(01/30/2020) Miracles and Christian Belief

The image depicts the Pharisees confronting the man born blind who was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath.

 

Today, reply is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the imparting of spirit substance from the makeup of GOD as the primary divine tools that result in commitment and Christian belief, rather than the Lord’s ministry of miracles. Miracles, wonders, and peculiar events conforming to mechanical process and natural law were used by divinity as signs to indicate the divine origin and certainty of fulfillment for demonstrations, proclamations and oracles delivered by those serving as consecrated seers, prophets, and spokespersons. The life and ministry of Jesus on the earth were to actualize, fulfill and seal the many sacred promises, prophecies, and signs that appear in the holy writings. Included are admonitions, covenants, judgments, divine law, revelation, and visions. Carnal and secular knowledge, superstition, and the occult all are exposed as vain (i.e., void of divine substance). It is written: 1^st John 4: 1-6, King James Version (KJV): 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data shown) posted the following:

 

Jesus proved himself to be from God by performance of miracles. Those who saw believed in him.?

If in the future a man who claims to be another ‘Son of God’ performs proven miracles and says that he is the second ‘son of God’, would you believe in him?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16: 13-17, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Tools Of Divinity (12/09/2019); A Complete Divine Revelation (11/15/2019); Acceptable Displays Of Faith (10/04/2019); Believing That GOD Is (06/24/2019); Where Be His Miracles? (05/07/2019); Why Spirit Displays Personhood (06/06/2018); Sabbath Acknowledges Divine Personhood? (05/14/2018); Called “The Anointed One” (05/08/2018)

 

“Anonymous”, among mature Christian believers, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the imparting of the Holy Spirit to indwell his followers that establish Jesus as authentic, and truly sent by GOD. The church has been warned that in the last days deceivers will present counterfeit miracles. The church displays the image of GOD through those born again who resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and likeness of Jesus Christ. More than simply teaching the proclamations, principles, promises and prophecies from GOD, Jesus went about fulfilling the word. Also, Jesus was acknowledged and endorsed by those whom the people respected as living prophets of the day including both Simon and Anna, who for years appeared daily in the Temple at Jerusalem awaiting the appearance of Messiah, and John the Baptist who had served in the priesthood there. As an evangelist and traveling preacher, Jesus taught from the holy writings, cast out devils and unclean spirits (we say, performed exorcism), and healed multitudes of the sick appearing in the synagogues, and in open areas (e.g., the seashore, the mountains, the plains). He did not rely on the miracles he performed that included changing water to wine, calming the storm, providing abundant supplies of fish when the fishermen first took nothing in their nets, feeding the hungry crowds using the small offerings that had been shared (e.g., 5 loaves, 2 fish), and walking on the water. While the operations of Spirit substance from divinity that include faith may result in miracles, miracles do not always result in faith. Some will respond to miracles with appropriate awe and express gratitude toward GOD, however, many also become afraid, confused, skeptical, and unbelieving. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible, and a selection from the music ministry of John Michael Talbot:

(1.) Numbers 14: 20-23, King James Version (KJV): 20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

(2.) John 9: 15-18, KJV: 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

(3.) John 17: 17-23, KJV: 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

(4.) Acts 17: 29-31, KJV: 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

(5.) Revelation 13: 11-17, KJV: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w1TekpF-AU.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

 

Image downloaded 7:37 AM, January 30, 2020 @ https://media.freebibleimages.org/stories/FB_Jesus_Blind_Man_Pharisees/overview-thumbnails/014-jesus-blind-man-pharisees.jpg?1538657799

 

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(02/16/2018) Mankind’s Priesthood in Heaven

A DEPICTION OF THE HOLY CITY COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO THE EARTH AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

 

Today, reply is on the work to be done in heaven by those who become joined to the High Priest, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.  The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “STEVAN” (Level 1 with 8 points, a member since February 17, 2016) posted the following:

 

Will it be okay with god,for me to wander about heaven in comfortable jogging pants for the rest of eternity?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  (1st Corinthians 6:  2-3, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Divine Priesthood on Earth (01/31/2018); Heaven Temporal, GOD Eternal (12/12/2017); Christ Our High Priest (10/25/2017); Will There Be Diversity? (10/22/2017); Called To Be Servants? (11/25/2015); What is Worship? (10/18/2010); No Free Will (10/19/2010)

 

“STEVAN”, many talk about going to heaven, yet, have no clear goals, or meaningful purpose that says what they will do when they get there.  We have to go beyond the notion that heaven is a place for leisurely gawking, gazing and staring at marvels and wonders.  Heaven is a place of divine ministry and exalted works that include sacred rest, yet, is not a place for the make-believe images from our childhood (i.e., angel choirs seated on the clouds and singing while plucking on their harps).  We are being alerted and cautioned prior to the return of Jesus to realize we have been recruited to be servants, and those who perform necessary work, for even mature Christian believers have not always been careful to consider the eternal ministry of Jesus Christ as Risen Lord, and the multiple works the living are being enrolled to complete with him in heaven, and on the earth made new.  In the same way the priesthood of Jesus to Israel required he select, train, and send forth disciples, who would later serve as prophets, apostles, vessels of the Holy Spirit, and witnesses of his resurrection and ascension, those who are “born again” are to be joint-heirs with Christ, and serve as judges, priests, and kings both in heaven as well as on the earth made new.  In addition to those who belong to Christ participating through their works in the judgment of the wicked, there are the work of finishing the Holy City (New Jerusalem) where Satan will never set foot, of assigning and distributing allotments and rewards to the saints as well as sharing in continual acknowledgment and praise.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  Mark 1:  16-18, King James Version (KJV):  16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea:  for they were fishers.  17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.  18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

(2.)  Matthew 19:  27-29, KJV:  27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

(3.)  Ephesians 4:  10-15, KJV:  10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Revelation 7:  9-15, KJV:  9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  12 Saying, Amen:  Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple:  and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(08/30/2015) About The End Of The World

Scripture points are shared, today, on preaching about the End Times, rather than the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Many Christian believers are conservative, and feel strongly that their congregations should promote only the message of repentance and salvation.  Others, who seek to advance what is called “the full Gospel,” also teach and share prophecies of the last days before the coming of Jesus to harvest his followers from the earth.  The word of GOD is to comfort, edify, and exhort those reborn through baptism; and is imparted (we say, revealed) to anchor the church in hope (i.e., specific godly expectations).  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Bucky Daniels” (Level 2 with 799 points, a member since September 03, 2010) posted the following:

Do you believe any of those preachers like John Hagee who talk about the end of the world? Is it possible he does not know his Bible?

In the words of Jesus, (supposedly the person that Hagee and others hold as their religious leader):
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

This quote is from the New American Standard Bible.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  (2nd Peter 3:  2-10, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Imminent Return of Christ? (07/19/2015); Mankind Destroyed? (01/24/2014); The Endtime and Fear? (01/14/2015); What Salvation Is (01/25/2014); World Without End? (01/10/2014); Like a Thief? (12/01/2013); Only While We Live? (12/02/2013); GOD in Schools? (12/20/2012); Naaman the Leper (12/21/2012)

“Bucky Daniels”, for mature Christian believers, the issues are not “if” or “when” there will be a final judgment and destruction of sin; all are to proceed on the basis of “soon”.  The focus is to be more upon the “what” that shall be visible as the appearing and coming of GOD.  Earlier, prophesies were shown to be authentic (truly from GOD) when they were followed by sacred events (we say, miracles, signs, wonders).  The resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion is received by many as the “final sign.”  To correctly understand the sacred events and operations of divinity, created beings and living creatures must open their hearts and minds to receive divine revelation; and they must allow their spirit content to be permanently altered to include substance from the makeup of Deity.  In addition to divine law and sacred knowledge, inseparable aspects of GOD must be acquired such as faith, holiness, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  As reported through the holy writings, the process of GOD for those upon the earth includes cleansing (e.g., atonement, baptism, purification by fire), government, judgment (i.e., the resolution of conflict and the settlement of disputes by applying sacred law), redemption and sealing as well as the fulfillment of things proclaimed, promised and prophesied.  Consider again the following Scriptures from the King James Version (KJV):

(1.)  Revelation 1:  1-3, KJV:  1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:  for the time is at hand.

(2.)  Isaiah 65:  8-12, KJV:  8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it:  so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.  9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains:  and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.  10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.  11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.  12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter:  because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

(3.)  Isaiah 65:  13-17, KJV:  13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry:  behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty:  behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:  14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.  15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen:    for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:  16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.  17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:  and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

(4.)  2nd Timothy 4:  1-4, KJV:  1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

(5.)  2nd Timothy 2:  3-5, KJV:  3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

(6.)  Romans 15:  4-7, KJV:  4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account.  (For example, (7.)  Revelation 21:  1-3, KJV:  21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.)  Even so, I trust this collection of verses will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC