Joshua-777

I changed the poll to include that. Thanks for the suggestion.

It's interesting that Paul refers to Pharoah in this. Now if you pay attention in Exodus, it says, Pharoah hardened his heart 3-4 times then it says God hardened his heart. In This passage, Paul is refering to the rejection of the Jews, they hardened their heart so many times against God, God hardened their hearts from seeing Him. The context is very important. He's making a point of Israels rejection and salvation available for the Gentiles which is the context of Romans 9-11. Now Esau and Jacob, Esau gave up his birthright and Jacob recieved the inharitence. Is not Israel God's first, yet the birthright was handed over to the Gentiles? Esau valued temporal pleasure over his inharitence. Also it says he endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, it doesn't say He prepared them there, in the context of Israel they prepared themselves for destruction by not following after God and when Jesus came they were blinded from seeing Him. 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Context) 25 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” 26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”[ 27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”[k] 29 And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” (Here's what it all boils down to) 30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

I believe He knows all things and brings a purpose of all things but is not the cause of things. God is radically good, in Him there is no darkness. Good things come from God, bad things come from the devil. It's not God's heart or will for people to sin, and sin is the infant stage of death. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Jesus makes a contrast between Himself and the devil. He says the thief steals, kills, and destroys, He comes to bring life more abundantly. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. He also destroyed the works of the devil. He came against things, revealing that there is an actual war going on. Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Now, the "God predestined evil" thing I don't by into. Jesus is the revealed will of the Father. He came against wickedness, He came against the works of the devil, not the works of the Father. I'll never forget a testimony I heard from a professor at bible college. He said one night in India, he was exausted and worn out. A guy called him who wasn't a believer and he knew he should talk to him but didn't. He was tired and ignored that urgant feeling and had someone tell him he would talk to him tomorrow. The guy ended up committing suicide that night, had the professor talked to him would things have been different? I remember one day, I passed by a student and her arm was in a sling from a broken collor bone. After a quick prayer Jesus healed her, then come to find out a week later she was planning on killing herself but God intervened by showing her He was there for here. Had I not have prayed, would she have gone through with it? I've have a few testimonies where God intervened and prevented suicides. Suicide is from the devil and I cannot believe that it is the pre-appointed time for anyone. Lets take this even further. That horible shooting that happened a few years ago in the movie theater while batman was playing. Many people died because someone was following the devil. Did God appoint them to die, I can't attribute such wickedness to God and I know that broke His heart. What happened? Someone was following the devil to the point the devil controlled him and that influenced others people destiny by murder. The thief comes to steal kill and destory. Now here's a reality, just as someone can follow the devil and destroy alot of lives we can follow Jesus and watch Him restore alot of lives. Now, that choice is on us, who are we going to follow. God didn't make a blueprint of everything that was going to happen and say, well thats my gameplan. He gave us His Holy Spirit and as Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, He gives us that same comission. The reality is we're at war, but we're ont he winning side. Jesus overcame the world on the cross. What we do with that does matter, and it can be the difference between life and death. Now, I do believe that if you are abiding in Christ, you can have an appointed time to die for example Peters death was pre-appointed. Jesus death was predetermined, but thats different than saying everything happens because God predetermined it to happen, the good and the bad.

Ok so before you were saved God appointed you to lie in a coma for a year and then die of cancer? And God is pulling your strings like you are a puppet? Was He doing this before you were saved, or only after? I said I know what my comment means. The way a person dies was determined before they were formed in the womb. Everything was decided before I was formed by God in the womb, and that includes my decision to get saved. It was determined back in the eons of time that you would ask me these questions, and I would give you the answer I am giving you. You can ask me follow up questions, but you will get a similar answer. I do not believe that these things are pre-determined. They are known. That's what I believe. They are known, not predestined. because that means that the cancer epidemic in the USA and other countries was planned by God. Same here.

How often do you share your faith? I'm not refering to apologetic debates in forums, but personal one on one encounter being His witnesses. This poll isn't for anyone to brag or to make anyone feel guily. I'm just curious of the results. I also understand that everyone is in different places with their circumstances in life, or their growth in the Lord. As believers, I believe we're all called to be His witnesses to the world around us, He gave us His Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

lol, it's really funny to me that people who have never seen heaven are trying to say what is and isn't there. God created this whole earth filled with so much creativeness, so many different kinds of animals. Heaven is going to be so much more glorious than anything we've seen here.

Ya this guys for real. Look up Reinhard Bonke, amazing man of God who does crusades where millions come to the Lord. Seeing that increases my hunger so much! The harvest is ripe!

I believe this is possible in America.

AMEN Praise the Lord, thank You Jesus! The Gospel is spreading!

Right you can only die once.Once you are dead there is no coming back.These people have claimed to have left their bodies at some point from some life threatening experience.I am wondering if the anesthesia could have given him this experience.Many who have been depleted of oxygen or have taken certain drugs have had the same experience. Lots of people in the bible died and came back....Lazarus was dead three days and came back. Who else besides Lazarus died for three days and then came back? There were 8 people in the bible who came back from the dead in the bible, and one passage in Matthew that talks about alot of people raised from the dead at once. 1 Kings 17:19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived 2 Kings 4:32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. 2 Kings 13:21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. Mark 5:38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Luke 7:12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. John 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. Acts 20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Also it's important to note that Jesus comissioned His disciples to raise the dead. Matthew 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Here's another God adventure, many touched by the love of God, healed, and some gave their lives to the Lord.

Acts 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. If they have real powers, the source is from demons. Alot of times, the person would have to do some really messed up things to defile themselves to recieve any power. Sin defiles and opens the way for a demonic to enter. I'm finding that those who are drawn to that sort of thing usually make some of the most prophetic believers. I have some friends who came out of satanism and were practicing channeling demons, then the Lord tuned them to the right channel, now they're some of the most onfire believers I know.

Preached at Destiny Church in Happy Valley OR. At the end, little kids came up to be my prayer team and Jesus started healing people. Jesus is so amazing!

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength..... Nope you can't have too much passion for God, unless your passion is for a misrepresentation of Him.

That's a very good point, shaggy. An unsaved person wouldn't go to Heaven in the first place. I can't recall if any of those making this claim were saved. Hmmmm......thought required here. Not in this instance, but I have heard some nde's of people who were not saved who claim to have visited heaven. How could they visit heaven? In their imagination... then in their book.

Me neither Lady.We as Christians know that ghosts do not exist. Unless that Ghost is Holy......

I have been involved with healing ministry for over 5 years through evangelism or preaching. I've had the oppertunity to pray for thousands and I've stepped out and seen many healed. I've seen many not healed also. With evangelism, God loves people and rejoices when people come to him. Healing is a way I see God demonstrating His love for people and I've been blessed to see many come to the Lord because of HIs healing touch. Just recently, I was at Saturday Market with some friends and I got a word over a guys back. After having his friend pray, he was healed and rededicated his life to the Lord. Oddly, his friend had a knee injury and we kept praying and nothing happened. Each time we prayed though, he kept saying, "I know this isn't going to work." I found something interesting, I was invited to preach at a Hispanic congregation. Before I got up to preach, they had testimony time where members of the congregation would go up and testify of what God was doing. I heard some of the most incredible miracles. Someone interpreted what they were saying for me, and one lady had flour that never runs out, another was healed after being in a serious car accident, there was miracle after miracle and each time someone would testify, the congregation would be in an uproar of praise and thanks to God. It was the first time I preached with an interpreter, and after I did, I knew in my heart that I needed to call up the children to be my prayer team. So, about 60 little kids came up and I said "If anyones sick, I don't care how big or how little it is, come up and let these kids pray for you." People started comming up flooding the place and I started guiding the kids how to pray. The first lady had cancer, the kids laid hands on her and said in Jesus name cancer go, and she started crying cause she felt intense heat fill where the cancer was. Back to back, I saw some of the most incredible miracles through the hands of llittle kids, one guy was blind in one eye and the youth pastor prayed and his eye was restored. Another lady had eye damage and a 13 year old prayed and she was healed. A lady came up with restricted movement in her arm and stomach problems, she was instantly healed. It was the most craziest display of miracles I've ever seen. I remember one time, I finally got the boldness to teach on the healing power of Jesus. I was going to a school that was primarily cessationist. There were 20 people there, many of which did not believe in miracles. I preached my heart out and called people up to be prayed for and nothing happened. No break through and I was humiliated to the point I was sick to my stomach. After that, I started seeing an increase of breakthrough on the streets but this was interesting to me. I've preached in many other churches and I've seen many miracle outbreaks and I'm coming to the conclusion that God moves where people expect Him to move and celebrate when He does. That faith, that expectation in God to do something is so important. When Jesus healed, He often said your faith has made you well, and when He went to their hometown, He didn't do many miracles because the unbelief and hardness of the pharasees hearts. I see a dramatic increase of miralces where God's work produces praise and thankfulness in the people and a dramatic decrease where the critical and skeptical rob God of the glory through unbelief. Jesus painted a picture of what the Father was truly like, and that God is a healer, He doesn't change. He's the same God now as He was then and He's given us power to share His love to the work through the Holy Spirit. Psalm 103:1Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Praise the Lord! Good stuff!

Amen! Praise the Lord! We have such an awesome Daddy!

I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding you. with the passages mentioned, these are biblical cases of someone dying and coming back fromt he dead. The bible doesn't go into the detail of their death/afterlife experience but to say they didn't have one because the bible doesn't go into detail about it isn't a good answer. They died, and that most likely includes an experience with their death. Where do we go when we die? 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckfrn5-86xU

No dead raised in the OT? 1 Kings 17:19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived 2 Kings 4:32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. 2 Kings 13:21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. What about the new? Mark 5:38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Luke 7:12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. John 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Ya, but that was Jesus... Matthew 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. (note here that the dead raised caused many to believe) Acts 20:9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. So God wont allow people coming back from the dead? It seems the bible doesn't agree with you. Yes, man is appointed to die once, but if God decides to bring them back, who am I to tell them to stay dead?

Well, this is what Jesus said. Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Sounds exactly like this day Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” When that happens we'll either have confidence before Him or be ashamed before Him. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming

John 20:24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Neither did Thomas

I know the success of this movie is going to open a wider door for higher budget faith based films. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard his testimony and I believe it. Awesome stuff.