Inerrancy is the historic position of the Christian Church. [The International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI)] produced a whole book demonstrating thispoint (see John Hannah,Inerrancy and the Church, Moody).As Al Mohler [has] pointed out (Mohler, 48-49), even some errantists have agreed that inerrancy has been the standard view of the Christian Church down through the centuries. He cites the Hanson brothers, Anthony and Richard, Anglican scholars, who said, "The Christian Fathers and the medieval tradition continued this belief [in inerrancy], and the Reformation did nothing to weaken it. On the contrary, since for many reformed theologians the authority of the Bible took the place which the Pope had held in the medieval scheme of things, the inerrancy of the Bible became more firmly maintained and explicitly defined among some reformed theologians than it had even been before."They added, "The beliefs here denied [viz., inerrancy] have been held by all Christians from the very beginning until about a hundred and fifty years ago" (cited by Mohler, 41).It's Fundamental to All Other Doctrines: Inerrancy is foundational to all other essential Christian doctrines.It is granted that some other doctrines (like the atoning death and bodily resurrection of Christ) are more essential to salvation. However, all soteriological (salvation-related) doctrines derive their divine authority from the divinely authoritative Word of God. So, epistemologically (in a knowledge-related sense), the doctrine of the divine authority and inerrancy of Scripture is the fundamental of all the fundamentals.It's UnderAttack... Right Now!: The ICBI was founded in 1977 specifically over concerns aboutthe erosion of inerrancy.Christian leaders, theologians and pastors assembled together three times over the course of a decade to address the issue.At the first meeting, a doctrinal statement was jointly created titled "The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy." This document has been described as "a landmark church document" created "by the then largest, broadest, group of evangelical protestant scholars that ever came together to create a common, theological document in the 20th century. It is probably the first systematically comprehensive, broadly based, scholarly, creed-like statement on the inspiration and authority of Scripture in the history of the church."Despite this modernsafeguard, in 2010, Dr. Mike Licona, an evangelical professor, wrote a book titledThe Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. In this book,he suggested that the account of the resurrected saints walking through the city might be "apocalyptic imagery"(Mat. 27:51-53). In other words, he suggested that the events did not actually happen, but that it was lore or legend. Subsequently, Licona resigned from his position with the Southern Baptists and at Southern Evangelical Seminary.What followed is rather alarming.Incredibly,somenotable evangelical scholars began to express their supportfor Licona's view, considering it consistent with a belief in inerrancy....Of course, in order to defend Licona's view they had to redefine inerrancy to include what were previously considered to be errors. Some did this by misinterpreting inerrancy as expressed by the ICBI framers.Since 2011, more alarming statementsfrom Licona have surfaced, including: (1) Adenial of the historicity of the mob falling backward at Jesus' claim "I am he" in John 18:4-6 (RJ, 306, note 114); (2)A denial of the historicity of the angels at the tomb recorded in all four Gospels (Mat. 28:2-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:11-14) (RJ, 185-186); (3) A denial of the accuracy of the Gospel of John by claiming it saysJesus was crucified on the wrong day (debate with Bart Ehrman at Southern Evangelical Seminary, Spring, 2009);(4) Aclaimthat the Gospel genre is Greco-Roman biography which he says is a "flexible genre" in which "it is often difficult to determine where history ends and legend begins" (RJ, 34). Amazingly, theseviewscontinue togain support among the evangelical community.http://defendinginerrancy.com/why-is-inerrancy-important/WHAT'S INERRANCY? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? [Excerpts]It's the Historic Position of the ChurchThe Berean Call|PO Box 7019|Bend|OR|97702Luke 9:3 Mark 6:8 Matthew 10:9-10, Take A Staff Or NotQUESTION, Dear Compass, Regarding inerrancy, how can Mark (Mark 6:8) record Jesus allowing His disciples to take a staff and Matthew (Matthew 10:9-10) and Luke (9:3) say it's forbidden?ANSWER, The emphasis of the Lord's instruction was clear: Do not make any "special" provision for this mission. Therefore, the Lord permitted the disciples to take along any staffs they already had. But they were not to take one if they didn't already have one. The Greek verb used in Matthew (a different word from the one used in Mark) means to "acquire" or "obtain."and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staffno bread, no bag, no money in their beltMark 6:8 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.Matthew 10:9-10And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.Luke 9:3Was John the Baptist Elijah Redivivus?By Brian LePort, Bible Study and the Christian LifeMark introduces Johns preaching by appealing to a remix of two prophetic oracles: Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. In Malachi 3:1 we read,Behold, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come into his Temple, and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says YHWH of Armies (NRSV).Mark alludes to the whole of this statement by quoting part of it. The reader/hearer familiar with the prophet Malachi would make the connection between the snippet and the prophecy from which it was taken. When we continue reading Malachi we find that in 4:5 the prophet Malachi says that it is the prophet Elijah who will return. In some sense Mark is trying to connect Johns appearance with Malachis prophesy.The immediate question that arises is this: is John actually Elijah?To summarize, in Malachi 3:1, which Mark quotes, Israels God says he is sending a messenger. In 4:5, Malachi makes a cryptic claim: this is Elijah. This is a strange claim made even stranger considering that the biblical tradition ends Elijahs story not with death, but with his departure straight into heaven on a fiery chariot (see 2 Kings 2:1-14).Since Elijah never experienced death there was a tradition that he might return to the land of the living. What did the early Christians think of this? More importantly, what did they say Jesus said about this tradition?This was the response that I gave to the aforementioned commenter that I will repeat here for those who missed it.Let me begin with Mark, since hes the subject of this series.He seems aware that there is a rumor that Elijah will return and that people are murmuring about whether Jesus is Elijah (6:15; 8:28). When Jesus is presented with the question in 9:5-13 he is vague in his answer, but it seems that he is alluding to John the Baptists suffering under Herod Antipas in v. 13. This is quite strange since this follows the narrative of the Transfiguration where supposedly Jesus is somehow talking to the real Moses and real Elijah (9:1-4). The only other allusion to Elijah would be the misunderstanding of Jesus words on the cross (15:34-36).In my opinion Mark is vague avoiding a straightforward answer, which isnt surprising in light of this Gospel, but if we combine 1:2-6 with 9:13 he seems to be leaning toward equating John with Elijah.Matthew tries to be far more explicit. Although he too records the rumors (16:14) in 11:12-14 Jesus says that John is Elijah to come quite plainly and then even after the Transfiguration in 17:1-9 Jesus answers his disciples question about Elijah in the affirmative that Elijah did return and by Elijah Jesus means John, Then the disciples understand that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist (v. 13).Luke has the angel telling Zechariah that John will come With the spirit and power of Elijah (1:18). Also, he cleans up the Transfiguration narrative in 9:30-35 by leaving off the disciples question about Elijahs return altogether. It may be that Luke sees the narrative sequence in Mark as problematic and chooses to leave it alone. Luke is aware of the rumors that Jesus is Elijah, likely from Mark (9:8, 19).The most curious is the Fourth Gospel.The Evangelist has people ask John if he is Elijah and John himself denies it (1:21, 25). In all of John 1 there is a concentrated effort to relativize John in light of Jesus. In doing so, the Fourth Gospel doesnt even allow John to be Elijah like Matthew and Mark, and goes a step further than Luke by declaring that John didnt see himself as Elijah.This is my long way of answering that I dont know! It seems that there is a tradition where Jesus understood John to be Elijah. There is another where John denies this. It is unclear how those two reconcile unless we go the direction Luke goes and say that John was not Elijah, but he did come as an Elijah-like figure.ABOUT THE AUTHORBrian LePortFacebookTwitterGoogle+Brian LePort is a Ph.D. candidate in Religion and Theology at the University of Bristol/Trinity College Bristol. He earned a M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Western Seminary (Portland, OR) where he is now an adjunct for the Online Campus. Born and raised in northern California he now resides in San Antonio, TX, with his wonderful wife, Miranda Perez-LePort.http://www.biblestudyandthechristianlife.com/john-the-baptist-elijah/

Mark 1:2-3, Malachi 3:1 Isaiah 40:3 2 Kings 2:1-14 Mark 9:11http://www.biblestudyandthechristianlife.com/john-the-baptist-elijah/Fishes, Fish, Shark, SharksTODAY'S CREATION MOMENTIS THE SHARK A LIVING FOSSIL?inAnimalsFossilsListenJob 12:7-8"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee."There are over 350 species of shark. These remarkable creatures range from about the size of a shrimp to the whale shark that can be over 60 feet long. Most people view sharks as an ancient form of primitive fish, often because they are popularly presented to the public as a so-called "living fossil."The truth is, sharks are not primitive or simple. In fact, scientists who classify living things are uncomfortable classifying sharks as fish, preferring instead to call them "fish-like vertebrates." Unlike all other fish, the shark has no skeleton. In fact, the shark's skin serves as the anchor for its muscles just as bones serve for anchors in other animals. Unlike fish, sharks have no gill coverings and even have a placenta very much like mammals!Sharks are also much more complex than fish. They have sophisticated sense organs, their brains are much larger compared to body weight than fish, and they can learn a route through a maze as well as laboratory rabbits. Sharks are also socially complex, and they communicate with each other in a variety of ways.Among the many kinds of creatures God has created using His unlimited imagination, it appears that He followed some similar themes in each kind. This offers us a better principle than does evolution for classifying living things, which arranges them from simple to complex.Prayer:Dear Father, I stand in awe at the ways in which Your unbridled creative imagination is expressed in the living world. Help me to be a better witness of this fact to the world around me, which is taken with the imaginations of its own heart. In Jesus' Name. Amen.Notes:Photo: Grey reef shark. Courtesy of Fbattail. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/shark-living-fossilLuke 8:3 Psalm 22:18 Luke 9:57-58 2 Cor. 11:27Q&AQuestion: I sent a copy of your recent TBC Update on Joel Osteen [author of the bestseller,Your Best Life Now](http://www.thebereancall.org/content/joel-osteen-unsure-if-jesus-was-poor)to a friend of mine on staff with Joel's ministry asking if he had any thoughts in regard to the article. He stated [excerpts from a long reply], "To be honest, I can't really discern what [the writer's] point is. Does he have some inside knowledge that I don't regarding the actual amount of funds that were carried in the treasury that Judas oversaw? Like Joel [Osteen] says, it's curious that the robe Jesus was wearing was valuable enough that the soldiers were dividing it up. But also like Joel, I don't really think about it much."Why is it so important that Jesus be poor? Is that like a tenet of faith? If so, I never got the memo. As for the 'foxes have holes' quote, I don't see how that refers to financial wealth. To me it's far more likely about the fact that He was not stationary. He was on a mission and on the move. That to follow Him meant that one would have to do the same, forsaking all and going with Him wherever the Spirit led them.... Joel simply believes, as do I, that God has promised to supplyallour needs. He believes...that the apostle John meant what he said when he wrote, 'I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.'"Response:Our concern here is the distortion of what the Bible teaches about biblical prosperity. Those who are word-faith/healing and prosperity gospel teachers (including Joel Osteen and his father, John, in his ministry) have all supported the unbiblical idea that the spiritual hallmark of a faithful follower is riches and good health. According to their claim, if a person lacks those things, it's due to his or her lack of faith. They also mistakenly use Jesus as the model of the result of such beliefs, especially wealth.There is no indication in Scripture that Jesus was wealthy. What He did have was through the generosity of those who ministered to him. Luke 8:3 indicates where the Lord Jesus may have obtained not only the robe but much of His earthly support: "Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others...provided for Him from their substance." In Scripture, we see several wealthy women who had a role (no doubt moved by the Holy Spirit) in giving to Jesus' ministry. Since the giver was likely wealthy, the garment given to Jesus would naturally reflect that. Such scriptures document that Jesus was not rich in earthly possessions. He relied on others in order to support His travels and earthly ministry. Furthermore, Scripture teaches us how He lived and how the apostles who were trained by Him lived. Paul wrote that he knew both how to "abound" and how to be "abased." The "abasing" part is what the word-faith teachers do not teach other than to say that it reflects a lack of faith.A common argument in support of Christ's wealth is the fact that He wore a seamless garment, supposedly of greater value than a two- or three-piece one would have been. Yet a study of history reveals that Roman soldiers were allowed to "supplement" their income by confiscation. The point of the seamless garment being mentioned was that it could not easily be divided. The soldiers gambled for it, thus fulfilling Psalm 22:18: "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Therefore, even if the one-piece garment was more valuable, that hardly supports the belief that Christ was wealthy. It may have been a gift.Regarding the "foxes have holes" quote, Jesus said in Luke 9:57-58, "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." In fact, this states that the Lord had no earthly home to return to, let alone a mansion. Christ was indeed "on a mission and on the move," as your friend notes, and to follow Him meant that one would have to do the same, "forsaking all and going with Him wherever the Spirit led them."Certainly the Lord provides faithfully, but that provision is often diametrically opposed to human expectation and the distortion the "faith" teachers give it. Everything the Lord provides for a believer is according to His will. That fact, however, rails against the teaching that God's provision works according to spiritual laws, which the practitioner must learn in order to implement them. If that doesn't produce the desired result, then the fault lies with the one misapplying the laws. That delusion is no different from witchcraft.Some prominent word/faith ministries have not one but two Gulfstream jets, which means that not only must they purchase two planes, but they must also pay two trained flight crews for each one, not to mention ongoing hangar costs and maintenance. Is that what constitutes biblical prosperity? Consider Benny Hinn's take on God's provision: "Years ago they used to preach, 'O we are going to walk on streets of gold.' I would say, 'I don't need the gold up there. I've got to have it down here'"(Praise-a-Thon, TBN, April 2, 1991).Yes, the Lord provides all things necessary for us, but emphasizing the "abounding" that Paul on occasion experienced, we miss the point that the Lord is teaching: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." He states that at times he was "in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness"(2 Cor. 11:27). Was Paul out of God's will? No. God had allowed him to experience such conditions for his growth in the faith. Learning to be content in every state doesn't come about when one is only prospering materially.The saddest part in all of this is that many who follow Joel Osteen's "positive" gospel are not taught the Bible's clear warnings that we will suffer on this earth, and therefore they miss the biblical truth that such suffering provides excellent opportunities for spiritual maturity (see "The Value of Suffering"www.thebereancall.org/content/value-suffering)