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“ETERNITY IS GOING TO BE TOO LONG

TO BE WRONG WITH YOUR MARRIAGE”

Article Wrote by Dale Collins for a Young Man Who Asked my Advice BEFORE Getting Married. I Pray it is a Blessing to Others as Well.

7-29-2021

My precious little brother, thank you very much for reaching out to me. Its an honor. The selection of a life companion will likely be the greatest curse or the greatest blessing to you and your ministry. It is a huge gamble to choose a companion for life without hearing from God. In the end only those that do the will of God will be saved and spend eternity with God. Once you determine that the person you are with is the will of God and you are sure of it, then move forward. If you are not 100% for sure then you both should put the relationship on hold and you should seek God for a clear and definite answer. ETERNITY IS GOING TO BE TOO LONG TO BE WRONG!

Lots of people are getting married these days that are not qualified or prepared for marriage. Many people are out there that if you are not extremely careful they will ruin your life and wreck your soul and ministry. Make sure the person you are thinking about marrying is Biblically qualified to get married. The Bible has lots to say about this but most people just overlook it these days. ETERNITY IS GOING TO BE TOO LONG TO BE WRONG. Please keep this in your mind first and foremost and keep your hormones under subjection so you can hear from God and make an intelligent decision.

Saints should marry saints and not people of the world. We are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

Keep a clean relationship that is a good example and above reproach. You will be glad you did and God will honor your commitment to purity and personal holiness.

1 Corinthians 6:15 “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Th 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

I recommend that those who are entering a lifelong vow of marriage before God be in agreement on both Biblical beliefs and principles. It is very important that these issues be discussed and worked out ahead of time. Things like how you will raise your children are very important to be in agreement on ahead of time. Many a heartache can be avoided by taking the time to make sure you are in agreement ahead of time.

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

It is highly advisable that both the future husband and wife both know and understand their God given and Biblical roles. Most church folks today don’t seem to have a clue what a Biblical marriage is and what God expects to please Him.

Wives and Husbands

Ephesians 5:22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Rules for Christian Households

Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

Teach Sound Doctrine

Titus 2:1 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

I hope and pray that you will receive these Biblical instructions. They are based upon the Word of God and will make a huge difference in your life.

Please let me know when I can be of further help.

P.S. I have a list of Bible Scriptures that I composed for a young couple that was getting married. I will try and find it and send it to you.

If this article has been a blessing to you why don’t you contact us and let us know.

Private Message Dale Collins on Facebook.

Email us at mountzionconway@gmail.com

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OVER 100 NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE SCRIPTURES ON MARRIAGE INCLUDING THE VERSES CONCERNING HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Compiled by Dale Collins and dedicated to my niece and her future husband as they prepare to get married.

Mark 10:6 “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  Mar 10:7 For this cause shall ai man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  Mar 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  Mar 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  Mar 10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.  Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.  Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”

Luke 16:18 “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”

Romans 7:1 “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”

1 Corinthians 7:1 “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”

1 Corinthians 7:25 “Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
1Co 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1Co 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1Co 7:36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
1Co 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1Co 7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”

Ephesians 5:21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

1 Timothy 3:11 “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Titus 2:3 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

1 Peter 3:1 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

Matthew 5:31 “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

Matthew 19:3 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”

Matthew 22:23 “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Mat 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Mat 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
Mat 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
Mat 22:27 And last of all the woman died also.
Mat 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

Mark 12:24 “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
Mar 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.”

Luke 20:34 “And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

1 Timothy 5:14 “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

BONUS: OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES 
ON MAKING A VOW.

Numbers 30:1 “And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”

Deuteronomy 23:21 “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4 "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Ecc 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

Compiled with sincerity and love by Dale Collins, a servant of Jesus Christ serving as bishop at Mount Zion Deeper Life Fellowship In Conway Arkansas.

Private message me with your comments, questions and prayer request.

You may write as well to Lifeline Missions, P.O. Box 7, Conway AR 72033 USA

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A Closer Look

at Baptism

and

Matthew 28:19

Dale Collins 1-9-2019

     Many of you dear readers are in the same situation that we were in starting out.  We had both always been around those who believed in the Trinity and who only baptized people in the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  I have helped many with this issue because I have been there myself.  I commend you for your courage to dig deeper into God’s Word for yourself.  That is a real good thing and is like the Bereans in the Bible.   Acts 17:10 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” More people should dig deeper to see if what they are being taught is really so. Another Scripture that backs this up is.... 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Here we are told to EXAMINE OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE ARE REALLY IN THE FAITH. The reason for this is because it is very possible to be deceived and that ends up very bad for both the one doing the deceiving and those being deceived. Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, BOTH SHALL FALL INTO THE DITCH.” 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew THYSELF approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

     When it comes to Baptism the most important part is to get it done and get it done right. Let’s go over the subject of baptism. John 3:1 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, HOW can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND OF SPIRIT, HE CANNOT EVTER INTO THE KINGDOM GOD.” As we move through the New Testament, I believe we can show where Jesus is referring to the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation here. Regardless, we see that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. We also see two elements or areas that we must be born again in. WATER AND SPIRIT. Jesus further states that those who are not born again of the WATER AND THE SPIRIT CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM. Tough words from our Master so we need to get it right. Is baptism necessary for salvation? JESUS SAID in Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Did you catch that. He clearly said “he that believeth AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.” Hard to get around this when the Lord Himself is talking to us.  Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”  Look at this verse... Romans 6:3 “Know ye not, that SO MANY OF US AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH.” Sounds like a requirement to me. Let’s look further... Romans 6:4 “Therefore WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH: “that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (If we are buried with him by baptism into death how are we going to make it in without doing this?)  Romans 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” What happens if a person is not planted in the likeness of the Lords death?  Is this necessary?  I believe so.  I believe the Bible is clear that we have to die to sin (repent), be buried in the likeness of His death (baptism), and be raised up to walk in a newness of life (Spirit baptism) in order to be born again.  Here is another verse to look at... Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  Gal 3:27 FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.”  What could possibly be more clear?  Let’s look at a final set of verses on this.... 1 Peter 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER.” 1 Peter 3:21 “THE LIKE FIGURE WHEREUNTO EVEN BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” Many teach that baptism is a good thing but not necessary or essential. I don’t agree. They most often cite the thief on the cross that the Lord declared would be in paradise that day. They point out that he did not get baptized. While this is true they fail to understand that the thief on the cross lived and died under the law and was not in the New Testament Church nor was he required to obey the New Testament plan of salvation. The church had not yet been born at that time so the thief did not have to be born again at all. From these Scriptures I was and am forced to conclude that if I am to stay true to the teachings of the Bible, I feel I must teach that baptism is absolutely necessary and essential for New Testament salvation.

 

     Now, let’s look and see if there is any certain way we are supposed to be baptized and if it matters. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Note: those that don’t believe don’t get baptized.)    (17) “And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  If true believers do all these things in Jesus name wouldn’t only make sense that we would get baptized in the same name?  Also, notice the signs Jesus said would follow those that believe and ask yourself if many of the groups and denominations you know of or came out of meet the qualifications of a true believer according to Jesus Christ?  Luke 21:17 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.”  It makes sense to me that His church should be baptized in the name the world hates. It’s an honor to be baptized IN HIS NAME and to suffer reproach for it.  He died for us.  Notice these verses.... Luke 24:45 “Then OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES, (46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:” Please notice what Jesus said they were to preach and how). Luke 24:47 “And that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.”  Repentance and REMISSION OF SINS (not many have ever even heard the word remission in their churches in their whole life).  So Jesus says the true disciples will teach something few teach on today and they will teach that it comes THROUGH HIS NAME and this TRUTH WOULD FIRST BE TAUGHT BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. THIS WAS FULFILLED IN ACTS chapter two on the day of Pentecost.  Luke 24:48 “And ye are witnesses of these things.  Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  So, they were told that Jesus would send the promise of the Father upon them but they were to TARRY OR WAIT in Jerusalem UNTIL THEY WAS ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.  This is what many groups are missing out on today.  By this time, you probably have already come to the conclusion that many people and many whole groups of people who claim to be Christians are nowhere near what Jesus and the Bible describes as real, true Christians. This is both sad and shocking but we can be thankful that the Lord in His love and mercy is bringing us out and is revealing to us the real Truth. We can only hope and pray that through Him using each of us, other good people that are still bound in the darkness of self-righteousness will also see the true light and come out.  John 20:30 “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and THAT BELIEVING YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME.” Did you see that? We believe and we have life THROUGH HIS NAME. The message of salvation through HIS NAME was to first be preached in Jerusalem. THIS WAS FULFILLED IN ACTS TWO. We will read that in a minute.  First, I want to address the issue of who was to preach the first message in the New Testament Church when it was born.

Jesus asked His disciples who He was. Peter responded that HE WAS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.  Here was Jesus response.  Matthew 16:17 “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. (18) And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  Please notice that Jesus said His church would be built on the TRUTH OF WHO HE WAS and that PETER WOULD HAVE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM.  KEYS ARE WHAT IT TAKES TO UNLOCK DOORS.  In this instance it is referring to the keys to heavens doors.  Notice on another time what the Lord told Peter.... Luke 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Notice what the Lord said.... “WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN.  The Bible makes it clear that Peter was the man to reveal God’s plan of salvation. This is even more confirmation of this Truth.  Let me remind you here that many will be lost because they did not love the Truth or have a deep love of Truth.  God warns us in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  It’s a sad fact that many groups that claim to be Christians are still in darkness and they love their own manmade traditions more than they love the Truth in God’s Word.  He warned us that MANY WOULD COME IN HIS NAME.  Matthew 24:4 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”  Let’s go to Acts chapter Two and see what really happened.  Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  The 120 disciples consisting of both men and women received the Holy Ghost out of Heaven.  Everybody in town heard them and knew something had happened BECAUSE THEY HEARD THEM SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND MAGNIFYING GOD.  The devout Jews did not understand.  Some mocked, thinking they was drunk.  The apostle Peter explained to them that they had just witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel.   Joel 2:27 “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit (28) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (29) And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”   Peter began to preach to the crowd of devout Jews that had gathered for the Feast of Pentecost.   It is very important but I will have to skip over some of it for time sake.  We will pick up on the conclusion of his message and see what He says.   Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.   (40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”   There are some very important and ESSENTIAL Bible Truths revealed in his message.  Let’s go over them.  PETER declares that God hath made that same JESUS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.  Jesus is the Lord God in the Old Testament and He also is the Christ of the New Testament.   He uses the word assuredly meaning we can rest assured on this truth.  Jesus is both Lord and Christ, one and the same.  When they heard that Jesus was both Lord and Christ and they knew it was the Jews that had Jesus their messiah killed they were pricked or convicted in their heart.  They ask the question to the apostles WHAT SHALL WE DO.  This is the question people need to be asking today.  Many go all through the Bible picking out a verse here and one there to come up with their plan of salvation but this has been preserved for over two thousand years right in the Bible so we can see a group of people that actually asked the Lord’s apostles how to be saved and we have recorded their clear answer.   It is up to us to accept it as the Truth or to reject it and stay in darkness.   It’s the Acts 2:38 Bible plan of salvation.   Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  I will only briefly go over it because it is a much discussed verse.  Peter told them to REPENT. That means to believe, confess and turn from their sins. He told them to BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.  It was so important that he said “EVERYONE OF YOU.”  He told them they were to get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS. REMISSION IS ANOTHER WORD MEANING FORGIVENESS.   He then said they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost because the Father had promised this born again experience to all the Lord called.  He encouraged those there that day just like I am encouraging you today to flee from this untoward generation. That is a generation that is going opposite of God just like the one we live in today. He testified to them saying “SAVE YOURSELVES FROM THIS UNTOWARD GENERATION.” How do we save ourselves? It’s simple. We save ourselves by obeying the plan of salvation that He just preached and we read recorded in the Bible.  That is how we save ourselves. It is just a simple today as it was then when we rightly divide the Word of God. Those that gladly received his word which was the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation message got BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS.  Those that rejected his message went on lost and lived their life in darkness until they died.  We all are in the same place they was in. We all are in the valley of decision.  We must choose life through and in His name or simply choose to reject it.  The choice is ours but we all will be judged for our choices on judgement day.  Did others in the book of Acts get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins? A careful study of the Scriptures reveal that they all did. Acts 4:11 “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Notice what Phillip preached. Yes, he also preached the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST so can anybody reasonably doubt how he baptized these new believers? No, they got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. WHAT ABOUT THE GENTILES?  Yes, they too got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.  Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (46)  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  (48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”  Please notice that they all knew that they had received the Holy Ghost BECAUSE THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES. PLEASE also notice that the Apostle Peter COMMANDED THE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.  BAPTISM IN JESUS NAME IS A NEW TESTAMENT COMMANDMENT.

      It might do us all well to stop and ask ourselves if we have received the Holy Ghost out of heaven and spoke in tongues like the Bible said the early church experienced.  We also need to notice in the next chapters when he is telling folks what happened that the apostle Peter said these new Gentile converts received the Holy Ghost just like they did in Jerusalem. This same essential experience is available to sincere believers today.  We also need to NOTICE for sure that the apostle Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Have you obeyed this New Testament command?  The early Christians hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus.  Ask yourself why anybody would not want to be baptized in the name of Jesus or perhaps a better question would be “what is wrong with people who claim to be a Christian but refuse to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?” Acts 15:26 “Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 19:1 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.  (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Here they found some disciples of John the Baptist.  Notice what happened to them and what they did.  Yes, that is right. They got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and also received the Holy Ghost.  The apostle Paul shared his testimony of how the Lord got a hold of him and brought him out of religious darkness.  Notice what he said happened to him.  The man of God came to him and said.... Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  Even the apostle Paul was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  He too, washed away his sins in the name of the Lord.  I know you are probably thinking that I missed a very important verse that refers to baptism.  I didn’t miss or overlook it.  I saved it to the last because it would not be a fair article if I did not cover both sides.  A careful study into the Scriptures reveal that the common interpretation of this verse is in serious error.  The verse is not in error but the modern-day interpretation is in error.  When we rightly divide the Word of God, it fits together and there are no contradictions.  When there is a contradiction then we have a wrong interpretation somewhere. Matthew 28:19 is the verse we are referring to. Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  We clearly see the same great commission that some of the other gospels record with one major difference.  The Lord Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and teach all nations.   He said for them to baptize the new converts in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.   He told them to teach the people to observe all the things He had commanded them.  If you just rush through this verse it might be easy to think that there is a difference between what the Lord said here and what Peter said on the day of Pentecost.  Some preachers that are in error and darkness will say things like “Peter made a mistake.”  Friends, Peter did not make a mistake. The Roman Catholic Church Intentionally made the mistake to spread their favorite doctrine and her daughters have followed her in darkness and error ever since. Many sincere people today just accept the RCC invented interruption because it’s all they know or have ever heard. We must all remember that we are commanded to study to shew ourselves approved unto God and when we realize that we have followed someone’s error we have to be willing to change our ways and forsake the error. If you will please notice in verse nineteen it says to be baptized in the NAME. Please notice that the word name is SINGULAR MEANING ONE.  Had the Lord meant for us to baptize folks in all three He would have used the plural word NAMES.  When you realize this the light begins to come on.  All through the Bible it is confirmed that JESUS IS THE NAME. Stop and think about it, friend.   Father is NOT A NAME.   SON IS NOT A NAME. HOLY GHOST IS NOT A NAME.  NO, THESE ARE TITLES describing who He was and is but they are not His name.


     I was baptized using these titles as well.  Later on, the Lord helped me to see that I had a NO NAME BAPTISM and I could not have possibly fulfilled the command of Matthew 28:19 because we did not use any name in my baptism at all.  Many of you dear friends are in the same place I was and you too will have some serious choices to make.

     I want to personally invite you to abandon your manmade traditions and go with the Truth that God has showed you today.   The Holy Ghost is for believers today and Jesus Name baptism is a New Testament Commandment that anti- Christ have cleverly found a way to deceive most people.  The Bible says you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.  True freedom through the name of Jesus Christ awaits you today.

     We have covered Acts 4:12 already but I Recommend that you read it again. It’s a powerful warning and message that makes an eternal difference.  One last thought and Scripture I feel we should cover.  It is ... Eph 3:15 “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” I just took a little of it out and you can take time to look it up but please notice that it too is declaring that there is just one name that the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Friend, that is the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

     WILL YOU TAKE OR REJECT HIS PRECIOUS NAME IN BAPTISM TODAY.   FRANKLY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED TO HIM, YOU SHOULD BE HONORED TO TAKE HIS NAME IN BAPTISM.   ITS THE ONLY SAVING NAME AND THE ONLY FAMILY NAME IN HEAVEN AND IN THE EARTH.  The precious name of Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Written and distributed by Dale Collins, a modern day servant of Jesus Christ serving as bishop at Mount Zion Deeper Life Fellowship In Conway Arkansas in the USA.

This article may be used in any form as long as it is not altered, charged for and the author is given credit.

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Christmas On Trial!

Is It The Truth Or Is It A Lie?

Compiled by Dale Collins December 22, 2012

The following section was copied from http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/mythsaboutchristmas.html

The typical story we hear repeated is: “It’s about 2000 years ago, the evening of December 25. Mary rides into Bethlehem on a donkey, urgently needing to deliver her baby. Although it’s an emergency, all the innkeepers turn them away. So they deliver baby Jesus in a stable. Then angels sing to the shepherds. Afterwards, they all join three kings with camels in worshipping the quiet, newborn.”

 

The problem is, this story may be almost entirely wrong. The events surrounding the birth have been retold so many times and in so many ways—in plays, poetry, books and movies—that most people have a distorted view of the true events. The only accurate record is found in the Holy Bible, God’s Word.

Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem? Perhaps, but there are various other possibilities. The Bible doesn’t say how she got to Bethlehem. It only says that she came with Joseph.

Additional info on this subject provided by http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9691295/Nativity-donkeys-and-cattle-are-a-myth-says-Pope.html

Nativity donkeys and cattle are a myth, says Pope

With just over a month to go before Christmas, the Pope has declared that the presence of animals like cattle and donkeys in traditional Nativity scenes is based on little more than a myth. As churches and families around the world prepare to dust off their Nativity figures for the festive season, Benedict writes in a new book on Christ that contrary to popular belief, Jesus's birth was not presided over by oxen, asses, camels or indeed any other beasts.  "There is no mention of animals in the Gospels," he wrote.

Did Mary arrive in Bethlehem the night she gave birth? The Bible does not suggest this. They could have arrived weeks earlier. God’s Word simply states, “while they were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered” (Luke 2:6). Arriving in town well before her due date would make more sense.

Did Joseph or Mary talk to any innkeepers? Perhaps, but there is no solid, biblical reason to believe that they did. Although innkeepers play a prominent part in many Christmas plays, no innkeeper is actually mentioned in the biblical record of Christ’s birth. Furthermore, it is likely that Mary and Joseph actually stayed in a house with relatives, not behind some kind of Bible-times hotel. (See below)

Was Jesus born in a stable? Or a barn? Or a cave? The Bible does not mention any of these three places in connection with Christ’s birth, only a manger. Scripture simply reports that they laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room for him in the guest room. The Greek word used in Scripture is kataluma, and can mean guest chamber, lodging place or inn. The only other time this word was used in the New Testament, it means a furnished, large, upper story room within a private house. It is translated guest chamber, not inn (Mark 14:14-15). According to our Bible archaeology experts, Jesus was probably born in the house of relatives, but outside (under) the normal living and guest quarters. (Learn more: Was Jesus born in a stable? / What is a manger? / What is an inn?

“Away in a manger the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.” Although this is part of a beautiful song, we cannot be sure that Jesus did not cry. The Bible does not report this.

Did angels sing to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem? Perhaps, but the Bible doesn’t specifically say that the angels sang. It says that first an angel appeared and spoke, and then appeared “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:13).

Additional info on this subject provided by http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9691295/Nativity-donkeys-and-cattle-are-a-myth-says-Pope.html

The Pope also sounded a note of caution over the popular belief that angels sang to the shepherds to proclaim Christ's birth, as recalled in the Christmas carol "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King."He writes that when the gospels refer to the "heavenly host" of angels "praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest", they in fact spoke the words rather than sang them. "According to the evangelist, the angels "said" this," Benedict writes. "But Christianity has always understood that the speech of angels is actually song, in which all the glory of the great joy that they proclaim becomes tangibly present."

Were angels present at the birth? It seems logical to assume that they were, however, Scripture does not report it, and there is no evidence that angels were visible to Mary and Joseph at this time.

Did three kings riding camels come to Jesus’ birth? The Bible does not say that any kings or camels visited young Jesus.

It does report wise men (“magi”) came, but it does not say how many. None of the early Church Fathers, suggested the magi were kings. Since the word “magi” used in the Bible is plural, there were apparently at least two, and there could have been more—even several more. The Bible simply mentions three costly gifts they presented—gold, frankincense and myrrh, but this does not necessarily indicate the number of magi. There is also no proof of what country these men came from.

 

 

Also, the wise men clearly did not visit Jesus when he was still lying in the manger, as is commonly shown on greeting cards and in plays. The magi did not arrive until sometime after Christ’s presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-39).

At this time, Scripture calls Jesus a “child,” not a “baby.” It is possible that little Jesus was walking and talking by then. Based on the calculations of King Herod and the magi (Matthew 2:16), Jesus could been two years old or under. [Learn more: About the “wise men” (magi)]

Was Jesus born on December 25, or in December at all? Although it’s not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be “abiding in the field” at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles).

“A more probable time would be late September, the time of the annual Feast of Tabernacles, when such travel was commonly accepted. Thus, it is rather commonly believed (though not certain) that Jesus’ birth was around the last of September. The conception of Christ, however, may have taken place in late December of the previous year. Our Christmas celebration may well be recognized as an honored observation of the incarnation of ‘the Word made flesh’ (John 1:14).”

“…The probability is that this mighty angel, leading the heavenly host in their praises, was Michael the archangel; this occasion was later commemorated by the early church as Michaelmas (‘Michael sent’), on September 29, the same as the date of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It would have at least been appropriate for Christ to have been born on such a date, for it was at His birth that ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt (literally tabernacled) among us’ (John 1:14).

This would mean, then, that His conception took place in late December. Thus, it might well be that when we today celebrate Christ’s birth at what we call Christmas (i.e., ‘Christ sent’), we are actually celebrating His miraculous conception, the time when the Father sent the Son into the world, in the virgin’s womb. This darkest time of the year—the time of the pagan Saturnalia, and the time when the sun (the physical ‘light of the world’) is at its greatest distance from the Holy Land—would surely be an appropriate time for God to send the spiritual ‘light of the world’ into the world as the ‘Savior, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:11)” [Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender’s Study Bible (notes for Luke 2:8,13)].

(The word “Christmas” means “Christ mass,” a special celebration of the Lord’s supper—called a mass in the Roman Catholic Church and a Communion supper in most Protestant churches.)

Why do many Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, if that is not when he was born?

The date was chosen by the Roman Catholic Church. Because Rome dominated most of the “Christian” world for centuries, the date became tradition throughout most of Christendom.

The original significance of December 25 is that it was a well-known festival day celebrating the annual return of the sun. December 21 is the winter solstice (shortest day of the year and thus a key date on the calendar), and December 25 is the first day that ancients could clearly note that the days were definitely getting longer and the sunlight was returning.

So, why was December 25 chosen to remember Jesus Christ’s birth with a mass (or Communion supper)? Since no one knows the day of his birth, the Roman Catholic Church felt free to chose this date. The Church wished to replace the pagan festival with a Christian holy day (holiday). The psychology was that is easier to take away an unholy (but traditional) festival from the population, when you can replace it with a good one. Otherwise, the Church would have left a void where there was a long-standing tradition, and risked producing a discontented population and a rapid return to the old ways.


The various misconceptions about Christ’s birth illustrate the need to always test everything we hear against God’s Word, no matter what the source. The Bible is the final authority.

Additional info on this subject provided by http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm

How Did Christmas Come to Be Celebrated on December 25?

A.    Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, a week long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25.  During this period, Roman courts were closed, and Roman law dictated that no one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the weeklong celebration.  The festival began when Roman authorities chose “an enemy of the Roman people” to represent the “Lord of Misrule.”  Each Roman community selected a victim whom they forced to indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week.  At the festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering this innocent man or woman.

B.    The ancient Greek writer poet and historian Lucian (in his dialogue entitled Saturnalia) describes the festival’s observance in his time.  In addition to human sacrifice, he mentions these customs: widespread intoxication; going from house to house while singing naked; rape and other sexual license; and consuming human-shaped biscuits (still produced in some English and most German bakeries during the Christmas season).

C.    In the 4th century CE, Christianity imported the Saturnalia festival hoping to take the pagan masses in with it.  Christian leaders succeeded in converting to Christianity large numbers of pagans by promising them that they could continue to celebrate the Saturnalia as Christians.

D.    The problem was that there was nothing intrinsically Christian about Saturnalia. To remedy this, these Christian leaders named Saturnalia’s concluding day, December 25th, to be Jesus’ birthday.

E.      Christians had little success, however, refining the practices of Saturnalia.  As Stephen Nissenbaum, professor history at the University of Massachussetts, Amherst, writes, “In return for ensuring massive observance of the anniversary of the Savior’s birth by assigning it to this resonant date, the Church for its part tacitly agreed to allow the holiday to be celebrated more or less the way it had always been.”  The earliest Christmas holidays were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in the streets (a precursor of modern caroling), etc.

F.      The Reverend Increase Mather of Boston observed in 1687 that “the early Christians who  first observed the Nativity on December 25 did not do so thinking that Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens’ Saturnalia was at that time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian ones.” Because of its known pagan origin, Christmas was banned by the Puritans and its observance was illegal in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681. However, Christmas was and still is celebrated by most Christians.

G.    Some of the most depraved customs of the Saturnalia carnival were intentionally revived by the Catholic Church in 1466 when Pope Paul II, for the amusement of his Roman citizens, forced Jews to race naked through the streets of the city.  An eyewitness account reports, “Before they were to run, the Jews were richly fed, so as to make the race more difficult for them and at the same time more amusing for spectators.  They ran… amid Rome’s taunting shrieks and peals of laughter, while the Holy Father stood upon a richly ornamented balcony and laughed heartily.”

H.     As part of the Saturnalia carnival throughout the 18th and 19th centuries CE, rabbis of the ghetto in Rome were forced to wear clownish outfits and march through the city streets to the jeers of the crowd, pelted by a variety of missiles. When the Jewish community of Rome sent a petition in1836 to Pope Gregory XVI begging him to stop the annual Saturnalia abuse of the Jewish community, he responded, “It is not opportune to make any innovation.”[6]  On December 25, 1881, Christian leaders whipped the Polish masses into Antisemitic frenzies that led to riots across the country.  In Warsaw 12 Jews were brutally murdered, huge numbers maimed, and many Jewish women were raped.  Two million rubles worth of property was destroyed.

 

The Origins of Christmas Customs

The Origin of Christmas Tree


Just as early Christians recruited Roman pagans by associating Christmas with the Saturnalia, so too worshippers of the Asheira cult and its offshoots were recruited by the Church sanctioning “Christmas Trees”.  Pagans had long worshipped trees in the forest, or brought them into their homes and decorated them, and this observance was adopted and painted with a Christian veneer by the Church.

 

The Origin of Mistletoe


Norse mythology recounts how the god Balder was killed using a mistletoe arrow by his rival god Hoder while fighting for the female Nanna.  Druid rituals use mistletoe to poison their human sacrificial victim.  The Christian custom of “kissing under the mistletoe” is a later synthesis of the sexual license of Saturnalia with the Druidic sacrificial cult

The Origin of Christmas Presents

In pre-Christian Rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the Saturnalia (in December) and Kalends (in January).  Later, this ritual expanded to include gift-giving among the general populace.  The Catholic Church gave this custom a Christian flavor by re-rooting it in the supposed gift-giving of Saint Nicholas (see below).

The Origin of Santa Claus

 

a.          Nicholas was born in Parara, Turkey in 270 CE and later became Bishop of Myra.  He died in 345 CE on December 6th.  He was only named a saint in the 19th century.

 

Additional info on this subject provided by http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/christmas/history.html

In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church dropped St. Nicholas' Feast Day from its calendar because his life is so unreliably documented.”

c.      In 1087, a group of sailors who idolized Nicholas moved his bones from Turkey to a sanctuary in Bari, Italy.  There Nicholas supplanted a female boon-giving deity called The Grandmother, or Pasqua Epiphania, who used to fill the children's stockings with her gifts.  The Grandmother was ousted from her shrine at Bari, which became the center of the Nicholas cult.  Members of this group gave each other gifts during a pageant they conducted annually on the anniversary of Nicholas’ death, December 6.

d.      The Nicholas cult spread north until it was adopted by German and Celtic pagans.  These groups worshipped a pantheon led by Woden –their chief god and the father of Thor, Balder, and Tiw.  Woden had a long, white beard and rode a horse through the heavens one evening each Autumn.  When Nicholas merged with Woden, he shed his Mediterranean appearance, grew a beard, mounted a flying horse, rescheduled his flight for December, and donned heavy winter clothing.

e.      In a bid for pagan adherents in Northern Europe, the Catholic Church adopted the Nicholas cult and taught that he did (and they should) distribute gifts on December 25th instead of December 6th.

f.       In 1809, the novelist Washington Irving (most famous his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle) wrote a satire of Dutch culture entitled Knickerbocker HistoryThe satire refers several times to the white bearded, flying-horse riding Saint Nicholas using his Dutch name, Santa Claus.

g.      Dr. Clement Moore, a professor at Union Seminary, read Knickerbocker History, and in 1822 he published a poem based on the character Santa Claus: “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in the hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there…”  Moore innovated by portraying a Santa with eight reindeer who descended through chimneys.

h.      The Bavarian illustrator Thomas Nast almost completed the modern picture of Santa Claus.  From 1862 through 1886, based on Moore’s poem, Nast drew more than 2,200 cartoon images of Santa for Harper’s Weekly.  Before Nast, Saint Nicholas had been pictured as everything from a stern looking bishop to a gnome-like figure in a frock.  Nast also gave Santa a home at the North Pole, his workshop filled with elves, and his list of the good and bad children of the world.  All Santa was missing was his red outfit.

i.        In 1931, the Coca Cola Corporation contracted the Swedish commercial artist Haddon Sundblom to create a coke-drinking Santa.  Sundblom modeled his Santa on his friend Lou Prentice, chosen for his cheerful, chubby face.  The corporation insisted that Santa’s fur-trimmed suit be bright, Coca Cola red.  And Santa was born – a blend of Christian crusader, pagan god, and commercial idol.

 

The Christmas Challenge

·       Christmas has always been a holiday celebrated carelessly.  For millennia, pagans, Christians, and even Jews have been swept away in the season’s festivities, and very few people ever pause to consider the celebration’s intrinsic meaning, history, or origins.

·     Christmas is a lie.  There is no Christian church with a tradition that Jesus was really born on December 25th.

·       December 25 is a day on which Jews have been shamed, tortured, and murdered.

·       Many of the most popular Christmas customs – including Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas presents, and Santa Claus – are modern incarnations of the most depraved pagan rituals ever practiced on earth.

 

Many who are excitedly preparing for their Christmas celebrations would prefer not knowing about the holiday’s real significance.  If they do know the history, they often object that their celebration has nothing to do with the holiday’s monstrous history and meaning.  “We are just having fun.”

Where did Rudolph Come From?

Rudolph didn't become Santa's ninth reindeer until 1939 when an advertising writer for the department store Montgomery Ward created him.

 

December 25th

 

Additional info on this subject provided by http://www.ucg.org/doctrinal-beliefs/biblical-evidence-shows-jesus-christ-wasnt-born-dec-25/

 

A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that Dec. 25 is an unlikely date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:

First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8


). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309).

Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.

Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4

). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.

Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, "the important fact then . . . to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (William Walsh, The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).

If Jesus Christ wasn't born on Dec. 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.

Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36)

It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child (Luke 1:8-13)

More info on Trees

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime."   “By the 1870s, putting up a Christmas tree had become common in America.

Benjamin Harrison is the president credited with having the first Christmas tree inside the White House. The year that a Christmas tree was first used is believed to be 1889. The tree was lit with candles.

Jer 10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. Jer 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. Jer 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. Jer 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Jer 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

 

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (Santa), and to birds, and fourfooted beasts (rain deer), and creeping things. Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

 

“A LOT OF THIS WORLD'S PROBLEMS TODAY STEM FROM THE FACT THAT MOST CHURCHES HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH!”

 

1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

 

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

Conclusion:

 

“The celebration of Christmas is one of the most evil things a person can do.”

 

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

 

Lifeline Missions

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 DON’T BELIEVE THE

GOOD FRIDAY EASTER
LIE!
By Bishop Dale Collins
            4-7-2012    
People believe the Pope, Cardinals, Pastors and Evangelists but often ignore what the Bible clearly says. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 for us to ‘study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We are warned in John 5:39 to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” In John 8:32 we are told “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” After reading this article you will have to decide if you will join the few who dare to be different by ignoring what most books, magazines, television and even ministers say. You will have to decide to embrace the truth and live it so it will make you free or you will have to decide to keep marching to the drum beat of the false pagan churches that preach and teach lies. It takes less than two hours to fully study this issue out and come into the knowledge of the truth. I have some questions for you to think about and then I will present the answers found clearly in the Word of God. Please invest a few minutes for your soul. Remember, The Bible says in II Corinthians 13:1“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” We cannot teach something as a doctrine unless it can be backed up by the Bible with two or three witnesses so let’s see what the Bible has to say.
 
 
Question Number One. 
 
What day was Jesus Crucified on? Most of the church world teaches that Jesus was crucified on Friday but the Bible points to Wednesday. In John 19:13-14 we read, “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. (14) And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!” We see here that Jesus was crucified on the preparation day of the Passover and not on the preparation day for the regular weekly Sabbath which was on Saturday. We read in John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.  (31) The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  (32) Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. (33) But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” In this Scripture we see that Jesus was crucified on the preparation day for a HIGH SABBATH. This means that there were two Sabbaths and two preparation days during this week that Jesus was crucified and this rules out the Friday crucifixion. We know from the Scriptures that Saturday was the weekly Sabbath and Friday was the preparation day for it. That would have made the Passover Sabbath (high Sabbath) that year fall on Thursday and the preparation day for the high Sabbath on Wednesday. 
 
Question Number Two. 
 
What time of day was Jesus crucified? The Bible is clear that Jesus was crucified at the ninth hour which is around three o’clock in the afternoon. In Matthew 27:45-50 we read “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (47) Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (48) And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (49) The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. (50) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
 
     In Mark 15:33-38 we read the same account by another witness. “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (35) And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. (36) And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. (37) And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. (38) And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
 
     Again we read in Luke 23:44-46 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”  This is one area where most of the church world is right on the time of day but they just have the wrong day. As you continue this study you will soon see why this point is so important to what we are studying and why we must know the answer.
 
Question Number Three.
 
When was Jesus buried? Here again the Bible makes it very clear with two witnesses that Jesus was buried in the “evening” right before the Sabbath which started at sundown. We read in Matthew 27:57-60 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: (58) He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. (59) And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60) And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” 
 
     In Luke 15:42-47 we read “And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (52) This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. (53) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. (54) And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.”  Here we read that it was on the preparation day and was done as the Sabbath drew on. Sabbaths start at sundown and go to sundown.  Matthew said that it was in the evening time.
 
Question Number Four.
 
How Long Was Jesus in the Grave? This is perhaps the most important question about this issue. By figuring out how long Jesus was in the grave we can know when He was raised from the dead. This is also the ONLY SIGN that Jesus gave to the world that He was really the Christ. We are doing the world a serious injustice if we miss this one, but God put the answer right in the Bible. The Bible declares in 21 different places that Jesus either was or would be in the grave for three days and three nights which total up to 72 hours. Here are some of the main Scriptures. In Matthew 12:38-40 we read, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  When a person believes in the traditional “Good Friday-Easter” time frame then they take away the only sign given that Jesus was and is the real deal. This is why we must get this issue right because Jesus is the real deal. Jesus was speaking here in this Scripture and surely all real born again Christians would want to follow what Jesus said regardless of what so called church leaders say.
 
     When they accused Jesus of blasphemy they brought up this issue. In John 2:18-22 we read, “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? (19) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21) But he spake of the temple of his body. (22) When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”
 
     One of the strongest witnesses is the fact that the chief priest and Pharisees came to Pilate and wanted him to make sure that nothing happened at Jesus tomb until after the THIRD DAY because they remembered what He had said. We read the account in Matthew 27:62-66. “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. (66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” Jesus did everything that He did according to the Word and you can I can be assured that He rose from the dead on the third day just like He said. We can all trust in God’s Word.
 
 
     In I Corinthians 15:3-4 we see that even the apostle Paul received the revelation from the Lord that according to the Scriptures Jesus rose again on the third day. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
(4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” We read the testimony of Matthew, John, Paul, and even Jesus himself that he rose from the dead on the third day. Since God put it down in His Word twenty-one times that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day, it must be very important. When I printed out all of these twenty-one sets of Scriptures it took up five pages. Those who believe and teach the traditional view of a Good Friday - Easter Sunday time frame are denying five pages of Scriptures that was inspired by the Holy Ghost. It is hard for people to claim that they are following God when people do things like that. Here are several more witnesses to back this up. SEE: Matthew 26:59-61, 27:39-40, 16:20-21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19, 27:62-66, Mark 8:31, 14:57-58, 15:29-30, 9:30-32, 10:32-34, Luke 9:18-22, 12:31-32, 18:31-34, 24:1-9, 24:15-21, 24:44-46, Acts 10:38-43.
 
Question Number Five.
 
When was Jesus raised from the dead? Most of the church world teaches that Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning and once again they are dead wrong! We have already proven without any shadow of a doubt (according to the Scriptures) that Jesus was crucified on the afternoon around three o’clock on the preparation day before the Passover (high Sabbath) and that day would have been Wednesday.   We have shown that (according to the Scriptures) He was buried very late in the evening as the Sabbath drew on. We have shown that in twenty-one different places in the Bible God inspired the writers to tell us that Jesus would be in the grave three days and three nights and that this was the only sign given that Jesus was the real Christ. Since three days and three nights total up to seventy two hours we can do the math and find out when Jesus rose from the dead. Let’s add it up using the traditional Good Friday – Easter Sunday timeframe and see if it meets the qualifications that the Scriptures give. Let’s start with Friday afternoon around three o’clock, and if we go to Saturday at three o’clock that is one day. From Saturday at three o’clock till sunrise Sunday morning would only be around a day and a half which is way short of the hours and days that is required to meet the only sign given that Jesus was the Christ. Since this time frame fails to meet the qualifications set forth in the Word of God it is therefore a lie and false doctrine and should not be taught as truth.
 
     Let’s look at the Wednesday crucification time frame and see if it qualifies as truth according to the Word of God. We will start on Wednesday at evening time (close to dark) and go to evening time on Thursday and that is 24 hours or one day. We move on to Friday at evening time and that is 48 hours or two days. We move on to Saturday (the weekly Sabbath) at evening time and we get 72 hours or three days and nights. It is plain to see that in order for the Bible to be right Jesus would have had to be raised from the dead late in the evening right before dark three days after He was buried. This would have put the Lord being raised from the dead late in the evening time close to dark at the end of the Sabbath which has always been on Saturday. YES, Jesus was raised near the close of the Sabbath, the real Lord’s Day (Matthew 12:8 “For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.”)
 
     Most people just insist that Jesus was raised from the dead at sunrise on Sunday morning because that is all that they have ever heard preached and taught. Surely out of the four Gospels somebody ought to have recorded when Jesus was raised from the dead. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible really says about when Jesus was raised from the dead. In Matthew 28:1 we read “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (2) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”
    
     A similar account is recorded in Mark 16:1-6. It reads, “And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (2) And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (3) And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? (4) And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. (5) And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. (6) And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” 
 
     In Luke 24:1-6 we read the same thing. “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.”
 
     In John 20:1 we read, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” The honest heart and truth seeker can see clearly from these four different Scripture settings wrote by four different authors inspired by the Holy Ghost that it was Mary Magdalene and others who came to the tomb just before sunrise on the first day of the week (Sunday) but she found the stone had already been rolled back and Jesus was gone! It is hard to be truthful and claim that Jesus arose from the dead at sunrise on what the world calls Easter morning, when the Bible clearly says that they came to the tomb while it was yet dark and found the stone already rolled back and Jesus had already be resurrected earlier. No matter how you add it up, the Good Friday – Easter Sunday time frame and story is not based on the facts found in the Bible.
 
     The problem with teaching and believing in a Good Friday – Easter Sunday morning sunrise resurrection is that it is all full of traditions of men that have in years gone by changed the story to fit their own purposes. The whole celebration and holiday is full of paganism and is not according to the Scriptures. See First Corinthians 15:3-4. Don’t believe the Good Friday – Easter-Sunday LIE! The facts according to the Scriptures are clear. Jesus was not cruificied on Friday and He was not raised from the dead at sunrise on Sunday morning. Jesus Christ was and is our Passover lamb. SEE John 1:29 and First Corinthians 5:7. Easter eggs and bunny rabbits have nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They never have and they never will. They are pagan customs and traditions of men that true Christians are forbidden to partake of. Jeremiah 10:1 “Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: (2) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” Jesus is still calling for His people to come out from this world and its false pagan teachings. Will you heed His call today? In Revelation 18:4 the Bibles Pleads with His people to come out from the worldly pagan religious system, lifestyle and teachings and boldly warns the true believers not to partake of her sins. Those that do not take heed to the message will receive of the plagues that will be poured out upon this world in the last days!   “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
 
     I plead with you not to take away the only sign given to prove that Jesus was the Christ. It wasn’t the miracles and healings that he did. It was the sign of Jonas found in Matthew 12:38-40. You CANNOT get three days and three nights which is seventy two hours between Friday evening till Sunday morning at daybreak. The whole Good Friday – Easter Sunday celebration is a little bit of truth mixed in with a whole lot of lies based on pagan sun worship (Easter Sunrise Services and Easter Meetings) and pagan fertility rites from thousands of years ago. Shame on parents and so called Christian ministers and churches who keep this lie going by passing it off on innocent children. God help us to get back to the old paths wherein is the good way. 
 
Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”
 
 
Bishop Dale Collins
The Way of Faith Holiness Publications
P.O. Box 7
Conway, AR 72033 USA
 
EMAIL:
 
mountzionconway@gmail.com
 
 
 
 ***************************************************************
 

10  THINGS

THE BIBLE SAID
WE MUST DO!

 

Bishop Dale Collins

 

 

MAIN TEXT ACTS 4:12

 

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
(1) WE MUST BE SAVED!

 

(2) NEW WINE MUST BE PUT INTO NEW BOTTLES!

Mark 2
21   No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22   And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

 

Luke 5:38
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
(Whole Chapter:
Luke 5 In context: Luke 5:37-39)

 

(3) THE GOSPEL MUST BE PUBLISHED AMONG ALL NATIONS!

 

Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
(Whole Chapter:
Mark 13 In context: Mark 13:9-11)

 

(4) WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN OF THE WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT!

 

 John 3
1   There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2   The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3   Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4   Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5   Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6   That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7   Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8   The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9   Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10   Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

 

(5) WE MUST WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!

 

John 4
19   The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20   Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21   Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22   Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23   But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24   God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

SCRIPTURES ON THE SPIRIT

 

John 7:39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 1:17
 

Acts 2
1   And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2   And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3   And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
(Whole Chapter:
Romans 8 In context: Romans 8:9-11) Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

 

 

42   And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43   To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44   While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45   And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46   For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47   Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48   And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.


 

SCRIPTURES ON THE TRUTH!

 

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(Whole Chapter:
John 14 In context: John 14:5-7)

John 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
(Whole Chapter:
John 14 In context: John 14:16-18)

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
(Whole Chapter:
John 15 In context: John 15:25-27)

John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(Whole Chapter:
John 16 In context: John 16:6-8)

John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
(Whole Chapter:
John 16 In context: John 16:12-14)

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
(Whole Chapter:
John 17 In context: John 17:16-18)

John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
(Whole Chapter:
John 17 In context: John 17:18-20)

 

 

 

1 John 3

18   My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19   And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20   For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21   Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22   And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23   And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24   And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

 

 

1 John 5:6
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
(Whole Chapter:
1 John 5 In context: 1 John 5:5-7)

 

 

2 John 1:2
For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
(Whole Chapter:
2 John 1 In context: 2 John 1:1-3)

 

(6) WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(Whole Chapter:
Acts 14 In context: Acts 14:21-23)

 


(7) WE MUST BE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF THE LAND AND GOVERNMENT OFFICALS


Romans 13
4   For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5   Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6   For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

 

(8) WE MUST ALL APPEAR AT THE JUDGEMENT!

 

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(Whole Chapter:
2 Corinthians 5 In context: 2 Corinthians 5:9-11)

 

(9) WE MUST FIRST BE PARTAKERS OF THE FRUITS

2 Timothy 2:6
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
(Whole Chapter:
2 Timothy 2 In context: 2 Timothy 2:5-7)

 

 

 

(10) WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD

 

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 

Bishop Dale Collins
The Way of Faith Holiness Publications
P.O. Box 7
Conway, AR 72033 USA
 
EMAIL:
 
mountzionconway@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

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

CALLED

TO BE
SAINTS

Bishop Dale Collins

 

 

 
 
 

Dedication

This book is dedicated to

the memory of our late

Pastor Autry Davis.

 

Introduction

“A Voice from the Past” 

“Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus! 

     Brother Dale and Sister Sheryl have gone through some pretty hard tests; but I admire their faith to step out and trust God.  They have gone through some pretty hard trials and we were witnesses with them in their trials.  Sister Sheryl got sick and started bleeding real bad inside.  They called me down to minister to them and she got some rest, but the Lord did not heal her right there.  She went to the hospital and the doctors ran an exploratory operation to try and find out what was wrong with her and didn’t.  Then after another surgery and many test still they did not feel that she would make it.  I was there when the doctor came out and told her father that they had done all that they could for her.  Everything that they’d done had been against her and if he knew of anybody or any doctor anywhere that he would like to call, feel free to call them because “we have done everything and there is nothing that we have done that has helped her, but what we have done has gone against her.”  In a few days they took her to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock to run another siege of tests and they found out that she had bleeding ulcers that were solid all over her stomach.  They still didn’t have too much hope for her.  They had put her on a stomach pump and they said that if she ever did eat anything by mouth, it would be at least six more weeks.  They told me what the doctor said and I went up to her room and she told me what the doctor had told her.  I told her to forget what the doctor had said and to look at what God said.  The Bible said that all things are possible to him that believes.  I told her to believe God and I taught her faith and we had a prayer.  When I started to leave I pitched her a twenty dollar bill on the bed.  She said, “What is that for” and I said, “That is to buy you something to eat with.”  They took the stomach pump off that afternoon and the next morning they began to feed her by mouth and in about 10 or 15 days they dismissed her from the hospital.

 

     God has been good to them.  I admire folks who will step out on God’s Word and take God at His Word.  I have found Him to be the “God of the Bible” to me.  God has been good to me and I recommend Him as a Healer and I admire these young people, Dale and Sheryl Collins and their little family, for trusting God.  I trusted God with my family, the children and all.  My wife and I trusted God and God healed us of whatever we had and we want to recommend Him not only as a savior, but as a Healer as well.  He will do it if we will only have faith in God.  So we want to commend these children to you with their zeal to have faith to trust God.  It is so much better to trust in God than it is man.  The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”  So it is a blessing to trust God and it is an experience.  We want to commend these young people that have taken it upon themselves to write this book after God being with them and helping them.  They have a zeal to trust God and have written this book to encourage others to trust God.  May the good Lord bless them is our prayer.”

The late Pastor Autry Davis

Former Pastor of the Scranton Holiness Church

Wrote on June 18, 1992

Partially Reprinted from our book in 1992

“FOUR ENEMIES OF YOUR FAITH”

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALLED

TO BE
SAINTS

Bishop Dale Collins

CALLED TO BE SAINTS

 

     Everywhere I go across the land people are talking about a lack of personal direction in the Church.  People are constantly saying that they just don’t know what they can do in the church.  They say, “so in so teaches Sunday School and the preacher is the pastor and the evangelist comes thru every once in a while and this one teaches this class and that one is a deacon.  What is there in the church for me to do?  Just what am I called to do?” “Just what am I called to do?  What is the laity, the ordinary run of the mill church person called to do?”

     Over the years it seems like that alt of people Have developed the attitude that they are just called to come here and sit on a pew and pray every once in a while, sing a song every once in a while and just be ordinary.  The Lord has led me into a different idea than that.  There is something in the good Word of God (Bible) that every last one of us has been called to do.  I’m sure without any doubt that there are pastors that have been called of God, others that have been called of God.  God has put them in their place but we are all called to do something.  Let us read from the Bible in the Book of Romans the first chapter to see what it says. 

     Romans chapter one, verse one says, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (2) (which he hath promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made in the seed of David according to the flesh; (4)And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”  The reason  why some folks have departed from the faith is that there is a spirit that goes with holiness.  A lot of people just try to get holiness without trying to get the spirit of holiness.  There is something that we get from God.   His Spirit is holy! What just helps us right into this good way is the spirit of holiness.  We hear so much about people that have the wrong spirit or a bad spirit, or a critical spirit but there is a spirit that goes along with holiness.  The Bible refers to it as the spirit of holiness.

     Let us continue reading in verse five.  (5) “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: (6) Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: (7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  In first Corinthians chapter one tells us about this same thing.  (1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sos-the-nes our brother, (2) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (3)  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”  In starting out we have read two places where this great man of God the apostle Paul addresses the letters to the big churches at Rome and at Corinth.  He wrote these letters to the folks that were sanctified and that were called to be saints.  My dear reader, you have a calling and it is way more than just to come to church and be a bench warmer.  My great uncle Al Ragsdale used to call people like this a bench warmer.  God expects much more out of us than for us to just sit around church and be a bench warmer or a pew hugger.  We are called to be saints!  Yes friends, you have been called to be a saint of God and there is way more to being a saint than just coming to church every once In a while and living for God here and there.  We are called to be saints of God!

 

     There are some charteristics of saints.  Paul told the early church and us as well to mark them that walk as we walk and follow them that are walking in this good saintly, godly way.  (See Philippians 3:17)  There are some saints and it don’t matter how bad the world gets or how worldly the church gets God has still got some saints!  Right now in this day and hour God has still got a people.  He has still got a church.  The devil will try and tell us that God hasn’t got anybody serving him and that we are the only ones left and that we are about to go under too!  That is hogwash!  God has still got a people.  He has still got some saints!  We are called to be saints.

 

Real Saints Are Children of the Light

     Real saints are children of the light!  Some folks are children of the darkness.  The Bible says that “men liked darkness because that their deeds were evil.”  (SEE John 3 :19)  Children of darkness won’t like to get to close to you and they won’t come around to much if you really have the true light burning because the light in you will manifest who they are.  They will be reproved and they will not like your good testimony.  Saints of God are right the opposite.  They are children of the light. 

 

     Let us read from the Bible in Ephesians chapter one verses one thru eight.  “(1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  (2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  (3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becommeth saints;” A lot of folks have sold out this good saintly way over the years.  They lived for God real good for a little while and then they just turn back to the world.  Some hold out for twenty, thirty, forty, or even fifty years and then just sell out.  We are called to be a saint!  People ought to start out a saint and end up a saint.  The saints of God are the ones that are going to go to heaven.  It is the saints of God that is going to make it.  He said “let it not once be named among you.”  Not at all!  It is a shame at some of the things that are found at some of our churches across the land.  Some of the things going on in modern day churches should not be named even once among us but it is here. 

 

     He said (4) “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”  These things are opposites.  Someone wanted to know what was wrong with telling jokes and funny stories.  It is the opposite of giving thanks.  It is a waste of time.  It is a waste of time when you could be talking about the goodness of God and what He has done for you and what He is going to do for you.  It is much more productive to talk about how God has been thru the years.  A lot of folks today don’t have anything to say about God and the reason is that they have done got cold in their relationship with God and He isn’t doing anything for them.   Some folks can’t testify about God doing anything because God hasn’t done anything for them because they have done drifted too far from the shore.  Their relationship has grown cold and they don’t have any fire left. 

 

     The Bible said, (5) “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  (6) Let no man deceive you with vain words:”   All of this foolish talking is just vain.  It is just wasting time.  Some people just flap their jaws all of the time telling this, that, and the other.  They tell tales and spread it here and there.  God don’t want you to do all of that jabbering and vain talking.  The more you talk the greater the chance is that you will slip up.  Saints spend their time praising the Lord.  We need to watch out for vain words.    “For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”    Not upon the saints.  The wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.  The saints are not called unto wrath.  “The wrath of God obideth upon the children of disobedience.”  If you want to get the wrath of God upon you then just start being disobedient. 

 

     God sent Saul out to a battle in the Old Testament.  He was supposed to have destroyed the city, killed the king, and cattle.  He returned without obeying God.  He left the king alive and he allowed the people to save the best of the cattle and goats.  He as returning from the battle and the man of God met him.  He said that he had done the will of God but the man of God said “what is this that I hear in mine ears, the cows and the goats.”   King Saul said in so many words that the people did that.  It wasn’t the people that were guilty because he had allowed it.  He was the one in charge and he was the man that gave the orders.  Saul could have repented of his sins but instead of doing what was right he departed from the faith and went another way.   

     In verse seven the Bible says (7) “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.    (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” We are supposed to be saints of God walking in the children of light and not in darkness. 

 

Real Saints Are Prayer Warriors

     Saints of God ought to be prayer warriors.  How do you think that the church got this far along?  The church did not get to where it is today without praying!  Praying is how people like Pastor Autry Davis made it all these many years!  Surely we don’t believe that great men of faith made it very far without praying.  I doubt that they made it anywhere without praying and you won’t make it anywhere spiritually without praying.

 

     In Revelation Chapter five and verse eight we read, (8) “And when he had taken the book, the four beast and four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints.”  Saints of God are called to be prayer warriors.  We have been called to pray and to seek the face of God and to get a hold of God.  If we will really pray and pay the price and get a hold of God He will still move in the day that we are living in.  Many of the old saints like Sister Gladys Davis are gone now.  They have done made the crossing.  Sister Gladys is gone but somewhere up there is a golden vial with her prayers bottled up.  Someday God is going to get the golden vial and power out the odors and the prayers of the saints.  That might be what gets some of her children to fully surrender to the Lord are the prayers up in that vial.  It might be some of her prayers that get some of your children to repent of their sins. 

     Now is the time for the church to pray.  Don’t wait until you are sick.  Don’t wait until you are dying.  Don’t wait until it is almost too late.  Saints need to pray when they are well.  Pray when we are healthly then we too can have a vial full of prayers that God can pour out.  When saints pray they can get somewhere with God.  We have got to be prayer warriors.  This is an area that we are losing ground on across the land.  We wonder why so much of this false stuff has come in around us.  It is because the modern day church has slacked up on our praying.

     Some folks can shout and hoop and holler and have them a big time but when it comes down to the hard work of praying they are nowhere to be found.   They will be sitting on the back seat or outback in the supper room eating a piece of cake or something while the rest of us are around the altars praying.  Saints of God are supposed to be prayer warriors.  There are still a few prayer warriors left across the land today.  Let me encourage you to continue in your well doing because in due time and season we will reap if we faint not.  Let’s continue in the good way of praying.

 

Saints of God Sing Unto The Lord

     Saints of God sing unto the Lord.  You hear all over about people talking about how those holiness folks sure can sing.  Way back in the good ole days they would have their meetings down in the hollers under the brush arbors.  Folks would be

coming down the road in a wagon hearing the saints of God singing.   If they weren’t a singing they were a praying.   If they weren’t praying they were a shouting and if they wasn’t a shouting then someone would be preaching and God was a moving in the land. 

     In the book of Psalms chapter thirty and verse four we read (4) “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”  Give thanks and sing unto the Lord.  This is a wonderful thing that God’s people have.  I wish that the whole world could have a little dose of what we have got.  Sing unto the Lord!  If we have got joy down in our heart then we ought to be able to sing it and shout it loud and long holiness unto the Lord now and forevermore!  Holiness folks can sing.  They can just sing, sing, and sing, until the glory of the Lord comes down.  That is a good thing and we don’t won’t to ever lose that.  We need to keep on singing and being happy and having the joy of the Lord in our hearts. 

     In the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy.  A lot of folks have departed from the faith.  They have drifted too far from the shore.  The fire went out in their heart and they got cold and they lost their joy.  Then holiness became a burden and hardship to them and they no longer see a need for it.  If folks today would just get on fire for God and draw close to Him He is still telling folks today that holiness is still the way. 

     In Ephesians chapter five verse number nineteen we read, (19) “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing ad making melody in your heart to the Lord;”  This makes the Lord happy.  Saints don’t just sing to make ourselves happy or so we can shout a jig or something.  We sing because the Lord likes it.  It is pleasing unto the Lord.  This is what the will of the Lord is that we sing unto the Lord in our hearts.  A lot of folks will do just about anything except what the Word of God says.  It is as clear as it can be that for us to sing unto the Lord is the will of God.

 

Real Saints Love the Lord

     In Psalms chapter thirty one and verse twenty three we read that the saints of God love the Lord.  “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.”  He loves us but we are to love Him!    We are to love the Lord with all our heart and He said that He would preserve the faithful but I am afraid that some of us have not been too faithful.  The devil gets a lot of us down in the mulley grubs (Arkansas Hillbilly talk meaning being down and depressed) every other day.  One day we are faithful to God and the next day we are beat down and whipped down.  We are supposed to have power and authority over the devil to put him off of our shoulders and get him out of our ears so we can do the will of God.  Then we will be happy.  Then we will have a smile upon our face.  Saints of God ought to have a smile.  I would not want to take my family to some churches because of the looks on some people’s faces and because of the way they act and live.  My relatavies wouldn’t want what they have got and I don’t blame them because I don’t want it either.  We ought to love the Lord and act like it.  We ought to be happy and joyful.  That’s the saints of God!      Are we really saints?  Are almost saints?  Are we part of the way saints?  It is like another message that I am working on.  What type of holiness are you?  Are you part of the way holiness?  Are you halfway holiness?  Are you middle of the road holiness?  Just what type of holiness are you?  What type of saint are you today?   

Saints of God Fear the Lord

     In the book of Psalm chapter thirty four and verse nine we read, “O fear the Lord, ye his saints:  for there is no want to them that fear him.” This is where we are in the world today.  People have lost the fear of God.  People have lost their respect for spiritual things.  Some people don’t care to walk right up and slap the preacher in the face and walk out!  A lot of people today are spiritually in bad shape.  Anybody that would be so bold, brazen, cold, ungodly, and ruthless ought to go to hell!  Folks like that would never have any hope without the love of God!  Friends, the Lord has fixed it in such a way that you and I don’t live for God we won’t make it!  Complete change of heart and life is still a requirement to go to heaven.  One of the great benefits of going to heaven is to be where all things are pure, holy, and godly and to be away from the devil and the troubles and trials.  We are going to heaven to be with people who fear (respect) God!

 

     A lot of people do not respect God anymore.  Some don’t care to sit in the preachers face.  When we minister out on the streets some young people don’t care to throw beer cans and bottles at us.  They don’t care to drive by and holler and cuss at us.  Many today have simply do not have the fear of God!  Many people think that they are going to get away with it but that is not the case.  All of these God haters had better persecute the saints of God now.  They had better fight the people of God now because there is going to come a day when this old world is going to be over!  God is going to send down and angel to declare that time shall be no more!  It is enough!  (See Revelation 10:4-6)  That will be the end of all these disrespectful God haters.  We are either going to be ready at that point or not.  Every person who is serious about living for God needs to stop and take spiritual inventory.  The Bible puts forth the challenge in second Corinthians 13:5 for each of us to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”  When the end comes you are either going to be a saint or not.  None of us will have the opportunity to change our lifestyle then.

 Saints Have Patience and Faith

     In Revelation chapter thirteen verse number ten we read, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity:  he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  Saints of God have to have faith because the Bible says in Hebrews chapter eleven and verse six, “But without faith it is impossible to please him”.  You have to have patience because faith is worthless without patience.  Some folks trust the Lord for a miracle right now but what if the Lord wants to wait a few months to teach us a few things.  Most folks do not have the patience to stick it out and wait on God.   We should have the patience and the faith to pray and seek His face until we get the answer.   Most folks today are just playing church and if they don’t get the answer right away they just give up.

     When the book of Revelation talks about the patience and faith of the saints it is serious.  When we get down to the fulfillment of this chapter we are going to find out who has got it and who does not have it.  It won’t take long for us to find out who is a saint and who is ain’t.  When you can’t buy and you can’t sell except you have the mark (of the beast) then we will find out who has faith and patience.  In the Old Testament a raven brought the man of God food to eat twice a day.  We may go through something like that someday before the end comes.  It is going to take patience and faith and without patience you had just a might as well forget it because your faith won’t get too far.  “In your patience possess ye your souls”. 

     Waiting on God!  Have you got the ability to wait on God?  Sometimes it takes a few weeks and sometimes it takes a few years.  Patience!  Patience!  Is God going to heal us?  Sure He will heal us or He will do what He sees fit to do but it takes patience to wait to that place.  The Bible says in the book of Isaiah chapter forty and verses twenty nine thru thirty one, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  but they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wing as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 

     The end of the world is coming and the church will go through some hard times before it is over.  The Bible tells us about a time of great tribulation.  (See Revelation chapter thirteen)  It is described as a time like no other in the history of the world.  (SEE Matthew 24:21)  We read in the book of Revelation chapter thirteen about a time when everyone on the entire planet earth will be ordered to worship the image of the beast.  The order will be given for everyone on earth that refuses to worship the image of the beast to be killed.  The one world government and one world religion and the one world banking and money system will all emerge to cause havoc on the real saints of God.  The beast will cause everyone to receive a mark in their right hand or in there forehead.  There will be a worldwide law that unless you have the mark of the beast no one will be able to buy, or sell anything.  It is going to be a hard time and real faith will be required to make it.  This time of great tribulation will finally pass just before the end comes.  We read in Revelation chapter 14 and verses 9-12, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever:  and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12) HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”  While the saints are shouting and praising God for all eternity those that take the mark and worship the beast will be tormented with fire and brimstone both day and night forever.  It is going to be a terrible thing if you miss heaven and end up down there with the devil. 

     There are two things that stand out as very important in verse 12.  (1) Real saints are those who keep the commandments of God and, (2) keep the faith of Jesus.  Patience, faith, and obedience are the three things that will bring the real people of God thru all the hard times during the last days. 

The Saints of God Have a King

      Revelation chapter fifteen and verse three tells us about the saints of God who have a king.  He is the great and mighty and glorious king that is coming riding on that cloud that is coming back down to meet us and to get us out of these troubles and trials.  We have a king.  (3) “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

The Saints shall Judge the World

     First Corinthians chapter six and verse number two says that the saints shall rule the world. (2) “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? (3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” God’s word declares that the saints will judge the world!  All of these big shots think that they are getting away with all of the things that they are doing.  They had better look out because someday the saints will judge the world. 

In The Last Days the Saints Will Have a Camp

     In the book of Revelation chapter twenty and in verse eight and nine it says, (8) “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”   Here we read about a camp and about all of the armies of the world gathered around some folks.  God stirred up all of the kings of the earth and all of the worldly people and they gathered in around the camp.  In the last days there will a camp of the saints.  The Bible talks about Jesus coming back on a white horse to deliver the folks that are in the camp of the saints.  All of the enemies of God and the people of God that are in the world were encamped about the camp of the saints.  They will circle around about them.  The anti Christ and the worldly crowd will probably be thinking, “We’re going to finally get rid of these folks.”  They have cut the saints heads off, stabbed them with swords, and tortured them.  They have done everything that they could do to wipe the saints of God off the face of the earth.  The world does not like real saints because they do not like the light.  The world does not like this old time way at all.  They do not like the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Holiness and in Revelation chapter twenty they have got them down to just a camp of saints.  It will probably run through their minds that “we’re going to get rid of the last of them and this will be it.”  “Good bye and good riddance you old horse and buggy day preachers.”  Just about the time they think they are going to clean this old world up and get rid of the sanctified folks that are in that camp I read over there where there is one that is coming on a white horse and all the armies that are in heaven is going to come down on them.  I want to point out to you today that all of those armies that followed Him out of heaven did not do any fighting.  It is not the will of God for us to do any fighting either.  The armies that are in heaven will get to be there and you and I can be there but you’ll never read anywhere in the book of Revelation where any of those armies that rode those horses with Jesus did any fighting.  He is the one that will do the fighting.  The battle is not ours tonight.  It is the Lords and if we will leave it in the Lords hands and let Him do our fighting for us He will win the battle for us.  He will win for us! 

The Faith that was Once Delivered unto the Saints

     In the book of Jude verse number three we read, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”   This is where it is at!  It was once delivered unto the saints and that was on the day of Pentecost when God used Apostle Peter to reveal the plan of Salvation for this day and hour.  Have you got the faith that was once delivered unto the saints?  Have you got it?  Are you looking for it today?  People need to be looking and searching for it awful quick if they are going to be a saint.  You can become a saint of God!

     God used the apostle Paul to write that letter to the Romans and he started out addressing it to “them that are called to be saints”.  You have a calling today regardless if you sit on the first, second, fifth, or even the back pew at church you have a calling.  You have been called to be a saint and the Bible said that “the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.”   There simply is not any backing out on being a saint because the Lord has called you.  If you get to go with God’s people you’ll have to be a saint.

 Saints Have an Inheritance

     In the book of Colossians chapter one and in verse twelve it says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”  There is going to be some saints walking in light someday that have got an inheritance.  If you run the reference on the word inheritance and you’ll find that the Bible says in the book of Acts chapter twenty and in verse number thirty two, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

 

     The inheritance is not going to go to those that are “dilly dabbing around” and “bobbing up and down” just playing church.  The inheritance is going to go to the real church folks that are sanctified.  They are the ones that will get an inheritance with the saints that are walking in light.  It is going to be worth it to make it to heaven.  It is going to be worth it just to leave this world, Amen.  Where ever the Lord is, that is where I want to be. 

 

     We read in the Book of Ephesians chapter one and starting in verse number fifteen and down through verse eighteen, (15)“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; (17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”  The apostle Paul heard about some folks that had faith in the Lord Jesus and had real love for all the saints.  He gave thanks to God each time that he prayed.  Let us notice the five things that he prayed for.  He ask that God would give unto them (and to us) (1) the spirit of wisdom. (2) The revelation in the knowledge of him.  (3) That our understanding would be enlightened.  (4) That we may know what is the hope of his calling.  (5) What is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.  This should be our prayer today as well.  We need to know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints and we can.  The hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in or with the saints is simply eternal life with God. 

 

     My mind goes back many years ago to when we had tent revivals.  There was a certain community that we had a number of meetings in for several years.  There was an elderly black lady that lived across the road from where we set up the tent each time.  She would walk across the road to the services each night with her dog and the dog would sit outside the tent and wait to walk her home.  She was a precious lady that touched our lives.  She always ended her testimony the same way every time.   She would say, “Pray for me that I will be the daughter that the Lord is calling for in these last and evil days.”  I would like to modify her famous trademark words just a little for us all.  “Lord Jesus, help us all to be the saints that you are calling for in these last and evil days, Amen.”

 

 

Dale Collins
The Way of Faith Holiness Publications
P.O. Box 7
Conway, AR 72033 USA
 
EMAIL:
 
mountzionconway@gmail.com
 
 

 

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