Assignment 6 Understanding Heaven
C.S. Lewis | “if you read history, you will find that Christians who did most
for the present world, were those who thought the most about the next.
The apostles themselves who went about the conversion of the Roman
empire … all left their own lives as their minds were preoccupied with the
things of heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the
other world that they become ineffective in this one. Aim at heaven and
you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.”
Before we examine heaven, I want to talk about concerns that hinder our
relationship with the Lord. I want each and every student to know the difference
between knowing about the Lord and knowing the Lord in a personal manner.
The Enemy has many snares, hooks and flaming needles to interrupt our
relationship and knowledge of the Bible. I am hoping for a couple of things, 1.
That you learn more about the God-head and Heaven. 2. That you develop a
better relationship with the God-head. 3. That you learn to overcome the
Enemy’s strongholds. Hopefully you can get a little of this in this lesson. So I
want to start with this bible verse and hopefully, you will learn to mediate upon
the Bible and on these difficult to understand issues.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version (©1984)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy--think about such things.
New Living Translation (©2007)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is
true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
English Standard Version (©2001)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
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excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
International Standard Version (©2008)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair,
whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is
anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy-keep thinking about
these things.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Therefore, my brethren, those things that are true, those that are honorable,
those that are righteous, those things that are pure, those things that are
precious, those things that are praiseworthy, deeds of glory and of praise,
meditate on these things.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves
praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
American King James Version
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things.
American Standard Version
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
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Douay-Rheims Bible
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest,
whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame,
if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.
Darby Bible Translation
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any
praise, think on these things.
English Revised Version
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honourable,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.
Webster's Bible Translation
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on
these things.
Weymouth New Testament
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever wins respect, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovable, whatever is of good repute--if there is any
virtue or anything deemed worthy of praise--cherish the thought of these things.
World English Bible
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any
praise, think about these things.
Young's Literal Translation
As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as are grave, as
many as are righteous, as many as are pure, as many as are lovely, as many as
are of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;
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Rarely Is the Truth Proclaimed
I realized this lesson was on Heaven and Eternity, but I wanted you to recognize
why men have a difficult time with understanding these issues. I first recognized
this with a famous bible commentator, he is so dynamic and popular but once
you peel back his incredible talents, he has no heart for the lost and did not
believe in a literal Heaven. Soon I recognized many other men acted as this man
did. The symptoms of shame were obvious and it took me some time to figure it
out, he was spiritually abusing people and being paid to do so and people liked it.
He has a damaged heart and does not recognize it. I do not want my student’s
to follow this man’s role. There are 7 primarily types of heart damage that if left
unresolved will destroy your testimony of the Lord Jesus. I will cover 4 or 5 in
brief terms.
I have been in church for almost fifty years and I rarely hear the truth proclaimed.
That is a strong statement, but I normally hear intellectual believers telling me a
short scripture and barely explaining anything and never reaching the heart.
Since you started this ministry program I have been conditioning you and your
heart to accept and know the truth (gospel message) and recognize your identity
in Lord Jesus. You know most of basic biblical stuff already but all that is head
knowledge or intellectual belief. I will inform you of the heart strongholds do not
allow you to understand and most of these are because of pain, anger or shame.
All of these problems come from one primary source, and that is the cursing of
your true identity primarily from your father, secondarily from your mother and
third from authority figures. I have all three so I feel qualified to teach you about
shame. The problem of being cursed is that it will create shame and false guilt in
your life and it will manifest in to symptoms that will affect your relationships, this
includes your relationship with God. All of us have some of these symptoms, the
problem is when we do not recognize and allow our hearts to deceive us. We will
briefly examine these concerns but your doctorate will cover these concerns in
detail.
You will need to free your heart or allow the Holy Spirit to heal your heart to
understand the deep truths and I promise you will have bulletproof joy every day
of your life. You will be more than a conqueror. I am not promising happiness
but joy. I am not here to beat you down, only inform you that many of our
problems started before we were 8 years old. The communist have a saying that
is very true, they say that if you teach a child about socialism before he is 8 years
old, you have a communist for life.
I struggle with many of these issues because of poor church teaching, unfaithful
or deceived men in ministry, traditions, religion and shame.
All of these
unresolved issues were planted by the Enemy to deceive us and it is time to take
back ground. The Bible says that we Believers will get back everything the
Enemy has stolen. I have figured that half of the things the Enemy stole were
given to him and the other half stolen, but either way we will regain it all.
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I want to start by explaining what shame is and how it has affected your heart
and how to heal it so that you can be free to know the Lord on a deeper level and
learn about our future home. A home that we will be entering sooner than we
think. A home that Lord Jesus says he has been preparing for us. So with a
little help of the Holy Spirit and if you are honest, it is time to open the eyes of
your heart.
Proverbs 19:20-21 HCSB
“Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.”
Definitions
There is a huge deference between guilt and shame, but shame develops wrong
thinking, ruins relationship’s and destroys testimonies. You will be an infective
follower of Jesus with unresolved shame in your life.
Guilt
1. awareness of wrongdoing: an awareness of having done wrong or
committed a crime, accompanied by feelings of shame and regret
"feelings of guilt"
2. fact of wrongdoing: the fact of having committed a crime or done wrong
"an admission of guilt"
3. responsibility for wrongdoing: the responsibility for committing a crime
or doing wrong "Some of the guilt must attach to the parents."
4. legal culpability: the responsibility, as determined by a court or other
legal authority, for committing an offense that carries a legal penalty
Shame
1. negative emotion: a negative emotion that combines feelings of dishonor,
unworthiness, and embarrassment
2. capacity to feel unworthy: the capacity or tendency to feel shame
"He has no shame."
3. state of disgrace: a state of disgrace or dishonor "bring shame on the family"
4. cause for regret: a cause for regret or disappointment "It's a shame you
couldn't stay for lunch."
5. cause of shame: somebody or something that causes somebody else to feel
shame
Many of us have false guilt or shame and do not think we are good enough or
worthy to know the Lord in a personal way. The Bible says that we are sons of
God and we need to act like it, but first we need to know him and most
importantly He needs to know us. The demons know God and Lord Jesus but
He does not know them. Does He know you?
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Matthew Chapter 7
Entering the Kingdom
13
“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the
gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
15
“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly
are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered
from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree
produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t
produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that
doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll
recognize them by their fruit.
21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many
will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in
Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to
them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
Our True Identity
We need to recognize that we have been purchased with a huge price. A price
that only could be paid by the precious blood of the Son of God, Lord Jesus.
If you struggle with low-self-esteem or even pride, try to examine your life and
find the areas or times that those areas that are destroying your testimony of
your love for the Lord. Most of the lies and pains were developed early in life by
parents or others and it is essential to remove those areas for they are blocking
your relationship and joy with the Lord. We need to tear them down and receive
the truth from God. If you were belittled or shamed in any way, those lies
perpetuate shame and the bible calls those things, “Strongholds”.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
New International Version (NIV)
4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and
every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take
captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Unresolved Shame Creates these Identities
Broken Hearted
Locked Heart
Intellectual Believer, which many say are not saved.
Spiritual Abusers
Spiritual Neglectors
Spiritual Addicted
Deniers
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Some of the external manifestations that go along with denial and shame
are as follows:
1. Anger and depression when circumstances are out of control.
2. Fear of emotion. Fear of experiencing feelings or getting out of control.
An unwritten rule in most conservative churches.
3. Difficulty of saying “no” to people. An unwritten rule of saying “yes” in
most liberal churches.
4. Fear of trying new things. Fear of failing. (New things means biblical
based things, not worldly things for the church.) (For a Believer, both
concerns will apply in all aspects of life.)
5. Frequent depression, which is really nothing but hidden anger for not
getting your way.
Be Free from Negative Thoughts
Many times when shame is working in your life, you are unaware, for you may
have such an effective denial and appearance management system in place to
protect your heart that you don’t even recognize that your true identity as a
Believer has been cursed and that false shame is working in you.
One identifying symptom of false shame is that some people are consciously
experiencing worthlessness while others are feeling pride. There is another
symptoms called “hidden pride”, this is easily primarily but excessive talking or
taking control. Hidden pride can hide itself in evangelism or teaching, it is easy
to discern for most of these guys do not practice what they preach and do not do
these things at home, but will tell you they do. If you bible teacher is known for
avoiding proclaiming “Jesus is Lord” and telling you that is the pastor’s job, he
probably has hidden pride. Sadly we have filled the church with these leaders for
our itching hears and our damaged hearts prefer it, in essence, we have
condemned ourselves.
Unworthiness or Suicidal Thoughts
Not being loved by a father will create periods of unworthiness or suicidal
thoughts. If a father does not cherish his daughter by the time she is 8 years old,
she most likely be a tramp and/or drug addicted and fall from the church. She is
basically replacing her father’s love with any other man. If a boy is not told “He
has what it takes” and the father does not take interest in him, he will turn to
crime and drugs as well, he will fall from church if he attended church and test
God’s sovereignty. The boy is looking for someone to accept him, the problem is
no one will, he may think Jesus will accept him but will generally avoid the issue
and prefer to be intellectually locked. One way to identify a person that fits in this
category is the way they reason to this information. If they are offended, then
you know this applies to them, there hidden pride is rebellious. Sometimes the
broken hearted may not respond because they have so much pain and the pain
hides everything.
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Spiritual Abusers
I can identify a spiritual abuser rather quickly, for like the Intellectual believer,
there is no intimacy with the Lord. There is no testimony of transformation. There
is usually a testimony of a desire of wanting to be in ministry but some denial,
usual a Catholic or cult based religion. Generally worked enforcing rules for a
career like in the military or government and probably in law enforcement.
These men generally are promoted in the church not based upon their testimony
or their fruits but upon merit and “filling” the deacon requirements. They are
wonderful at telling you either two lies. One is that you have to follow the law.
Which I agree is a good thing but cannot stop you from sinning. Or, you do not
have to follow the law and you are saved by grace. Which I agree with in
principle. The problem with abuser is they make-up their own laws and enforce
them.
For example, A spiritual abuser is very good at telling you what you can or
cannot speak about, he may be a teacher and say that you cannot speak about
anything outside the bible, while the whole time he speaks about a certain cult
and uses their terms and condemns them while the same practices are occurring
in your own church. If you mention his hypocrisy you will be condemned and told
you are an extremist and throw out of the fellowship.
A spiritual abuser loves to tell you…
The story about the treasury officials and how they are trained to know and
recognize the true currency and that way they can identify a counterfeit. I love
the details these men go to and then they go home and watch tv and never pray
or tell another about Lord Jesus.
The Treasury official story is a good story, but the bible has better information,
like be a workman not ashamed or all scripture is profitable.
Or
Talking about anything outside the scriptures is unnecessary for it does not build
my faith and you can’t prove the bible and I do not base my relationship with the
Lord on feelings. This will be the guy that has no fruit unless he tells you about
it. He will back that up with scripture, he will generally know 5 or 6 scriptures and
not know the Gospel message.
Trouble
Both the spiritual abuser and the intellectually locked believer have one or two
things in common. They love to make law and enforce it. One example is many
will enforce a certain bible like the original King James Bible (with the Noncanonical books) and go in great detail about how you only are salved with this
bible.
They make law to enforce why they do not spread the Gospel or help the sick,
naked or others in need. This one burns my butt the most, for if a teacher
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teaches this principle which many self-proclaimed conservatives do, then they
never knew the Gospel and the evidence is clear, the Lord never knew them.
This is the primary reason many do not think the intellectual believer is saved.
A key to proper identification is there is very little if any testimony about the
transformation and no love or talking of the Holy Spirit, you are much more likely
to hear, “No church is perfect” rather than “I love the Lord Jesus.”
No church is prefect is a lie straight from hell, because the bible says the
opposite. Then we get the positional and practical argument and you may hear
the words “God or Christ” but no love for either and nothing about the Holy Spirit.
Expert or Martyred
The calling card of spiritual abuser and the intellectually locked believer is biblical
translation. They loved to be recognized for biblical exegesis and hermeneutics.
The problem is they only recognize their own preferences. We do the same, but
they make it law and that is the problem. If I do the same to you in any area other
than salvation or Jesus’s divinity, please remind me of this area.
Others will tell you about losing your salvation every time you sin, and you are
able to see sin in their live. (Note from Jeff, if you can lose your salvation, then I
have probably lost mine one thousand times.) Or the opposite is true; they go far
to the other side and become “no law”. I understand this issue and have lived
the principle but it is wrong.
Antinomianism in Christianity holds that, under the gospel dispensation of
grace, moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone (Sola Fide) is
necessary to salvation.
Although the position of antinomianism and the doctrine of Sola Fide, where
justification is through faith alone, are related, antinomianism takes the notion of
the relative weight of law to its logical extreme, opposing law as a groundwork. It
is seen by some as the opposite of the notion that obedience to a code of
religious law earns salvation: legalism or works righteousness.
While there is wide agreement within Christianity that "antinomianism" is heresy,
what constitutes antinomianism is often in disagreement. The term "antinomian"
emerged soon after the Protestant Reformation (c.1517) and has historically
been used mainly as a pejorative against Christian thinkers or sects who carried
their belief in justification by faith further than was customary. For example,
Martin Luther preached justification by faith alone but was also an outspoken
critic of antinomianism, perhaps most notably in his Against the Antinomians
(1539).
My problem with Antimianists is they prefere the prosperity gospel and avoid
chapters of the bible like 1 John and anything before the books of Acts. The
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enemy has deceived them in to thinking the law is bad and all they need to do is
endure until the end. They believe they have dominion power as well.
Key, is loving them. That is so easy to say, the problem is doing it. I can use
any advice you have for know very little.
Spiritually Addicted
Every time I hear an incredible long prayer, I know this person is spiritual
addicted. Every time I hear someone with a biblical message that has specific
information and does not glorify the Lord Jesus, I know they are spiritual
addicted. Every time I see a man in leadership submitting to his wife, I know
there is either spiritual abuse or addiction going on and generally the man is
probably an Intellectual believer. If someone comes to you and has a “word from
God” and this word does not add up or make sense with the scriptures, they are
probably spiritually addicted. These are primarily women that need control and
are generally out of control. I am not picking upon women, for I see men in this
group, I just see it more in women.
If a hear a woman pray passionately for a long time and mention everything in
her life and in the bible, that may be a n indication she has been hurt and her
heart is still damaged. She will be more likely to spiritualize any and everything
and if you tell her she is wrong, she may kill you. She was never loved by her
father to begin with. She was probably sexually abused most her life. She is
only in defense mode and screaming for help. The problem is she does not trust
men and will never trust men. Only a woman that has been transformed and is
very patent can help her. I even feel guilt in handing women like this a
counseling card. I don’t blame this woman and I feel for them. I hope you do to
and if you created any of these problems, write them a forgiveness card and be
honest and forgive your self.
Deniers and Scoffers
However, we have the deniers. These will never be set free and become great
intellectual believers which many think are not saved but play the game. There
are times I think the Lord’s mercy may save them, for they play the game and
say the words, but have no fruit. Unless they are paid. I know men in the
ministry that are paid and have no fruit. Deniers are the ones that do the
greatest damage in the church, next to spiritually abuser. These people usually
do not have the Holy Spirit and do not love anyone but themselves. These
hurting people can’t relate to any feelings and need to be independent and selfsufficient. These behaviors are indicative of the presence of shame working in
their lives. The cure is very difficult, many say to love them. I agree but talking
about love and being kind will not change a scoffer.
Final Note on Deniers and Scoffers
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All of Us Fall Short
Very few men recognize our fallen condition, even fewer recognize that we are
still under Adam’s curse and all of these concerns are normal. Most of these lies
come from our youth and affect our views and relations with everyone including
the Lord and our concepts of Heaven. It is time to be free in the name of Lord
Jesus. Confess these times out loud and renounce them. Forgive the ones that
spoke these words to you. I fit in to this area. This type of shame is primarily a
root from parental abandonment. If you have been abandoned, you know of this
feeling. You could assign the title broken hearted to me and yet I will show traits
of the other shame related identities. It takes time, tears and talking once you
recognize that your heart is damaged and it is limiting the Lord knowing you.
Remember
I know about these problems because I have lived and done them to others. It
takes a heart transformation and that comes only by the truth and even reading
the truth will not fix the heart. It takes love and someone to help you. If you don’t
have any one, I am here for you. If you want more information, I have a great
book I will mail to you called the “Ancient Paths”. Just ask, and I will mail it to
you. I have read that book 6 times and still need it. It is biblical based.
Remedy Be Set Free
Confess these areas and pain to the Lord in an out loud prayer. Ask Him to heal
your heart and be set free. If possible confess these to another Believer.
Jesus Paid A Great Price For you. You are Valuable and Worthy for Heaven
Look what is included in the price He paid...
A Substitute 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed."
A Volunteer "No one takes (my life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have
received from My Father." John 10:18
A Redeemer "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
He purchased us by the work of the cross. His utmost provided a Redeemer.
Thru His death, burial and resurrection He also became...
A Reconciler "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" Col.
1:21,22 God paid the Highest Possible Price for us!
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A Justifier Jesus brought us justification…"whom God set forth as propitiation
by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,"
Romans 3:25
The highest possible price! He gave me His Best when I was at my worst!
You are valuable and time to learn about our home.
Beloved Heaven is Real no Matter what you have been Taught
Heaven is real… Jesus is Lord and we as Believers have a part in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom is not a religion but a government. I want each of you to
understand a little about Heaven or the Upper place, or the third heaven if that
was possible. So many believers and church leaders do not know about heaven
or the kingdom, they are ignorant. But you have no excuse and should be able
to describe a little about the place.
Matthew 6 (New International Version)
This should say it all and nothing else is needed.
1
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by
them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
9
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
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John Chapter 8
Jesus is speaking of a real Heaven, a heaven where His father lives. Remember
Jesus even says, he must ascend to Heaven. Where his father is, so must Jesus
be.
14
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I
know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I
come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass
judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not
alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that
the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other
witness is the Father, who sent me."
19
Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
Jesus is there right now and is making a place for us. Some bibles say he
is building a dwelling for us. Not in the future, but right now
Heaven seems to be in the north of the sky.
Job 37:22
22
"Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
Isaiah 14:13 (New American Standard Bible) Speaking of the devil
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"But you said in your heart,
'I will (A)ascend to heaven;
I will (B)raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
2 Corinthians 5:8
I have always believed that what Paul was saying in this verse and those around
it is this. That to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. In other
words when we pass from this life in an instant we will be present with God in
heaven. One day this place will be brought to earth as the New Jerusalem.
6
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that (J)while we are at
home in the body we are absent from the Lord-7
for (K)we walk by faith, not by sight-8
we are of good courage, I say, and (L)prefer rather to be absent from the body
and (M)to be at home with the Lord.
9
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be
(N)
pleasing to Him.
The word good courage means confidence; he had complete confidence
that there was a heaven.
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2 Corinthians 12
Where did Paul go when he died the first time?
2
I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not
know, or out of the body I do not know, (D)God knows--such a man was (E)caught
up to the (F)third heaven.
3
And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do
not know, (G)God knows-4
was (H)caught up into (I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is
not permitted to speak.
Luke 23:43 (New American Standard Bible)
43
And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in
(A)
Paradise."
Paradise is the place of glorified spirits, has to be Heaven.
Revelation 4
Scene in Heaven, this happens before the return or Christ or rapture, so
that means it is happening right now. This is a peak of the happenings, not
in the future for this will not happen in the new Jerusalem.
1
After (A)these things I looked, and behold, (B)a door standing open in heaven,
and the first voice which I had heard, (C)like the sound of a trumpet speaking with
me, said, "(D)Come up here, and I will (E)show you what must take place after
these things."
2
Immediately I was [a](F)in the Spirit; and behold, (G)a throne was standing in
heaven, and (H)One sitting on the throne.
3
And He who was sitting was like a (I)jasper stone and a (J)sardius in
appearance; and there was a (K)rainbow around the throne, like an (L)emerald in
appearance.
4(M)
Around the throne were (N)twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw
(O)
twenty-four elders (P)sitting, clothed in (Q)white garments, and (R)golden crowns
on their heads.
Revelation 6:9
The Cry of the Martyrs is before the return of Jesus, therefore the martyrs must
be somewhere and that somewhere is in Heaven and under God’s throne.
9
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw (U)underneath the (V)altar the (W)souls
of those who had been slain (X)because of the word of God, and because of the
(Y)
testimony which they had maintained;
10
and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "(Z)How long, O (AA)Lord, (AB)holy
and true, will You refrain from (AC)judging and avenging our blood on (AD)those
who dwell on the earth?"
1 Peter 1:3
Peter is careful to say Heaven and not the New Jerusalem.
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3(O)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who (P)according to
His great mercy (Q)has caused us to be born again to (R)a living hope through the
(S)
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4
to obtain an (T)inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and (U)will not
fade away, (V)reserved in heaven for you,
5
who are (W)protected by the power of God (X)through faith for (Y)a salvation ready
(Z)
to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 3:18- 22
Jesus dead he descended and freed the prisoners, to where did the
prisoners go to? Heaven. The Spirit does not stay in the grave but
ascends. Non-believers are not born again and do not have the spirit.
18
For (AJ)Christ also died for sins (AK)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He
might (AL)bring us to God, having been put to death (AM)in the flesh, but made
alive (AN)in the spirit;
19
in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
20
who once were disobedient, when the (AO)patience of God (AP)kept waiting in
the days of Noah, during the construction of (AQ)the ark, in which a few, that is,
(AR)
eight (AS)persons, were brought safely through the water.
Jesus is currently in Heaven, it is safe to say the Lord Jesus is in Heaven.
21(AT)
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--(AU)not the removal of dirt
from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a (AV)good conscience--through (AW)the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22(AX)
who is at the right hand of God, (AY)having gone into heaven, (AZ)after angels
and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
One of the Enemy’s most effective plans is ignorance and many so-called
Believers are ignorant of the bible and of Heaven. I doubt if I have talked to more
than 3 people that know anything of Heaven.
Many Believers get excited to read the Book of Revelation but most of these are
looking for things that will happen in the End Times like wars and rebuilding the
Temple, but many do not think of Heaven or the New Jerusalem. I do believe
that if you believe Jesus is Lord and that he rose from the dead in three days,
that when you die, you will be with the Lord. I believe the Lord is currently in
Heaven next to the Father. I know there are many that do not believe that but
say we sleep in the grave until King Jesus returns to the Earth. That theory is
called Soul Sleep and I have studied it and disagree with it. But this theory is not
a deal breaker, for there are sold-out believers that love the Lord and believe that
theory.
I also believe that if we are with the Lord in Heaven we will return with Him to
Earth to set up His Earthly Kingdom. We as Believers will have some part in that
Kingdom. Some of us will rule and reign with the Lord and others will be doing
the Lord’s work and we will live forever on Earth. We will enter the New
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Jerusalem after 1,000 years and see the Father at that time. Sadly, many
Believers either feel we will be floating on clouds and playing harps or that we
never return to Earth.
Three Choices
Three choices, there is a real and physical place called “Heaven” or there is not
or there is soul sleep. Soul Sleep is a cult ideal and most of these people reject
a literal hell as well. Soul Sleep is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Some
will say that dumb in spirit means soul-sleep, that is a terrible use of the word and
only mentioned once in the KJV bible. If there is no real heaven, a place where
God and Jesus currently live with all the dead saints, then Jesus is a liar. There
is no hope and we are all partakers of a false religion.
I say the third heaven or location where Jesus currently resides is true and one
day very soon it will come down and be on Earth. It will be called the New
Jerusalem. Paul visited once before he died. Enoch and Elijah where taken
there. Moses might have been taken as well. All the dead saints were taken
there when Jesus died and now all believers ascend there, at least their spirits
do. Their spirits immediately ascend to heaven and are not judged except for
their works in Christ, or the Bema seat judgment.
Jesus lives at the right hand of the father and he lives in Heaven, far away in
distance from us.
He lives! He loves you! The bible is true. Do you know
Him? Does He know you?
I will see you there.
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Billy Graham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. (born November 7, 1918) is an American Christian
evangelist, ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who rose to celebrity status in 1949
with the national media backing of William Randolph Hearst and Henry Luce. His
sermons were broadcast on radio and television, some still being re-broadcast today.
Graham was a spiritual adviser to several United States Presidents; he was particularly
close to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. During the civil rights movement,
he began to support integrated seating for his revivals and crusades; in 1957 he invited
the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City, where
they appeared together at Madison Square Garden, and bailed the minister out of jail in
the 1960s when he was arrested in demonstrations.
Graham operates a variety of media and publishing outlets. According to his staff, more
than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to
"accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior". As of 2008, Graham's estimated lifetime
audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.
Graham has repeatedly been on Gallup's list of most admired men and women. He has
appeared on the list 55 times since 1955 (including 49 consecutive years), more than
any other individual in the world.
Early life
Named after his father and born November 7, 1918, Graham is the first son of Morrow
(née Coffey; 1892–1981) and William Franklin Graham, Sr. (1888–1962). He grew up on
the family dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina, the oldest of four children, with two
younger sisters and a younger brother. Called "Billy", he was raised in the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church by his parents and is of Scottish descent.
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In 1933, when Prohibition in the United States ended, Graham's father forced him and
his sister Katherine to drink beer until they got sick, which created such an aversion that
both avoided alcohol and drugs for the rest of their lives.
After Graham was turned down for membership in a local youth group because he was
"too worldly", Albert McMakin, who worked on the Graham farm, persuaded him to go
and see the evangelist Mordecai Ham. According to his autobiography, Graham was
converted in 1934 at age 16 during a series of revival meetings in Charlotte led by Ham.
After graduating from Sharon High School in May 1936, Graham attended Bob Jones
College, then located in Cleveland, Tennessee. After one semester, he found it too
legalistic in both coursework and rules. At this time, he was influenced and inspired by
Pastor Charley Young from Eastport Bible Church. He was almost expelled, but Bob
Jones, Sr. warned him not to throw his life away: "At best, all you could amount to would
be a poor country Baptist preacher somewhere out in the sticks.... You have a voice that
pulls. God can use that voice of yours. He can use it mightily."
In 1937, Graham transferred to the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida).
(Today's Florida College is now located at that site in Temple Terrace, Florida.) In his
autobiography, Graham wrote of receiving his "calling on the 18th green of the Temple
Terrace Golf and Country Club", which is immediately in front of today's Sutton Hall at
Florida College. Reverend Billy Graham Memorial Park was established on the
Hillsborough River directly east of the 18th green and across from where Graham often
paddled a canoe to a small island in the river, where he would preach to the birds,
alligators, and cypress stumps. Graham eventually graduated from Wheaton College in
Wheaton, Illinois with a degree in anthropology in 1943.
It was during his time at Wheaton that Graham decided to accept the Bible as the
infallible word of God. Henrietta Mears of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood
(Hollywood, California) was instrumental in helping Graham wrestle with the issue. He
settled it at Forest Home Christian Camp (now called Forest Home Ministries) southeast
of the Big Bear area in Southern California. A memorial there marks the site of
Graham's decision.
Family
On August 13, 1943, Graham married Wheaton classmate Ruth Bell (1920–2007),
whose parents were Presbyterian missionaries in China. Her father, L. Nelson Bell, was
a general surgeon. Graham met her at Wheaton: "I saw her walking down the road
towards me and I couldn't help but stare at her as she walked. She looked at me and our
eyes met and I felt that she was definitely the woman I wanted to marry." Bell thought
that Graham "wanted to please God more than any man I'd ever met." They married
two months after graduation and later lived in a log cabin designed by Ruth Graham in
the Blue Ridge Mountains in Montreat, North Carolina. Ruth Graham died on June 14,
2007, at the age of 87.
Graham and his wife had five children together: Virginia Leftwich (Gigi) Graham (born
1945; an inspirational speaker and author); Anne Graham Lotz (born 1948; runs AnGeL
ministries); Ruth Graham (born 1950; founder and president of Ruth Graham & Friends,
leads conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada); Franklin Graham (born 1952), who
serves as president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and as
president and CEO of international relief organization, Samaritan's Purse; and Nelson
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Edman Graham (born 1958; a pastor who runs East Gates Ministries International,
which distributes Christian literature in China). Graham has 19 grandchildren and
numerous great-grandchildren.
His grandson Tullian Tchividjian is senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
To ensure no one mistook his actions, Graham had a policy to avoid being alone with
any woman other than his wife. This has come to be known as the Billy Graham Rule.
Ministry
Career
While attending college, Graham became pastor of the United Gospel Tabernacle and
also had other preaching engagements.
Graham served briefly as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Western Springs, Illinois,
not far from Wheaton, in 1943-44. While there, his friend Torrey Johnson, pastor of the
Midwest Bible Church in Chicago, told Graham that his radio program, Songs in the
Night, was about to be canceled due to lack of funding. Consulting with the members of
his church in Western Springs, Graham decided to take over Johnson's program with
financial support from his congregation. Launching the new radio program on January 2,
1944, still called Songs in the Night, Graham recruited the baritone George Beverly
Shea as his director of radio ministry. While the radio ministry continued for many years,
Graham decided to move on in early 1945. In 1947, at age 30, he was hired as president
of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota—at the time, the youngest
person to serve as a sitting president of any U.S. college or university. Graham served
as the president from 1948 to 1952.
Initially, Graham intended to become a chaplain in the armed forces but, shortly after
applying for a commission, contracted mumps. After a period of recuperation in Florida,
he was hired as the first full-time evangelist of the new Youth for Christ International
(YFCI), co-founded by Torrey Johnson and the Canadian evangelist Charles Templeton.
Graham traveled throughout both the United States and Europe as an YFCI evangelist.
Unlike many evangelists, he had little formal theological training. Templeton applied to
Princeton Theological Seminary for an advanced theological degree and urged Graham
to do so as well, but he declined as he was already serving as the president of
Northwestern Bible College.
Hearst support
Graham scheduled a series of revival meetings in Los Angeles in 1949, for which he
erected circus tents in a parking lot. He was given national coverage by the news
mogul William Randolph Hearst. Scholars such as Ben Bagdikian believe that Hearst
liked Graham's patriotism and appeals to youth; he thought the evangelist would help
promote Hearst's conservative anti-communist views. The scholar Randall E. King
notes that Hearst and Graham never met. Hearst sent a telegram to his newspaper
editors: "Puff Graham" during the Los Angeles crusade and within five days, he gained
national coverage.
With such media attention, the crusade event ran for eight
weeks—five weeks longer than planned. Graham became a national figure. Henry
Luce also promoted Graham with coverage at this time, and by 1954 featured him on the
cover of his magazine TIME.
Crusades
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Since his ministry began in 1947, Graham conducted more than 400 crusades in 185
countries and territories on six continents. The first Billy Graham Crusade, held
September 13–21, 1947, in the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was
attended by 6,000 people. Graham was 29 years old. He called them crusades, after the
medieval Christian forces who conquered Jerusalem. He would rent a large venue, such
as a stadium, park, or street.
As the sessions became larger, he arranged a group of up to 5,000 people to sing in a
choir. He would preach the gospel and invite people to come forward (a practice begun
by Dwight L. Moody). Such people were called inquirers and were given the chance to
speak one-on-one with a counselor, to clarify questions and pray together. The inquirers
were often given a copy of the Gospel of John or a Bible study booklet. In Moscow, in
1992, one-quarter of the 155,000 people in Graham's audience went forward at his call.
During his crusades, he has frequently used the altar call song, "Just As I Am".
Graham was offered a five-year, $5 million contract from NBC to appear on television
opposite Arthur Godfrey, but he turned it down in favor of continuing his touring revivals
because of his prearranged commitments. Graham had missions in London, which
lasted 12 weeks, and a New York City mission in Madison Square Garden in 1957,
which ran nightly for 16 weeks.
Student ministry
Graham spoke at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Urbana Student Missions
Conference at least nine times: in 1948, 1957, 1961, 1964, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1984, and
1987.
At each Urbana conference he challenged the thousands of attendees to make a
commitment to follow Jesus Christ for the rest of their lives, often quoting a 6-word
phrase written in the Bible of an heir to the Borden milk fortune, William Borden, who
died in Egypt on his way to the mission field, "no reserves, no retreat, no regrets".
Graham also held evangelistic meetings on a number of college campuses: at the
University of Minnesota during InterVarsity's "Year of Evangelism" in 1950-51, a 4-day
mission at Yale University in 1957, and a week-long series of meetings at the University
of North Carolina's Carmichael Auditorium in September 1982.
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
In 1950, Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association with its
headquarters in Minneapolis. The association relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in
1999. BGEA Ministries have included:
* Hour of Decision, a weekly radio program broadcast around the world for more than 50
years
* Mission television specials broadcast in almost every market in the US and Canada
* A syndicated newspaper column, My Answer, carried by newspapers across the United
States and distributed by Tribune Media Services
* Decision magazine, the official publication of the Association
* Christianity Today was started in 1956 with Carl F. H. Henry as its first editor
* Passageway.org, the website for a youth discipleship program created by BGEA
* World Wide Pictures, which has produced and distributed more than 130 films
In April 2013, it was announced that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association kicked off
a program called "My Hope With Billy Graham", a program that would encourage
members of the church to spread the gospel in small group meetings, imitating the
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example of the disciple Matthew. "The idea is for Christians to follow the example of the
disciple Matthew in the New Testament and spread the gospel in their own homes."
Civil rights movement
Graham with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Graham had shown little concern about segregation until the civil rights movement
began to receive national attention in the early 1950s. Many of his early crusades were
segregated. In response to the civil rights movement, Graham began to adjust his
approach but was inconsistent, refusing to speak in some segregated auditoriums, while
speaking to segregated audiences at others. In 1953 he tore down the ropes that
organizers had erected to separate the audience into racial sections; he recounted in his
memoirs that he told two ushers to leave the barriers down "or you can go on and have
the revival without me." But, he later acceded to segregated seating at Dallas, Texas
and Asheville, North Carolina. He sometimes preached that the Bible said nothing about
segregation, and another time warned a white audience, "we have been proud and
thought we were better than any other race, any other people.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to stumble into hell because of our pride." After
the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that public school
segregation was unconstitutional, Graham insisted on integrated seating at his revivals.
From the mid-1950s on, Graham became increasingly opposed to segregation and
racism, while keeping his eye on public opinion. For instance, in 1957 he invited the Rev.
Martin Luther King, Jr. to join him in the pulpit at his 16-week revival in New York City,
where 2.3 million gathered at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and Times
Square to hear them. Graham never appeared publicly again with King, but he posted
bail for him to be released from jail in 1963 during the civil rights protests in Birmingham.
Graham's faith prompted his maturing view of race and segregation; he told a member of
the KKK that integration was necessary primarily for religious reasons: "there is no
scriptural basis for segregation", Graham argued, "The ground at the foot of the cross is
level, and it touches my heart when I see whites standing shoulder to shoulder with
blacks at the cross."
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Later years
Graham with his son, Franklin, at Cleveland Stadium, June 1994
Graham's visibility and popularity extended into the secular world. He created his own
pavilion for the 1964 New York World's Fair. He appeared as a guest on a 1969
Woody Allen television special, where he joined the comedian in a witty exchange on
theological matters. During the Cold War, Graham became the first evangelist of note
to speak behind the Iron Curtain, addressing large crowds in countries throughout
Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union, calling for peace. During the Apartheid era,
Graham consistently refused to visit South Africa until its government allowed integrated
seating for audiences. During his first crusade there in 1973, he openly denounced
apartheid.
Billy Graham at the Feyenoord-stadion in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 30, 1955)
In 1984, he led a series of summer meetings in the United Kingdom, called Mission
England, using outdoor football grounds as venues.
Graham was interested in fostering evangelism around the world. In 1983, 1986 and
2000 he sponsored, organized and paid for massive training conferences for Christian
evangelists from around the world; with the largest representations of nations ever held
until that time. Over 157 nations were gathered in 2000 at the RAI Convention Center in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. At one revival in Seoul, South Korea, Graham attracted
more than one million people to a single service. He appeared in China in 1988—for
Ruth, this was a homecoming, since she had been born in China to missionary parents.
He appeared in North Korea in 1992.
On October 15, 1989 Graham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Graham
was the only minister, functioning in that capacity, to receive one.
On September 22, 1991 Graham held his largest event in North America on the Great
Lawn of New York's Central Park. City officials estimated more than 250,000 in
attendance. In 1998, Graham spoke at TED (conference) to a crowd of scientists and
philosophers.
On September 14, 2001, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Graham was
invited to lead a service at Washington National Cathedral, which was attended by
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President George W. Bush and past and present leaders. He also spoke at the memorial
service following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
On June 24–26, 2005, Billy Graham began what he has said would be his last North
American crusade, three days at the Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in New York City.
But on the weekend of March 11–12, 2006, Billy Graham held the "Festival of Hope" with
his son, Franklin Graham. The festival was held in New Orleans, which was recovering
from Hurricane Katrina.
Health problems
Graham has had Parkinson's disease since 1992. On the morning of August 18, 2007,
he was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina for intestinal bleeding.
Graham has also had hydrocephalus, pneumonia, broken hips, prostate cancer, and
bronchitis. He was hospitalized for pneumonia in November 2011, six months after being
admitted to a hospital for the same condition. He was admitted to Mission Hospital in
Asheville, North Carolina on August 12, 2012, for treatment of a pulmonary infection
believed to be bronchitis. He was released and went home on August 14 after a two-day
stay.
Pastor to presidents
President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan greet Graham at the
National Prayer Breakfast of 1981
Graham has had a personal audience with many sitting US presidents, from Harry S.
Truman to Barack Obama. After meeting with Truman in 1950, Graham told the press he
had urged the president to counter communism in North Korea. Later he always treated
his conversations with presidents as confidential. Truman disliked him and did not
speak with him for years after that meeting.
Merle Miller quotes Truman on Graham in his oral biography Plain Speaking:
But now we've got just this one evangelist, this Billy Graham, and he's gone off the
beam. He's...well, I hadn’t ought to say this, but he’s one of those counterfeits I was
telling you about. He claims he's a friend of all the Presidents, but he was never a friend
of mine when I was President. I just don’t go for people like that. All he's interested in is
getting his name in the paper.
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Graham became a regular visitor during the tenure of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He
purportedly urged him to intervene with federal troops in the case of the Little Rock Nine
to gain admission of black students to public schools. At that time Graham met and
would become close friends with Vice President Richard Nixon. After a special law
was passed in 1952, Graham conducted the first religious service on the steps of the
Capitol building. Eisenhower asked for Graham while on
his deathbed.
The preacher enjoyed a friendship with Nixon. He
supported him over John F. Kennedy in the 1960
presidential election. Graham was more sympathetic to
Republican administrations.
He spent the last night of Johnson's presidency in the
White House, and he stayed for the first night of Nixon's.
After Nixon's victorious 1968 presidential campaign,
Graham became an adviser, regularly visiting the White
House and leading the president's private worship services.
In a meeting they had with Golda Meir, Nixon offered
Graham the ambassadorship to Israel, but he refused.
In 1970 Nixon appeared at a Graham revival in East
Tennessee, which they thought safe politically. It drew one of the largest crowds in
Tennessee and protesters against the Vietnam War. Nixon was the first president to give
a speech from an evangelist's platform. Their friendship became strained in 1973
when Graham rebuked Nixon for his post-Watergate behavior and the profanity heard on
the Watergate tapes; they eventually reconciled after Nixon's resignation.
Graham was criticized by some for being too attracted to the seat of political power.
Graham officiated at one presidential burial and one presidential funeral. He presided
over the graveside services of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973 and took part in
eulogizing the former president. Graham officiated at the funeral services of former First
Lady Pat Nixon in 1993, and the death and funeral of Richard Nixon in 1994. He was
unable to attend the state funeral of Ronald Reagan on June 11, 2004, as he was
recovering from hip replacement surgery. This was mentioned by George Bush in his
eulogy.
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Billy Graham quotes
“The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom
from religion.”
“Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for
our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our
lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our
earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has
given us each day.”
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often
stiffened.”
“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog
being there, I believe he'll be there”
“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”
“It is not the body's posture, but the heart's attitude that counts when we pray.”
“I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right.”
“Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.”
“You're born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there's a loophole.”
“A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for
anyone.”
“Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of
strength.”
“God is unchanging in His love. He loves you. He has a plan for your life. Don't let the
newspaper headlines frighten you. God is still sovereign; He's still on the throne.”
“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when
character is lost, all is lost.”
“The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not, 'What a lovely
sermon!' but 'I will do something.'”
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“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of
character in her children.”
“Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world, and lost your soul. Was it worth
it?”
“My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us, and will
know in our hearts that He will never forsake us as we trust in Him.”
“Believers, look up -- take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.”
“The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless.”
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process
whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ”
“God is more interested in your future and your relationships than you are.”
“Billions and billions of stars and planets out there, and behind them all are God.”
“The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest
form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”
“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God
saying to the world, ''I love you.''”
“Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.”
“Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”
“In my travels I have found that those who keep Heaven in view remain serene and
cheerful in the darkest day. If the glories of Heaven were more real to us, if we lived less
for material things and more for things eternal and spiritual, we would be less easily
disturbed by this present life.”
“God's angels often protect his servants from potential enemies.”
“People have become so empty that they can't even entertain themselves. They have to
pay other people to amuse them, to make them laugh, to try to make them feel warm
and happy and comfortable for a few minutes, to try to lose that awful, frightening, hollow
feeling--that terrible, dreaded feeling of being lost and alone.”
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Mohammed's Koran -- Jesus' New Testament
Mohammed’s Koran
2:190-191 “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight and persecute you, but
commit no aggression ... and slay them when and where you get the better of
them”
2:193 “Fight them until persecution is no more and religion is for Allah.”
2:216 “Fighting has been ordained for you.”
2:244 “Fight in the cause of Allah.”
3:12 “Say to those who disbelieve, “You shall soon be overcome and gathered
together to be driven towards hell.”
3:32: “Allah does not love the disbelievers.”
3:141 “And ... Allah will wipe off the disbelievers gradually.”
3:148 “Lord grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
3:151-152 “We shall certainly strike terror into the hearts of those who have
disbelieved. .. and certainly Allah had made good his promise to you when you
were slaying them to pieces by his permission.”
4:74 “Let those who would prefer the hereafter to the present life, fight in the
cause of Allah.”
4:76 “Fight against the friends of satan.”
4:77 “Fighting has been made binding”
4:84 “Urge on the faithful to fight.”
4:89 “If they turn back, then capture them and kill them wherever you find them,
and do not take anyone of them as a friend or as a helper.”
4:91 “it is these [unbelievers] against whom we have given absolute authority.”
4:95 “Allah has indeed granted eminence to those who strive in his cause over
those who stay at home.”
4:104 “Do not be slack in pursuing these disbelieving people.”
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5:33 “The only recompense of those who make war against Allah and his
messenger and who strive hard to create disorder in the land, is that they be
executed or crucified to death, or that their hands or feet be cut off, or they be
exiled.”
5:38 “As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands.”
8:12-13 “I will indeed strike terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. So
smite on your enemy’s necks and above these on their heads and strike off all
their fingertips. This punishment is given them because they opposed Allah and
his Messenger, and whosoever opposes Allah, for him, Allah is severe in
punishment.”
8:60 Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power,
including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah
and your enemies, ...
8:66 if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish
two hundred, and if a thousand, they will vanquish two thousand.
8:67 It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the
land.
8:74 Those who believe, and adopt exile, and fight for the Faith, in the cause of
Allah as well as those who give (them) asylum and aid,- these are (all) in very
truth the Believers: for them is the forgiveness of sins and a provision most
generous.
9:5 slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and
besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush
9:12-14 But if they ... taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: ...
that thus they may be restrained. What! will you not fight a people who broke
their oaths and aimed at the expulsion of the Messenger, and they attacked you
first... . fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to
disgrace, and assist you against them
9:29 Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that
forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor
acknowledge the religion of Truth
9:73 O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be
unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.
9:86 When a chapter is revealed, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive
and fight along with His Messenger, those with wealth and influence among them
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ask thee for exemption, and say: “Leave us (behind): we would be with those
who sit (at home).” ... 88 But the messenger and those who believe with him
strive with their wealth and their lives.
9:123 O ye who believe! fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and
let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their
duty (unto Him).
13:41 See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its
outlying borders?
15:4 Never did we destroy a population that had not a term decreed and
assigned beforehand. 5 No people can hasten on their doom nor can they
postpone (it).
Jesus’ New Testament
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary
bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for
he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and
on the unjust.
Matthew 5:38-39 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes
you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek
to do good to one another and to all.
1 Peter 2:20-23 For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it
you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently,
you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He
committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not
revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who
judges justly.
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Luke 6:27-29 “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him
who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away
your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
Romans 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in
the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap
burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I
say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son
of man comes.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
1 Corinthians 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we
bless; when persecuted, we endure;
2 Corinthians 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,
insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am
strong.
2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted,
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything
against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.”
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness,
Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which
no one will see the Lord.
Matthew 26:51-52 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out
his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off
his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who
take the sword will perish by the sword.
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Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, …he knelt down and cried with
a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were
of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the
Jews; but my kingship is not from the world.”
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; ….
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith.
Matthew 13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Parable of the Sower
13 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 Such
large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while
the whole crowd stood on the shore.
3
Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who
went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the
birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t
much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the
sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered.
7
Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. 8 Still
others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some
30 times what was sown. 9 Anyone who has ears[a] should listen!”
Why Jesus Used Parables
10
Then the disciples came up and asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in
parables?”
11
He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been
given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has,
more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does
not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 For this reason I
speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do
not listen or understand. 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
yet never understand;
and you will look and look,
yet never perceive.
15
For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
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and turn back—
and I would cure them.[b]
16
“But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they
do hear! 17 For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see
the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear
them.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18
“You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word[c]
about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches
away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 20 And the
one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately
receives it with joy. 21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When
pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22
Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the
worries of this age and the seduction[d] of wealth choke the word, and it becomes
unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and
understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some
30 times what was sown.”
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Assignment 6 Understanding Heaven
Name _________________________________ Date _________________
E-mail ______________________________________________
Heaven or the Upper Place is a difficult concept to describe, but that is your
assignment, describe the following and it is alright to have your own preconceptions or beliefs. We will never agree all the time, but you need to know
both sides of the story. Do the best you can with the material you have.
1. Do you believe there is a Heaven (Upper Place or Third Heaven) where God
abides? Matt. 5:12, Acts 1:11, Phil 3:20, Rev 12:7, Rev 21:7
2. Do you believe the dead saints are in Heaven or not. Rev 6:9 Explain
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3. Do you believe in soul sleep? Why or Why not?
4. Will Heaven come down to Earth one day in the future? Rev 21:2-10 Explain
5. Will the Saints come down with King Jesus when He sets up His Kingdom on
Earth? Rev 21:3 Explain… Will you be there? I hope so
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6. Where will you be during the 1,000 year Kingdom? Difficult question, try to
explain. Maybe what do you hope to be doing during that time, are you going to
be helping the kingdom in some manner?
7. Do you realize that saints that have known Jesus as Lord on Earth will have
better positions than the people that confessed Jesus for the first time as they
were dying. Do you agree? James 1:12
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8. If Lord Jesus is the King of Glory and coming back to take King David throne,
does that make him a king now?
9. Was Jesus born “King”? Matt 2:2 Matt 16:16-17
10. Is Jesus a powerful king? Matt 28:18, Col 1:16
11. Explain the word “Colonize”. Are we to colonize the world for Jesus’s
kingdom?
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12. Tell me three Billy Graham quotes that will affect your ministry and why.
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13. What is the difference between the Koran and the New Testament from the
scriptures or evidence I’ve presented?
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14. Are you prepared to be tortured and killed simply because you think Jesus
rose from the dead? Are you willing to be tortured by Muslims for simple belief
that Jesus is God? If yes, to these questions, are you willing to risk everything
to tell someone the truth that Jesus is real and that He loves them? Explain
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15. Most pastors and ministers lack heart and think that simply reading scripture
to us without love will somehow magically transform us. You will not be given
this false luxury. You will need to explain to me the meaning of the word “heart”
from the parable of seed sower found in the front of this assignment. I want you
to use terms of endearment when writing of our Lord. Heart is not a muscle.
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I want you to think about writing your testimony for your final assignment, lesson
12. You will have complete freedom, but I would like you to fine tune it for giving
it as an offering to God and telling others what Jesus means to you. You will not
be graded on the content but will be graded on the Five “C”s. Clarity, Content,
Concise, Correctness, and Courtesy. I do not want a testimony that focuses
upon you or your greatness or how you’ve always been saved. I need truth
about the amazing love of Jesus in your live and the sanctification of the Holy
Spirit, a testimony you can present to a group of saved and lost people and a
testimony the Holy Spirit can use to do His work. Beloved, it is time to convert
souls for the Kingdom of Heaven, are you willing to be vulnerable to help Jesus?
You are finished with assignment #6 move on to #7.
TLC Bible College
Dr. Jeff Durbin
PO Box 3060
Chino Valley, AZ 86323
It is best to e-mail either one of the professors for information. You can choose one professor or
the other. Or one will be assigned to you.
You can fax the assignment to us (928) 272-0747
Currently the program is filled, but you can still use this as a training guide.
Contact us to find out when the program will be open again.
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