Weekly Bible Study – July 28, 2014

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 4

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 4



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

The new things that have come;
the principle of equality in election and predestination. Part 4

Under the doctrine of new things have come, we have been noting the two unique Royal Commissions: The Royal priesthood and the Royal ambassadorship. We have looked at the Royal priesthood, and now are noting the second Royal commission which is our Royal ambassadorship. We began with the principle of the divine principle of logistical grace support

First of all, logistics is a military word which refers to the military science of supply, provision, and planning of troop movement. This has to do with the fact that we are all enlisted in the army of God.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (2TI 2:1-4)

Logistics is also the provision, movement, and maintenance of all resources and services necessary to sustain military forces. As ambassadors of Christ we have the responsibility to be soldiers for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Logistics is also defined as the military science of planning, handling, and implementation of personnel under every possible military condition. From this military nomenclature comes this Bible doctrine based on analogy. Logistics always plays a very important and dramatic part in warfare, but logistics plays an even greater part in your life as a believer. MAT 6:33-7:26 gives us a look at this principle of logistical grace.

The word logistics comes from two Greek words:

1) Logistes - an inspector of accounts, an auditor, a calculator.

2) Logismos - a thinker.

Hence, logistical grace is defined as divine planning, divine support, divine provision, and divine blessing for the execution of the PPOG by the royal family for the fulfillment of God's will, purpose, and plan for your life. Logistical grace includes three factors of divine provision:

a. Life support is provided for every Church-age believer. “My times are in Thy hand.” (PSA 31:15).

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Rom14:7-8)

This explains how and why we are alive every moment. The only reason we are alive is because of logistical grace. We do not earn or deserve it; there’s no work we can accomplish to keep ourselves alive.

b. Blessing is provided for every Church-age believer, both winners and losers. This dramatizes the justice of God, in that the justice of God sends life support and blessing to the indwelling righteousness of God in both winners and losers. At the moment of salvation, the righteousness of God is imputed to the believer by the justice of God. The righteousness of God demands blessing from the justice of God whether we fail or succeed as Christians. This is why God provides logistical grace to both winners and losers. You are alive only because of the grace of God, not because of anything you do. The indwelling righteousness of God is the recipient of all life support and all blessing from God. This is the grace pipeline and it excludes human merit and ability from all blessing. Winners utilize logistical grace, losers coast on it, but never utilize it.

c. Under logistical grace, there is the divine provision for every Church-age believer to execute the PPOG. All doctrine comes from a prepared pastor-teacher. If you have persistent positive volition, you will find doctrine and your right pastor-teacher.

Throughout the Bible, there are testimonies of logistical grace. The anthropomorphic testimony is found in passages like DEU 33:27. An anthropopomorphisms ascribes to God human physical characteristics that He does not actually possess. This is used as a teaching device in order for man to understand God's divine policy, character and function on man’s own finite level of understanding.

The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; (DEU 33:27).

The Biblical definition of logistical grace is found in 2CO 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, [logistical grace support], you may have an abundance for every good deed or good of intrinsic value [essential value] production. The context for this verse is giving. If your attitude is right, God will provide the means for you to give. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.

How is God able to make all grace abound in giving us things? Logistical grace is the answer. This sufficiency is not qualified by occurring only during prosperous times. You have a sufficiency in all circumstances, including maximum historical disaster. This is why you do not have to live in fear or worry regarding the future. There is no historical situation or circumstance to which this does not apply.

But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (PHI 4:18-19)

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeds even yours in the glory that pours from the Lord Jesus Christ. David gives the testimony of old age to logistical grace in PSA 37:25. The testimony of the shepherd is found in PSA 23:1-6.

It is impossible for anyone who has imputed divine righteousness to lack anything because the justice of God sends life support and blessing to all believers, both winners and losers. Grace depends on God’s reputation, not ours. You do not fear anything under dying grace. Both discipline and deliverance are a comfort to the believer who knows doctrine. As long as you live, logistical grace will pursue you.

The testimony from our Lord is given by the apostle Paul in 2CO 12:9, Then He assured me, “My grace [logistical grace] has been and still is sufficient for you.” For the power is achieved with weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Weakness refers to grace orientation as a problem solving device. It refers to humility, lack of arrogance, and to suffering for blessing in the three categories: providential preventative suffering, momentum testing, and evidence testing.

Weakness is our part; in the grace policy we rely on God’s strength to us. We boast in the sense of cognition of Bible doctrine, not in the sense of arrogance. That the power of Christ may reside in me is a reference to the fact that Jesus Christ indwells His body and occupation with Christ as the ultimate problem solving device. It is also a reference to our spiritual growth, following the pattern of the humanity of Christ in the previous dispensation of the Hypostatic Union.

The Lord becomes very important to many believers in times of disaster; whereas in times of prosperity, the Lord isn't nearly as important to many casual believers. Casual attitudes toward the Lord disappear when disaster comes. For those who do seek the Lord and trust in Him through the use of the ten problem solving devices, they will have a fantastic and magnificent life. Logistical grace is the basis for the perpetuation of the believer's life in time no matter what disasters may come. God sustains the life of every believer on planet earth in spite of Satanic opposition, the policy of evil, opposition from others, and our tendencies for self-destruction. The Lord Jesus Christ controls history.

We have a propensity for self-destruction; yet God keeps us alive in spite of ourselves and in spite of others.

Authority is your friend, not your enemy. Authority is also an accepted source of information, as in the case of the authority of the pastor-teacher to provide doctrinal or theological information from the scriptures. Therefore authority can also be defined in terms of an expert on a particular subject. When it comes to the Royal ambassadorship, it’s important to note that there must be the implementation of divine authority for all the royal ambassadors to work together. This is why Satan and the kingdom of darkness love to break down the unity that needs to exists in the local assembly.

For our study concerning the principle of our Royal ambassadorship, unity is defined in different ways:

- The status of being combined with others to form a greater whole. We have been combined with other believers through the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of salvation. We are not here to only serve God, but to serve and help one another.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.” (JOH 15:12-17)

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1JO 3:16)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (EPH 5:1-2)

- As members of the Royal Family and Royal Ambassadors we also need to note that unity is defined as the status of being harmonious with other members of the royal family of God.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; (PHI 2:1-14)

We are all enlisted in the army of God. That enlistment begins with you understanding the principle of authority, which includes enforced and genuine humility, not critical and judgmental presumptuousness. If you are at a point where you disrespect the authority you are a part of, you should do one of two things: 1) Leave the organization. 2) Humble yourself, rebound, and become a part of the solution, not the problem. Authority is your friend, not your enemy. Authority is also an accepted source of information, as in the case of the authority of the pastor-teacher to provide doctrinal or theological information from the scriptures. Therefore authority can also be defined in terms of an expert on a particular subject. When it comes to the Royal ambassadorship, it’s important to note that there must be the implementation of divine authority for all the royal ambassadors to work together. This is why Satan and the kingdom of darkness love to break down the unity that needs to exists in the local assembly.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Internet Church Service – July 27, 2014

This week’s sermon title:
The Shield of faith. Part 3

Today’s Sermon Message:
The Shield of faith. Part 3
Video & Audio

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

# # # # # # # #

from - Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Lyrics in video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Hymn #2

Just As I Am – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church
and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon

The Shield of faith. Part 3

TO VIEW THE SERMON: Right click the link above, a small window will open then left click either “Open in New Window” or “Open in New Tab” and the church service notes page will open, it has three options in the upper right side of the page, right click the link titled “download mp3” and just like before, select either Open New Window or Open New Tab to open the MP3 player, this will leave the notes page open so you can move back to it, so go back to the notes page to follow along in the notes, the streaming audio should begin automatically in your default audio/video player (like, Windows Media Player).

If you need to leave the service, when you come back, to move the MP3 player forward, press and hold the left click down on the player progress bar where you see the little arrow under the time on progress bar and move your mouse forward

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

Jesus Paid it All – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Weekly Bible Study – July 21, 2014

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 3

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 3



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

The new things that have come;
the principle of equality in election and predestination. Part 3

Under the principle of the doctrine that new things have come we have been noting the two unique Royal Commissions: The Royal Priesthood and the Royal Ambassadorship. We have been noting the responsibility and accountability we all have to defend the faith as members of the Royal Family of God.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty [el shaddai]. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, And from the deadly pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shall thou trust. His Truth shall be Thy shield and buckler. (PSA 91:1-4)

The Hebrew word for shield is tsinnah which means a large shield to guard against thorns or things that would pierce and wound us. Not only is the truth a shield, but His truth shall also be a buckler. That Hebrew word is cocherah which is something surrounding the believer. Truth will give you some principles that should free you from caring about what others think about you. What a bondage that is.

Here are some principles we looked at concerning unrealistic expectations:

1. Do not place yourself under unrealistic expectations concerning your relationship with others. We do have a responsibility to care for others, but it is just as true that you are not to allow yourself to be put into bondage and slavery to others.

You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. (1CO 7:23)

Don't be so arrogant toward yourself that your goal is to have others speak well of you. They are simply not worth it. The point is stop putting pressure on yourself.

“Blessed are you when {men} cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.” (MAT 5:11).

2. Unrealistic expectations toward ourselves which inevitably produces frustrations that distract us from Bible doctrine and destroy the true focus of the Christian life, which is occupation with Christ, not self. The principle is found in PHI 1:21, For me, living is Christ, likewise dying is profit. Or in JOH 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That is especially true when it comes to those whom are closer to us, including our own loved ones and family members.

3. Unrealistic expectations destroys all human relationships, whether it is your relationship in friendship, romance, or marriage, but most of all, your relationship with yourself.

Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; (EPH 5:33)

Fear does not exist in virtue love, but virtue love expels [drives out] that fear, for fear causes self induced misery. (1JO 4:18)

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (MAR 12:31)

4. Unrealistic expectation produces frustrations which distract from Bible doctrine and destroy the true focus of the Christian life, which is occupation with Christ, not people. By this I mean that you are not living in the rest and peace that comes from understanding that you have been reconciled and reunited to God. Don’t place yourself in the bondage of such things personality changes.

5. Unrealistic expectations causes us to react to others inwardly who do not believe that we are treating them the way they want to be treated. Therefore because of the demand syndrome, it is impossible for any virtue to exist in either one of us. This inevitably leads to eyes on self, eyes on people, and eyes on things. The focus that is substituted for occupation with Christ is eyes on self, eyes on people, or eyes on things which is nothing more than the trap of arrogance. Eyes on self is arrogance. This makes you selfish, self-centered, and totally unacceptable. Eyes on people is lust. This is where you become frustrated by comparing yourself with others, thinking that others are doing better than you. Eyes on things is covetousness. This is when you desire to have or possess what someone else has or possesses. You resent those who have worked hard and have accumulated wealth. You resent the successful and as long as you do, this will guarantee that you will be a loser all your life.

6. There is role model arrogance which is another problem that can hinder you from living in the rest and peace that comes from understanding that you have been reunited to God. Stop trying to make yourself live up to a real or an imagined spiritual role-model to others. Take the pressure off yourself.

7. Role model arrogance causes believers to fail because of lack of impersonal love for all mankind beginning with themselves and lack of occupation with Christ. Stop trying to make yourself live up to a real or imagined spiritual role model to others. Take the pressure off yourself. Reconciliation means God has called you to peace and rest.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (MAT 11:28-30)

8. Role model arrogance ignores the basic doctrine that all believers sin after salvation and continue to have a sin nature. No one is perfect. But with Bible doctrine as the number one priority in your life, you learn to love God the Father, and you learn to insert the virtue of impersonal love into human relationships. From knowledge of Bible doctrine you find your true role model who is perfect. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, He is our only role model.

When you combine unrealistic expectation with role model arrogance, you have established false standards for your life. Even if you are sincere. You have developed an arrogant system of standards which hinder both the execution of the PPOG and create spiritual failure by condemning yourself. When you are not content with the rest and peace that God has provided for you through the finished work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, then you begin to develop the arrogance of unhappiness or the arrogance of subjective preoccupation with self.

There is another very subtle, but common form of arrogance found among born again believers which is murmuring, complaining, frustration, worry, anxiety, self-pity, etc. These are all a part of the arrogance of unhappiness.

The influence of the cosmic system upon the believer in this area cannot disappear through prayer alone! The road to recovery begins with humility, acknowledgement and then a crash diet of Bible doctrine.

The believer that has the arrogance of unhappiness always blames others for their failures. They avoid taking any responsibility for failures. They are paranoid, jealous, implacable and lack forgiveness. The arrogance of unhappiness may be classified as pre-occupation with self. Pre-occupation with self destroys any capacity for happiness and frustrates the fulfillment of the divine plan of God. Involvement in the devil’s world or the cosmic system guarantees unhappiness.

Involvement in the cosmic system promotes erroneous ideas about what constitutes happiness in life. Those involved in the cosmic system think that people, pleasant circumstances or prosperity can make them happy. Arrogant people are unhappy people involved in the cosmic system and therefore they are miserable. They continue and persist with their erroneous views of what happiness is. Therefore, the big enemy to true happiness in the Christian life is arrogance.

Do not be grieved, for the happiness of the Lord is your strength. (NEH 8:10)

There is also a counterfeit or pseudo happiness developed in the cosmic system which is a stimulation for a moment and often mistaken for true happiness. Satan will minister this pseudo happiness to any believer who resides in his cosmic system. Through this arrogance, the believer’s capacity for happiness is completely destroyed. Satan has perpetuated a myth on the human race as the ruler of this world, that people and pleasant circumstances and moments of stimulation can make you happy. As the ruler of this world, Satan has a system for distracting people by making them think that stimulation is happiness. This is a locked in system that very few people have ever overcome.

Arrogant pre-occupation with self through involvement in the cosmic system is a guarantee of unhappiness. We must not associate stimulation with happiness. Pseudo happiness is always associated with any form of stimulation, enjoyment, excitement which provides temporary pleasure. Most people whether they are aware of it or not build their life around pleasure goals. They go from one pleasure goal to another. In between each pleasure goal is all the boredom that surrounds their anticipation. In fact, for many their happiness comes from anticipation or the thrill of the catch being the chase.

For example, many single people think that marriage is a form of happiness. They have the idea that once you get married your troubles are over, or you are completed. But, once you get married you discover that marriage is not happiness. In fact, marriage was never designed to give you happiness nor is any organization that involves more than one person designed to give happiness.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you should marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly, and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. (1CO 7:27-35)

A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. (1CO 7:39-40)

Happiness does not belong to any divine institution, but to God alone. There are four divine institutions:
1. Volition.

2. Marriage.

3. Family.

4. Nationalism.

Both volition and marriage existed at a time when man lived on earth with a perfect environment and without an OSN! Now, you would think that a perfect man and a perfect woman would go off into the sunset and live happily ever after. But, it didn't turn out that way. The woman became bored with the man, like a lot of women do today. In fact, there are some women who just want to find out how many of these boring creatures called men, they can score.

The woman became bored with the man and started to hang around the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and then took up conversation with the serpent, who at that time was the most beautiful creature in the garden. You know the rest of the story. Under perfect environment the first marriage was a flop. Marriage alone cannot make you happy. Nor does everything associated with marriage have the ability to make you happy, and that includes sex!

There is the idea that sex is happiness. Young girls are hot headed and stupid, and so they look for some young boy with a good head of hair or whatever. Young boys look for some beautiful haired girl to have a good time with in hopes that such stimulation will bring happiness. The young people think that a specific type of person will make them happy.

The point is you're not going to find happiness in marriage or in divine institution number 3, the family! There is nothing wrong with marriage and family, but an arrogant man is not going to have a happy marriage. An arrogant woman, one who looks to the marriage for happiness, is not going to find it. You see, the great enemy of happiness is arrogance. Arrogance is the fruit of the cosmic system.

Any time you look to people for happiness you will lose. If you think children are going to make you happy, you have the wrong idea as to what happiness is! Any time you bring people into your social life, they do not bring happiness but rather, they challenge it!

But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commands. (NEH 9:16)

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Internet Church Service – July 20, 2014

This week’s sermon title:
The Shield of faith. Part 2

Today’s Sermon Message:
The Shield of faith. Part 2
Video & Audio

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

# # # # # # # #

from - Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

Be Still My Soul/What A Friend We Have In Jesus – Lyrics in video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Hymn #2

Jesus Paid It All – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church
and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon

The Shield of faith. Part 2

TO VIEW THE SERMON: Right click the link above, a small window will open then left click either “Open in New Window” or “Open in New Tab” and the church service notes page will open, it has three options in the upper right side of the page, right click the link titled “download mp3” and just like before, select either Open New Window or Open New Tab to open the MP3 player, this will leave the notes page open so you can move back to it, so go back to the notes page to follow along in the notes, the streaming audio should begin automatically in your default audio/video player (like, Windows Media Player).

If you need to leave the service, when you come back, to move the MP3 player forward, press and hold the left click down on the player progress bar where you see the little arrow under the time on progress bar and move your mouse forward

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

Jesus What A Beautiful Name – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Weekly Bible Study – July 14, 2014

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 2

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

The new things that have come;
The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Part 2



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

The new things that have come;
the principle of equality in election and predestination. Part 2

As a part of “the new things” that have come from 2 Co 5:17, we have been noting the ten unique asserts that believers in other dispensations did not possess which are in view.

We have seen the first four:

a. The baptism of the Spirit which results in the creation of a new spiritual species and the royal family of God.

b. The PPOG and a personal sense of destiny which is unique for the royal family of God only.

c. You also have a phenomenal portfolio of invisible assets which belongs to you as a member of the royal family of God.

d. The principle of equality. For the first time in history, every believer, regardless of background or personal history has equality given by God.

We are now on the fifth principle which is the two unique royal commissions: The Royal Ambassadorship and the Royal Priesthood. Among the many benefits of our spiritual royalty are these two divine commissions. In union with Christ, every Church-age believer belongs to the most exalted priestly order of all time. Every believer in the Church-age is under the High Priesthood of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (2TI 4:1-4)

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited. We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. (HEB 13:9-10)

We have begun a study on some of these different and strange doctrines that have infiltrated the Church-age. For example:

1. A-Millennialism - the false belief that there will be no one thousand year reign of Christ and His saints on earth.

2. Annihilation - the strange doctrinal belief that Hell does not exist.

3. The false teaching of the Apostolic Signs and Wonders, movement as we noted in MAR 16:17-18.

“And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly {poison,} it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (MAR 16:17-19)

This movement is made up of those who operate under the false assumption that these signs (in MAR 16:17-18), are still in effect today and that it is their duty to fulfill them.

In HEB 2:3-4, the Bible teaches that signs were used to confirm that the word being preached by what EPH 4:11calls the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers,

EPH 4:12, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

These signs were used by God to confirm the mystery doctrine of the Church-age. In HEB 2:3, signs are spoken of in the past tense. HEB 2:3, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed not is confirmed or will be confirmed, but was confirmed [aor-pass-ind of bebaioo, meaning past tense] = has been confirmed. HEB 2:4, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

They are also spoken of in the past tense in 2CO 12:12, The signs of a true apostle "were performed" among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. The phrase were performed is an aor-pass-ind of katergazomai meaning to accomplish, perform, work. The aorist tense speaks of that point in the past when the verb was accomplished. The passive voice, the subject, the apostles, received (not produced, but received) the action of the verb. The indicative mood is the dogmatic statement of fact. Those who insist that we should practice the signs today because they were practiced throughout the New Testament haven't been truly studying the word of God. They were not practiced throughout the New Testament.

In Acts 5:16, early in the apostolic age when the church was just getting started, we read:

And also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed. Twenty-five years later Paul, the greatest of all the apostles, could not be delivered from his own pesky thorn in the flesh, 2CO 12:7-10). At one time, Paul had the ability to heal others at will (ACT 28:8), but as Paul neared the end of his life he showed no evidence of such a gift. In fact, in 1TI 5:23, the apostle Paul gave Timothy medical advice instead of healing him. No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Timothy had infirmities of his own from which he could not be healed. Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake, a common way of treating illness in that day. Later on, at the very end of his career, Paul left Trophimus SICK at Miletum; He surely would have healed him if he could. Why all this sickness if the Apostolic Signs were still in effect? Answer: They were not still in effect because they were only needed in the early ministry of the Apostles for the purpose of confirming the truth to Israel.

We firmly believe that God can still work miracles and heal anyone He chooses. we believe that the prayers of God’s people can move Him to work miracles. But, let’s not confuse answered prayers with Apostolic Signs, because there’s a vast difference. We believe in healing; we just don’t believe in healers.

Back in MAR 16:17, “And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;” As for new tongues or unknown tongues, people have done this for thousands of years. The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 was the first instance, but this was certainly no outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When the Church of Satan speaks in unknown tongues (which they do), is that a work of the Holy Spirit? Most any good psychologist can teach you to speak in unknown tongues, but this isn't a work of the Holy Spirit! Too many people have the idea that if something is highly abnormal or miraculous that it must be of God. In fact, we are told that the coming Antichrist will have a field day with such feeble minded people, because he will work such signs and lying wonders that the entire world will follow after him (2TH 2:8-12; REV 13:13-14).

The time will come when the lawless one will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don't worry. The Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, will slay him with the breath of His mouth; He’ll be right on his heels and blow him away.

That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, (2TH 2:9)

The Anti-Christ coming is all Satan’s work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, (2TH 2:10-11). Since they’re so obsessed with evil, God gives them what they want. In order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2TH 2:12). Since they refuse to trust truth, they’re banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.

speaking of the second beast, Satan and the And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, (REV 13:13-14)

Nowhere in the New Testament did God command anyone to speak with unknown tongues. We do read about new tongues, MAR 16:17, other tongues ACT 2:4, and different kinds of tongues, 1CO 12:10, but these are all foreign Languages, not senseless gibberish!

There are no unknown tongues in Act 2, and there is no baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1Co 14. Instead of rightly dividing the word of truth, the careless emotional holy roller crowd are in view when Peter says:

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2PE 3:14-16)

And so the Apostolic Signs are not for today, because they were only for confirming the word of God to the unbelieving Jews in the first century. In fact, the Bible warns us to beware of anyone who professes to practice these signs today (MAT 7:15; 24:11; 1TI 4:1-2), 2CO 11:13-15, For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.

The Lord commends the church at Ephesus for trying out some professing apostles and finding them to be liars (REV 2:2). Today, most Charismatic or Pentecostal groups teach that a person receives the Holy Spirit sometime after they’ve received Christ as Savior, but this is plain heresy. ROM 8:9 tells us that a person does not even belong to Christ if that person doesn’t have the Spirit of God, so salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are synonymous, not separate.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (ROM 8:9)

To further the confusion, such groups also refer to this event as a baptism of fire. The only baptism of fire in the Bible is the one that John spoke of when he spoke of Christ burning sinners in unquenchable fire, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. And His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (MAT 3:11:12).

The only time a person is baptized in fire is when he is cast into the lake of fire. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (REV 20:14-15). Believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit, but sinners are baptized with fire. The baptism of fire is defined as the judgment of the Tribulational unbelievers at the Second Advent. They are removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment.

Both Jews and Gentiles who are Tribulational unbelievers are involved in this Second Advent judgment. This judgment results in the Millennium beginning with believers only, MAT 3:11-12; LUK 3:16. The analogy to the baptism of fire is found in MAT 24:36-41.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women {will be} grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.” (MAT 24:36-41)

The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever. The Second Advent is compared to the days of Noah when people had no time for doctrine because they were too distracted by the pleasures of normal living.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.