Fri, Jan 19th - 3:52AM

Our Enemy The Devil

Posted on December 29,2013 by Steven R. Cook, D. Min.

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After his fall Lucifer is called Satan (Job 1:6), the evil one (1 John 5:19), the tempter (1 Thess. 3:5), the devil (Matt. 4:1), the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), the serpent (Rev. 12:9), the great red dragon (Rev. 12:3), and the angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).  It is this last designation that often catches people by surprise, because most think of Satan as a dark creature so nefarious in appearance and action that he’s easily recognized and guarded against.  However, Scripture warns us that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” and that “his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds” (2 Cor. 11:14-15). 

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

 Mat 13:36  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mon, Jan 15th - 12:31AM

Sat, Jan 13th - 4:42PM

TRUST THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY- From an article by David Reagan

The other apostles also performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
See All...). When the sick came to be healed of them, “they were healed every one” (Acts 5:16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
See All...).

Now I ask you again, Are all apostles? Even Paul’s apostleship was “out of due time “ (1Corinthians 15:8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
See All...). Even Paul got on after the boat was loaded, but God had a special purpose for him. There may be men and women today who are doing some of the duties of an apostle. They are sent by God to do a specific work. But that does not give them the office of an apostle. We need to avoid calling people apostles in any particular sense. To do so causes confusion. It does not fit our day and age and it does not conform to the Holy Scriptures.

The office of the apostle is finished and closed for all eternity by God:

Wed, Jan 10th - 7:05AM

TRUST THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY- From an article by David Reagan

 See All...). We must be careful not to minimize the power and authority of the apostles  by giving the title to men who were not meant to have it.

Special Qualifications: The qualifications of the apostles are given in Acts 1:21-22 [21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
See All.... They must have been with Jesus during His earthly ministry (v.21), been baptized by John the Baptist (v.22), and been eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ (v.22).

Paul was given an exemption on the first requirements but greatly emphasized his having been an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ – “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1Corinthians 15:8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. Paul is the last person appointed by Jesus Christ to be an apostle. No one else since has been appointed by Jesus Christ to this office. This fully signifies that God has closed the office of the apostle because their work in Him is completed forever. No one since the apostles have ever  been able to demonstrate the miraculous acts,  signs and wonders that the apostles did, by the power of God when they preached the gospel.

See All...). But Paul admitted to being the least of the apostles in qualifications (1Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
See All...). What does this say about those who claim to be apostles without any of the qualifications or signs of an apostle?

Special Confirmation: What established the claims of apostleship in the eyes of the people? Paul warned of many “false apostles” (2Corinthians 11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
See All...). How could someone tell the false apostle from the true apostle? Paul helps us again. He spent a lot of time in 2Corinthians confirming his apostleship and then sums it up in 12:12
 See All... – “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” 

Sat, Jan 6th - 7:42AM

TRUST THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY- From an article by David Reagan

Paul was also given a very special, though separate, calling. He often reminded those to whom he ministered that he was “called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
See All...) and that this calling was “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
See All...). In Romans 11:13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
See All..., he said, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”

This was not a basic calling to preach but a calling to represent God on earth in a special way. The apostles could remit or retain sins (John 20:22-23 [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
See All...). What they bound or loosed on earth would be bound or loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
See All...). They spoke the word of God and confirmed those words with signs following (Mark 16:17-20 [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.