Let us go together to Luke 16. V 19 to 31 are speaking about 'the rich man and Lazarus'.
Now you can have many preaches about this, but for now this is the only important thing: The rich man and also Lazarus immediately after death had an awareness.
From the rich man this is reported wider than from Lazarus But the impression is given that Lazarus had too an awareness. - the rich man could speak - he could recognize Abraham, so he could see - he could have feelings; "I am in the flames and they torment me". - he could be thirsty, (24).
So some bibles speak about hell, other bibles speak about 'realm of the dead'.
But as you can read: Abraham and Lazarus were at the good side of the realm of the dead. That is the waiting-room for full heavenly joy . But even this waiting- room is an absolute lovely place to be.
But the bad side of the realm of the dead, where the rich man was, is a place of provisionary custody. On the great day, whereabout Matthew 25 is speaking, Lazarus goes to the full joy, but the rich man comes from provisional custody into the place of permanent imprisonment. He had a bad time, he gets a bad time , not in the realm of the dead, but now in hell.
Some people say: "Jesus said this in a simplifying way, connecting to the general thoughts in his time". I do not believe, that about such important questions Jesus should not say exact things. He always said what he meant.
There is much more to say about these things , bur for the moment I leave it by this.
Originally Posted by Elshevia Thank you ger, for most informitive dialog, it has helped a lot. Now the next question is this nowhere in Scripture does it say that Jesus Christ delivered us from or dealt with s...n's powers at Calvary, He dealt with s...n's authority. the King James Version uses the greek words dunamis { power } and exousia { authority }. interchangeably which creates confusion, in its readers where other Bibles do not, in Colossians 1:13. "who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, where other Bibles say that Christ has delivered us from the authority of darkness, may I ask what you think of this wrong translation because these two words are not the same, it has been explained to me as.... when you have the authority, you have the power,
what is your idea on this ger. Elshevia.
Hello Elshevia,
Colossians 1 v 12 and 13 says in the New international version: "Let us give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he, ( the Father) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves".
Indeed these verses speak of the Father and not of the Son. But it remains a fact that the translation of K.J. was not quite correct and that modern translations have something more 'to the point'.
But...is this catastrophal ? I make a sidestep now. From the 17 th century up to the 20 th century we had in Holland the 'Statenvertaling'. And there was standing in Genesis 22 v 1 that the Lord tempted Abraham, whilie in James 1 v 14 is standing: " ...God does not tempt anyone".
But millions of Dutch Christians have found there Saviour in spite of this manco. And I am sure that millions of K.J.- readers have too.
The word of the Lord is so strong, that little failures do no hurt it. Let us know at least this: The Lord God...to him all the honour...has saved us from the dominion of darkness. He gives us the status of conquerors of darkness an he gave us too the status of ' inheritance of the kingdom of light'.
But we have to verify that in our lifes.
I give you an example: When I had finished my schooling as a puiblic auditor, the head of the office sent me in 1957 into practise with these words: "Now mr Gerritse...you are now in full authority as a public auditor. You have all the licenses...but you don't have any experience 'in the field' except from what you experienced in your stage-period. You must make true in your behaviour and in your handling of all practice-matters that you are worth to exercise this magnificent function. But we all in the office want to help you in the first difficult years".
Now the Lord has given us all these delightful things we have gained by the sacrifice of Lod Jesus and only by God's grace. It is now up to us to step into the works the Lord has prepared for us.
I am beginning to answer. But it is not sure that I can answer all textes in one posting. Be however sure that in the course of time they all will be answered as far as the answer is not already given in a previous posting of mine. In Holland I now have a girl with 14 questions. And after you I go back from California (?) to Holland to give her an answer to her third question.
Here we go:
Luke 9 v 1 - 2. " When Jesus had called the Twelve together , he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick".
This text is valid up to now. The authority to do these things lies open to us. When Jesus sent out his disciples, the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out, but Jesus gave them a temporary ' power of that Spirit', in awaiting of that glorious day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the believers to remain in those who remained filled with the Holy Spirit.
But nowadays we have many converts, but we don't have so many ' deep converts', ( not with their soul, but with their spirit). And we have even less ' born again' people and the number of people that has been filled by the Holy Spirit and stick to it, without hesitating or sliding back , is even lower.
But if we make profit out of all the good things Jesus left us , when he had said that delightfuil word: "Finished" (John 19 v 30), then it is now possible to do all the great things the disciples did then.
But our God is a generous God. I know of a minister in a dutch church , who did not reckon with all these nice things, (but however: he was a good Christian), and a member of his church said: "Pastor...I am so sick. Come and annoint me with oil" as James 5 v 21 says: "Is anyone of you sick ? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and annoint him with oil in the name of the Lord".
The pastor took with him two elders and they went very shy, but praising the Lord to the sick person and did, what James said. And the sick person was healed.
But of course Els....people who have had such an experience, have to go on with these things. I do not know, whether this pastor did like this.
Wat bedoelt Job, wanneer hij spreekt, zoals in 1 v 21
Brother Ger, In the book of Job.1:21 what dose it mean Naked came I and naked shall I go dose it mean no cloths or something else.
My answer comes. G.
Dear Shennagirl,
I repeat what a famous dutch comment wrote about this vers (Job 1 v 21) "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised".... ................. Without any possessions Job came from the womb of his mother. Without any possessions he shall go to the earth , the womb of al creation. The same identification of ´motherwomb´and 'the earth as womb' you find in Psalm 139 v 13 - 15. Job acknowledges the absolute sovereignty of the Lord and hallows his name. He did not serve the Lord- as the big liar, the devil, suggested - for the profit, but for himself ! Deeply touched by the sovereignty of the Lord he is brought to worship. This is the nucleus of religion: worshipping of the sovereignty of God. ................ So ....the being naked has nothing to do with Job's birth an dying. It has a far deeper meaning: satan is a liar as far he said bad things about Job's religion. Job does not always hold up this firm attitude, see 3 v 1.; 9 v 22 and other places.
But in this all there is a lesson for us. Ephesians 5 v 20 says: "always giving thankings to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus". And Romans 8 v 28 adds: "And we know that in all things God works for the good those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".
I hope to have given some more answers than you asked.
Is de doop in de Heilige geest er alleen voor predikers en zo
Hello Elshevia,
Well...serie 1 is on its way. All the questions are due to come here in the future.
Now you asked:
I have found that the Annointing of the Holy Spirit, is only Present when ministering like Praying for others, or Comforting Is this correct.
No Elshevia, I don't think so. In the Old Testament it is often said, like in Numbers 11 v 25 about the seventy elders: "When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. You see as such , Numbers 24 v 2, 1 Chronicals 12 v 18, , 2 Chronicals 25 v 1 and other places.
Before the conquest of our dear Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit was only temporarily with some people, just as you think he is only now with us when we are praying for others or comforting.
But it is all more wonderful than you already think.
John 7 v 39 says: " By these words ( see before) Jesus meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been gloriefied".
Till the moment Jesus went to heaven to receive all the power in heaven and on earth on Ascension day the Old Testamentic situation remained.
But at 'the great evening meal' Jesus said: ( John 14 v 16): " And I will ask the Father , and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth".
And that is so full of splendour Elshevia. The Holy Spirit is with us. For ever and ever and ever....if we do not make that Spirit sad.
But if we are living with our Lord, the Holy Spirit gives us comfort in all situations. On the 26 th of Ocober my wife fell from the staircase and was very badly damaged. But in the first disastrous moment after that. I got a good advice in my heart: " Take notion of what is said in Psalm 50 v 23.There stands: "He who sacrifices thank offerings, honors God and he prepares the way so that I (God) may show him the salvation of God"..
On that moment I was not ministring and not praying, only panicing. But the Holy Spirit was then and there present.
Situation has a bit improved, but I think, my wife shall be in a nursing-home for the rest of her days, (she is 84), although she was only bruised and had nothing broken. But mentally she was already weakening and that process has got more momentum.
Thank God Elsehevia for the Holy Spirit, who is always with you.
By the way Els....I saw anywhere a question from you, whether it were possible that a person had the Holy Spirit in him and also a demon. Can you place this question in series 1.
Antwoord aan iemand, die denkt dat hij rechtstreeks contact kan hebben met God buiten Jezus om.
Hello Child of God,
You wrote important things, but - as far as I can see- you did not mention the name of Jesus, our Lord. The Bible says however these words:
(Of course you know John 14 v 6, where Jesus says): "I m the way ....and the truth.....and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
Now you say: - I want to be rich as Abraham - I want to be a prophet like Eliah - I want to be a blessed poet like David - I want to have the wisdom of Solomon. .....of course not that full measure, but something that goes into that direction.
But the bible says in Romans 8 v 29: "For those God foreknew he also predestinated to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers".
Now you can also have this wish: - I want to be a look alike to Jesus
And that is possible by the mercy and the grace of God. And all who want to do as such have the heavy but delightful task - to repent their sins - to hallow Lord Jesus that he wants to take the sins away from those who accept him as their way, their truth and their life. - to be not only converted in their soul, but also in their spirit, by following Lord Jesus, also through difficult ways. - to be 'reborn' by the steady reading of the bible, ( 1 Peter 1 v 23) -to let themselves baptize by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 19 and other places)
And that is the way to become like Jesus.
And then there are for you: - wisdom , more thans Solomon - richness, when God allows this to happen to you - prophecy, more than Eliah. ....together with persecution, (Mark 10 v 30).
Please go the way of Jesus Christ you all who hear this.
Struikelen komt in de bijbel soms voor in verschillende betekenissen
Originally Posted by Shennagirl Brother. Ger i was reading in Jeremiah in 46:6 talks about stumble. i don't understand .because in 1 peter 2:8 talks about stumble to are they the same or they different. please explain
Hello Shennagirl. Jeremiah 46 v 6 and 1 Peter 2 v 8 are two totally different places.
Jeremiah 46 v 6: "The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape. In the north by the river Euphrates they stumble and fall".
In Jeremiah there is talk of it, that Egypt , a very big world power in those days, will have a deciding defeat at Karkemis , (river Euphrates); they try to attack Babel, but it all ends in a horrible disappointment. "Their strong men do not escape from being killed, and their swift men cannot flee. They all are stumbling and falling.
Every bibletext has a learning for us. In my young days there was also a very great worldpower, very bad, The Nazikingdom in Germany. They planned to attact another wicked country ,. the Sovjet union, but at Stalingrad, the blossom of their sons was killed and that was the beginning of the end of Nazi- power. It will allways go like that, as it went with Egypt and later with Babel....and much later with Germany ...and just some years ago with the Sovjet union. All these powers, enemous to God, will fall.
And now for 1 Peter 2 v 8: "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall". They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also where they were destined for".
Jesus preached an evangely of the unvisible world, the world , where believers, filled with the holy Spirit, conquer satan in his own stronghold.
In old days there were the Pharisees, having a treasure in their hands, all the learnings of the old Testament. But when Jesus came, pointing to new ways, lying in the unvisisble world.... because they wanted to know only the visible world, they said "No". His heavenly words did not answer to their earthly expectations. He became for them a stone, that caused them to stumble and a rock that made them fall.
If they had said "Yes", then should have happened , what is said in v 9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God".
But because they did not want to accept the message of Jesus, now...for their own responsability...they are destined to fall further and further down.
This lesson for us: when we only accept Jesus for our salvation and when we don't want to accept anything more from him: - being reborn - being filled with the Holy Spirit - being filled with the gifts and the fruit of God the Holy Spirit, then we are in great danger to fall back under the constant attacks of satan.
So the great lesson is : not remain standing with conversion , but go ahead with rebirth and baptizm in the Holy Spirit.
Zijn er engelen der liefde, die je hart onderzoeken.
Re: Another Question
Originally Posted by Shennagirl A lady ask this Question?
Trust in me, That if you open your heart to God and Jesus, so shall the angels of love scan your heart and mind to see if you are ready to connect to God.
Where can you find that in the bible?
Dear Shennagirl,
Again I have to disappoint you. I can find this nowhere.
What I can find is this: (Colossians 2 v 18): "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about which he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions".
Those who speak of holy angels, scanning your heart, whether it is capable of connecting with God...those people are in fact- though they have mostly only good things in mind- worshippers of angels.
The Lord God himself scans the hearts of all people perpetuously, knowing on every moment, what we are doing or thinking or planning to speak. He even knows from eternity everything about us, when nothing was realized in our lifes of all things to happen, (Psalm 139 v 16). He does not need in his allpowerfulness: angels.
Angels indeed have tasks....given to them by the Lord. But they have not thís task.
Tell this lady, that only one name has been given(Acts 4 v 12): "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved, (The name of Jesus Christ) Tell this lady also that angels are SERVANTS of the Lord, but that mankind, turning to Jesus , is destinated to be SONS of God.
Quote: Originally Posted by Shennagirl Brother Ger. My daughter heard that being cremated is a sin. If so where is that at in the bible.
Hello Shennagirl,
Nowhere in the bible is standing that 'being cremated' is a sin. But in old Israel it was always a habit to be buried. And always, when the apostles are talking about dying, they get their examples from 'a burial'., ( 1 Corinth 15 v 42- 45).
Now you can say it is a good habit to bury dead people, but it is not good to say, that cremation is a sin.
An example: lately there was this question in Holland; "is smoking a sin". I have answered then: "No" pointing to Galatians 3 v 3: "Are you so foolish ? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort".
The Galatians were introducing all sorts of Jewish laws of not eating this or not drinking that or not doing this and not acting like that.
And in the early pentecostal times in Holland, there came already 'a new time' law: "Thou shalt not have a television". and: "You shall not read the Telegraph, ( a journal) and of course: "You shall not smoke". But soon we stepped down from those things as 'rules'.
Of coure it is bad to smoke, but we cannot win heaven by 'no smoking'. Of course it is no habit in Christian circles to be cremated, but you cannot go to heaven, because you have been buried instead of cremated.
Galatians 5 v 1: "It is for freedom, that Christ has set us free . Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a joke of slavery, : ( neither by self - 'fabricated' rules, not finding their firm cementing in the bible).
Originally Posted by suhasinijaiseelraj What is generational curses and how to recognise and how to overcome.
My dear Suhasini,
As always you will find the answer in the Bible. In Numbers 22 to 24 you read the story of Balaam , a very famous sorcerer . to whom was asked to speak out a curse over the Israelites. Now it is a long story. You should read it yourself, for it is tremendous. But God did not allow Balaam to speak out such a curse. In Numbers 23 v 23 Balaam calls out: "There IS no sorcery against Jacob no divination against Israel".
And God does not allow sorcery and divination against Chirstians, following Jezus Christ. - For in those days God's plan was: the Israelite people. He wished to bring them in his promised land and no sorcerer could hinder the plan of God - But now God's plan has gone forward as far as Jesus and he wants to bring his people of these days to the promised land of now, the heavenly Jerusalem.
And if you, Suhasini, love Lord Jesus and follow him, you are free from every sorcery against your family in the past.
Now we step off from John 3 and go discuss for some time terms like: "Born of God', an equivalent to 'being reborn'.
At first we arrive at 1 John 3 v 9:
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God".
And I add 2 vers 1 to it: " My dear children , I write this to you that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous one".
Of course it is like this, that someone , in who's ' inner person' by rebirth grows a new , heavenly nature, can fall in sin one day.
Originally is it is like this, that in our 'inner person' a tiger is living. The apostle Paul says things worthy of consideration about this in Romans 7. But...when new life is beginning to grow in us , there comes besides this devouring and annihilating tiger...... a complex of wrong thoughts , so close to our most deep ' ínner person', that it is nearly not te be separated from our spirit, although this should be and can be .....comes besides this tiger also a lamb of peace, joy and love.
And now this is the most desirable course of things: - we feed that lamb exuberantly with thoughts of peace and hail , of friendliness, goodness and truth. - and to the tiger we give....NOTHING
All my friends , who become aware by themselves that God is active to let them become reborn 'to al living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you"....(1 Peter 1 v 3 and 4) ...I send a call to them to give nothing to the tiger and EVERYTHING to the lamb. And if yet you get a gloomy, jet-black , joyrobbing thought, do then like this: chase it away immediately. Don't give an opportunity to this thought , to fructify your mind. For you know:James 1 v 14 and 15 say: "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (15) Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death".
But when you have given any room to such a bad thought,...what happens...then the black birds of evil no longer are flying over your head...no...they have made their nests in your hair.
Then turn to Jesus, our 'speaker' to the Father, confess that dark moment to him and....you can pursuit your way of rebirth. For a moment you have given to the tiger.... lying down quite limply .....something to eat. And at the same moment those eyes began shooting sparks and he rose on his feet. - But when you, as soon as you only were able, confessed everything to Jesus and asked him for force never to be so thoughtless an imprudent again - ...and when you thanked God , that he had shown to you weak spots in your character, where you were so fit to be drained off and so easily to be seduced , so that you could handle that more efficiently ... what happened ?:then the tiger fell to the ground again.. and now you can again go further with 'feeding the lamb'.
And once comes the time, that you are so vigilant, that - so to say- you cannot longer sin, because the seed of God constantly remains in you.
When is that time there . Well: that is not so soon: you know me as an 81 years-fellow, (now 85), who could be esteemed, to have conquered the devices of the devil meanwhile , being alert to them anyhow.
Now...this morning there came an unpleasant, annoying thought in me....´the black birds were flying again`.
And to you... my friends, I can tell this freely: just for a moment I gave room to this thought.
But ... quiet down: at the same moment I went to Jesus with this , my defendor, my advocate...and I have said: "Oh Lord...forgivance...do you want to pass the message to God, that I am so sorry for that. Please ; give me strength to be still more alert. Thank you Lord".
And...I could go on again with 'feeding and letting grow the lamb' ..
Quote: Originally Posted by Shennagirl Brother Ger. My daughter heard that being cremated is a sin. If so where is that at in the bible.
Hello Shennagirl,
Nowhere in the bible is standing that 'being cremated' is a sin. But in old Israel it was always a habit to be buried. And always, when the apostles are talking about dying, they get their examples from 'a burial'., ( 1 Corinth 15 v 42- 45).
Now you can say it is a good habit to bury dead people, but it is not good to say, that cremation is a sin.
An example: lately there was this question in Holland; "is smoking a sin". I have answered then: "No" pointing to Galatians 3 v 3: "Are you so foolish ? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort".
The Galatians were introducing all sorts of Jewish laws of not eating this or not drinking that or not doing this and not acting like that.
And in the early pentecostal times in Holland, there came already 'a new time' law: "Thou shalt not have a television". and: "You shall not read the Telegraph, ( a journal) and of course: "You shall not smoke". But soon we stepped down from those things as 'rules'.
Of coure it is bad to smoke, but we cannot win heaven by 'no smoking'. Of course it is no habit in Christian circles to be cremated, but you cannot go to heaven, because you have been buried instead of cremated.
Galatians 5 v 1: "It is for freedom, that Christ has set us free . Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a joke of slavery, : ( neither by self - 'fabricated' rules, not finding their firm cementing in the bible).
Antwoord op een vraag of er iets aan te doen is, dat de duivel het telkens weer probeert.
Hello Shennagirl,
They always try to come back. Yiou read this even in the history of Jesus. When the devil had given him all these difficulties in the desert and Jesus conquered , there is saidMatthew 4 v 11.: "The devil left him".
But...he came back, although Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit for the full 100%. You read that in Matthew16 v 23. When Peter became a temporary instrument of satan , saying: "Never Lord...this (the cross) shall never happen to you, ( 22), Jesus says: " Out of my eyes , satan".
Although you try to be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord to the utmost, the devil , who is absolutely lawless, will come back from time to time to tease you.
But you know wat James 4 v 7 says: "Resist the devil, ( of course in the name of Jesus)(Mark 16 v 17)...and he will flee from you".
But during all your fights you will become stronger and stronger.
How did you write this verey clearly: i will get all unfaithful thoughts against God.some fear will strike me. "will i see victory in my life" what will my son do. will i be put in shame? How to search a proper match for my daughter? will God give me long life. i feel satan is always tempting me one way or the other. I feel to over come all these fears, i need the touch of the Holy Spirit. please do, pray for me that all these fears should go away from me. and i should feel Gods presence all the days of my life. give me some encouraging words thank you
My reaction What can we do for you all of us with our hearts, burning for love for you. We understand this all so well, all of us: the fears, that can come up in the heart of a mother of children.
At first: satan is playing his part. What you however can know, is this: James 4 v 7 says; "Resist the devil and he will flee from you". Of course you do this in the name of Jesus.
But just herebefore Pastor David made me thinking of something else: Psalm 50 v 23 says; "He who sacrificies thankofferings honours God and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God". It is so very very good to praise the Lord God for his great deeds.
And now Suhasini, I pray for you. ............... Oh Lord God...in the name of Jesus: Here is Ger and he has Suhasini with him. You know Lord: Suhasini is in so many concerns: about her children ...and about herself. But now I ask you; will you on this moment take care of Suhansini and comfort her and make her glad and joyfuil with you. Will you give her peace and love in her heart. Thank you Lord.
Oh Lord, so many of our friends are now comforting with their prayers Suhansini.
And here is Suhasini herself.... (And now you can tell to the Lord everything I need not to know...) ............. Suhasini....do we hear more from you.
