This truth is so vital. So often, Christians still view God as a totalitarian judge. Nothing could be farther from the truth. When you look at Jesus, you are looking at the very face of God the Father. God made Himself known to us through Jesus. Jesus Himself answered the disciples when they asked Him to show them the Father:

“If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father,  and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.”

We read about the miracles of Jesus, the deliverance, the healings, the grace, all the answered prayers that made life better for those who asked and yet with God the Father we are unsure that He will do the same for us as individuals today. We claim we have faith yet tag on the religious stock retort: I know He’s able, if it’s His will.

I call that cop out or unbelief. Take your pick.

Show me where God says that in the gospels. I will show you… “Lord if you’re willing, you can make me whole” Lord’s reply: “I am willing.” And that is but one of many accounts of God’s willingness to help someone in need who came to Him in faith believing that He would.

Why do we question the heart and will of God? Why do we hope He’ll answer our plea instead of trusting in His answer and receiving it? Why do we tend to look at Jesus as “the good guy” and God the Father as “judge and gavel”?

It’s true! It’s how we approach Him sometimes. It’s how we act when we sin. How about rereading the prodigal son. That Father ran to meet his wayward boy when he came to him in repentance.  How much more is our heavenly Father waiting for us with open arms when we mess up and come to Him? We don’t need to go to God with a hung head, afraid to lift our eyes to His. We need to go to Him in faith, eager for His loving arms to enfold us and set us back on course. That is our God. That is His heart. We don’t go to Him to wait out punishment. We go to Him to be restored.

This is a message of repentance and how God responds to it. Repentance isn’t being sorry for what you’ve done, though it is true that we are.  Repentance is turning from what you’ve been doing and going a whole new direction. Repentance is all about running in faith to our loving Father for help and grace. It’s about empowerment and restoration. However, God can’t help us if we won’t receive His help. If we’re afraid or wary, suspicious or unsure of His love, we will never turn to Him and receive the very thing we need most.

Repentance requires that you retrain your heart to stop trusting self-inflicted guilt -as this is self righteousness-and that you start trusting Christ’s payment for your sin. Repenting also requires that you retrain your heart about what your heart believes is the best way to correct yourself and do better next time. Observe your reaction to when you do something wrong. Do you stay away from God? What gives you freedom to draw near to God again? Are you trusting the forgiveness of God because you made yourself feel bad for long enough? You should be trusting the forgiveness of God because of power of the cross and Jesus blood shed for you.

Repentance is all about turning and learning, growing and going- I’ve recognized my actions or thoughts aren’t lining up with the word of God. I’ve learned a lesson from this I won’t forget. I’m  humbling myself, doing things God’s way,  growing up spiritually and maturing as I turn from this and set my course in a new direction with God’s help. And all that in faith, trusting in your right standing with God through Jesus Christ.

Use thanks and praise to help your heart hear how good and safe it is to trust the cross of Christ. Listen to what you are thanking God about! The cross is more powerful than your sin. Thank the Lord  that you don’t have to put your faith in the severity of your self-condemnation but your faith is in the fact that your sin has been forgiven and because of that you can run to your Father with boldness to receive the grace and mercy and help you need! Biblical repentance is a more effective way to grow—a way of delight toward God—not of contempt toward yourself. You have to get to the heart of the matter—without self-condemnation. Delight in the fact that your Father loves you and can help you change!

My name is Kristie McLachlan and I spend a considerable amount of time writing Christian articles for the purpose of encouraging the body of Christ to come up higher, drawing nearer to the heart of God!

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

I must assure you that my purpose in writing this article is not to speak out against physical blessings but to bring clarity to what favor is all about. I truly believe that it is God’s desire for us to be blessed; however I feel that we have possibly mislabeled God’s favor as something simply intended to satisfy and meet our physical needs. We must learn to keep favor within proper context lest we cheapen God’s purpose for it to begin with and in doing so miss out on it all together.

Finding Favor

Let me ask you this question, if God never blessed you physically could you still be a recipient of favor? If your bank account and finances never increased could you still be a recipient of God’s favor? The correct answer is yes. We must realize that God’s favor is not always seen in the flesh but realized in the spirit. Many of today’s Christians are in a pursuit for something that they have possibly already had yet failed to recognize it because it didn’t come with a diamond or hood ornament attached.

Many preachers who have appealed to the natural desire to succeed in life have created a false sense of what favor truly is. With so many people declaring favor as something that is determined by outward possessions, we have conditioned Christians to work on acquiring the external factors of life while neglecting the internal things that matter most. We compare churches and ministries not on the content of their work but on the image they can portray. Pulpits have quickly become as competitive as franchise sporting events. After all, we must be the best and most successful so that people will see us as favored above others.

Joseph never succeeded because he was outwardly adorned with a coat of many colors. His true success was God’s favor that was upon his life even while being dismissed as one who was the least of them all.

The Purpose of Favor

Surely you have read Mathew 7:7, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye will find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  This powerful verse displays God’s unending desire to bless us. The only thing we must not forget is that God can only answer things that are according to His will. It’s not just a matter of knocking; it’s knocking on doors that he desires to open.  After all you can only open a door to someone if you’re behind it.

If we are going to truly receive favor then we must first understand exactly what it is and what it is not. It is not God’s way of lording one person over another, or lavishly blessing one of his children while his other children look on in want and need. Although favor can bring pleasure, it serves a greater purpose when it truly comes from God. Favor is a spiritual advantage for the purposes of expanding His kingdom, not for building yours.

While studying the Bible I have realized that its pages are filled with men and women who have operated under the manifest favor of God to accomplish great feats to advance His kingdom. In the overwhelming majority of these events the favor of God was not displayed as excess provision as much as it was supernatural intervention in the absence of provision. The widow who offered her last meal of grain to the man of God did not in return find her pantries over flowing with substance, but instead had supernatural access to daily provision.

Which of the following do you think is greater, wealth in the hands of the foolish, or a little in the hands of the wise? Realize that God does not have to saturate you with excess resources just to get a job done or to make others see you as a success. God’s greatest demonstration of power is not when he operates within the world’s views and standards, but when he defies them altogether.

His Favor in Action

Favor is not always in the ability to raise funds but in his ability to forgive debts. It’s my 30,000 mile tires running 55,000 miles. Its His protection against the snares and traps of the enemy of my soul.  It’s the joy in the midst of hardships that can’t be explained. It’s the peace that’s found in midst of the storms of life. If we truly desire favor and the joy of the Lord then we must realize first and foremost that it comes not from what he allows to pass through our hands, but what he passes through our hearts.

If we are ever going to make an impact in this world for Christ we will do it by the leading of his hand, and with a generous portion of God given favor. It might come as God given wisdom coupled with access to unlimited resources as it was with Solomon. It might come as supernatural advantage for promotion despite your enemies’ plans as it was with Joseph. It could possibly even be something as simple as a mere stone in the hands of a seemingly un-equipped child standing before a giant. Whatever it is, and however he chooses to manifest it in your life it’s still favor.

Desire God’s favor, pray for it and seek it with all of your heart. Not blessings, but favor. Not gifts, but spiritual gifting and abilities. Seeking those things that not only make a difference in your life but God given favor that allows you to make a difference in the lives of those around you. The kind of favor that leaves you amazed, when all the dust settles and leaves you repeating Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord.” Now that’s favor!

Dwayne Harris is the founder of Fresh Outpouring Ministries, Inc. and is an Evangelist and Missionary. He is an Ordained Minister within the Church of God of Cleveland Tenn. and the speaker of the “Message in a Minute” wed based devotional video series. For more information visit: http://www.freshoutpouring.com/

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Questions like these are asked by God’s children every day. Do not despair; God is gracious, kind, patient, and loves you infinitely more than we can humanly realize. Our hope is found in His Son, and our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Let us turn to the Book of Luke. We instantly find a story of both failure and hope. Peter wept bitterly after realizing that he had denied his Lord, Jesus. Although Peter had said he would never deny Christ.

“Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You! And all the disciples said the same thing” (Matthew 26:35).

You see, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples went against all he had boldly promised to Jesus in a face-to-face conversation.

“Then a servant girl, seeing him (Peter) as he sat in the firelight and gazing [intently] at him, said, This man too was with Him. But he denied it and said, Woman, I do not know Him! And a little later someone else saw him and said, You are one of them also. But Peter said, Man, I am not! And when about an hour more had elapsed, still another emphatically insisted, It is the truth that this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean! But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And instantly, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed” (Luke 22:56-60).

Many Christians today feel that due to past mistakes in their life they too have let Jesus down, and that they will never be used by God again. This is NOT the case!  After Peter’s failure (mistake), he learned much that would help him in the leadership responsibilities he soon would assume.  Thanks to the power and forgiving love of Christ, so can you.

The apostle Paul explained to Timothy that he himself was the “Chief of Sinners,” yet Paul went on to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. In Romans 7:14-25, Paul teaches us about struggling with sin, and how we may call upon Jesus to reconcile our past and even future mistakes before God. We are totally and perfectly justified by the blood Christ. God loves you immeasurably; for it is He who created you.

Know this, the devil is a cunning liar. He will do everything he can to make you feel as though your past mistakes have separated you from God forever. He will attempt to plant seeds of doubt in your heart in an all out effort to lead you into his trap of dark despair. In Jesus’ name, you can stand strong against the devil’s deceit by knowing that our God is our heavenly Father of second chances. By faith, you can know that God is for you, and no one can ever come against you.

“What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]“  (Romans 8:28-31).

Whenever you may feel as though God has abandoned you because of past mistakes, or sinful behavior, know by faith, “God will never leave you, nor ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Remember, we are not saved by our good works, but for good works. We are freely saved and forgiven by God’s glorious grace and tender mercies. Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When we approach our heavenly Father with a repentant heart, He will graciously forgive us all our sins,  never to be remembered again.  Therefore, the only time your past mistakes (sins) are remembered, is if and when you bring them up. God has cast them away forever; by faith, so should you.

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

I would encourage you to forgive yourself as you have been perfectly forgiven by God. You can wholeheartedly believe by faith that God has an excellent plan for you; regardless whether you feel that or not. God is faithful and for us; place every aspect of your future in Him. Trust God to give you His peace and rest. Pray fervently, wait patiently, and God will restore your every mistake into His perfect will for your life (Romans 12:2).

May almighty God be with you always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

When we get into trouble, one of the first things many of us do is complain and whine about what just happened. Complaining means that we are not happy with the situation and somehow think by telling others that we want something to change, it will instantly happen.

There is a big difference between an honest discussion of a given problem, and complaining about it. As you make the time to read through Psalms, you will begin to note that David and some of the other psalmists tell God about their troubles. (Psalms 5, 6, 10, 13, and 88). These individuals hold nothing back, nor should you. Although this may appear to be complaining , it actually is a very honest way to pray.

The motivation behind our complaining is the main point. Often times we complain about our so-called problems because we simply want attention from others. But sometimes we complain or ask God for help because we have made wrong choices, or gone in a wrong direction, and got ourselves lost. Our natural response is to ask God to get us out of it. It is true; God always listens to us. He knows that the solution is not found in His coming to the rescue. Some troubles and circumstances are best solved by being humble (not thinking less about yourself, but rather to, think of yourself–less) and admitting when we have made a wrong choice, or choices.

But, if trouble comes from people or situations that are outside of our scope of control, God is not only quick to hear, but also quick to answer. According to His Word, He will provide the internal resources necessary to handle the problem (Philippians 4:7, or 1 Corinthians 10:13). God never gets tired of hearing from you, and coming to your rescue anytime you do need His help.

May almighty God bless you abundantly,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

We can never afford to cut off the very supply line that God has chosen as the means to feed and guide us as we go forth to serve him. 

Take a few moments to consider the following truths as it pertains to prayer.

1. No prayer is bad prayer.

While teaching classes on prayer I have heard people say comments like, “I don’t really know how to pray.” or “I just don’t pray that well.”  They seem to use these arguments as some sort of excuse and justification for their absence of praying all together.  We feel inadequate to approach the God of all creation because we feel that we lack a necessary spiritual etiquette, or the ability to speak in proper King James English.  I have had people tell me that they have a hard time speaking to God because they don’t really comprehend or know Him, yet we seem to have no issues with driving up to the local fast food restaurant and confidently speaking through a tiny box to some person that we have never met before.

Rest assured there is no such thing as a good prayer or a bad prayer, there’s just prayer or the absence of prayer.  God truly desires to interact with us just as we are.  Your prayers are to be as unique and individual as you yourself.  We must realize that prayer is way too important for us to rule out its existence or down play its importance.  Many people only spend between two and five minutes a day in prayer and wonder why they don’t know God.

Imagine trying to nurture and grow your relationship with your significant other in that same fashion.  You would quickly discover that any relationship with such restrictions is doomed for failure.  Pray!  Pray often!  In fact follow his commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and “Pray without ceasing.”

2. Prayer was designed to be proactive not reactive.

Many people view prayer as something that is solely reactive.  In other words we tend to consider the need for prayer only when faced with a pressing need, or as a knee jerk reaction to obstacles and trials in our lives. We pull prayer out of the medicine cabinet like some kind of treatment for the ailments of life long after the symptoms have already set in. God would instead desire that we use it as a precautionary medicine to prevent the ailments in the first place.

Jesus was talking to his disciples after their failed attempt to confront and gain victory over a demon that possessed a boy telling them, “This type does not come out but through prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21  Now I would venture to say that the disciples were most likely doing a lot of prayer as they attempted to gain the victory over the enemies stronghold.  However, what Jesus was saying is that there is a clear difference in what can be achieved with responsive praying as opposed to proactive praying.

Long before Jesus would enter into the crowds to minister to others he could be seen slipping away so that he could spend time alone with His father in prayer.  It was this art of making prayer a proactive part of his life that allowed him to go forth with assurance, clear direction, and the strength to serve in power.

3. Prayer is about aligning ourselves with God’s will, not convincing him to align with ours.

Many people view prayer as simply a means of asking God for desired items.  It is as if he resides inside some magic lamp waiting on someone to summons him up so that he can grant them the wishes they desire.  Prayer is not just a tool used to petition God for ourselves, but a means by which we begin to align our hearts and minds with His and in doing so discover His perfect will for our lives.  This can only happen when we spend time in prayer without our preplanned agendas and wish list.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray he gave them a model of prayer that began with seeking God’s will, and concluded with the same.  In fact, nowhere in the Lord’s Prayer did Jesus focus on himself except in the basic request for just that portion needed to sustain him for the day. He wasn’t asking for a better house or better car.  He didn’t seek fame or fortune.  Perhaps the greatest thing that we can learn from the greatest example of prayer is that true satisfaction in life does not come when our will is sought after, but when God’s is.

When we spend time in the Lord’s presence in prayer and communication we begin to think as he thinks and see the world as he sees it.  It is then that our minds begin to mirror His and we start to understand and learn to truly pray His will.  Our prayers then become powerful intercessory tools as we become a conduit for what God truly desires to do through us.

Conclusion

In any conflict the first thing that is attacked by the enemy is the lines of communication.  Without the steady flow of valuable information and guidance the army will loose its effectiveness and ability to adequately give resistance.

We must not let the enemy shut down our communication with God by making us feel inadequate, or by telling us that there is no need to pray until problems arise.  In doing this we give him valuable ground in our lives.  We must also push away our selfish desires and pride and learn like Jesus to pray, “Not my will Lord, but yours be done.”  Perhaps as we become compelled to grow and spend time in prayer we will realize that we can move a lot farther in life on our knees than we ever can on our feet.  Go spend time with him today in prayer.  He’s waiting to hear from you.

“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart”
Jeremiah 29:13.

Dwayne Harris is the founder of Fresh Outpouring Ministries, Inc.  He is an evangelist and ordained minister within the Church of God of Cleveland, TN.  He has been active in pulpit ministry for over 10 years and works in full time Law Enforcement for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Dept. in Central Florida.

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Nature of and preparation for discipleship.

Christians are saved to serve (Eph 2:8-10). Humans cannot achieve or deserve conversion or discipleship. People become Christians on Christ’s initiative and have no reason to boast (Jn 15:16). Conversion leads to discipleship, the living out of God’s will. God provides enabling power for His people to do His will (1 Sa 30:3-8; Hag 2:4-5). Christians need the inner moral power necessary for living victoriously as obedient disciples (Eph 3:16; I Pe 4:11). Family and church have responsibilities to train young disciples toward maturity in Christ (Lk 9:2; 2 Ti 3:14-17).

Disciples become part of God’s holy priesthood as promised by Moses (Ex 19:6) and fulfilled in the church, the ideal Israel (1 Pe 2:9). All Christian disciples are brothers and sisters with free access to God (Mt 23:1-11) through Christ, our High Priest (1 Ti 2:5; Heb 10:19-22). We need no other Mediator. We have the responsibility to go to God and learn from God directly through Christ rather than depending on human intermediaries.

 All Christian disciples are God’s fellow workers. None is left out. All are needed. A witnessing and serving laity is essential to a functioning and growing church, as Acts illustrates. Women played an important part in the work of God in the past and should continue today (Ex 15:20-21; Jdg 4-5; Pr 31; 2 Ki 22:11-20; Mt 28:1-10; Lk 8:2-3; Ro 16:13).

Guidelines for discipleship. Discipleship occurs only under God’s leadership. He has provided leadership in the lives and affairs of His people throughout human history (Ge 12:1-5; 24:1-67; Ex 14:15-16). He provided basic guidelines for disciples through His covenant (Ex 19-24) in which He sought to establish His kingdom. Under the old covenant God made His will known by laws and prophets. Under the new covenant He makes His will known by His Son (Heb 1:1-2). Jesus said the only ones who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do “the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21). To be a Christian disciple demands a willingness to give up everything to experience the reality of the kingdom of God through the immediacy of Christ’s ruling authority. Being part of the kingdom means a life-evidencing repentance (Mt 3:2; 4:17).

Discipleship is living out the confession, Jesus is Lord. Disciples of Jesus extend the ministry He began by doing obediently what He commands. Discipleship involves hearing the teachings of Jesus as authoritative and following His commands (Lk 6:46; Ro 6:16). Christ exercises His lordship in the lives of disciples through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17, 20; 1 Co 6:19-20; Gal 5:16). When a person repents and makes a personal commitment to Christ by faith, Christ enters the heart in the person of the Holy Spirit and becomes guide, energizer, and enabler in the Christian life (Jn 16:13-14). Disciples also need human role models and spiritual leaders. Disciples do not seek out leadership positions but answer God’s call to them (Heb 13:7-17).

Purpose for discipleship. The first priority in a Christian’s life is to seek, find, and follow the will of God. That is the way the kingdom of God, His sovereign rule in His creation, is advanced (Mt 6:33). God’s purpose is that Christians will bear fruit. Bearing fruit is not a religious obligation; it is a natural result of conversion, submitting to Christ’s lordship, and following the Spirit’s leadership (Mt 7:16-20). Discipleship centers on love for God and for neighbor (Mt 22:37-40; Lk 6:27-35; Jn 17:26). Discipleship is a responsible stewardship of personal influence on other persons and on society (Mt 5:14-16). Discipleship is more than passive adoration of God. it is active involvement in God’s creation and Christ’s ministry (Lk 14:34-35; 2 Co 5:18-20). Discipleship does not seek out deserved rewards. Discipleship means doing all for God’s glory. Christians share with Christ in meeting needs of other people. The commendation of the Master is the most desired reward (Mt 25:21) God has promised to reward faithful servants (Eph 6:5-8; 2 Pe 1:10-11).

Focus of discipleship. Discipleship focuses on personal spiritual disciplines, such as Bible study, prayer, and worship, to train for service. At heart discipleship is the believer in action for God. God’s will for Christian service is as broad as human need. Discipleship involves evangelism and missions as described in separate articles. God wants all material needs met for every person He creates. The Bible describes ministry to the poor and needy (Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21; Lk 11:41); hungry (Lk 1:53; 9:12-17; Ro 12:20); homeless (Ex 22:21; 23:9; Lev 19:33-34; Nu 15:15-16); oppressed (Mt 9:36; Mk 12:38-40); sick (Mt 10:8; Lk 9:1-6; Jas 5:14-16); handicapped (Mt 15:30-31; Lk 14:13); and the fallen (Jn 4:1-42; 2 Co 2:5-11; Gal 6:1-2). In principle discipleship involves creatively meeting any need another person has (Lev 19:1-2, 9-19; Lk 4:18-21).

 The importance of ministry to human needs was made clear when Jesus said it would indicate qualification for blessing or rejection on the day of judgment and the great separation (Mt 25:31-46).

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

1952   Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64—April 17, 1952).

1988   Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer  – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307. January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).

1998  Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

The National Day of Prayer is Significant

The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation. It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Last year, local, state and federal observances were held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds in prayer for our nation. It is estimated that more than two million people attended more than 30,000 observances organized by approximately 40,000 volunteers. At state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls, and in schools, businesses, churches and homes, people stopped their activities and gathered for prayer.

The National Day of Prayer is Ours

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. Mrs. Shirley Dobson, NDP chairman, reminds us: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”

History Summary

1775 – The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer
1863 – Abraham Lincoln called for such a day.
1952 – Congress established NDP as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman (82-324)
1988 – The law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May (100-307).

Fun Facts

1. The President of the United States has called for a National Day of Prayer every year since 1975.
2. There have been 135 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting and thanksgiving by the President of the United States (1789-2009).
3. There have been 57 Presidential Proclamations for a “National Day of Prayer” (1952-2009).
4. Gerald Ford (1976) and George H. Bush (1989-91) are the only U.S. Presidents to sign two National Day of Prayer Proclamations in the same year.
5. Every President since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
6. 33 of the 44 U.S. Presidents have signed proclamations for National Prayer. Four of the Presidents who did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office.

You may get more details about the National Day of Prayer 2010 by visiting:
http://nationaldayofprayer.org/

May almighty God bless you always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

When it comes to volunteering with a Christian program, you will find that you have a number of different options. For starters, it is actually important to mention that you do have another option, as opposed to volunteering. Although many Christian programs would welcome your support and ideas with open arms, many can also benefit from donations. These donations may include financial donations, food donations, clothing donations, and so forth. As important as volunteering is, if you are short on time, you may want to consider making a contribution to a Christian program or charity in your name.

Returning back to volunteering, if you decide to volunteer, you will need to find a Christian program or organization to offer support to. This is where many have a problem, as you, literally, have an unlimited number of options. That is why you should first take the time to examine all of your options. If you want your time or your money to be put to the best use possible, you will want to research a number of different Christian programs and organizations before making your finial decision. Although you will find a large number of different organizations to choose from, you will find two main types. Those types are local Christian programs and online Christian programs.

Online Christian programs come in a number of different formats, but they are often ones that offer online support. For instance, many online Christian programs are set up so that those having problems with school, work, or marriage, can join others online and discuss their problems. If you are interested in working in this type of capacity, you may find yourself working as an advisor or a mentor. There are also online Christian programs that use online marketing programs to raise money, clothing, and other items for those in need. You can offer your assistance in the form of passing along emails, writing press releases, and so forth.

Perhaps, the greatest benefit of using the internet to volunteer is that you can reach a large number of people. The internet also enables many to “hide,” their identities. This is ideal for those who may be embarrassed or ashamed of their money or martial problems. Another benefit to offering support to an online Christian organization is the ease. If you often find yourself limited on time or if you have transportation issues, volunteering in an online capacity may be best for you. You may be asked to attend a few meetings or a few events, but you will find that participation isn’t always required, especially if you are not local.

Speaking of local, there are even more benefits to volunteering with a Christian program that is locally operated. One of those benefits is that you have the ability to help those in or around your community. This is ideal, as you will be helping local residents first. Of course, you may want to try and reach as many people by way of the internet, but you may first want to focus on own community. This may give you a sense of pride especially when seeing those that you may have helped.

As previously stated, there are a number of benefits to volunteering with both local and online Christian organizations. With that in mind, you may first want to speak with your church congregation, particularly your church leaders. Your church may already sponsor a Christian organization or program or they may be interested in doing so. If so, you may want to see what you can do to help. The goods news is that you will be working side by side with your other congregation members.

God’s blessings and joy always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

In His infinite wisdom, Jesus chose to use dedicated followers, His disciples, to carry the message of salvation to all peoples of the world. He included this as a command in His last words before His ascension to heaven: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Making disciples is important because it is the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. During His public ministry, Jesus spent more than three years making disciples—teaching and training His chosen twelve. He gave them many convincing proofs that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah; they believed on Him, though imperfectly. He spoke to the crowds, but often He drew the disciples aside privately to teach them the meaning of His parables and miracles. He sent them out on ministry assignments.

He also taught them that soon He would be returning to His Father following His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; John 12:23-36, 14:2-4). Though they could not comprehend it, He made the disciples this astonishing promise: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Jesus also promised to send His Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-17).

As promised, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power on the believers, who then were emboldened to speak the Good News to everyone. The remainder of the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of all that was accomplished through them. In one city the opposition said, “These who have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6 KJV).

Multitudes placed their faith in Jesus Christ, and they also became disciples. When strong persecution came from the false religious leaders, they dispersed to other areas and continued to obey Christ’s command. Churches were established throughout the Roman Empire, and eventually in other nations.

Later, because of disciples such as Martin Luther and others, Europe was opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Reformation. Eventually, Christians emigrated to the New World to make Christ known. Though the world still is not completely evangelized, the challenge is as viable now as ever before. The command of our Lord remains – “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

The characteristics of a disciple may be simply stated as:

• One who is assured of his salvation (John 3:16) and is activated by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27);
• One who is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18); and
• One who shares Christ’s burden for the lost souls of men and women. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Blessings and God’s peace always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
ChristianTimes Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

Christian Contributor: D. Michael Henderson

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we be in the Word daily—studying it, praying over it, and obeying it. In addition, we should always be ready to give testimony of the reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to disciple others to walk in His way.

According to Scripture, being a Christian disciple involves personal growth characterized by the following:

1. Putting Jesus first in all things (Mark 8:34-38). The disciple of Christ needs to be set apart from the world. Our focus should be on our Lord and pleasing Him in every area of our lives. We must put off self-centeredness and put on Christ-centeredness.
2. Following Jesus’ teachings (John 8:31-32). We must be obedient children and doers of the Word. Obedience is the supreme test of faith in God (1 Samuel 28:18), and Jesus is the perfect example of obedience as He lived a life on earth of complete obedience to the Father even to the point of death (Philippians 3:6-8).
3. Fruitfulness (John 15:5-8). Our job is not producing fruit. Our job is to abide in Christ, and if we do, the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit, and this fruit is the result of our obedience. As we become more obedient to the Lord and learn to walk in His ways, our lives will change. The biggest change will take place in our hearts, and the overflow of this will be new conduct (thoughts, words and actions) representative of that change. The change we seek is done from the inside out, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t something we can conjure up on our own.
4. Love for other disciples (John 13:34-35). We are told that love of other believers is the evidence of our being a member of God’s family (1 John 3:10). Love is defined and elaborated on in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. These verses show us that love is not an emotion; it is action. We must be doing something and involved in the process. Furthermore, we are told to think more highly of others than of ourselves and to look out for their interests (Philippians 2:3-4). The next verse in Philippians (verse 5) really sums up what we are to do when it comes to everything in life: “our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” What a perfect example He is to us for everything we are to do in our Christian walk.
5. Evangelism – Making disciples of others (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to share our faith and tell nonbelievers about the wonderful changes Jesus Christ has made in our lives. No matter what our maturity level in the Christian life, we have something to offer. Too often, we believe the lie from Satan that we don’t really know enough or haven’t been a Christian long enough to make a difference. Not true! Some of the most enthusiastic representatives of the Christian life are new believers who have just discovered the awesome love of God. They may not know a lot of Bible verses or the “accepted” way of saying things, but they have experienced the love of the living God, and that is exactly what we are to share.

Blessings and God’s peace always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
ChristianTimes Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

Christian Contributor: D. Michael Henderson

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Christian Times Online
Weekly Christian eBusiness Newsletter ©
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ISSN 1541-5422 – Circulation: 83,760

Sunday, March 14, 2010
Greetings!

Welcome To This Week’s E-dition!

We’re “LIVE” – on the NET!
Please visit Christian Times Online:
http://www.christiantimesnewsletter.com

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In This Week’s E-dition – Christian Times

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[|>  ON THE COVER
Publisher Notes

New No-Cost Audio Marketing Mediums

Tony Marino
Executive Publisher

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Marketing Radio Series - March 2010 - NEW!

Marketing Antics Live!
Radio Show
Live From the Portland Marketing Promenade

Plus, All-New eMarketing News & Reviews
Hosted By: Tony Marino, Executive Publisher

Click Here to Listen Now! (Enjoy Our "Playerless" e-Radio
System)
http://radio.christiantimesnewsletter.com

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[|>  PAGE 2
Work By Faith

Getting Lucky With Systematic Marketing
Charlie Cook

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eBusiness Women

Have You Captured Me Today?
Alexandria K. Brown

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[|>  PAGE 3
Weekly Inspirational

Covered by Wings of Love
Mary K. Cannon

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eBusiness Ethics

Give an Entrepreneur a Break
Cathy Bryant

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[|> ON THE COVER
PUBLISHER NOTES

Inner-Circle Insights

New No-Cost Audio Marketing Mediums
 
Tony Marino
Executive Publisher

Greetings!

New innovations for "getting the word out" are popping up on the
"dance floor" nearly every day. Today, I want to share with you a
proactive online audio platform developed nearly two years ago by
the guy who founded Blog Talk Radio, Alan Levy. This audio medium
is simply called, "Cinch."

"Cinch" is a no-cost (other-than-time) web/phone application that
allows you, the producer (marketer) to easily record an audio
message that instantly becomes embedded into your own Cinch
account's web page; and can immediately be syndicated to both
your Twitter and Facebook audience (followers/friends/prospects).

I use "Cinch" to do short "Cinchcasts" such as "You Daily Word"
and the "Daily Marketing Minute." Both can be heard at:
http://www.CinchCast.com/tony-marino

I would encourage you to take a close look at "Cinch" for
yourself; keeping an open mind and asking yourself how you too
might deploy audio messages to help get the "buzz" started for
your business. It's fun, easy, and effective.

Happy Marketing!

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder/Executive Publisher
Christian Times Newsletter

Founder, CEO
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesNewsletter.com

PS. Marketing Antics Live... Join Us!

I encourage you to check out our new Portland Radio Talk
Show (even call in live during the show as the show is an
online simulcast, too) and take full advantage of the many
complimentary marketing gifts and resources that can be
found across the Marketing Antics', Web Platform. 

After all, knowledge and inspiration are power!

Marketing Antics Live!
Join us LIVE!
http://radio.christiantimesnewsletter.com

Tony Marino is on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/tonymarino

Christian Times Online is on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/ChristianTimes

Your Daily Word - Radio Devotional:
http://dailyword.christiantimesnewsletter.com

Daily Marketing Minute - Christian Business Radio :
http://marketingminute.christiantimesnewsletter.com

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Your Daily Word - March 2010 - NEW!

Your Daily Word Radio
Live from the Portland to over 80 countries!

Plus, All-New Christian features 24/7
Hosted By: Tony Marino, Executive Publisher

Click Here to Listen Now!
(Enjoy Our "Playerless" e-Radio System)
http://dailyword.christiantimesnewsletter.com

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[|> PAGE 2

WORK BY FAITH

Getting Lucky With Systematic Marketing
Charlie Cook

I got a call from Barbara at the Association of Management
Consultants wanting to know whether I was interested in
running a marketing workshop for their members.  I asked how
she had gotten my name; Barbara told me Jeff had referred
me.  When I mentioned that I had met Jeff over two years
ago, Barbara said that I sure was lucky he still remembered
me.

Luck had nothing to do with it.  Jeff asked to be put on my
mailing list after we meet.  He gets my weekly ezine, full
of
marketing ideas he can use.  Over time, I've demonstrated my
expertise to Jeff and he trusts me enough to refer me as a
speaker.

Are you relying on luck to get people to remember you?

When Jeff had a need or when someone he knew wanted an
expert in marketing, my name came to mind.  Why?  Because I
have a SYSTEM for promoting my marketing products and
services that helps people remember me when they have a
need.

Do you have a system that generates a steady stream of
clients?

Over the years I've perfected a marketing strategy that
generates a steady stream of prospects, clients and income.
It is based on five core marketing principles and associated
marketing tactics.

Why use a marketing system?

When you have a system, each one of your marketing efforts
works to support your other marketing efforts.  Each action
you take builds on the previous action.  Your marketing is
cumulative.  In my case this means that each month, I have
an
additional thousand or more qualified prospects interested
in my services and products.

What are some of the elements of a successful marketing
system?

1. Attract Attention

Learn how to explain what you do so that people quickly see
how you can help them.  All you need is a one-sentence
description of who you help and the problem you provide; a
marketing message or elevator speech.  Use it on your
business card, in your brochures, on web site and in your
ads.

2. Establish Your Credibility

Provide proof of how well your services and products work.
Testimonials describing results work well.  Articles, case
studies and helpful tips show people how you think and how
you can solve their problems.

3. Prompt Qualified Prospects to Contact You

Use your frëë report, test drive, workshop, etc. to prompt
prospects to give you their contact information.  If they
read your ezine, or visit your web site, give them a reason
to tell you what they need and want so you can contact them.

4. Stay in Touch

Whether a prospect came to you as a result of an ad,
referral, web search, or a mailing, regularly send them mail
or email and demonstrate your expertise with ideas they can
use.

5. Educate Your Target Market to Create Demand

One of the biggest barriers to sales is that your prospects
don't know you, the range of your services you provide, or
why they need your products and services.

Prospects won't hire you if they don't understand the need
or the benefit.  Use your regular communication to educate
prospects about the problems you solve and to create a
perception of need on their part and then they will want to
use your services.

Still waiting to get lucky with your marketing?  Use a
systematic approach to marketing your business and generate
a steady and reliable stream of clients and customers.
The author, Charlie Cook, helps service professionals and
small business owners attract more clients and be more
successful.
Sign up for the Frëe Marketing Plan eBook,
'7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business'.
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com

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eBUSINESS WOMEN - SPECIAL FEATURE AT "CHRISTIAN TIMES'

Have You Captured Me Today?
Alexandria K. Brown

There are many Web sites I visit every day and will probably
never return to again.  It's not that I didn't like the
site, or that I wasn't interested in the topic, services, or
products offered.  It's just that I wasn't ready to take
action right now.  So I clicked away and will probably
forget about them.

The danger of this happening at YOUR site is that you just
lost a great prospect. After all, I'm pre-qualified.  I was
already interested in what you had to offer.  I likely found
your site via a search engine, Web directory,
advertisement, article, or another promotion.  I clicked
through to your site because I wanted to learn more.

But studies reveal that I'm most likely NOT going to take
action the first time I visit your site.  Have you heard the
statistic that it takes about *seven* contacts before
prospects are ready to buy? (That's a lot of times!)

So how can you get the chance to contact me another *six*
times?  The answer is to CAPTURE me then and there -- that
is, get my e- mail address.  To do this, you'll have to
offer me something valuable in return.  If you just tell me to
'sign up for our mailing list,' you're not going to get
squat.

So what can YOU offer me? Here are some ideas that have been
proven to work when done well.  Of course, the *content* for
all of these should tie-in to your business focus:

1. A Free Mini e-Mail Course

These are becoming very popular right now.  You simply
create a few e-mails' worth of content to spread out over a
certain amount of days.  You'll need an e-mail autoresponder
to do this, which allows me to sign up for your course
automatically.

Many sites  seem to offer five- or seven-day courses, and
many of them are awful.  So here's a chance for YOU to stand
out: Make sure yours offers really useful or interesting
content that's more 'how to' than salesy.

Then in the last e-mail, tell me how your services/products
will further help me -- lead me on to the next step.

2. A Free Ezine (e-mail newsletter)

If you can produce new content on a regular basis, this is
your BEST option, because you're receiving permission to
contact me (and market to me) again and again!  You'll
always be on my mind.  And if you're a solo professional who
is marketing your own services, this gives you *multiple*
chances to prove your worth and gain my trust over time.

The only drawback to this option is that publishing an
e-zine requires a good amount of time and effort on a
regular basis, but the rewards will be worth it.

3. A Special VIP/Promotion List

If I like what I see, and you give me the chance to receive
*special offers* that will save me money at your site, I'll
be sure to sign up for your list.

For example, one site I love buying from is
http://www.BlueFly.com.  They offer designer clothes and
accessories (e.g. BCBG, Fendi, Prada - I'm salivating right
now!) at discount prices with exceptional customer service.
Throughout their site and when you place an order, there are
invitations to sign up for 'discounts, exclusive offers, and
first looks.'

Count me in!

4. A Free Special Report or e-Book

Here's another neat idea -- give people a special report or
short e-book related to your topic of interest.  Not sure
where to start?  Try a top-10 list of tips, a list of
relevant resources, or a collection of articles you've
already written.

The more 'how-to,' the better -- give me real, useful
information.  But of course make sure it implies that YOU
and YOUR BUSINESS are the best resource in the end.  This is
a delicate balance to achieve, but it's not as hard as you
may think.  And at the end of your  content, tell me how
your services/products will further help me.  (Again, lead
me on to the next step.)

5. Don't Forget To Follow Up!

Once you capture a list of prospects, you'll need to contact
them again.  We'll cover the art of follow up in an upcoming
article.  Of course, if you're publishing an e-zine, that's
already set. (Hooray for e-zines!)
Alexandria K. Brown, 'The E-zine Queen,' is author of the
award- winning manual, 'Boost Business With Your Own
E-zine.' To learn more about her book and sign up for more
FREE tips like these,
Visit her site at http://www.ezinequeen.com

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Premium Newsletter Advertising Opportunity!

If you wish to take total advantage of and
significantly increase the power of your advertising
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[|> PAGE 3

WEEKLY INSPIRATIONAL

Covered by Wings of Love
Mary K. Cannon

On a rainy day, cool and damp
my eyes beheld a beautiful sight
As the mother hen covered, her six chicks
under her wings with pure delight

I could not move for it touched me so
watching as the rain drops fell from the sky
in how she patiently sat, forgetting herself
giving her young a place to hide

Oh how she catered to their every whim
while her feathers got soaking wet
What care she showed to her young chicks
but, still her chore wasn't over yet

She stayed right there as the rain came down
as they took turns ducking in and out
each running for cover beneath her wings
without one worry or any doubt
that they were being well cared for
by their mother that showed her love
and they had no fear for she stayed near
to be a cover from the rain above

How much more our heavenly father will do
when we need shelter and a place to hide
will he not also cover us too
when we need him to be by our side

Will he not spread his wings of safety
when our rain filled troubles fall
and shield us while we are going through
will he not hear us when we call

My heart has felt his awesome love
on this cool and rainy day
and in giving me this warm insight
in such a marvelous way
 

***********************************************************

If you have a special prayer request or message to share
with others, please let us know.  We also thank you in
advance for your prayers for us, too.

mailto:members@christiantimesnewsletter.com

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eBUSINESS ETHICS

Give an Entrepreneur a Break
Cathy Bryant

Why do any of us choose to work from home?  The answer to
that question is as diverse as the individuals who call home
their workplace.

For those of us who have chosen to market online, this
question has many answers.  But ultimately, everyone who
works at home - online or off - has the same goal.

To make money.

For some reason, however, those of us who choose to do it
online are often perceived as being greedy.

Let me elaborate.

Over the last few weeks, I've corresponded with several
online colleagues who have indicated that they've actually
been questioned or even criticized by individuals who feel
it's somehow "unfair" for them to ask for money in exchange
for their information product.

As if that was some sort of crime.

Now, I suppose that the proliferation of scamsters online
can indeed make people somewhat skeptical.  That's the
reason that having a mailing list or newsletter is so
important.  There's no question that marketing online does
have an impersonal nature to it.  And, if a consumer isn't
careful, he or she can be taken.

Another reason for this attitude, however, is that the
internet is still perceived by some as a great gift that
they are entitled to.  That any information they want should
be handed over to them without question - and without any
compensation on their part.

Well, certainly a lot of information is online - if you are
willing to spend months and even years (not to mention cold
hard cash) to accumulate the knowledge and experience that
those who have put these products together have done.

So why shouldn't they be compensated for it?

If someone were to walk into a bookstore, stroll up to the
checkout counter with a stack of books, and tell the clerk,
"I want to get all these books, but I don't want to pay  for
any of them," you'd think they were nuts.

So I ask you - what's the difference online?

Here's one big difference - and one not at all favorable for
the much-maligned online information marketer.  Keep in mind
that these same honest, reputable marketers who have put
tremendous effort into producing their own products have
offered their products with an unconditional money-back
guarantee as well.

And when people ask for their money back (unlike in the
offline world) they can get it WITHOUT RETURNING THE
PRODUCT.

So who's being scammed now???

I see changes - lots of changes - on the horizon for those
who provide information products online.  More and more of
these individuals have their products on a secure site that
denies continued access should the purchaser request a
refund.  I even purchased an ebook recently that uses a
system which "locks" the book when a refund is given.

This is just as it should be.

Why should someone who has invested the time to create an
information product and invested money to market it NOT be
expected to be compensated for it?

No reason at all.
Cathy Bryant wants to help you discover the home business
that is perfect for you.  Her newsletter and website
features many resources and ideas to help you generate a
home-based income. Her newsletter is ad-free and full of
useful information to help you succeed.
http://www.homebizjunction.com

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[|> PAGE 4

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CHRISTIAN CLASSIFIEDS
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[SPECIAL] – [Publisher Note - Classifieds]

Hello!

Believe it or not, I read and look at each Sponsor offering.
I often find many incredible products and services or my
business.  As a matter of fact, I make every attempt to buy
from our sponsors first.

Remember, when you give first, most people will follow in
return.  I strongly believe that everyone can benefit from
anyone.

Let’s continue to focus on teamwork!  There is no “I” in
“TEAM”.  Why not make your e-business a win-win endeavor.
God knows you have put your heart, soul and money into it!

I wish you ever-continuing success, one day at a time!

All the best,

Tony

___________________________________________________________
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Summary:

In large segments of the Christian Church today, there has developed the practice of ordaining women as ministers and placing them in positions to lead, teach, and preach to assembled congregations of both men and women. The ordination of women pastors has become increasingly commonplace. And the ordination of women as prophets and even as apostles, although not yet common, is far from being rare. In contexts ranging from local churches to large Christian conventions, women ministers routinely teach and preach to mixed congregations of men and women.

The New Testament reveals a wide variety of spiritual gifts and ministries for Christian women. I have written on this in another Bible study entitled Women’s Ministry in the New Testament. I concluded that study by listing two primary ministry areas that the Lord has specifically reserved for men: that is, (1) teaching men, and (2) leading or having authority over men. This is unequivocally stated in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 — “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

The context of that divine instruction from the apostle Paul was ministry in and leadership of the Christian Church, as the apostle in the very next chapter wrote: “…I am writing you these instructions so that … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God…” (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

I invite you to join me in an examination, in the light of Scripture, of many of the contemporary arguments being set forth for the practice of ordaining women ministers and having them lead, teach, and preach to men. My hope is that this Bible study will help serious inquirers to draw their conclusions on this much-debated subject from the clarity of Scripture, rather than the trends of modern society.

Argument #1: “We must recognize giftedness — those God-given spiritual abilities that God has given women.”

A Biblical Response: Of course we should! We ought to thank God for all cases of His Holy Spirit’s enabling of us. However, discerning that God has given spiritual gifts to a woman does not lead to the conclusion that we should therefore ordain her to an Ephesians 4:11 “fivefold” ministry or to eldership in the local church. God’s Word has declared, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17). But the same Word of God, the Bible, declares, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12). Spiritual giftedness in a Christian woman does not confer upon her authority to lead and teach men.

•• Acts 21:8-11 records an excellent illustration of this. The apostle Paul was staying at the home of Philip the evangelist (vs. 8), who “had four unmarried daughters who prophesied” (vs. 9). This spiritual giftedness did not make them Ephesians 4:11 prophets! In fact, God wanted to speak a major prophetic word to Paul in that very home. Bypassing the daughters who had the gift of prophecy, God brought up from Judea “a prophet named Agabus” (vs. 10), who proceeded to speak a major revelation concerning the apostle’s future.

•• Giftedness must not be confused with authorization. Allow me to use myself for a natural illustration of this point. I hold a commercial pilot’s license with multiengine and instrument ratings. However, when I board a commercial airliner, what I do not do is turn left into the cockpit and say, “Move over, my friend; I am capable of flying this plane.” No! I may have the “giftedness”, but I do not have the authorization.

• My having the giftedness, the ability, to fly a plane does not give me the authority to take over the authorized pilot’s and copilot’s roles. Likewise, a Christian woman’s spiritual gifts and abilities are not authorization to teach and lead men contrary to 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and other verses that we will examine. In sum, being qualified to do something is not the same as being authorized to do it. God has given a wide variety of spiritual gifts to women of faith. But none of those spiritual gifts grants permission to violate the clear statements of Scripture that the roles of leading men and teaching men are reserved biblically for men.

•• I have extensively read or listened to bible studies and sermons by men favoring the ordination of women. A common denominator in these messages has been a lengthy listing of the many gifted, spiritual women of the New Testament. To that I would say a hearty ‘amen’. There is no question that the New Testament names a considerable number of spiritual women. However, many of those same writers and preachers then, without Scriptural support, leap forward to the antibiblical conclusion that gifted women must then necessarily be qualified to be ordained ministers. However, there are no New Testament verses which support that conclusion, but many which place men only in those ordained ministry roles of New Testament leadership, preaching, and teaching to the entire congregation.

Argument #2: “Sister ___ is not usurping authority over men by preaching to the assembled church, because the church’s pastor has delegated authority to her to do this.”

A Biblical Response: That is exactly what the apostle Paul told Pastor Timothy NOT to do! The precise biblical prohibition reads: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.” I pastored two local churches, in New York and in Oregon, for 22 years. In my pastoral role, I feared God too much to say, “Well, Lord, I’m going to delegate authority to this woman to preach on Sunday, even though you had Paul write that this is something women are not permitted to do.” Any pastor who has used that rationale, I would suggest, is standing on thin ice biblically. How can pastors or elders authorize women to do what the Bible tells women not to do?

•• It is commonly understood that the seven letters in Revelation 2-3 were written to the individual “angelos”, the senior minister of each of those seven churches. Of great relevance to this pastoral-delegation argument is the letter in Revelation 2:20, KJV to the leader of the church in Thyatira — “I have a few things against thee [singular, the pastor], because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication…”

• Jesus rebuked the pastor of the church in Thyatira because that pastor “…[permitted] that woman Jezebel … to teach” the church and through her teaching to lead them into sin. Pastors and elders are to safeguard the church. The Thyatiran pastor failed to do so, and was rebuked, because against the command of Scripture he had permitted this woman Jezebel to have a teaching influence upon the congregation. Pastors, please! … obey the word of God and do not facilitate the antibiblical practice of women teaching men and leading men in the churches.

Argument #3: “We believe that particular Scripture [in First Timothy or in First Corinthians (see below)] is just situational or simply a local cultural instruction.”

A Biblical Response: If the direct context and surrounding verses make it plain that a verse is related to a unique situation, then that is an understandable argument. A good illustration of this would be the prophet Nathan’s exposure of King David’s adultery (“Thou art the man!” — 2 Samuel 12:1-7). That is clearly a unique situation; it is certainly not an indictment of every man.

However, the Bible as a whole was given as timeless truths and universal principles. In the absence of clear proof, it is a dangerous precedent to isolate verses and declare them “situational” or “cultural” and then to proceed in a direction contrary to the clear statements of those verses. There are two main Scripture portions (1 Corinthians 14:33b-37 and 1 Timothy 2:11-14) that, without situational or cultural reinterpretations, clearly prohibit women from leading or teaching men in the churches.

•• 1 Corinthians 14:33b-37 As in all the congregations of the saints, [34] women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. [35] If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. [36] Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? [37] If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

• The command that women not speak in the churches is not situational or cultural. It was the inspired apostle’s teaching to cross all cultures — “As in all the congregations of the saints … women … are not allowed to speak.” Many modern Western minds, having been beaten down for several decades by the secular Feminist Movement, react in horror at a statement like this. But it is urgently important that we hold to the Bible and not let our modern culture shape the Church and its practices. God wants His Church, by contrast, to influence the culture in the right ways of God.

• “As in all the congregations … women should remain silent in the churches … [KJV] as also saith the Law.” The apostle Paul wrote these verses to Corinthian Greeks and told them that “the Law” said the same thing. The Jewish Law had the same precepts that Paul wrote to the entirely different Corinthian Greek culture 1,500 years later. These were different cultures a millennium and a half apart. Yet Paul gave the Corinthians a cross-cultural, cross-millennial message concerning male leadership and speaking ministries in the Church. Significantly, under the Law the Jewish priests were all men. The apostle Paul’s carefulness in prohibiting the women from usurping men’s leadership roles in the church was entirely consistent with Mosaic Judaism’s teaching on this same subject (“as also saith the Law”).

• Some who have pushed for women’s leadership and pulpit roles in today’s Church have proclaimed that Paul was a male chauvinist. That is, pure and simple, an assault on the reliability and fully inspired nature of the Bible and deserves no further comment among Christians with a high view of Scripture.

• Others in trying to find a loophole in these verses in order to “liberate” women have suggested that, while not a male chauvinist, Paul must have been influenced by the biases of his culture or his personal maleness. Again, the simple, in-context reply to that false assumption is the text itself (vs. 37) — “What I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.” It was not Paul’s bias; it was the Lord’s command.

•• 1 Timothy 2:11-14 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

• The statements here are so clear that it is understandable how those influenced by a feminist philosophy would wish to reinterpret them to be understood as merely situational and/or cultural. But they cannot be relegated to isolated, specific “situations” that are not revealed in the text. What is revealed in the text is that Paul intended these prohibitions for the Lord’s Church and was not just addressing local customs, practices, or marriage relationships (as some maintain). To the contrary, the apostle states, “I am writing you these instructions so that … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-15). These are instructions for the Lord’s Church, not to correct local or cultural problems. As 1 Corinthians 14:37 says of Paul’s similar teachings there, “What I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.” It is not situational, cultural, chauvinistic, or biased. It is for the entire Church Age the Word of God, “the Lord’s command”.

• 1 Timothy 3:15 asserts that these teachings reserve to men the roles of church leadership and pulpit ministry “in God’s household, which is the church”. Likewise, 1 Corinthians 14:34 teaches that “women should remain silent in the churches”. I can find nothing in these verses that prohibits capable women from leadership in the secular realm — for example, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in my opinion a very capable leader of her country. No, these are commands for the Church.

• The apostle Paul wrote, “I do not permit a woman to … have authority over a man… [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” Genesis chapter two enables us to understand this reasoning. We see there that the man Adam was created by God and exercised dominion over the creation before Eve was even created. Based on that original design of God, Paul delivered the inspired Scriptural principle that women are not to have authority over men in the Lord’s work, because in the Garden of Eden God established the man in authority over the creation, then created the woman to be a “help meet” to the man (see Genesis 2:18, KJV, with 1 Corinthians 11:9).

• Also note that, immediately after Paul forbade women having authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:12), the apostle then listed the qualifications of a church leader/overseer in 1 Timothy 3:1-7). These prerequisites for leadership roles included (vs. 2) that the leader be “the husband of but one wife”. Church leaders are to be male, not female.

• The apostle also wrote, “I do not permit a woman to teach … a man … For … Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived…” Referring again to Genesis (chapter 3:1-6, 13), Paul forbade women to teach men. Again, Paul’s reasoning was not simply his own, but it was the inspired Word of God. And the reason God in His Word told the women of the church not to teach men was their susceptibility to deception, as revealed especially in Genesis 3:13, where, after she had eaten the forbidden fruit, Eve said, “The serpent deceived me”. It cannot be reinterpreted out of the text that the reason Paul listed for women not teaching men was the deceptibility factor seen first in Eve and still a relevant factor thousands of years later at the time God inspired Paul to write this.

• Someone might ask, “What about women teaching women on doctrinal issues?” I do not know that the Bible makes a clear statement on that. On the one hand, it is clear that older women are to teach younger women on womanly subjects (Titus 2:4-5 — “Then [the older women, vs. 3] can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands…”). But in this same chapter (vs. 1), Paul writes to Titus, the recognized spiritual leader, “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” It was the male leader who was commanded to teach and establish sound doctrine. This fact — coupled with the Genesis 3:13 and 1 Timothy 2:14 references to the woman’s susceptibility to deception — leads me to recommend that the teaching of main doctrinal subjects in the churches be done by the male pastors, elders, and other male ministers.

• Let us for a moment hypothetically assume (as some assert) that Paul was writing to Timothy about some unnamed situational problem in the Ephesian church that Timothy led. Even if so, that would change nothing. Paul’s reply must still be seen as “scripture … given by inspiration of God, and … profitable for … correction” of erroneous conduct “in God’s household, which is the church of the living God” (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV; 1 Timothy 3:15). There is no proof whatsoever in the First Timothy text that it was a situational issue. But even if it were, God spoke through Paul the heaven-inspired Scriptural principle that applied to that church and to all churches — that is, men are to lead and teach in the assembled congregation. Situational or otherwise, God established the principle of male leadership and teaching roles in the assembled church.

Argument #4: “Well, we know that the Bible was written in a time of male-dominated cultures. So the spiritual language of the times was male-dominant.”

A Biblical Response: The premise itself is disputable. Some embracing a feminist position have objected to God being called “Our Father” and angels being identified by male names, attributing this simply to the biases of male-dominated cultures. But the historical record of ancient spirituality does not permit this argument. The ancient world, along with its male deities, had a superabundance of female deities. Goddesses seemed to be almost universal in ancient cultures. A short list of examples would include Asherah in Canaan, Ishtar in Babylon and Assyria, Aphrodite among the Greeks, the Egyptian goddess Isis, and the famous Roman goddess Venus. There is no support for modern feminist declarations of a domineering ancient male bias in spiritual things. To the contrary, history shows a spiritual pantheon of female deities in the ancient nations and the cultures in and surrounding Israel.

But the more important rebuttal of this false argument is from the Bible itself. Again, we are assuming a high view of Scripture, agreeing that the Bible is the inspired Word of God in its entirety. Without this mutual agreement, we have no common ground upon which to discuss the ordination of women and their exercising leadership in the New Testament Church. The Bible is inerrant, it transcends cultures, and it is intended to shape cultures, not to be shaped by them. So from the standpoint of biblical inerrancy, I take note of the fact that in His Bible:

•• God revealed Himself as “God the Father” (John 6:27, et al.), as “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9, et al.).

•• Jesus is repeatedly called “the Son of God” (Mark 1:1, et al.).

•• In the Creation, “Adam was formed first, then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:13). And the man Adam exercised dominion in the earth before the woman Eve was created (Genesis 2:19-22).

•• The priests, Israel’s spiritual leaders and teachers under God’s Old Covenant, were all males (Exodus 28:1, et al.).

•• Moses appointed seventy men as elders of Israel (Numbers 11:24).

••The apostles whom Jesus chose to lead His early Church under God’s New Covenant were all males (Matthew 10:2-4).

•• In sum, God the Father and His Son Jesus were revealed in male names. And God’s spiritual leadership on earth, both before and after the Cross, was comprised of males.

•• A concluding thought — God, who has given us His Bible, is not affected by cultures and biases!

Let me repeat the erroneous Argument #4 — “Well, we know that the Bible was written in a time of male-dominated cultures. So the spiritual language of the times was male-dominant.” A corollary to this line of reasoning often states something like this: “Women in ancient times were generally uneducated and were not prominent in their societies compared to men. This is no longer true in our modern times.” The bible itself consistently disproves this false notion about the ancient cultures in which bible characters moved and lived. Contrary to the assertion that women were subjugated to male dominance in bible days, the Scriptures give numerous examples of notable, prominent, influential women in the nations and cultures of bible times. For example:

•• The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10-31. In addition to managing her household admirably, she:

• deals in real estate (16)

• has her own earnings (16)

• makes further investments with those earnings (16)

• is a successful businesswoman, involved in trade with other merchants (18, 24)

•• Luke 8:3b These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Some of Jesus’ followers in Israel were “women of means”.

•• Acts 13:50 “…women of high standing” were mentioned when Paul preached in Antioch of Pisidia.

•• Paul’s preaching in Thessalonica was favorably received by “not a few prominent women” (Acts 17:4).

•• In Berea, the new Christian converts included “a number of prominent Greek women” (Acts 17:12).

•• Over an entire millennium (from Proverbs to Acts), and in a variety of ancient nations including Israel, the bible gives illustrations of the widespread presence of entrepreneurial women, women of means, women of high standing, prominent women. And yet, in compliance with the clear teachings of the New Testament Scriptures, we see not one clear instance under the New Covenant of a woman in the God-ordained ministry role of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher (Ephesians 4:11), nor do we see a single instance in the New Testament of a woman elder in the churches.

Argument #5: “Modern Christian women need to be ‘liberated’ from past gender restrictions, since the New Testament says, ‘There is neither male nor female’ [Galatians 3:28]. Therefore we can surely have women pastors and elders, and even women apostles and prophets. The former inequalities are gone, and now there is neither male nor female.”

A Biblical Response: We have a problem here. Either (1) we have a clear contradiction in the Bible, or (2) ordained women ministers and their supporters are misinterpreting this key verse. Of course, the only biblical choice can be number two (that is, they are misinterpreting), because Jesus Himself unequivocally said, “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’?“ (Matthew 19:4). So how do we resolve Galatians 3:28’s apparent conflict with Jesus’ words? Simply reading the full context of the Galatians verse things clear up immediately.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

•• Are there Jew and Greeks? Of course. Were there at that time slaves and free? Certainly. Male and female? Jesus said that there were. The key to the entire verse is “…in Christ Jesus”. In our earthly relationships to each other, of course there are Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, male and female. But in our relationship directly to Jesus Christ, those distinctions are irrelevant. So the key to understanding this often-misinterpreted verse is to read the “in Christ” context.

• “There is neither … male nor female … in Christ Jesus”.

• But in our relationships with one another — for example, in marriage — it is quite obvious, as Jesus said, that “God made them male and female … a man … [and] his wife” (Mark 10:6-7).

• “In Christ”, in our direct relationship one-on-one with Him, the gender distinctions are irrelevant.

• But on earth, in our relationships with each other, God has not blurred the gender distinctions. So an erroneous feminist view of Galatians 3:28 must not be permitted to do violence to the clear statement of the New Testament that “I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12) in the ongoing functioning of the churches.

Argument #6: “God is moving mightily in our time! These are special times. How can we hold back the anointed women preachers and teachers?”

A Biblical Response: The Book of Acts records highlights of the activities of the early Church in the first century. God was moving mightily then, too! And in those spectacular spiritual times recorded in the Book of Acts every single named fivefold preacher and teacher was a man. Every one. Despite the fact that those were clearly “special times”, we saw no women pastors, no women elders or apostles or other leaders and pulpit ministers of the early Church.

Argument #7: “My wife is called ‘pastor’ because I’m the church’s pastor and she shares those pastoral burdens as my wife.”

A Biblical Response: I pastored local churches for 22 years and never called my wife “pastor”. Did she share with me behind the scenes all the joys and heartaches, the stresses and blessings, of my pastoral role? Absolutely. But did she share with me in the performance of those pastoral duties? Not at all. Being married to me, a pastor, did not make her a pastor. Similarly, being married to me, a former pilot and Air Traffic Controller, did not make my wife those things. As one of my sons correctly pointed out, if a woman marries a helicopter pilot, that doesn’t make her a helicopter pilot. My God-given call to teach and lead men did not confer that call upon her, because that would violate the command that a woman is not to teach or have authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:15). My pastoral ordination in 1980 did not extend pastoral ordination by association to my wife. Nor should it.

•• The New Testament apostles’ wives were never called apostles. There is no New Testament instance of an elder’s wife becoming or being called an elder herself. In fact, one of the qualifications of being an elder is being “the husband of but one wife“ (1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6).

•• The process leading to the ordination of a male pastor involves much training, preparation, and practical experience. This process includes such things as:

• helping him discern that he is indeed called by God

• getting him involved in extensive biblical and practical training

• seeking the wisdom, counsel, and approval of his church elders

• often serving a substantial internship

• But then often without his wife having done most or all of these things, some churches will just automatically call them “Pastor Joseph and Pastor Mary”. There is no biblical support for this.

Argument #8: “Sister ___’s prophetic ministry is so powerful, how could we deny that gift of God in her life by failing to recognize her as a prophet?”

A Biblical Response: As mentioned earlier, having a spiritual gift in one’s life — even at a very high level of anointing — is not the equivalent of holding the related Ephesians 4:11 fivefold ministry office. The illustration we gave was that of the evangelist Philip’s “four unmarried daughters who prophesied” (Acts 21:9). Despite that spiritual gift of prophecy in those young women of faith, when God wanted to deliver a major prophetic word to the apostle Paul, He led to that very home “a prophet named Agabus” (vss. 10-11), who delivered a vital prophetic word to Paul. The young ladies’ gift of prophecy did not make them prophets like Agabus.

•• Revelation 2:20, KJV Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

• The New Covenant was established by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And the New Testament record subsequent to the Cross names only one “prophetess” — Jezebel of Thyatira. And she was clearly a self-appointed, false prophetess — “which calleth herself a prophetess”. Furthermore, Jesus was rebuking the church’s senior minister for permitting this false prophetess to have a teaching ministry to the church — “…thou sufferest that woman Jezebel … to teach and to seduce my servants”. To any church leaders reading this, I urge you to consider the consequences of permitting women in your churches, with your permission, to violate 1 Timothy 2:11-12 by allowing them to teach men and/or to have authority over the men of the church.

• In sum, the biblical record of the New Covenant under which we live shows no record of a God-called, New Testament, female prophet/prophetess. That is entirely consistent with Paul’s apostolic command that women not teach or have authority over men.

Argument #9: “But sister ___ is not exercising ‘authority’ in violation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12. She is simply ministering her ‘giftedness’ (as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, or elder).”

A Biblical Response: I have heard this erroneous argument more than one might imagine. The response to that is simple and biblical. We cannot isolate authority from these God-ordained ministries. For example:

•• Matthew 7:29 [Jesus] taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. One mark of a God-called and anointed teacher is teaching with authority.

•• 2 Corinthians 13:10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Paul’s apostleship to them included God-given authority.

•• Titus 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. The Bible does not state precisely which of the fivefold offices Titus held. But whichever one(s) it was, he was to exercise it “with all authority”. It is illogical and without Scriptural support to suggest that one can receive a ministry gift from the Lord without the God-given authority to fulfill it.

•• Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. These unnamed spiritual leaders had authority, to which the saints were to submit and obey.

•• 1 Timothy 5:17, KJV Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Here we see elders ruling, a clear statement that church elders have authority from God.

•• In sum, we see again and again in the Bible that when God grants a ministry gift, He grants the authority to fulfill it. So the argument that ordained women ministers with great giftedness are exercising that gift without authority is not biblical. To be a pastor of a church and yet not have authority in that church is nonsensical. To be an apostle and not have what Paul called “the authority the Lord gave me” is antibiblical. To be a teacher without authority is to be like the scribes of the Law, not a Spirit-anointed teacher. This argument of giftedness-but-not-authority is a nonbiblical attempt to circumvent the clear teaching of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 that a woman in the church is not to have authority over men. Without God-given authority, ministries such as pastoring and teaching would be flat, lifeless, and ineffective.

Argument #10: “But just look at the New Testament. It is absolutely filled with godly, gifted women. How can we hold back these women from fulfilling their calling?”

A Biblical Response: No one that I know, including me, has any desire whatsoever to prevent women from fulfilling all that God has called them to accomplish. But the key is this — let’s encourage women of faith to fulfill all those things to which God has called them. And the main emphasis of this study of Scripture is that God has called only men to the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and elders. That is, the ministries of leadership, authority, and preaching and teaching ministries to the assembled church of men and women.

•• 1 Timothy 2:11-12, as we have seen, explicitly prohibits women from teaching men and having authority over men.

•• The God-called, clearly-identified fivefold ministers under the New Covenant are all men. Some dispute that fact and quote Romans 16:7, KJV, which says, “Salute Andronicus and Junia [NIV: Junias], my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” They assert that Junia/Junias was a woman apostle. However, that is an assumption lacking indisputable evidence, as follows:

• Scholars debate, without resolution, whether the name “Junia” or its other rendering “Junias” can clearly be shown to be a woman or a man. One cannot assume that a name ending with the letter “a” automatically refers to a woman. For example, Aquila and his wife Priscilla are mentioned in Acts 18:2. Although ending in an “a”, the name Aquila with absolute certainty refers to a man, the husband of Priscilla.

• Scholars debate, also without resolution, whether the text is properly understood to mean “who are of note among the apostles” or “who are well known to the apostles”. The former translation would suggest that the two named persons were apostles. The latter translation would mean that they were well known to, but not counted among, the apostles. This and the previous issue of the gender of the name cannot with any degree of certainty be resolved.

• Fortunately, the resolution of the issue is found elsewhere, in the earlier-mentioned 1 Timothy 2:12. The very same apostle Paul who wrote of Junia(s) in Romans 16:7 said to Timothy: Do not allow women to teach or have authority over men. Therefore, it is Paul’s teaching in the Bible that resolves the issue of whether Junia/as was a female apostle. Paul gives instructions that would make that impossible.

• And note further Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:5 — “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles?” The “other apostles” that Paul knew of were obviously all men, each of whom had “a believing wife”.

Argument #11: “Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, seems to have been teaching the Bible to a man.”

A Biblical Response: The text alluded to in this argument is Acts 18:26 “[Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” Several obvious thoughts come to mind that do not permit the erroneous conclusion that Priscilla was a teacher of men.

•• This was not a formal teaching situation. It was a situation where the preacher Apollos had been invited to Aquila’s and Priscilla’s home (vs. 26, NIV).

•• They “explained to him the way of God more perfectly.” The scenario seems to have been an informal discussion with Apollos in his hosts’ home.

•• There is no indication that Priscilla took the lead in any of this. In fact, her name occurs seven times in the NIV New Testament, never by herself, but in all seven cases in association with her husband.

Argument #12: “If we women don’t have some leadership roles in the church, how will our voices be heard when we have important input?”

A Biblical Response: I don’t personally know of any church leaders consistently closing their ears to women’s input. And this input can be had without ordaining the women and/or putting them into leadership and pulpit roles to men. I was a local-church pastor for 22 years and a Bible college teacher for twelve years. Throughout that time my wife never functioned as an ordained minister, nor did she ever lead or teach men. However, her input and wisdom shared with me profoundly influenced the churches in which I have ministered. For example:

•• On numerous occasions my wife has offered suggestions to me which I have then brought to my fellow elders. Some of those suggestions were well received by the church’s governing elders and were incorporated appropriately into the church’s life and ministry.

•• Time and again, having heard the Lord’s voice in her own devotional times, my wife has shared biblical insights with me that I have then incorporated into sermons I have preached.

•• This very website that you are reading today came into being as a result of a revelation of the Lord to my wife which she then shared with me.

•• The operative principle is found in 1 Corinthians 14:35 — “If they [the women] want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home.” In the absence of a husband, single women or widows can fulfill this by asking questions or sharing an insight with an elder of the church.

Argument #13: “Being a wife and mother is a wonderful thing. But I have spiritual gifts and callings that need a larger expression beyond the home.”

A Biblical Response: Yes and no.

•• Yes — The assembled church congregation provides an excellent opportunity for men and women alike to minister in the multitude of ways open to both sexes. For example, prayer, gifts of the Holy Spirit, serving, praise and worship ministries, and a multitude more. The two roles reserved for men, as we have already discussed, are the church authority roles and the pulpit ministry to the assembled church.

•• No — Probably the most elaborate teaching in the Bible on the virtuous woman is found in Proverbs 31:10-31. A similar, shorter list of the traits of godly women is found in Titus 2:3-5. One of those positive womanly traits is “to be busy at home” (Titus 2:5), rendered in the King James Version as “keepers at home”. There is no doubt that the prevailing teaching of the Bible specifies the home as the woman’s prime place of fulfilling her God-given role on earth. Let me offer some biblical observations confirming that.

• In the descriptions of the virtuous, God-fearing woman in Proverbs 31 and Titus 2, not one of the godly traits listed referred to prayer, Bible reading, “quiet time”, and the like. Should these be part of the virtuous woman’s life? Of course! But it cannot be ignored that in both those Scripture portions, the things for which the virtuous woman was praised were predominantly domestic and family-oriented.

• Note that in Proverbs 31 the virtuous woman is deeply involved with the domestic needs of “her family” (vs. 15), “her household” (vss. 21, 27). Meanwhile, “her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land” (vs. 23). The modern “Women’s Liberation” movement scoffs at this type of biblical thinking and has, as a result, inflicted great harm upon the American family in the past several decades. Sad to say, that same antibiblical feminist thinking has been slowly permeating the American Church, with predictably similar results as the biblically distinct roles of men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, are blurred and in some cases eradicated.

Argument #14: “Women are intelligent, capable, and spiritually gifted. Why should they be excluded from being elders of a local church?”

A Biblical Response: Women do not qualify as elders in the local church for a variety of biblical reasons:

•• Eldership by its very nature is a ministry of authority in the church — for example (1 Timothy 5:17, KJV), “the elders that rule well”. A woman being an elder would violate the prohibition of women having authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:12).

• One of God’s indictments of backslidden Jerusalem and Judah was (Isaiah 3:8, 12) “Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling … Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.” God has from earliest times placed men in positions of spiritual leadership. For example (Psalm 77:20), “You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” God did not lead His people by the hand of Moses, Aaron, and their sister Miriam. Moses subsequently appointed seventy men as anointed elders (Numbers 11:24-25). God through Moses also appointed the sons of Aaron to serve as the priests leading Israel’s service at the Tabernacle and the later Temple (Exodus 28:1).

•• New Testament church elders are biblically defined as being males — “the husband of but one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6).

•• On a very practical level, difficulties in the area of biblical purity can arise in the process of appointing women as elders in the church. I asked a pastor friend of mine if he intended to ordain women as elders in his church. He said “no” for the following reason. To raise up a good elder, he said, the pastor must spend much time, sometimes one on one, getting to know that person very well, finding out if their life is in biblical order. He will counsel the elder candidate. The pastor and the elder candidate may travel together on sick calls, hospital visits, and other similar practical training activities. In sum, this pastor said, it is inappropriate for a pastor to spend that kind of personal time alone with a woman other than his wife.

•• Permit me at this point to make a related observation concerning traveling ministry. Sometimes church leaders, elders, etc., go out on ministry travel in small groups. A simple, biblical observation is that it is not good to have mixed groups of men and women, not married to each other, traveling together. A seldom-mentioned Scripture that directly addresses this subject is 1 Corinthians 9:5 — “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles?” This verse reveals to us that the early Church’s married apostles customarily had their wives travel with them. They understood the importance of having safeguards for biblical holiness and purity.

Argument #15: “Sister ___ is such an anointed preacher [and/or] Bible teacher. How can we conscientiously prevent her from blessing both men and women with her anointed ministry?”

A Biblical Response:

•• The plain teaching of First Timothy 2:12 straightforwardly says, “I do not permit a woman to teach … a man”.

•• The history of the early Church in the Book of Acts was certainly a time of anointed ministry. Yet we see not one single instance in that God-inspired historical record of a woman preaching or teaching in the capacity of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, or elder. And that inspired historical record covered multiple cultures and countries.

•• Congregational preaching, a role entrusted by God to men (1 Timothy 2:12), can make women adopt masculine attributes and mannerisms in the pulpit. A gentle and gracious femininity rarely succeeds in such situations. So historically, many women preachers have spoken and acted with manly characteristics in the pulpit. This leads to a visible personality that is quite the opposite of the praiseworthy “gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:4). It is very difficult for a woman to “preach the word … [and to] reprove, rebuke, exhort…” (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV) and still retain her gentle and quiet spirit.

•• One part of the duties of a preacher/teacher of the Word is to “speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15, KJV). It is impossible for a woman preacher in the church to do this without directly violating 1 Timothy 2:12 — “I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man.”

Argument #16: “Those who do not believe in women’s ordination tend to focus their arguments on 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-35.”

A Biblical Response: How is this a problem? The Bible declares that “all Scripture is God-breathed [KJV: is given by inspiration of God] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). These are inspired Scriptures and are perfectly “useful for … correcting” erroneous teachings concerning leadership and pulpit roles for women in the Church. One never needs to apologize for using Scripture to ensure accurate teaching.

Argument #17: — “Sister ______ is a God-recognized pastor (or elder, or prophet, etc.), because the eldership of our church formally laid hands on her to set her in that ministry office.”

A Biblical Response: Local churches and their elders sometimes act contrary to Scripture. That would be the case here. Elders are not infallible. Laying on of hands is indeed a biblical method of setting someone into a biblical ministry role. It happened often in the Bible. But there is not one instance recorded in the Scriptures where hands were laid on a woman for this purpose, while there are a number of instances where men were set into ministry by the laying on of hands. For example:

• The Levites (Numbers 8:9-11)

• Joshua, to take the leadership of Israel (Numbers 27:16-18, 22-23)

• The seven deacons (Acts 6:5-6)

• Barnabas and Saul (Paul) as apostles (Acts 13:1-3; 14:4,14)

• Timothy’s ministry gift (1 Timothy 4:14)

•• Consistent with other Scriptures we have looked at affirming men’s leadership and preaching/teaching roles, the biblical examples of establishment in ministry by the laying on of hands involve men 100% of the time.

Argument #18: “Scriptures like 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 (or Titus 1:6 or 1 Timothy 3:2) are controversial and therefore should not be dogmatically used to validate any one particular position.”

A Biblical Response: These verses are “controversial” only because they have been defined so by a surprising, unintentional coalition of liberal Protestants in the 20th century and Pentecostals and charismatics in the same time frame. They deem these Scriptures controversial because they don’t fit the conclusions that they choose to draw — conclusions that cannot be comfortably supported in light of these and other verses without casting doubt on them by naming them “controversial”. In fact, there is nothing controversial about Bible verses which say:

•• Do not have women teach or lead men in the churches (1 Timothy 2:12).

•• Women are “not allowed to speak” in the churches (1 Corinthians 14:34). At the very least, this verse says women are not to be what we call “the speaker” in a church service.

•• Elders, who are spiritual leaders in the local churches, are to be the “husband of but one wife” — that is, elders are men (1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6).

•• The Gospels show that Jesus’ chosen apostles were all men.

These verses are unclear or controversial only if one is uncomfortable with the clear message that they communicate about male headship in the Lord’s Church.

Satan offered the forbidden fruit to the first woman, Eve, along with the promise “…you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Satan is tempting today’s Christian women with a similar siren song: “You will minister like men, teaching and leading men”.

The larger context of Eve’s temptation includes Satan’s subtle question to her, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). From the earliest times Satan’s tactic has been to discredit and cast doubt on the Word of God.

I believe that Satan is continuing that tactic today, by saying in essence to Christian women, “Did God really mean in First Timothy that women are not to teach or have authority over men?” Satan’s assault on God’s Word continues. And unfortunately many contemporary Christian women, supported by church leaders, are choosing to reinterpret this and other Scriptures to push for a blurring, and even a denial, of the distinctions God has established between men and women and their respective roles in the home and in the Church.

My concluding, heartfelt exhortation to the Church is this: the Bible is not an evolving document that adjusts to fit in with current cultures and changing societal values. It is a timeless document for all cultures over the centuries. “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89, KJV). Do not let our contemporary cultural values shape the Church. Rather, let the churches, grounded in the immutable principles of Scripture, be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” that will model to the world the kingdom that God is establishing on earth.

God has placed His Church on this earth and has populated it with spiritually gifted men and women. Following God’s revealed pattern, and under the divinely-decreed spiritual leadership and pulpit ministries of God-called men, the Church is then blessed by the multifaceted spiritual gifts of dedicated Christian men and women. And the results are dramatic in the Church and in the world touched by the Church as “the whole body [of Christ] grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16). Churches who elect to follow this heaven-sent pattern can be assured that the blessings of God will rest upon their labors!

Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
http://www.jimfeeney.org

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Summary:

Divorce and remarriage have been much-debated issues for literally thousands of years. This bible study cannot resolve every issue or cover every situation. My hope is to discover those clear and definite guidelines on this subject that are laid down in the Scriptures.

Any discussion on divorce and remarriage should begin with God’s initial pronouncements on marriage itself:

Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:24, KJV Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 1:28a God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”

This biblical account records God’s intentions for marriage as He established it “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). Additional Scriptures reveal a fuller picture of God’s outlook on marriage, as well as on divorce and remarriage.

As a starting point, the following Scriptures give us a distinct revelation of God’s general, overall view of marriage, divorce, and remarriage:

Genesis 2:24, KJV Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Mark 10:6-9 But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (See also Matthew 19:4-6)

In these verses we see Jesus Christ quoting from Genesis. He emphasized that from the beginning God intended the husband and wife “not [to] separate” from one another. In other words, Jesus affirmed God’s prevailing desire for the indissolubility of marriage.

Jesus (and also the inspired apostle Paul) taught that marriage was intended to be permanent. Consider the following biblical declarations on the subject:

Mark 10:11-12 [Jesus] answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Luke 16:18 Jesus is quoted again, saying, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Romans 7:2-3 The apostle Paul taught that “…by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.”

1 Corinthians 7:10-13, 27, 39 The apostle Paul’s teaching continues: “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him … [27] Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife … [39] A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.”

These portions of Scripture would seem to support those who categorically oppose divorce and remarriage. And, indeed, God’s best plan for every married couple is that they remain married, and happily so.

But in a small number of very specific instances in both the New Testament and the Old, the Bible does give scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage. Honestly handling the Scriptures requires that we regard not just the general statements on the sanctity of marriage, but also the God-inspired exceptions to the general rule — that is, the small number of biblically permissible reasons for divorce.

The Bible itself requires that two or three witnesses be provided in order to establish certain things as truth. This is seen in the Old Testament Law (Deuteronomy 17:6), as well as in the writings of the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 13:1). So we are looking for at least two, if not more, places in the Bible where God gives exceptions to His prevailing rule against divorce and remarriage.

I will quote seven such passages in the discussion that follows, showing these two unique cases in which God permits divorce and remarriage for Christian believers:

1. If a Christian husband or wife discovers that his/her mate has been sexually unfaithful, the spouse who is innocent of the marital infidelity is permitted to divorce the offending spouse and to remarry.
2. If a Christian’s unbelieving spouse leaves the Christian (not vice versa!), then the Christian who has been divorced in this way is free to remarry. The former marriage has been dissolved.

Let’s look at the specific Scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage mentioned in these two situations, bearing in mind that, as mentioned before, numerous statements in the Bible confirm the prevailing sanctity of the marriage bond. But God in His Word has given some very specific, concrete exceptions to the indissolubility of marriage, and Christians are allowed to exercise these exceptions. But nothing beyond these specific biblical reasons for divorce is permitted by God.

Let’s first examine the Old Testament divorce-and-remarriage Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 21:10-14 When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives, if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife…. [13] After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.

This portion of the Mosaic Law permits an Israelite to divorce a wife he had taken from a captive nation simply because he was “not pleased with her” (vs. 14). This might seem like a rather loose permission. But note well that, for that biblical era, this was God’s Word! God cannot be shown in the Bible to be 100 percent against divorce in all circumstances. However, be assured: I am not remotely implying that God is permissive concerning divorce! To the contrary, Malachi 2:16 declares: “ ‘I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel.”

Let’s look at another of Moses’ writings in the Law:

Deuteronomy 24:1-4, KJV When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Under the Law of Moses, if a man’s wife found “no favour in his eyes … some uncleanness in her”, God permitted divorce, which in the Hebrew means “a cutting off.” It was not simple separation, but a complete severing and annulling of the marriage bond.

If a divorce and remarriage did occur under these Scriptural conditions of (1) some uncleanness being found in the wife and (2) a “bill of divorcement” having been given her by her husband, notice that the word of God labels this man as “her former husband.” Thus God seems to recognize his right to remarry, if the divorce leading up to the remarriage was for biblical reasons. Below is another Scripture portion showing divorce consistent with the Law.

Ezra 10:2-3 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.”

Israel’s men had taken Gentile wives and were under conviction to divorce them. The Scripture says that they were careful to “put away” (KJV) those wives “according to the law” of God.

Now let us look at some New Testament passages on this subject. The fact has now been established by Deuteronomy 24:1-4, and is yet to be proven further, that Scriptural divorce dissolves the marriage and permits remarriage after divorce. We will look at the New Testament divorce and remarriage Scriptures in their order of appearance.

Matthew 5:31-32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

The Greek word apoluo, translated as “divorce(s)(d)” three times in this passage, means to let loose from, let go free, according to W.E. Vine’s “An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.” This is in line with Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and it implies a dissolving of the bond of marriage. It is important to see that the main emphasis here is against divorce. But an exception is given.

The passage from Matthew above conveys this message: If you divorce your wife and she remarries, you have placed both her and her new mate into a position of adultery, for before God she is still your wife, unless you divorced her “for marital unfaithfulness.” The phrase “marital unfaithfulness” here is a translation of the Greek word “porneia,” which the Amplified New Testament translates as “sexual immorality, unfaithfulness.”

Jesus’ teaching on divorce for marital infidelity (and remarriage after divorce in such cases) is given at greater length in the following verses:

Matthew 19:3-9 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Remember that Moses’ Law indicated that a biblical divorce (“putting away” in KJV) dissolved the marriage. Jesus quoted Moses and used the same Greek word for biblically divorcing, or putting away, the spouse. However, it is important to note carefully that Jesus strictly limited Moses’ permission to divorce to cases of marital infidelity. It was not a widespread permission by Jesus, but a very narrow one, focused on the essential need for faithfulness between the spouses in a marriage.

It is obvious from verse 3 of the passage above that at least some of the Pharisees interpreted Moses as permitting divorce (and remarriage), as they said, “for any and every reason” — a very libertine interpretation that Jesus immediately rejected. Jesus’ answer was quite specific: to divorce your wife — “for any and every reason” — is adultery. Period. And for another man to marry a women so divorced commits adultery with her.

Jesus did not recognize the validity of divorce and remarriage “for every cause” (KJV). He canceled the fairly broad permission to divorce that was given to Israel by Moses “because [their] hearts were hard” (vs. 8).

But Jesus did leave one exception — “except for marital unfaithfulness,” which again is the Greek word porneia. One whose spouse is unfaithful may divorce and remarry, for the unfaithfulness has destroyed the one-flesh marriage bond in the eyes of God.

This exception in Jesus’ final statement in this passage shows that divorce (and remarriage after divorce) by the innocent spouse are allowed under the circumstances of marital infidelity. Simply putting away one’s wife in no way can be construed as committing adultery. It is the putting away and remarrying that becomes adultery — unless the cause of the divorce was adultery already committed by the spouse being put away. In this latter case — that is, divorcing one’s spouse for that person’s adultery — the one-flesh relationship has been tragically violated, and the marriage bond is dissolved in this specific instance of biblical divorce. The innocent one is permitted (although certainly not obligated) to enter into another marriage.

In using the word porneia in the two passages quoted here from the book of Matthew, Jesus was speaking clearly in context about married people. The word in both passages can be understood correctly as “sexual unfaithfulness of married people,” rather than the modern connotation of single persons’ sexual immorality that might be misunderstood from the King James’s use of the word “fornication” here. The root word is still porneia, which speaks of a broad range of sexual immorality — single, married, or even incestuous.

The word porneia is used in two other New Testament phrases referring specifically to the unfaithfulness of married persons: (1) in 1 Corinthians 5:1 porneia is said to have been committed with another man’s “wife”; and (2) 1 Corinthians 10:8 refers to 23,000 Israelites committing “fornication” (KJV). It would be absurd to assume that all of them were unmarried.

Now, before leaving the discussion of Christian divorce and remarriage because of porneia, a word of caution is in order. The one who has secured (or is in the process of securing) a divorce for his or her spouse’s infidelity should exercise much restraint and deliberation before entering into another marriage. Here are three important reasons for this carefulness:

1. This person, although innocent of the actual adultery committed by his/her spouse, may have, through other nonbiblical conduct or characteristics, contributed at least indirectly to the breakdown of the marriage. Such a divorced person should seek counsel from a qualified pastor or church elder to effect biblical change in his or her own life before even considering undertaking another marriage.
2. There is a prevailing biblical exhortation to “forgive one another,” as in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13. It is entirely biblical for the offended party to seek God diligently for the grace to forgive the adulterous spouse.
3. Ideally, the optimum solution is reconciliation and restoration of the marriage. In a remarkable passage in Jeremiah 3:8-20, God said that “Israel [had] committed adultery [and God] had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce.” Yet God cried out to Israel to repent and turn back to Him, and declared that He would receive her back. Through prayer and competent counsel, it is possible for at least some marriages shattered by adultery to be brought to a place of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.

Even by following all three of the above recommendations, the offended spouse may not necessarily see reconciliation occur. For example, the adulterous spouse may have already married someone else. But the innocent spouse, by taking the action above, keeps himself and his life in a biblical framework and may then conscientiously go about to reconstruct his life. And that rebuilding includes the possibility of entering into another marriage with God’s approval. Now let us move on to the second New Testament case for divorce and remarriage.

1 Corinthians 7:10-14 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Here God states that a Christian should not depart from and divorce his or her mate. God does not allow a Christian to depart from a spouse for any reason other than sexual unfaithfulness, as we established earlier. And the word to those Christians who have already divorced without biblical cause (porneia) is to “remain unmarried or else be reconciled.” However, the inspired writer Paul declared:

1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

This is called by some “the Pauline privilege.” Jesus earlier gave one exception to the prevailing indissolubility of marriage. That exception was for infidelity. Here the apostle Paul gives a second exception — if a saved man or woman has an unsaved spouse who leaves the Christian. The Greek word here for “leaves” is chorizo, the same word Jesus used for “put asunder” when speaking of divorce in Matthew 19:6.

What Paul is declaring is this: A Christian brother or sister is “not under bondage” (KJV) when the unbeliever divorces the believer.

The Greek word for “not under bondage” in this passage, according to both “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance” and “The New Englishman’s Greek Concordance,” is from a word that is translated as “bound” in Romans 7:2 (“The woman which hath an husband is bound by the law”) and in 1 Corinthians 7:27 (“bound unto a wife”). It is critically important to see that the seemingly permanent-for-life marriage bond of these latter scriptures is broken — “not under bondage” — when the unbelieving spouse divorces the believer.

The same principles that we have seen in Moses’ Law and in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:3-9 apply — that is, a divorce obtained under biblical conditions dissolves the marriage, and subsequent remarriage is permissible.

Let me repeat the two Scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage:

1. Marital infidelity (sexual unfaithfulness) by the spouse. The innocent party may divorce and remarry.
2. A Christian’s unbelieving mate departs from the Christian. The divorced Christian is free to remarry.

In addition, it is my strong personal conviction that any and every divorce from one’s unsaved past is forgiven at the time of salvation.

The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV). At the time of salvation, all things become new, and such divorced and subsequently saved people are permitted by God to remarry with his blessing. But the new spouse should be a believer (“he must belong to the Lord” — 1 Corinthians 7:39, in a related context). I would perform such a marriage personally if neither partner had been unscripturally divorced since his/her salvation.

But every minister must determine where his own heart is on this last situation, and he must stand before God for his decision with an uncondemned heart. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5, KJV), Paul wrote in a different matter.

It is vital, in treating this topic, not to take license with God’s exceptions and expand them into promiscuous, unscriptural divorces and remarriages. But when God mercifully has made provisions in this area, then we, as God’s children, must stand by God’s word in the face of ecclesiastical traditions which, without mercy, bind people to situations for which God has provided release.

Believe God’s word. Heed Jesus’ warning not to “teach for doctrines the commandments of man … making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mark 7:7,13). As we have seen, God in His bible lists certain scriptural divorce and remarriage situations. Let’s obey the word of God in this critical area of people’s lives and have the same compassion on God’s people that He Himself has demonstrated.

Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
http://www.jimfeeney.org

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

When it comes to volunteering and Christian organizations and programs, many individuals wonder which ones are worth their time. In all honesty, you will find that it depends. There are a number of different factors that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to volunteer your time and services to help those in need. A few of those factors are outlined below for your convenience.

When looking to find the perfect Christian organization to volunteer with, you will want to take a look at your volunteering capabilities. For instance, how much time do you have to devote to volunteering? If you are limited in your volunteering abilities, you may want to see what you can do online. There are a number of online Christian programs that could use assistance from individuals just like you. Many online Christian programs and organizations need online mentors, online marketers, and so forth.

As nice and as convenient as volunteering online is, it is also important that you take a close look at your community. Is your community in need of volunteers on the local level? If so, you may want to get started there first. Often times, greater pride is associated with helping those in or around your local community, as opposed to those who may be located all across the country. With that in mind, it is important to remember that any type of volunteer work is important and well worth the time. That is why it is advised that you take the time to examine your preferences.

Speaking of your preferences, it is also important to examine who you would like to help. While you may have a general goal, such as helping any individual or group in need, you may also have a preference. For instance, would you like support organizations that provide safe places for teenagers and other children to hang out and have fun? Would you like to support organizations that aim to help the homeless get off the streets or get jobs? If so, you will want to consider your preferences. One of the best ways to find a Christian organization that is worth your time is by finding one that you can fully stand behind and support.

If you are interested in volunteering locally, you may want to speak with your church congregation, especially your leaders. In fact, you may find that your church is interested in starting their own non-profit organization in the near future. If not, your church may provide you with a list of organizations that they support. This list can serve as a nice guide, as you will be able to support your church and its goals of helping others as well. You can also use the internet to find Christian organizations and programs to volunteer with. Both online and offline Christian organizations can be found with a standard internet search.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to find Christian organizations to volunteer for. As a reminder, your goals and preferences can play huge roles in determining if a particular Christian organization or program is worth your time.

God’s blessings always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes God will allow the flames of Hell to sweep over us so that it may test the very nature of who we have become. Just like the fiery furnace tested the three Hebrew children’s lives and commitment to service. Nothing can quite test you like the enemies flames. They will try your very call and challenge your desire to stand for what is right when it threatens to take everything for such a stand.

Rest assured that when such testing comes nothing fleshly will be able to rescue you or bring true relief and comfort. Only Christ can stand and give relief to those who find themselves in its flames. With His hand you can not only survive in the test but flourish and come out unscathed. When the flames die down you will re-emerge to the awesome testimony of God’s power to keep His promise against all odds.

The true testimony of the three Hebrew children is that despite what you are told and led to believe by the vast majority, compromise and a willingness to tolerate sinful actions to save face will cost you more than being willing to stand for the truth. This may require your willingness to stand alone, remembering that you cannot be destroyed despite the trying flames. Your testimony will not be silenced and cannot be killed by the fiery furnace you may find yourself in today.

We must ask ourselves, what is my struggle revealing about my fleshly nature, my attitudes, and my life? If struggles do not cause you to inspect your true motives and attitudes of your heart then your refining process will lead to your failure and not your success. Only when we are willing to go through the pain of allowing all of our selfish and worldly ways of thinking to burn away can we ever become refined and walk as Christ desires.

We have always learned as a child that if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation and your clothing catches on fire you are to stop, drop, and roll. It is critical that you extinguish the outer garments as quickly as possible to prevent your body from being burned. So when we are going through a test in our lives we should stop long enough to evaluate our situation and determine if our test is natural, self inflicted, or part of the refining process. We should then drop to our knees and allow Christ to examine our hearts and submit to His leading. It is then and only then that you can roll out of the trying fires unharmed.

The next time Hell comes knocking on your door just realize that it can only take from you the unrighteous characteristics that already belong in its pits. Everything that is in Christ will survive its flames, and when all is said and done the end result will lead to life and not death. Sometimes we are required to experience the worst in life so that we can give God our best.

About Reverend Dwayne Harris

Dwayne Harris is an Ordained Minister and Evangelist and has been active in pulpit ministry for over 10 years. He is also employed in full time Law Enforcement with specialized services in SWAT and Crisis Intervention. Dwayne has been married been for 15 years to his wife Stacey, and has two sons and a daughter.

Reverend Dwayne Harris
Fresh Outpouring Ministries
dwayneandstacey@yahoo.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

If I discover truth from the Bible, how do I know the Bible is true? There’s a world of objective evidence, both external and internal, that says the Bible is true.

External evidence proves the Bible is a historical book that you can rely on. There are 5,366 copies of the Bible dating from the time it was written to just 70 years afterwards. That fact dispels the urban legend that the Bible was changed as it passed through generations and languages.

External evidence also includes many archeological discoveries. For example, historians used to say that Solomon couldn’t have had the horses the Bible says he had because no one had horses at that time. But then thousands of horse stables were found in an archeological dig.

There’s also the internal evidence of the Bible itself. In a court of law, a prosecutor with two or three eyewitness accounts has a good chance of making his case. The Bible is filled with eyewitness accounts. Moses was there when the Red Sea split; Joshua was there to watch Jericho fall; the disciples saw the resurrected Jesus.

The internal evidence of the Bible also includes the fact that it tells one story with consistency – though it was written over 1,500 years on three different continents by 40 different authors from every walk of life. No human being could account for that. It’s an amazing example of God’s abilities.

The Bible says, “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17, MSG)

By: Rick Warren
http://www.purposedriven.com

Dr. Rick Warren is passionate about attacking what he calls the five “Global Goliaths” – spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy/poor education. His goal is a second Reformation by restoring responsibility in people, credibility in churches, and civility in culture. He is a pastor, global strategist, theologian, and philanthropist. He’s been often named “America’s most influential spiritual leader” and “America’s Pastor.”

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Before we can even begin to understand how we as loyal Christians can “all” learn from our “past mistakes”, we need to define the term “mistake.” According to Dictionary.com, the word “mistake” is defined as, “An error in action, calculation, opinion,  or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, or a misunderstanding or misconception. So first, let us ask ourselves, who is the “judge?” Who has the authority and righteousness to cast the “first stone?” Jesus faced a mob that was eager to execute a woman caught in adultery. He put a stop to it with a simple challenge: anyone who has no sin in their life should step forward and throw the first stone. That sentence is often cited as a reminder to avoid judging others when there are faults in your own life that desperately need to be addressed.

“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” John 8:7.

The painful reality is that we in our human state are fallible, sinful, and deserve nothing more than death. “For the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. Our Lord Jesus also made clear the origin and reason for our difficulties in this life during a conversation with unbelieving people in the Book of John.

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me” John 8:42-45.

In learning from our past mistakes, we must also determine whether or not a mistake is a sin against God. Sin, when translated, simply means, “to miss the mark”, or “to miss the point.” If the mistakes we have made were in fact sin (which can only be determined by pressing into, learning and knowing God’s Holy Bible paired with intimate prayer), then we must “repent.” Repent (Metanoia) means, “change your mind.” But still, we must be able to accurately define a “mistake.” To do so, we must turn to God for the final word. In other words, stay in prayer, and stay in His Word.

Whenever you believe you have made a mistake or committed a sin, consider the following steps towards redemption, forgiveness, and restoration:

• Determine (admit) that a mistake has been made.
• Seek forgiveness from God and anyone you have offended (intentionally, or otherwise).
• Change your heart by changing your mind (repent). Ask the Holy Spirit to protect and guide you through this process.
• Refrain from all temptation to repeat the offense, mistake, or sin. (Note: 1 Corinthians 10:13)

Upon completion of your mistake-redemption process as noted (it is a process that can take time), you must by faith know that God has not only forgiven you (through Christ), but has perfectly forgotten the transgression as we read in the Book of Psalms. God doesn’t just forgive our sin; He actually casts it away as far from us as it’s possible to be. The phrase “as far as the east is from the west” is a rhetorical description of an infinitely long distance. So if you or anyone else chooses to bring it up again, then you or they would be doing so against God’s infallible Word, His Holy Bible.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” Psalm 113:12 NIV.

All too often, we as human beings (in our “old sinful nature”) grade past mistakes on a “point system.” I defy anyone to show you where in God’s Word, our heavenly Father uses a grading scale pertaining to mistakes or sin. We know that the prophet Moses was a murderer, the patriarch Abraham was a liar, King David was both an adulterer and a murderer, Jacob, was a deceiver, and so on. Even though these individuals made human mistakes and even sinned until death in this life, God was still mightily able to use them and their past mistakes for His glory and purpose; and God is exactly the same today as He has been throughout all history as we read in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” In the Book of Malachi we read, “I the LORD do not change” Malachi 3:6. Furthermore, as faithful Christians, we must believe that God loves us and uses us (mistakes and all) for His sovereign purposes (even while we remain sinners) as we read:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.

Remember, we are NOT defined by what other people (sinners) think of us, but rather we are defined by God and His purpose for our life and His glorious kingdom. Think about it, if you allow others to define you, where will that lead you? We know that everyone has opinion, and every opinion varies from the next. So, who has “right: answers? Of all of the human opinions, who can you bet your decisions or choices upon? If you answer, “not a one”, you would be correct! Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith as we read in the Book of Hebrews:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.

In closing, I would also like to point out Paul’s position pertaining to “moving forward.” In Paul’s letter to Christians at Philippi and all believers (written while imprisoned in Rome), we can better understand God’s position with regard to where to place our forward focus. (When we forgive, we are instantly released from our “ball and chain.”)

 ”Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13-14.

As a self-judging examination, we must also be accountable for how we judge others. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ specifically said, ““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” (Matthew 7:3). Be careful. In order for your mistakes (sins) to be fully forgiven, you must forgive all others. Forgiving one another is the hardest thing to do and the most beneficial. As God’s chosen people we are to forgive all grievances we have between one another because of the example set forth to us by Christ.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” Colossians 3:12-14 NLT.

It is far too easy to point a finger at others, but remember when you do you point three fingers back at yourself. Let us always remember how Jesus replied to one of the teachers of the law when asked, “which commandment is the most important?” 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” Matthew 22:37.

As always, I lovingly encourage you to read, study, and pray upon your Bible. As you do, note the great and wonderful mercy God grants His people. Be patient with those who make mistakes or even sin against you. Always hold deep in your heart how our living God is an amazing God of many chances; full of forgiveness, grace, and tender mercies. Just ask yourself, “How often has God forgiven you?”

May our gracious Lord God bless you all the days of your life,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesOnline.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

Before starting your own Christian youth program, you will want to take a look at what your community has to offer. This is particularly important if your community is small in size. You will also want to look at any organizations or programs that your church congregation runs or supports. This will help to prevent any unintentional conflicts. With that in mind, the decision, as to whether or not you should start your own Christian youth program, is yours to make.

One of the most important things to remember, when looking to start your own Christian youth organization, is that it doesn’t have to be an elaborate thing. Many youths in America just need a place to hang out, as well as adults and mentors who will lend a helping hand or an ear for listening. Many large cities run youth centers. While your organization should aim to meet these similar goals, you don’t have to have huge buildings or a large budget to help those in need.

One of the first things that you will want to do is examine locations for your youth organization. You will need to have meeting places for teens and other children that are both convenient and safe. If you are a member of a church congregation, you may want to speak with church officials. Many have extra buildings on their properties, like ones that are used for Sunday school, which may work great for youth programs. You may also find other businesses or organizations who will let you use their property for set times for free or at reduce rental costs.

Another point that you will want to examine is events and activities. Youth programs are successful, but they must be interesting to draw in children, especially teenagers. For that reason, you may want to use the assistance of a local teenager or a group of teenagers. Although you will find some variances, crafts, homework help sessions, small concerts, and sporting events are all popular activities, as well as ones that your local community youth can benefit from.

It is also important that you have a plan in place, in terms of donations and volunteers. Since you will likely register your group as a non-profit organization, you may be able to receive discounts from area businesses. Donations can also be acquired for sports equipment, school supplies, and other needed items. If approached with a good plan, you may find many community members, organizations, and businesses who will offer your support.

As previously stated, you will also need volunteers. These will need to be real people who can offer you assistance. You may want to target high school seniors or college students. This is because volunteer work, such as volunteering as a tutor, a mentor, or a supervisor with a Christian youth program will look good on job resumes and applications, as well as college applications and applications for college scholarships.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration, should you decide to start your own Christian youth program or organization. As a reminder, it is advised that you speak with your church officials. In addition to seeing if they already have a youth program in place, you may be able to get much need assistance.

May God bless you in all His ways,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.christiantimesnewsletter.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.

So, why is it that evil and death are allowed in the world? You see, ages ago, after losing a war between the angels of God, a group of fallen angels-commanded by Satan-departed heaven (Jude 6) and made earth their kingdom. They still exist to date and have only one purpose-to kill and destroy. But their evil provides an illuminating contrast to the love, mercy, and grace of God, who allows people the freedom to choose between good and evil.

“And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment” (Jude 1:6 NLT).

As a by-product of buying into the lie of Satan, Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and were separated from Him. (I am certain you know the story by heart.) This incident also set in full motion the life cycle, which ends in death and causes everyone to be born, “spiritually dead.”

Jesus’ angry words to the Pharisees (John 8:44) show the dismal result of spiritual death: “You are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

But there is “good news”: Our Savior Jesus’ death on the cross provides the perfect antidote for spiritual death. Although all of us eventually will die, a second life-eternal life-will begin.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

So although evil and death continue, God can and does use any situation for good (Romans 8:28). God loves you and wants to work out His purposes for your life. Why not let Him? Why not begin right now?

May almighty God bless you most lovingly,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder, Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesNewsletter.com

©2010 Christian Times Online - Free Christian Business and Christian Marketing Newsletter. All Rights Reserved.