Your Days are Numbered

The Bible compares the brevity (briefness or shortness) of life to:  

1. Wind JOB 7:7
2. Flowers that fade away PSA 103:15, ISA 40:6-8, 1PE 1:24
3. Grass that dies PSA 37:2, 1PE 1:24
4. Nothing PSA 39:5
5. Hired servant JOB 7:1
6. Cloud that vanishes JOB 7:9
7. A passing day JOB 8:9
8. Passing shadow JOB 8:9, 14:2
9. Swift ships passing on the sea JOB 9:26
10. Eagle hurrying to it's prey JOB 9:26
11. Dream JOB 20:8
12. Vision of the night JOB 20:8
13. Handbreadth PSA 39:5
14. Spilt water 2SA 14:14
15. Sleep that’s soon over PSA 90:5
16. Vanity (empty, futile) PSA 144:4
17. Vapor JAM 4:14. 

PSA 89:47  Remember how short my time is.

1CO 7:29   Brethren, the time is short.

PSA 90:12 Teach us to number our days.

You will know them by what they produce - Mat 7:16.

1.  Lazy Christian is idle & does not co-operate because of dislike for work.

PRO 21:25 The desire of the lazy kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.

HEB 6:12 Do not be not lazy, but be followers of them who through faith and   patience inherit the promises.

 

2.  Procrastinating Christian always puts things off until later, makes excuses & moves & acts slowly so that work is delayed

PRO 20:4 The sluggard will not plow because of winter; therefore he will beg in harvest and have nothing. The Christian’s sin is not always what they do wrong - but what they don’t do!

 

3.  Half-hearted Christian lacks force, passion, conviction & commitment

MAT 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

MAT 15:8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

 

4.  Indifferent Christian is apathetic; lethargic, unenthusiastic & lacks emotion, concern, or involvement, showing neither interest or dislike

REV 3:15 I know your (the church's) deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

 

5.  Double-minded Christian is unable to decide and stay with something; they are on again-off again as they fluctuate in their allegiance& beliefs 

JAM 1:6 He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 8  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

 

6.  Compromising Christian meets half-way or midway because of divided loyalty. They constantly make concessions that weaken their faith.

MAT 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

2CO 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

AMO 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are in agreement?

 

7.  Critical, murmuring and complaining Christian causes division and hinders others. 

1CO 10:10 Do not murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

 PHI 2:14 Do all things without murmuring and disputing (Israel constantly murmured against God & Moses!)

 

8.  Fearful, doubting, unbelieving Christian is skeptical & uncertain & lacks confidence in God& the promises in God’s  Word. Their fear, doubt& unbelief also paralyzes the faith others!  

MAR 16:14 Jesus appeared to the eleven…and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

MAT 21:21 If you have faith, and doubt not....22  all things, what ever you will ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

HEB 3:12 Beware, brethren, that none of you have a sinful heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. The remedy for fear, doubt & unbelief is faith!

 

9.  Lack of zeal/passion

TIT 2:14 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

REV 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

Time for judgment in God’s House

1PE 4:17 The time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  18  And If the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

 

Only Remedy for “All” of the above: REV 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. JAM 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

 

 

Friends

Friend: an associate; assistant; companion; supporter; buddy; pal; mate; one attached to another by affection & esteem; an intimate associate who encourages & supports; a trustworthy companion you can trust & confide in; a helper in a struggle or cause.

GOD IS ABRAHAM'S FRIEND: JAM 2:20-24  He was called the friend of God. 2CH 20:7 Jehoshaphat quoted God: "Abraham your friend for ever".

HOW TO BECOME GOD'S FRIEND: JOH 15:14  You are my friends, "IF" ye "DO" what I command you. JAM 4:4 Whoever will be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. 

BENEFITS OF HAVING GOD AS YOUR FRIEND: Knowledge of God: JOH 15:15  I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Having you prayers answered - LUK 11:1-13. 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FRIENDS... 

1.  WEALTH AND FRIENDS: PRO 19:4   Wealth makes many friends. 

2.  GOSSIP AND FRIENDS: PRO 16:28  A sinful man sows division: and a whisperer separates close friends. PRO 17:9    He that covers another's sins seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates close friends.  

3.  ANGER & FRIENDS: PRO 22:24  Do not make friends with an angry man; and do not associate with someone who gets angry easily or else you may learn his ways, and get yourself ensnared. 

4.  FRIENDS & CORRECTION: PRO 27:5-6   Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

PSA 141:5  Let the righteous smite me; it will be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it will be an excellent oil, which will not break my head.                          

5.  ADVERSITY & FRIENDS: PRO 17:17  A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. PRO 18:24  There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. "A true friend is one who walks in when others walk out." 

6.  FRIENDS & ADVICE: PRO 27:9   Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 

7.  MAKING FRIENDS: PRO 18:24  A man that has friends must show himself friendly. "There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for my friend" a man said, "and there's nothing my friend wouldn't do for me.  That's the way our friendship is.  We go through life doing nothing for each other!" "You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.  Which is just another way of saying that the best way to make a friend is to be one." 

8.  TREAT FRIENDS WELL: PRO 27:14  He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him. PRO 25:17  Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; so he does not grow weary of you, and hate you. PRO 27:10  Do not go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. 

9.  FRIENDS & INSPIRATION: PRO 27:17  As iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. "A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become and still encourages you to grow." 

10.  FRIENDS & BETRAYAL: PSA 41:9   Mine own familiar friend (Judas MAT 26:50; JOH 13:18), in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 

11.  FRIENDS & FAITHFULNESS: PRO 27:10  Do not forsake your own friend and the friend of your father.

12.  PRAY FOR YOUR FRIENDS: JOB 42:10 The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Purpose of the 8 Tongues of Spirit-Filled Christians

1. The Tongue of Baptism: Acts 2:4, 10:45-47

This tongue is the evidence that you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit... It is the first tongue that you receive... It is a sign that you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit... It is the initial physical evidence that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit. (It is never interpreted.)

2. The Gift of Tongues: I Cor. 12:10, 14:13-21, 14:26-27, Is. 28:11-12

This tongue is a message from God. It should be interpreted and should be used only when a member of the body of Christ is present that has the gift of interpretation. Tongues is not "confusion" in a service but complements, and many times confirms the preaching or teaching. The gift is always to be used with love and wisdom and never condemns. The Holy Spirit is to be in full charge of a meeting and never interrupts Himself.

3. The Unknown Tongue: I Cor. 14:2

This tongue is the language of divine communication between man and God, "Praying in the Spirit." No man can understand or interpret this tongue. When there are no words left to express your love to God the unknown tongue can speak for you. "Howbeit in the Spirit he speaks mysteries."

4. The Tongue of Self-Edification: I Cor. 14:4, Jude 20

This tongue edifies and builds up the faith of the believer.

5. The Tongue of Intercession: I Cor. 14:14

This tongue is when the Holy Spirit prays through us and intercedes on behalf of someone or something. Our understanding of this prayer is unfruitful.

6. The Tongue of Song: I Cor. 14:15

"I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also." If we desire, we can sing in tongues and we can sing with the understanding also. (Our own language)

7. The Tongue for a Sign to the Unbelievers: I Cor. 14:22

All tongues are a sign to the unbeliever and one of the main purposes of the manifestation of tongues is that sinners might see the supernatural in operation and bring them to a place of repentance.

8. The Tongue of Angels: I Cor. 13:1

This is when the Holy Spirit calls angels to Himself. The angels understand this tongue and usually it is manifested when protection is needed in an emergency.

Caution: Sickness Is Hazardous To Your Health!

Everyone must accept the responsibility to take care of their own health. To take care is to be careful, cautious, responsible, efficient, watchful, attentive, alert and diligent. Many people like to place the responsibility for their health on someone else. Responsibility is defined as having important duties to fulfill, accepting accountability to fulfill obligations, subject to an authority which may administer retribution in the event of failure, neglect or error. No one enjoys sickness, therefore each of us must use caution and accept the responsibility for our health. Sickness is hazardous to your health. A hazard is a source of danger or harm and sickness can often be a life-threatening hazard. If while driving a car you see a road sign informing you of hazards ahead you proceed with caution or take another route. Likewise, you should avoid health hazards and maybe look at taking another route. Some Christian's want their doctor, pastor, family or friend to take the responsibility for their health. God says you are responsible for your body. “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Every one of us will give an account of ourselves to God” 1TH 4:4; ROM 14:12. You do not own yourself, God does. “Do you not know that you are not your own? for you are bought with a price” 1CO 6:19-20. You do not own your body, God does. “For all things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” COL 1:16-17. You were created by God and for God.  You were created for the sole purpose of glorifying God and giving Him pleasure. “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” REV 4:11; PHI 2:13; 1CO 6:20. Show your love for God by taking care of your self by eating healthy foods, exercise, and proper rest. A disciple of Jesus Christ must be disciplined in every area of their life. 

Healing & Health is always God's will

If God is the same and hasn't changed then His will to heal the sick is the same and hasn't changed.  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. For I am the Lord, I change not” HEB 13:8; MAL 3:6. There is not one recorded case where Jesus or His follower’s had to seek God's will before healing the sick. This is because healing and health, not sickness, is always God's will. On two occasions Jesus said “I will” when asked to heal. The leper came to Jesus saying “Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” MAT 8:2-3. When the centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his paralyzed servant Jesus said “I will come and heal him” MAT 8:5-7. Jesus expressed God's will by saying “I will” heal. “God is no respecter of persons” ACT 10:34; ROM 2:11. He shows no favoritism, partiality or discrimination. If He healed the leper and the Centurion's paralyzed servant, He will heal all who come to Him today. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” JOH 6:37.  God is obligated to confirm His Word by healing those who come to Him. God's will is found in His Word, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.  Who healeth all thy diseases” EXO 15:26; PSA 103:3. Health is normal. The word “sick” is defined as: to be unwell, the condition of being ill, to suffer from or affected with physical illness. The word “disease” is defined as: a physical impairment that interferes with normal bodily function, the quality or state of being enfeebled and weakened in health. Both sickness and disease are abnormal. At Jesus' birth the angels revealed that God's will for man is only good. “Behold, I bring you good tidings (good news) of great joy, which shall be to all people. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will (good purpose) toward men” LUK 2:10; 2:14. Good news and good will or purpose for man surely cannot include sickness. Nothing evil or bad ever comes from God. Only good things come from God. “The Lord is good. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” LAM 3:25; JAM 1:17. God has given His greatest gift to all men, eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” ROM 6:23. Good health is a good thing from a good God! 

Blessings of Jesus’ death on the Cross

1. Cross defeated and disarmed satan: COL 2:14  Having cancelled the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was opposed to us, He took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross 15  And having disarmed principalities  and powers, He made a spectacle of them openly, triumphing over them by the Cross.    

2. Cross destroyed the power of sin: 1PE 2:24 He Himself did carry our sins in His own body on the Cross, that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness. ROM 6:6 We know our old self was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin. 7 For he who is dead is freed from sin. 

3. Cross imparts healing: 1PE 2:24 By whose stripes you were healed.  MAT 8:17 Himself took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses. 

4. Cross redeemed (rescued at a price) us from the curse: GAL 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse (cause of suffering & harm) of the law, by becoming a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangs on a Cross. 

5. Cross brings peace and reconciliation (restored fellowship) with God: COL 1:20 Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself. 2CO 5:18   God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.