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I'm curious as to what you think of the idea that witchcraft is listed. I have found the verse equating witchcraft and rebellion interesting; 1Sa_15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. My take away is that both rebellion and witchcraft are about trying to get what you want. This might be a characteristic of the flesh as well.

I thought the torah was written first in Hebrew. So why would one use Greek over Hebrew? From Wikipedia Biblical scholars agree that the first five books of the Hebrew Bible were translated from Biblical Hebrew into Koine Greek by Jews living in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, centred on the large community in Alexandria, probably in the early or middle part of the 3rd century BC. The remaining books were presumably translated in the 2nd century BC. Few people could speak and even fewer could read in the Hebrew language during the Second Temple period; Koine Greek and Aramaic were the lingua francas at that time among the Jewish community. The Septuagint, therefore, satisfied a need in the Jewish community.

It might be helpful to clarify what you mean by the "teachings"of Christ. Jesus often spoke to Jews about the law. For example he told some who were healed to show themselves to the priest at the temple. Today if someone were healed from Hanson's disease, even if he wanted to, there are no more priests or temple. Jesus also described what might be called universal principles. However, he also made statements such as being able to move mountains. It would be interesting to determine if the mountain moving were told to just the disciples, apply to all of the faithful remnant of Israel, or to all who would believe. I see in the ministry of Jesus only the sincere offer of the kingdom to the nation of Israel. I do not get the feeling he winks at the disciples with a sort of hint that, "You guys are going to blow it, so here is the real plan". I see a risk that one can find themselves taking out of the words of Jesus that which was intended for Israel and trying to introduce rules and works into Christianity today. This risks the dangers that beset the Galatians. While the words of Jesus are the sacred words of God, we need to consider context so that we do not carelessly misapply them.

The declaration of "left in limbo" might be considered excessively accusative. There might be several other possibilities such as a medical emergency. An inquiry at 20 minutes would generally be more acceptable.

10 minutes is about the maximum you would expect to be kept waiting without an excuse. At 20 minutes it should be acceptable to inquire about the examiners absence. At 30 minutes one would be justified to depart. If they wanted to reschedule, I would ask them to contact me to give me time to think if I really wanted to work there.

Isa_7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Virgin = ‛almâh = a lass (as veiled or private): - damsel, maid, virgin. An unmarried woman would be presumed to be virginal. Some attempting to "prove" that the word does not mean virgin cite the verse in proverbs; Pro 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. However, the way of a man with a virgin on their wedding night may be in view and not necessarily change the meaning of virgin.

I am right handed so if there were two pens I would take the one on the left as it would be oriented in the most convenient petition. However, I would be reluctant to work for a company that was so foolish as to think this exercise would reveal anything useful about an applicant or had hired a company to tell them that this would provide useful information.

An infinite extension of this life would be boring. If we consider boredom, we can see that it often the sate of being where we hunger for consumptive indulgences to satisfy the flesh. In this life we are generally not very familiar in doing things for others. Parenthood is perhaps the single thing that forces us to live for others and often opens up the world of selflessness which can bring real satisfaction.

It might be helpful to consider the "kingdom" in two parts. Christians are described as translated into the kingdom (present tense) and Israel can look forward to the earthly kingdom. If all things are to be brought together under Christ in heaven and earth, we might consider that since we are "in Christ" and together with him are "seated in the heveanlies", that this kingdom will be expanded to include earth when the events described in Revelation 4-5 take place. Regarding happiness, I see a parallel with the peace of Christ contrasted to the peace of the world. The peace of Christ is transcendent. It does not depend on circumstances. While the sin and suffering we inflict on ourselves and others can be sorrowful, there can still be happiness that God's will will be accomplished.

Trying to put the pieces together for prophecy can be complicated by an additional factor , "free will". If you were to make a prediction about an individual, it would have to be right regardless of the choices that person made. Pollsters might find t difficult to predict what an individual would do, but often find greater accuracy predicting what a group will do. Consider what Jesus read to those in a synagogue; Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luk 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies. However, some were left unfulfilled because the timing would depend on what collective actions the nation of Israel would take. For the Isaiah passage only the first part was declared "fulfilled". Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Many prophecies about Israel have not yet been fulfilled. This requires them to have a restored Israel in the future or to try to explain them away as allegorical. My approach to prophecy it to consider how they might be taken at face value.

How do you estimate Online Assemblies like this one fare in terms of Christian Life and Service? There is a short booklet titled "What My Parent's Church Should Have Taught Them". It is told from the perspective of a personal testimony and might be seen as a critque of contemporary Christian practice; Free pdf version https://christianpioneer.com/ebooks/wmpcshtt.pdf Viewable web pages https://christianpioneer.com/cphone ebooks/pchurch/pchurch main.htm The booklet ends with an emphasis on what sort of compensatory steps might be taken given that so many of us struggle with having received inadequate or even flawed instruction. Web sites like Worthy Christian fulfill a need many of us have to share our experiences and views in an attempt to grow and mature on our own. One might view it as a triage center without doctors where the less wounded try to help those more seriously wounded.

If we use the yardstick of what was supposed to happen for each Christian (grow into Christ-likeness), it is difficult to see in most Christian practice any "Success"; Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Some of the major mistakes we have made might be viewed as; 1. Administering Christianity as an organizational system. This tends to reduce Christianity to a mechanical series of event, programs, classes, rituals, and activities. 2. Presenting Christianity as agreement with doctrinal bullet points rather than the transformative power of trusting in Jesus. 3. Seeing Christianity as divorced from real life such as something only relevant for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings.

Romans 8 is an uplifting chapter. I think it works well with chapter 7. In chapter seven Paul writes about how frustrating it was to try to keep the law in his flesh. In chapter 8 we read about the solution to the problem by walking in the Spirit (ref Gal. 5). The transition one can see is at the end of chapter 7. Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? It is interesting that the solution is not a what or a how, but a who. Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

One might consider that in addition to surgical abortions, chemical abortions are often (perhaps usually) a mechanism of oral contraceptives. The initial formulation of contraceptives had much higher dosages of hormones that caused many side effects such as blood clots. Over the years there have been reformulations such that today perhaps the most frequent mechanism is the thickening of vaginal mucus that prevents embryo implantation. The number of abortions may actually be much higher than previously thought.

The gift of prophecy was given to early Christian believers so that someone could say the words of God so that everyone else could believe it. Prophets were given to the nation of Israel and spoke the words of God their entire lifetimes and few believed it.

I was in a spiritual warfare situation once and experienced a sort of gloom settling over me. I recalled the bible verse cited in the hymn "I know whom I have believed". The gloom dissipated and I was struck by how literally true the description was of the shield of faith extinguishing the fiery darts. I would see a grater benefit for Christians to be encouraged in their faith more than exhorted to have faith. I see the gospel accounts of "little faith" to be more introductory as the entire cultural history of Israel was focused on the law and to understand faith would be sort of alien to them.

The love of Christ that paid for my sins and gives me eternal life.

Only one offensive weapon is provided, the word of God. We can see how to use it from the example of Jesus; Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Since Christians are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, we would probably seldom have any direct demonic encounters. However, this weapon is useful when dealing with our own flesh also. For example, if desiring to say something hurtful in response to being hurt, we might admonish ourselves with; 1Th_5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Why Prophecy? And why would Paul say, "especially" prophecy? As Christians we are dependent upon the word of God. Until Paul's letters and the gospels were written down and circulated, Christians were dependent on individuals directly receiving the word of God. Paul wrote that when that which was complete came, what was incomplete would pass away. 1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. There were very powerful supernatural gifts demonstrated in the early church. However, these were referred to as a "taste" of the power of the age to come. Which seems to indicate they were only to be temporary. Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God's will is that all would be saved. However, man has the free will to reject this offer. Even Christians have to option to walk by the Spirit if we choose to. Gal_5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

The word apostasy from the Greek apo stasis might also mean departure and be a reference to a rapture. Most of the sad condition we can see with Christianity today may be more attributable to long term Satanic plans than a sudden departure from the faith at the end time. Satan was able to turn Christian practice into a ritualized organizational system. Then with the Industrial Revolution, Satan was able to create a social world alternative to the natural world so that as people grew distant from the reality (truth) inducing natural world, they would become increasingly free to indulge vain imaginations. His primary objective would be to stop people from becoming Christian at all. Failing that he would want Christians to remain immature and ineffective. To this end denominations that promote a doctrine uniquely correct and complete present Christianity as an agreement with a doctrine instead of growing personally in Christ-likeness. Our present condition might be seen more as a continuation of a growing departure than a sudden rejection of sound doctrine. Our observation may make it seem sudden, but I see this as a continuing effect of Satan's plans.

The rule of Christ began in the First Century... Is there any scripture to support this belief? Thank you. Col_1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Paul writes that Christians have already been translated into the kingdom. However, since we are seated in the hevenlies, we might assume that the heaven portion of his kingdom has already been established. The earthly kingdom was offered and accepted by Israel at Mt. Sinai and Israel was supposed to be a nation of priests through whom the whole world would have heard about God. Since they failed to obey, it was prophesied that a new covenant would be needed (Jer 31:31). Jesus came to offer that kingdom, but was rejected by the nation. I see that after the tribulation that a faithful remnant of Israel will receive her king and kingdom and the earthly part of the kingdom will be established.

I see "fun" as false joy or happiness. I have counseled thousands of people and have observed the pursuit of sensations as ultimately unsatisfying and often leading to pain in life. I have also observed some who extract themselves from difficulties only to return because they were bored. The cycle described is of the flesh (selfishness). The door through which to pass out of boredom is selflessness. It is in this realm (walking by the Spirit for the Christian) that happiness is found. We can see this in the biblical definition of love (1Cor 13:4-7). I see happiness as what might be called "contentment" and more of a continuing state/ 1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. Joy or rejoicing I see more as a punctuated event in happiness such as upon consideration of something that triggers an appreciation of the profound. Php_4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Making an appeal to the flesh (the pleasurable sensations of rock music) may draw an audience, but it may not be an audience that seeks the truth of God's word or of Christ who is truth.