Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The Pauline Epistles

For anyone interested in the history of the Bible here is an interesting site about the manuscript P46 containing the Pauline Epistles.

Monday, December 4, 2006

Five Steps To Success

1. Resist being shaped by the values of this world. - Psalm 1:1, Romans 12:2

2. Read and meditate on God's Word daily. - Psalm 1:2, 3

3. Apply Bible counsel in your life. - Joshua 1:7-9

4. Make God your friend. - James 2:23; 4:8

5. Fear the true God and keep his commandments. - Ecclesiastes 12:13


Having God as our Friend gives us hope for the future. The apostle Paul urged Christians "to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God." In this way, they would be "safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19) This real life will come about soon when God's heavenly Kingdom restores Paradise to this earth. - Luke 23:43.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Overcoming Fear Of The Future

Luke 21:25, 26 says, "Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." This is going to happen after the Great Tribulation.

Mark 13:24 says, "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light."

25 years ago the term road rage never existed.

Have you ever been driving down the road and then suddenly see a police car? Do you check your speed? Does your heart start to beat faster? Those who get pulled over are the ones who ignored the speed limit signs. So it will be for those who refuse Jehovah God and ignore the signs around us.

Jeremiah 25:31 says, "A noise will certainly come clear to the farthest part of the earth, for there is a controversy that Jehovah has with the nations. He must personally put himself in judgment with all flesh. As regards the wicked ones, he must give them to the sword,’ is the utterance of Jehovah." This is what will happen to those not paying attention. Jehovah is giving us fair warning now.

False religion will be the first to go. It will be a chain reaction. Next the commercial system goes. Next the political elements who will fight against Jesus , the one who Jehovah has anointed as king.

Jehovah has repeatedly warned people through out time. Who will listen to this warning? People who are humble and willing to learn.

What will happen after this? Isaiah 65:21,22 says, "And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full."

Isaiah 62:8,9 says,"Jehovah has sworn with his right hand and with his strong arm: “I will no more give your grain as food to your enemies, nor will foreigners drink your new wine, for which you have toiled. But the very ones gathering it will eat it, and they will be certain to praise Jehovah; and the very ones collecting it will drink it in my holy courtyards.”

In this new system there will no longer be rich and poor people. Everyone will have plenty to eat.

So as the present system goes ever deeper into its dark tunnel of despair and uncertainty, those who trust in Jehovah can look forward to a glorious future right here on earth. This hope is contained in the "good news of the kingdom," which Jehovah's Witnesses joyfully share with all who want a better and more just world. (Matthew 24:14) Thanks to this sure hope—and God's fatherly care of his people—we can, even now, "reside in security and be undisturbed from dread of calamity."—Proverbs 1:33.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Can You Live Forever? Will You?

Matthew 6:26 says, "Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are?" Jehovah thinks much more of us than birds.

Was man made to live forever? Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 says, "I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied. Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the [true] God has made from the start to the finish." God has put it in our hearts to want to live forever.

Jehovah's original purpose was for us to live forever. Genesis 2:16-17 says, "And Jehovah God also laid this command upon the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” Adam would have lived forever if he had obeyed Jehovah God.

Psalms 16:11 says, "You will cause me to know the path of life. Rejoicing to satisfaction is with your face. There is pleasantness at your right hand forever. " Living forever will be wonderful.

John 4:6-14 shows us that we can live forever.

But will we run out of things to do if we live forever? Nowadays we are always being rushed because we only have so much time to do things. Living forever you will have time to travel and study what ever you want. The earth is filled with so many things to do. There is a lot of variety in plants and animals. One man studied 1 type of fish for 14 years. Fish Report. Romans 11:33 says, " O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments [are] and past tracing out his ways [are]!"

How can we live forever? Jesus asked a question at Luke 12:25, "Who of YOU by being anxious can add a cubit to his life span?". There is nothing that humans can do to make us live forever. Doctors can help you live a little longer but in the end we grow old and die. The reason for this is found at Romans 5:12, "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned."

What is going to correct this problem? Matthew 20:28 says, "Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.” This has been made possible through what must be the most dramatic and sublime expression of God's undeserved kindness toward this world of redeemable mankind—the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

What is your standing with God?

Why is this question vital? Romans 14:10 says, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;" We need to ask ourselves 'Are we more interested in man's approval or God's approval?' Proverbs 29:25 says, "Trembling at men is what lays a snare, but he that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected." One thing that can help us with this is faith.

What exactly is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld." Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel? God accepted Abel's offering over Cain's because, "By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain, through which [faith] he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness respecting his gifts; and through it he, although he died, yet speaks." - Heb 11:4.

Abel's death shows us that being faithful to God can bring opposition by our own family members. We need to find out how we can have a good standing with God. Most people don't want to do this . Ephesians 4:18 tell us why, "...while they are in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the insensibility of their hearts." Most people all over the Earth can tell that there is something wrong with whats going on in the world but they don't know what is driving it all.

We need to learn God's will and do it. Then we can survive this world's end to enjoy eternally the blessings of God's new world. The Bible promises that at that time: "God . . . will wipe out every tear from [people's] eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore."— Rev 21:3, 4.