LLM Question for 5-31-2012, and, What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism, Part 1 of 7

First the Question: The Roman Catholic Bible teaches that a DEAD SINNER does NOT become a LIVING SAINT by what man does for God. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-29-2012

Question: The Roman Catholic Bible plainly teaches that every member of the Body of Christ is a SAINT. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! The Roman Catholic Bible does plainly teaches that every member of the Body of Christ is a SAINT. The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 1:2, tells how God makes a SAINT out of a sinner, “sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” This is in agreement with Hebrews 10:10, “By the which will we are SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Christ ONCE (once, NOT at every mass) for all.” Now, out of the overwhelming 864 responses we received to this question, only 55.6% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 1 of 7

First let us all carefully read some all-important words which the Risen Christ instructed the Apostle Paul to write at the time that Apostle was the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles. To the Apostle Paul, Christ had committed the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-3)

“I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation (calling) wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love: Endeavoring to keep the unity (ONEness) of the Spirit in the bond of peace, ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE of your calling; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD and FATHER of all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

In this same letter, Ephesians 1:22-23, we read that THE CHURCH, of the Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, is called “THE BODY OF CHRIST”.

Every evangelical Christian should agree one hundred percent with every Roman Catholic clergyman and layman, that during this present Dispensation, Fellowship, or Administration, of Grace there is ONE, and ONLY ONE, TRUE BIBLE CHURCH. But we ask every Roman Catholic to agree with us that this ONE TRUE BIBLE CHURCH is called “THE BODY OF CHRIST”, “ONE BODY”.

The Roman Catholics claim that the Roman Catholic Church is the one true Bible Church. Therefore they must claim to be the ONE BODY of Ephesians 1:22-23, and Ephesians 4:4. According to the plain teaching of the Roman Catholic Bible, as well as the various translations in the Bibles used by evangelical Christians, God’s way of becoming a member of the ONE TRUE BIBLE CHURCH, or BODY, is stated in clear, definite language in 1 Corinthians 12:13, “BAPTIZED BY ONE SPIRIT INTO ONE BODY, whether Jews or Gentiles.”

Every evangelical Christian and every Roman Catholic should be honest and intelligent enough to acknowledge that all Bibles used by them teach that a person becomes a member of the BODY (CHURCH) by God’s Work, by God’s Baptism. How God’s workmen work together with God in this work is recorded in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, “we are labourers together with God.” One planted; another watered; “BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.” “So then neither is he that planteth any thing; neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

Then take a look at Acts 2:47, “The LORD added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” John 3:27, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” Romans 6:23, “The (free) gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” Note prayerfully 2 Timothy 1:9, “God Who saved us and called us with a Holy Calling, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, but according to His own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE the world began.”

The Roman Catholic Bible plainly teaches that every member of the Body of Christ is a SAINT. The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 1:2, tells how God makes a SAINT out of a sinner, “sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” This is in agreement with Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Christ ONCE (once, NOT at every mass) for all.”

In 1 Corinthians 6:7-11 we may visit what has been called God’s ‘SAINT FACTORY’. In those verses we can certainly learn in the Roman Catholic Bible of the human material out of which God makes SAINTS and His own Divine process. There we read of the awful, dark, sinful past of those Corinthians and of the great transformation that made them saints or Children of God, members of the Body of Christ, and how that transformation was wrought, “BUT YE ARE WASHED, BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED: BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR LORD.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

This same glorious, blessed truth is told in different language in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and Ephesians 2:8-10, and Titus 3:5-8, and Romans 4:4-5. Open a Roman Catholic Bible and read these verses; the best news ever heard by any human being. Believing sinners are justified FREELY (or without a cause) by God’s Grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26). Roman Catholics should be intensely interested in these verses quoted from the Letter addressed to that early assembly in Rome, and they should greatly rejoice in this glorious message of Grace, Salvation WITHOUT religious works of any kind. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by Faith WITHOUT the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 5-29-2012, and, What is the State of the Dead? Part 3 of 3

First the Question: The Roman Catholic Bible plainly teaches that every member of the Body of Christ is a SAINT. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-27-2012

Question: There is NO cessation of conscious life after we receive Life in Christ upon believing the Gospel. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! I am sure that after reading all of the Scripture passages contained in this three part message series, all those who are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ will be convinced that those of the same precious faith who have fallen asleep have departed to be with Him, and although they are waiting to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven they are in a state of CONSCIOUS bliss. Therefore, Life NOW is: incorruptibility at Christ’s coming. No cessation of life after we receive life, on believing the Gospel. Now, out of the 793 responses we received to this question, 76.5% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What is the State of the Dead? Part 3 of 3

NOW, again, it is the BODY, without the spirit, that is dead.

At death the spirit goes to God who gave it. The dead body can neither feel, nor work, nor know. But this has NO reference to the spirit IN the body, that LEAVES the body when that body goes to dust and corruption. Ecclesiastes is not the book for the clear teaching of the present state of the dead, but even that book by no means supports the awful heresy of soul sleeping. The spirit at death goes to the God of the living.Immediately. There is also NO hanging around in our world, for any reason, or any length of time.

Now from the NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

Luke 23:46. “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.”

Luke 8:49-56. This twelve year old girl was dead. Christ came into the death chamber and said, “Maid, arise.” “And her spirit came again.” Luke 8:54. Compare this with 1 Kings 17:22.

Luke 23:42-43. “LORD, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 15:10. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Ephesians 3:15. “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

Acts 7:55-59. “Saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” Stephen calling upon God, “and saying, LORD Jesus, receive my spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:8. “Absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD.”

Philippians 1:23. “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”

I am sure that after reading these Scriptures, all who are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ will be convinced that those of the same precious faith who have fallen asleep have departed to be with Him, and although they are waiting to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven they are in a state of CONSCIOUS bliss. Whether or not they rejoice when sinners turn to the LORD we cannot be too dogmatic, but this seems to be the teaching of God’s Word. They have departed to be with the LORD. They are at home with the LORD. This is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:8. We know our blessed LORD tasted death. We know that He has abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light in the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10. What a glorious truth this is!

Therefore, Life now is: incorruptibility at Christ’s coming. No cessation of life after we receive life, on believing the gospel.

And well may we join the Apostle John in his praise, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; there­fore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2.

Our blessed LORD is in a glorified body in Heaven. Otherwise, He could not represent us as priest. By man came death and by man came the resurrection of the dead. Some day our blessed LORD shall descend from heaven and we shall be caught up to meet Him, at which time these bodies of humiliation shall be fashioned (transformed) like unto His glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21. And we shall see Him as He is. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18.

Many Christians say that because the apostles of Christ recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration, and because the Apostle Paul said, “but then shall I know even as also I am known,” we have positive Scriptural proof that we shall surely recognize our loved ones in glory. Whether or not these particular Scrip­tures give us this assurance, we are sure that such recognition is only a reasonable expectation to make our eternal happiness in our heavenly home complete. Yes, the Scriptures declare that “when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven.” Mark 12:25. But this has nothing to do with the recognition of our loved ones and friends.

Of course, the question always arises as to our UNSAVED loved ones. “Will we be conscious of their absence from heaven and their punishment and suffering?” This thought has come to all who have studied the Word of God and wondered about the hereafter. So, my personal belief on this is surely God will permit no thought to disturb the blessedness of His redeemed ones.

But we should be disturbed, startled and driven to anxious concern for our unsaved loved ones while we are here with them in the land of the living in this Day of Grace.

Let us remember the solemn words of God, “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.” There are many false prophets today telling that the dead will have another chance at salvation; but they are the representatives of Satan and not of the LORD. They corrupt the Scriptures to give this false hope to their deluded victims. God’s Word is judgment after death. The awful sorrows of that judgment are described in the closing verses of the twentieth chapter of Revelation. Sinner, read them carefully and believe God’s truth.

There are only two destinies, even as there are only two ways. There is NO purgatory or third place. For every individual, it is either eternal glory with Christ and the redeemed, or eternal darkness and despair with those listed in Revelation 21:8, “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars.”

Here is God’s order of events, “The LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This scene may be enacted at any moment of any day RIGHT NOW. Then, once the Body of Christ is removed, the prophetic timeline resumes, and the Great Tribulation commences immediately or after a period of time. Out of that Great Tribulation some will be saved to have part in the first resurrection, “These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6. The period of Great Tribulation will close with the coming of the LORD with His saints (Christ the Head and His Body), and the host of Heaven, to execute judgment, to dethrone the usurper, Satan, and to establish His earthly Kingdom. Revelation 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9, Revelation 19:12-20:5, Matthew 24:30, and many others.

So, now, if you have read all three of the messages in this series, we have the answers to the two questions of Job: “Man giveth up the ghost and where is he,” and “if a man die shall he live again.”

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

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LLM Question for 5-27-2012, and, What is the State of the Dead? Part 2 of 3

First the Question: There is NO cessation of conscious life after we receive Life in Christ upon believing the Gospel. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-25-2012

Question: The spirit at death goes to the God of the living, and the body without the spirit is dead. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! In 2 Samuel 12:24, concerning his little baby that had died, David said, “Can I bring him back?” There was the lifeless body of the baby. So David was not speaking concerning the body. Here is a great truth, recorded in James 2:26, “THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD”. Now, out of the 761 responses we received to this question, 93.8% of you got it right! Terrific! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What is the State of the Dead? Part 2 of 3

Some particular cases of physical death are pronounced by physicians to be mysteries; and either for the benefit of medical science or because of suspicion of foul play autopsies are held by scientific men to determine just what caused the death. Other people are said to die natural deaths. There are thousands of different diseases that produce death, and the toll is increasing each year. Death is no respecter of persons as to nationality, financial or social standing, age or any other thing. Within one hundred years from today more than one and one‑half billion people who are now living will experience physical death unless that great event which is to bring destruction to this last enemy shall take place; and it may at any time. Whether your loved one’s death was pronounced natural or unnatural, death is a mystery. We feel that the person who does not want to live is unnatural or mentally unbalanced, unless physical pain is too intense for human endurance.

Death at times seems so cruel. Family circles are broken by death. A loving companion is taken out of the home leaving hearts filled with sorrow and wonder; leaving many in utter despair. In such cases, who has not repeated that old question, “if a man die, shall he live again?” When one who has been near and dear to us has been taken by death, who has not imagined or hoped or believed that there would be a reunion, another meeting in a place where death could not enter to disturb the happy relationships? How many have said with David concerning some precious baby, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me?” 2 Samuel 12:23.

What pagan religion or what modern religion, what human philosophy, what ancient or modern science can answer this cry of the heart, “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” Job 14:10. The answer to man’s speculation is found in the last verse of Job 13: “They grope in the dark without light.”

However, here is the best and most satisfactory answer to this universal question, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25. And Jesus added a question: “Believest thou this?” The poor bereaved sister didn’t fully understand what her Savior and LORD was talking about, but she believed Him, nevertheless, and said, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:27.

“Though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Remember these words. Herein is a Gracious promise, a comforting and blessed hope; the dead shall live, IF…Yes, there is a condition. This Savior is more than the way-shower; He IS the Way. He is more than the giver of life; He IS the Life. He is more than the teacher of resurrection; He, Himself IS the Resurrection. So it behooves us to hear Him, and to believe all that God’s Divine record has to say concerning Him.

After the disciples of Christ had been under His teaching for many months, they questioned “one with another, what the rising from the dead should mean.” Mark 9:10. Peter and John, some months later, knew not the Scripture that Christ must rise again from the dead. John 20:9. This should convince us that our appeal should be to the New Testament Scriptures for the clear teaching concerning death, resurrection, rewards and retribution.

To be sure it is written in the law and the prophets that there shall be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15. And certainly the Old Testament Scriptures are as much inspired as are the New, and most assuredly there is no conflict or contradiction, but as we find the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ so much more clearly set forth after He came to earth from heaven, so do we find the truth concerning the present and future state of the dead more clearly presented after the incarnation, sacrifice and resurrection of the Son of God.

So that you may receive the rich blessing in your own soul and the truth from God Himself, we are going to present for your prayerful and careful study the following Scriptures:

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

1 Kings 17:21-22. “O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.” “And the soul of the child came into him again and he revived.”

Genesis 37:33-35. “And Jacob said concerning his son Joseph, in Genesis 37:33, “an evil beast hath devoured him. Genesis 37:35 “I will go down into sheol, unto my son, mourn­ing.”

Deuteronomy 32:48-50. Concerning Moses’ death the LORD said, “And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people.” In what sense was Moses gathered unto his people? Was his body gathered with them? Read Deuteronomy 34:5-6. “No man knoweth of his sepulcher.” The devil contended for his body. Jude 9. See Moses transfigured on the mount. Matthew 17:3.

Genesis 35:29. “Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people.” Years after Isaac had died, the LORD appeared to Moses as the God of Abraham and Isaac; and referring to this Christ said, “For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.” Luke 20:38.

In 2 Samuel 12:24, concerning his little baby that had died, David said, “Can I bring him back?” There was the lifeless body of the baby. So David was not speaking concerning the body. Here is a great truth, recorded in James 2:26, “THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD”

Ecclesiastes 12:7. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” This would be a contradiction of Ecclesiastes 3:19-20, if these verses did not refer to man’s body instead of his spirit, “so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity.” “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

This is the complaint of the man under the sun, as is also Ecclesiastes 9:5 “The dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward.” This is a plain contradiction of the many promises of God that the re­wards of the faithful shall follow their death, unless we rightly divide the word of truth. This is true also concerning the tenth verse: “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest.”

NOW, let’s get this straight! It is the body without the spirit that is dead.

At death the spirit goes to God who gave it. The dead body can neither feel, nor work, nor know. But this has NO reference to the spirit IN the body, that LEAVES the body when that body goes to dust and corruption. Ecclesiastes is not the book for the clear teaching of the present state of the dead, but even that book by no means supports the awful heresy of soul sleeping. The spirit at death goes to the God of the living. Immediately. There is also NO hanging around in our world, for any reason, or any length of time.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 5-25-2012, and, What is the State of the Dead? Part 1 of 3

First the Question: The spirit at death goes to the God of the living, and the body without the spirit is dead. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-23-2012

Question: Will we meet again and recognize our loved ones in the hereafter? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! Many Christians say that because the apostles of Christ recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration, and because the Apostle Paul said, “but then shall I know even as also I am known,” we have positive Scriptural proof that we shall surely recognize our loved ones in glory. Whether or not these particular Scriptures give us this assurance, we are sure that such recognition is only a reasonable expectation to make our eternal happiness in our heavenly home complete. OK, out of the 733 responses we received to this question, 86.4% of you got it right! Good Job! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What is the State of the Dead? Part 1 of 3

Will we meet again and recognize our loved ones in the hereafter? Who has not asked this question? How many have pondered and wondered over the question, “Does death end all?” If we could really know the truth about rewards for the righteous and retribution for the unrighteous in the world to come, would we not change our program of living in this present world? Must we remain in the dark as to our knowledge of the present and future state of the dead? Can we find no answer to the question, “are the dead conscious?”

The atheist consigns man and beast to the same fate after death, stating that death ends all. There are many so‑called scientists all around us working over‑time to prove that there are no dead. We have some people who call themselves Christian Scientists. They would persuade us to believe that sin, sickness and death are unreal only the erroneous conclusions of mortal mind. Of course, if sin is not sin, then death is not death. But the erroneous conclusions are those of a silly woman and her deluded followers.

There are other religious cults carrying on their nefarious traffic in human souls in the name of Jesus Christ, likewise teaching that sin, sickness and death are the unrealities of human conclusions.

Then we have the so‑called Christian Theosophists teaching that death has to do only with the physical, and in reality is not death, but simply the shedding of the present body for a reincarnation, to be repeated in the gradual process toward perfection.

The Spiritists, some times called Spiritualists, disagree with the Theosophists, teaching that they also believe that physical death is the gate to a higher life, but they are sure that the individual remains here in this world in spirit form, requiring manifestations to be seen by kindred spirits here in human bodies. They have spirit mediums to produce these manifestations and contacts.

Then we have the religion of Pastor Russell and his successor, J. F. Rutherford. They had seen fit to change the name of their religious movement several times. They were known as International Bible Students, Millennial Dawn, and one or two other names; and now they send their false prophets hither and thither as Jehovah’s Wit­nesses. They teach the damnable heresy of soul sleeping, which they borrowed from the Seventh Day Adventists.

They teach that the spirit of man at death loses its in­dividuality, that body and soul go to sheol, or the pit, to remain together both unconscious. They deny that there is either joy for the righteous or pain for the unrighteous in sheol. They teach that Christ came back in 1874; remained in hiding until 1914, since which time His kingdom was set up on earth and with him in secret reign are those faithful ones who attained unto the true wheat or bride; that within a few years the LORD will manifest Himself, though His saints shall never see Him in His body, which was destroyed when He ascended to heaven. When the LORD manifests Himself, then the remainder of the 144,000 true Israelites, or the Church or Bride of Christ, will be given their seat of honor. Then millions will be brought back from the dead and given the opportunity to adjust their lives to the King. Those who ultimately refuse will be annihilated. Think of the nonsense of bringing back one who has ceased to exist in order to annihilate him again. Such is the utter foolishness of the servants of Satan.

We might refer to many others, including the false teaching of purgatory, which has brought to the Roman Church great riches. There is not one line in the Roman or Protestant Bibles to support their purgatory which they added centuries after apostles of Christ gave the truth to the Christian Church. Not one apostle believed in anything like purgatory. Not one of them agreed with any of the vagaries, superstitions, delusions and lies mentioned above.

How much more satisfactory it is to turn to God’s Holy Book, and search there for the answers to the questions concerning the hereafter which we have been unable to dismiss from our minds and hearts.

So often do we hear the statement, “we must wait until we die to learn whether or not there is consciousness after death, because no one has come back from death to tell us”? To believe in the Christ of the Bible is to believe in a Christ who was fully competent to tell us all about death and the hereafter, even before He by the grace of God tasted death for every man and then abolished death, and destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil. Hebrews 2:9, Hebrews 2:14, 2 Timothy 1:9-10. Christ died for our sins; He was buried; and on the third day He arose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5. After His death He showed Him­self alive by many infallible proofs; for forty days. Acts 1:3; Acts 10:41. He ascended on high and led captivity captive. Ephesians 4:7-10. Some years after His death and resurrection He appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos and said, “I am He that liveth, and was dead: and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hades and of Death” Revelation 1:18.

Christ foretold His death and resurrection many times while He was a man on earth. One of His statements concerning His death and resurrection is found in John 10:17-18, “I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” Concerning the death and resurrection of Christ, God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophet, David, about one thousand years before the Savior was born, in this language, “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, neither will thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption” Acts 2:27, Psalm 16:10.

In His triumph over death, Christ became the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:20. While here in the flesh He truthfully said, “No man hath ascended up to heaven” John 3:13. Nearly one thousand years after David, the man after God’s own heart, had died, the messenger of the LORD said, “David, he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day” Acts 2:29. Concerning the resurrected Christ the Word of God is, “This man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, waiting till His enemies be made His footstool” Hebrews 10:12-13. There is but one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. In a resurrection, glorified body, Christ was the first man to ascend to heaven, the firstfruits of them that slept. The word, “firstfruits” suggests that there will be a harvest; that is, that many men will ascend to heaven; every man in his own order. 1 Corinthians 15:23. “At His coming”, Not before Christ comes for His own.

Now, the fact is, that Christ, because of His own personal dealings with death, the sepulcher and Hades, knows all about death from experience, and He is THE trustworthy and competent authority. He has actually died and come back to earth after death. But He knew all about death, Hades and heaven before He ever became man, and surely knew all about it while He was on earth speaking as never man spake. Now He has the keys of death and hades. He gave a picture sermon of death and Hades, retribution and reward. It was concerning a rich man and a poor man. This is recorded in Luke 16:19-31. Some people seem to get satisfaction by saying that the picture is only a parable instead of a reality. However, it is NOT a parable; it is the story of this situation, as the characters have names. But even if the truth is set forth in a parable, the truth of conscious joy and torment is taught by One who really knew what He was talking about. The Father said, “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him” Matthew 17:5.

The man in torment said concerning those who had not died, his kinsmen on earth, “Testify unto them lest they also come into this place. But if one went from the dead, they will repent.” Luke 16:30. The answer was, and is, “Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31.

The answers to your questions are in God’s Word. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

So concerning death and after death, our appeal is, “What saith the scriptures!”

What is death? Death is the last enemy. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26. What is death? “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. “Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. Death is the finished work of sin. “Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12.

Had there been no sin, certainly there would have been no death. We speak of death as the absence or cessation of life. But in the Bible, death has more than one meaning. When we define death as the absence of physical life, we are dealing with but one phase of death. Death is far more serious than the cessation of existence. Death considered in all of its aspects is the most terrible fact in the experience of man.

Death extends far beyond time, into the eternal ages. Death is an enemy. Death is real. Death is more than a universal curse; death is a Divine judgment. There are millions who are living dead folks; dead, here and now, in sins.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 5-23-2012, and, SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?, Part 3 of 3

First the Question: Will we meet again and recognize our loved ones in the hereafter? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-20-2012

Question: Does God command evil spirits? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! Well, of course, YES, He certainly does. Now, out of the 793 responses we received to this question, 91.4% of you got it right! Terrific! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?, Part 3 of 3

DOES GOD COMMAND EVIL SPIRITS?

Let us stop here to discuss who this spirit being was if it was not Samuel. The Bible scholars who believe God would never allow the spirit of a righteous servant to be called back into earthly dimension through the forbidden Satanic ritual of Necromancy believe this spirit was a demonic being masquerading as Samuel, an ungodly supernatural being under God's direct command!

Does God exercise this kind of control over a demonic being? Well, of course, YES, He certainly does.

In Job 1:6-7, we see that God required both His holy angels and Satan's unholy angels to report to Him while He was sitting on his throne. God required the ungodly Satanic demons to report their activities to Him! With this in mind, you will better understand the account in 2 Chronicles 18:18-22, when God commanded a demonic entity to be a "lying spirit" to deliberately lead wicked King Ahab astray, in order that God might bring Ahab into judgment. Read here, 2 Chronicles 18:18, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left."

Let us stop right here to identify the "host of heaven" which the holy prophet Micaiah saw in his inspired vision. Based upon what Jesus told us about the final judgment, we can safely identify the angelic host at God's right hand as holy angels, and the angelic host at God's left hand as unholy angels, or demons. In Matthew 25:33, we see that the human order at the final judgment shall be the saved on God's right hand [sheep], and the unsaved on God's left hand [goats].

With this arrangement in mind, consider the flow of the Scriptural account. "And the LORD said, 'Who shall entice Ahab, the king of Israel that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him'. The LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets'. And the LORD said 'You SHALL entice him and also succeed. Go forth and do so'. Now, you see, the LORD put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets ..." [2 Chronicles 18:19-22]

Since the Bible tells us that God is above all evil, and cannot perform evil, we can see that what He has done here is to command a demonic spirit to go to Ahab to whisper a lie in his ear that will cause him to make a fatal mistake on the field of battle. This lying spirit was under God's direct order, and he performed his duty right well: King Ahab was killed in battle [2 Chronicles 18:33].

We see a similar scenario in 1 Samuel 16:14, as the hand of God began to move against King Saul. "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented and troubled him." God commanded an evil spirit, an ungodly demon, to come to King Saul to trouble him as part of His divine judgment against the King.

In 1 Samuel 18:10-11, and 1 Samuel 19:9-10, we see that another evil spirit, an ungodly demon, acting under God's direct orders, persuaded King Saul to try to kill David; however, the LORD ensured that David escaped. "The next day an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved [madly] in his house, while David was playing on his lyre with his hand ... and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin, for he thought, 'I will pin David to the wall'.”

Therefore, we do not have much trouble believing that the spirit being coming forth from this ritual performed by the With at Endor was really a demonic being under direct orders from God to not only appear AS Samuel, but to give King Saul the message God wanted to deliver ! [1 Samuel 28:15-19]

Should Christians disguise themselves and go to a woman witch, or psychic, by night to talk with the dead? If they should be so wicked and immoral as to do such a thing, they ought to disguise themselves and wait for the darkness of midnight; but after they do, they ought to do what Saul did after his evil act...“He fell straightaway all along the earth.” Remember that the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul and he was possessed with an evil spirit at the time of his visit.

The human heart is desperately wicked, an evil heart of unbelief that will not receive God’s revelation. God has clearly answered that old, but ever new question...“Man wasteth away, yea man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?”

God in His Holy Word has told us all about the hereafter, that great unseen world, and man’s eternal experience after his days on earth are over.

My dear friend, if you have lost a loving companion, and you are lonely, sad, discouraged, almost desperate, do NOT seek solace in some Satanic delusion. Believe God’s Word. In that blessed Book, The Holy Bible, you can learn all about the present whereabouts of the dead, the whence and whither of the human race. However, if you reject the Bible, there is nothing but darkness, uncertainty and despair.

Thousands have been deceived in ancient and modern Spiritism. Satan can easily impersonate any relative, or lost loved one, by means of his evil spirits and deceive the soul of man. Do you remember what the Apostle Paul said to a sorcerer in his day? “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the LORD?” Acts 13:10.

Then, the Apostle Paul met another one, a woman, a soothsayer, our present day psychic or medium, possessed with the spirit of divination. He said to the evil spirit in her, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and he came out the same hour.”

Demon possession is a very common thing, in fact it is rampant, in religious circles today, even the worship of demons; but there is nothing new about it. Satan is still the same Satan, though he may change his tactics.

Many splendid people have seen and communed with others in the spirit world; but they have always been deceived by an evil spirit. The “others” were not spirits of people who had ever lived on earth. I am going to quote here several verses of Scripture so you can get God’s answer to this question:

“If a man die, shall he live again?” Job 14:14

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he, (Christ) also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil”. Hebrews 2:14.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every man”. Hebrews 2:9.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an Holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” 2 Timothy 1:9-10.

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”. Revelation 1:18.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”. John 11:25.

“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? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee”. Luke 24:5-6.

“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God”. Acts 7:56.

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, LORD Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, LORD, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60.

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD”. 2 Cor. 5:8.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming”. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23.

Now we spoke of the message God has for each one of us in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. We quote these words of the One who conquered death and who is now seated at God’s right hand in heaven.

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day; and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died and was buried; and in hades he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life­time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, which would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And Abraham said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead”. Luke 16:19-31.

I want to call your attention to the statement of David concerning his little baby that had died, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me”. 2 Samuel 12:23. God would teach His children by this verse that we can go to our loved ones who die, but they cannot come back to us.

Now, compare this statement of David with the statement in Hebrews 13:20, “The God of peace, that brought again from dead our LORD Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.”

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He was raised again the third day according to the Scriptures. He became the firstfruits of them that slept. And at His coming those who are His will receive resurrection bodies and thus be made alive.

Then, if we want to be sure that we shall be made alive at the coming of Christ, we must be sure that we are His. In order that you may see just what will take place when Jesus comes again we quote for you 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not precede them which are asleep.

For the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air; and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”.

Some of those who are to be Christ’s at His coming are those who have fallen asleep in Jesus; those who have died in The Faith. Mortality is the common heritage of all people. Only BELIEVERS have eternal life. Only those will have eternal life after death who have eternal life before death. Eternal life is the free gift of God. Jesus said “Verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death to life”. John 5:24.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul said, “You hath He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sin.” Ephesians 2:1

All who belong to Christ are rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God; for Christ is in them, the hope of glory, “When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”

When the believer, the member of the Body of Christ, passes from this life, his body goes to corruption, but his spirit goes immediately to be with the LORD Jesus in heaven, and there he remains in a conscious state, out of the realm of sin, and sorrow, and death, and sickness, and temptation, until Jesus Christ shall come back again. At that time, the time of the Rapture, when the LORD comes to be joined to His Body in the Air, that believer shall be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven, and in that incorruptible body he shall enjoy that inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Not only this, but at the same moment of this, every living believer on this earth will be caught up to meet Christ in the air. “And so shall we ever be with the LORD. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”.

However, when the UN-believer dies, his body likewise goes to corruption; but his soul goes to torment in hades, to remain absent from the body in a conscious state of torment until the resurrection of the unjust, AFTER the millennium, to be judged in the body at the Great White Throne judgment. And then to be banished into outer darkness to suffer the sorrow of the second death.

This is the plain teaching of God’s Word. So listen up...“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” Revelation 21:27. “And whosoever was NOT found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire”. Revelation 20:15.

Hades is only the temporary abode of the wicked. The final doom is called the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. “The wages of sin is death.” “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.”

“There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

How true the words of the LORD, “If they believe not Moses and the prophets, they would not believe though one were raised from the dead.”

Remember this solemn warning of the LORD Jesus Christ: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

“Behold, I have told you before”. Matthew 24:24-25.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 5-20-2012, and, SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?, Part 2 of 3

First the Question: Does God command evil spirits? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-18-2012

Question: Was it actually Samuel who appeared to King Saul at Endor? Yes or No?

Answer: Well, NO! Notice first, the witch did not say that it was actually Samuel, but only that she saw an old man, covered with a mantle. 1 Samuel 28:14. Most Bible scholars DO NOT believe that God actually allowed Samuel's spirit to return to earth, for the simple reason that God would surely not allow the spirit of a righteous prophet to return to earth using a Satanic method condemned by God. God cares as much for the right methods as He does for the right ends, so He would most definitely not allow the actual spirit of Samuel to manifest itself. Out of the 701 responses we received to this question, 61.9% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?, Part 2 of 3

KING SAUL AND THE WITCH AT ENDOR, 1 Samuel 28:7-25

The beginning of this sad tale starts at 1 Samuel 28:3, "Now Samuel was dead...and buried in Ramah..."

When King Saul needed spiritual advice, or a specific answer from God, he was supposed to go to the prophet, Samuel. However, the Bible records that Saul never sought Samuel's advice and counsel. Now that Samuel was dead, and now that King Saul knows David was going to be the new King, Saul panics when faced with an imminent attack from the Philistines. On the day before the battle, King Saul asks his servants where he can find supernatural help. Let us pick up this story in 1 Samuel 28:7:

“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.” 1 Samuel 28:7 AKJV, and, "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium (between the living and the dead), that I may go and inquire of her'”.

That King Saul would even think of enlisting the aid of a witch, a medium, for spiritual advice is shocking because he had vigorously rooted out witches from Israel, as the witch's response in 1 Samuel 28:9 so indicates. God had ordered that no one in Israel consult mediums, witches, and sorcerers long before King Saul appeared on the scene (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). In fact, God commanded that all witches and those who practice sorcery be put to death, all the way back in Exodus fully 400 years before King Saul.

To reiterate, the response of this Witch at Endor (2 Samuel 28:9), shows that King Saul had carried out God's commands regarding witches; HOWEVER, I find it very interesting that, even after a vigorous campaign against witches, King Saul's men knew EXACTLY where one was located! When Saul asked for a witch, they knew exactly where she was living, and were able to take Saul to her. She must have been a very powerful witch to escape the scourge of King Saul, even though his advisors knew exactly where she was located. The immediate response of his servants tells the truth of the story, "Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor." (1 Samuel 28:7)

Once King Saul knew that a witch lived at Endor, he wasted no time going to her, "And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee." 1 Samuel 28:8

Now, some important points to take note of. The most important thing to notice about Saul's request is that he spoke of this ritual almost routinely, and he certainly knew of the power of a witch to summon a spirit being through the power of the "familiar spirit" living within her; this familiar spirit is a most powerful form of demon possession, for calling up a spirit being into this dimension requires powerful possession, working through an accomplished witch. King Saul knew she could call up a specific spirit, and after assuring her that she would not be killed [1 Samuel 28:10]. Invoking God’s name, he asked her for Samuel to be brought back from Upper Sheol, a place the LORD Jesus Christ called Paradise, Luke 16.

Most Bible scholars DO NOT believe that God actually allowed Samuel's spirit to return to earth, for the simple reason that God would surely not allow the spirit of a righteous prophet to return to earth using a Satanic method condemned by God. God cares as much for the right methods as He does for the right ends, so He would most definitely not allow the actual spirit of Samuel to manifest itself.

The text itself allows this interpretation. At first, it seems as though Samuel himself did appear, as we read in 1 Samuel 28:12, "And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul." However, the very next verse casts doubt on whether this was actually Samuel's spirit, take note of what King Saul actually says here, "And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?" For Saul to have phrased this question in this manner indicates that the witch did not identify the spirit being whom she saw as Samuel.

Let us continue on with 1` Samuel 28:13, “And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.” The King James Version seems to indicate that she saw more than one spirit appearing in this dimension. Again the KJV rendering, "And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth." However, the witch must have spoken in the singular, because Saul forms his next question in the singular.

"What form is he of?" 1 Samuel 28:14. The witch saw this spirit being before Saul did, and she was terrified by its countenance. However, this fact still does NOT mean that this spirit was actually Samuel. The answer this witch gives next is very insightful. She described what she saw, "An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle." 1 Samuel 28:14.

Notice the witch did not say that it was actually Samuel, but only that she saw an old man, covered with a mantle. Then, the Holy Spirit’s next sentence reveals the truth. "And Saul perceived that it was Samuel" 1 Samuel 28:14. Saul PERCEIVED that the "old man…covered with a mantle" was Samuel. The King then bowed down on the earth before the spirit being and made obeisance. In other words, King Saul acknowledged that he recognized the superior spiritual authority of Samuel, something he refused to do when Samuel was alive.

The next question to be asked is…Does God command evil spirits?

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 5-18-2012, and, SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?

First the Question: Was it actually Samuel who appeared to King Saul at Endor? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-15-2012

Question: Is it possible for the living to communicate with the dead? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! Many splendid people have seen and communed with others in the spirit world, but they have ALWAYS been deceived by an evil spirit. The others were not spirits of people who had ever lived on earth. God in His Holy Word has told us all about the hereafter, that great unseen world, and man’s eternal experience after his days on earth are over. My dear friend, if you have lost a loving companion, and you are lonely, sad, discouraged, almost desperate, do NOT seek solace in some Satanic delusion. Believe the Word of God. In the Holy Bible, you can learn all about the present whereabouts of the dead, the comings and goings of the human race. However, if you reject the Bible, there is nothing but darkness, uncertainty and despair. Out of the 841 responses we received to this question, 96.3% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

SPIRITISM-ARE WE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD?

This series of three messages is on the subject of “Spiritism”; in other words, to be very clear, on the teachings and practices of Spiritists. Now, make the distinction…notice that I did not say “Spiritualists.”

A spiritual man is one who is indwelt and controlled by the Holy Spirit. There is NO OTHER kind. Men may claim to be spiritual, and if they do so without the Holy Spirit of God, then they worship or are indwelt by a demon spirit. ONLY those indwelt and controlled by the Holy Spirit, are truly spiritual. The posers are puppets.

Therefore, a truly spiritual man is one who is indwelt and controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth who has been sent down from Heaven. No man can be spiritual who denies the record that God has given in the Bible concerning His only begotten and well-beloved Son, the LORD Jesus Christ.

The spiritual man is instructed in the Word of God to try the spirits. He believes that all Scripture Is God-breathed; therefore, his first question is, “what saith the Scriptures?”

When men claim to be spiritual and deny the record that God has given in the Bible concerning His only begotten and well-beloved Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, then they are spiritists. These Spiritists are indwelt by the spirit of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

According to the Word of God, the prince of the power of the air, who is also called the prince of this world and the god of this age, is Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. He is also known as Satan, and the Devil, the accuser of the brethren. He is the Member of the Body of Christ’s adversary, and like a roaring lion he walks about seeking whom he may devour.

The member of the Body of Christ is told to resist him steadfast in the Faith. This supernatural one, who is spoken of as the ruler of world darkness in the heavenlies, is accused by God of the crime of deceiving the whole world. Fallen angels, Demons, and evil spirits are under his authority and direction.

The true spiritual man is uncompromisingly and unceasingly against any and all religions that deny the inspiration and absolute authority of the Holy Scriptures, which we call the Bible. The Bible condemns Spiritism.

Spiritism was flourishing on this earth four thousand years ago. The Word of God was against it then just the same as it is at this present time. Ancient Spiritism did not pretend to advocate the worship of the God of the Bible. Modern Spiritism does NOT worship the true God; but it does claim this. And not only so, but it desires to be classified as a Christian Religion. Yeah, how about that.

True Christianity will, of course, stand the test of the Bible; let me make this very clear...the entire Word of God fully endorses True Biblical Christianity, and supports every claim and doctrine of True Christianity.

The spiritual man knows full well that the New Testament Scriptures prophesy that Satan transformed into an angel of light sends forth his messengers, disguised as Christian ministers, trying to deceive religious people and entice them through the preaching of another Jesus and another Gospel into his apostate religious “Christianity”.

God has prophesied that many shall follow the pernicious ways of Satan’s servants, who have gone in the way of Cain, Korah, and Balaam, denying the LORD that bought them. These servants are spoken of as blind leaders of the blind, as false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, deceiving if possible the very elect.

God has likewise told us that in the latter days many shall depart from the Faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

He was NOT prophesying concerning the heathen world. He was speaking concerning the great apostasy in what we call “Christendom”, (not to be confused with the Body of Christ). Surely this great apostasy is now sweeping over Christendom with alarming rapidity, and many are being given over to that strong delusion prophesied in the Word of God, that they should believe the lie and be judged.

We further call your attention to this declaration of the Apostle Paul to the religious of Corinth, “I fear lest as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so your minds shall be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3. If Satan, through his subtlety, could beguile that first innocent pair in the Garden of Eden; to be sure he can deceive man in his present fallen state.

God would not have us ignorant of Satan’s devices; but He would have us to put on that spiritual armor that He has provided for His spiritual children that they might stand against the wiles of the Devil. Satan is more than clever. He is ubiquitous, powerful, supernatural. He is directly or indirectly responsible for sin and sickness and sorrow and death, and he achieves much by his counterfeit religion, and then also plays havoc with the Body of Christ by means of Christianized agnosticism.

Now we, here at the Lion and Lamb Ministry, claim that Spiritists have been seduced and or possessed by evil spirits, that the teachings of modern Spiritism, like the teachings of ancient Spiritism, is really the doctrine of demons. We furthermore claim that Spiritism is one of the strong delusions of Satan.

We do not propose to prove our charges by our statements against the statements of the conscientious and sincere Spiritists. But our constant and sole appeal shall be to the Holy Scriptures which are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for doctrine and correction, which Scriptures modern Spiritists claim as their “text-book”.

We would not, for one moment, say that there are not some excellent, brilliant, and very religious men and women in this Satanic cult. However, the Bible is the Member of the Body of Christ’s text book and the true Member of the Body of Christ is against every religious movement that the Bible condemns. Now does the Bible condemn modern Spiritism?

We might speak of it as Christianized Spiritism, because Jesus Christ has been brought into this movement by many of the leaders of today. Now, before we throw on the searchlight of God’s holy Word, let us briefly state what Spiritism teaches:

1) Consciousness after death.

2) It is possible for the living to communicate with the dead.

3) That we are surrounded by other intelligences in the unseen world.

4) God is impersonal but is responsible for the creation and the elements of the universe.

5) Man never had a fall. Whatever is, is right. Evil cannot exist. No matter what man’s path may be, good or bad, it is the path of divine ordination and destiny.

6) In the spirit world, souls do wrong as they did here. They reap what they sow, but are gradually purified and blessed. And man is made better in this life by intercourse with spirits.

7) There is no atoning value in the death of Jesus Christ. He was a religious enthusiast, a Jew who came to an untimely death. He was, however, a medium of high order. But the teaching of spirits supersedes and is an advance upon the teachings of Biblical Christianity. Jesus Christ was NOT God, but He is now an advanced spirit in the sixth sphere.

8) Hell does not exist and never will. There is no judgment after death. Neither is there any such thing as bodily resurrection.

PHEW!

Now, it is almost inconceivable that any person belonging to a religious organization teaching such doctrines should have ANY desire to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ; or would permit such a religious movement to be called a “Christian” religion. But remember the clever Devil.

There has always been the cry for religious tolerance and we are conscious of the fact that the constitution of this great country, the United States of America, grants to each and every one the perfect right to religious liberty. But remember, that our statement is that the Bible condemns the religion known as Spiritism.

First we quote from Deuteronomy 18:10-12, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”

You will notice here in the eleventh verse the word “necromancer” which means “making request of the dead.” Associated with necromancers, in their abominations, were the consulters with familiar spirits, known as mediums, shamans, etc.. A necromancer is a spirit medium. God’s wrath and judgment were against these evil practices which He calls abominations. Now surely, no member of the Body of Christ will want to endorse something that is an abomination in the sight of the Holy God.

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God” Leviticus 19:31.

“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people”. Leviticus 20:6.

“And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof; and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards”. Isaiah 19:3.

“And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust”. Isaiah 29:4.

“And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger”. 2 Kings 21:6.

Now we will especially call your attention to Isaiah 8:19-22. So, first, “Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: Should not a people seek unto their God; for the living to the dead?” Some of the modern Spiritist leaders hold seances in the light, but most of the mediums who seek information of the dead, keep on in the dark.

Then, in Isaiah 8:20, the LORD gives to the member of the Body of Christ the test…“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

The LORD Jesus Christ is the light of the world, He said to His Disciples, “Ye are the light of the world,” “shining lights in the midst of a wicked and a perverse generation.” He said, “If the light that is in thee be darkness, how GREAT is that darkness;” Surely, no Member of the Body of Christ will say that the Word of God in any way supports Spiritism.

But the question is always asked, “What about Samuel and Saul?”

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 5-15-2012, and, Can a Christian Become Sinless

First the Question: Is it possible for the living to communicate with the dead? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-13-2012

Question: Can a Christian, while in the flesh, finally, become sinless? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! The Bible nowhere teaches that a Christian can become sinlessly perfect. The Christian has two natures which are constantly warring against each other (Galatians 5:17). The old nature is enmity against God and can do nothing but sin (Romans 8:7-8; Romans 7:18), and the new cannot commit sin (1 John 3:9). It is only as our wills yield to the new nature that our lives can be pleasing to God. But the old man is ever present and is ever a menace! Out of the 728 responses we received to this question, 88.2% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Can a Christian Become Sinlessly Perfect?

Sin in the life of a Christian is a more hideous thing than in an unbeliever, because it dishonors Christ and causes others to stumble. Our question, however, is, “Is it possible for a true Christian to sin?” and “Can a Christian finally become sinlessly perfect?”

The first question is sufficiently answered by 1 John 1:8-10, “If we (believers) say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Also 1 John 2:1, “These things write I unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” The Christian may and does sin, and God has made provision for this.

The Bible nowhere teaches that a Christian can become sinlessly perfect.

The Christian has two natures which are constantly warring against each other (Galatians 5:17). The old nature is enmity against God and can do nothing but sin (Romans 8:7-8; Romans 7:18), and the new cannot commit sin (1 John 3:9). It is only as our wills yield to the new nature that our lives can be pleasing to God. But the old man is ever present and is ever a menace. Many a useful servant of the LORD, who has lived a godly, Spirit controlled life, has in his later years fallen a prey to the old nature, the flesh, and has been degraded in sin. Such a one has not lost salvation. He needs not to be re-saved, but to be restored to the power and joy of salvation. Galatians 6:1.

God could have made us automatons, or have removed every possibility of temptation and sin, but that would have been of no glory to Him. He has done something infinitely more glorious. He has manifested His power by making it possible for us to live in the midst of temptation and possibility of sinning, and yet be victoriously delivered from sin.

Romans 6 gives the secret. Read also 1 Corinthians 10:4-15. God reckoned us to have died unto sin with Christ, and, as we walk by faith, reckoning ourselves to have died with Christ, we find ourselves delivered from the power of sin, “for he that is dead is freed from sin.” “How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Those whom the devil has fooled into believing they can no longer commit sin, are in just the place he wants them. They are destined to fall prey to their deceitful hearts and to the devices of Satan. God has provided a salvation which makes it possible for us to live without sinning, but He has not made it impossible for us to sin.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 5-13-2012, and, The Child of God is NOT of this World

First the Question: Can a Christian, while in the flesh, finally, become sinless? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-11-2012

Question: The Child of God is NOT of this World. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Christ said concerning His disciples, in His prayer to His Father, “THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am NOT of the world.” John 17:16. Meditate on that verse for a few moments and try to grasp what the LORD is saying. The Christian is ‘IN THE WORLD’, but is ‘NOT OF THE WORLD’. Now, out of the 789 responses we received to this question, 95% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Child of God is NOT of this World

Just before the LORD Jesus closed His ministry on earth He said to His disciples, “if the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. if ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:18-19). “I have spoken unto you that ‘IN ME’ ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Then Christ said concerning His disciples, in His prayer to His Father, “THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16). Meditate on that verse for a few moments and try to grasp what the LORD is saying.

It would seem from these words of the LORD Jesus Christ that Christians would know that the term ‘worldly Christian’ seems to be paradoxical. Note how the world is described in 1 John 2:16, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth Forever.” Therefore Christians are instructed, in 1 John 2:15, “love not the world, neither the things in the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” “The friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4).

The unsaved person is said to walk ‘according to the course of this world’. (Ephesians 2:2). God thus instructs the saved person: “be not conformed to this world.” (Romans 12:2).

In Colossians 3, God explains to the Christian the meaning of Christ’s words in the seventeenth chapter of John, that the Christian is ‘IN THE WORLD’; but is ‘NOT OF THE WORLD’. Every Christian should read Colossians 3 at least one thousand times, and then by God’s all-sufficient Grace and almighty power, try to obey the command, “be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” There is no higher spiritual truth in the entire Bible than in Colossians 3, which begins, ”if ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, NOT on things on the earth, Put to death therefore your members upon the earth”. After mentioning some of the sinful habits that are to be put away, these words of warning are added: “for which things’s sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” (Colossians 3:6).

Note in this same Epistle to the Christians, or saints, what the LORD’s spiritual leaders wished for all of the Christians, and that for which they prayed fervently: “that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12)…“that ye might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 5-11-2012, and, Be anxious for nothing…Philippians 4:6

First the Question: The Child of God is NOT of this World. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-8-2012

Question: According to the Bible, worrying is as forbidden as theft. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft according to the first half of Philippians 4:6, and the whole of scripture. Hebrews 12:4 says to strive against it! Now, out of the 742 responses we received to this question, a whopping 92%% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Be anxious for nothing...Philippians 4:6

"Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6. We have spoken about this before. Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft according to the first half of our verse and the whole of scripture. Hebrews 12:4 says to strive against it. But how are we to "strive against" it?

First, by watching its beginning, and as soon as we are conscious of the harassment of our mind, as soon as we detect the unbelieving thought, lift up our heart to God and ask Him for deliverance from it. The best antidote for anxiety is regular meditation upon God’s WORD, which speaks of His goodness and power. When the Child of God can confidently realize "The Lord is My Shepherd," he must draw the conclusion, "I shall not want!"

The second half of our verse is, "but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God." Now, let’s turn to Matthew 6:25 and then Matthew 6:33. Here we read, "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

And then we mustn't forget, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Remember, nothing is too big and nothing is too little to spread before and cast upon the LORD.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

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