Crystal's Blog

I have decided to focus more time on adding content in the End of Times section. I will be doing this by following the guideline from Pastor Billy's Final Countdown series. This series is dated from 2/3/08 - 4/13/08. And even in that short period of time, I feel like so many more things have happened that need to be added with his outline. I will add news articles, video & audio clips to each section. So be sure to subscribe to this site to receive an email notifing you when there is a new post added to this site so you can follow along.

It's an amazing series and I encourage everyone to watch them all. The link can be found here: http://getalifemedia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=30

Series Description: The ultimate sign that you're headed for the worst day of your life would have to be this...You wake up one morning only to realize that you're family has suddenly disappeared. So you run to turn on your TV to see what's happening and there you watch a special worldwide news report declaring that millions of people all over the planet have simply vanished. As you spy the Bible on the coffee table, it suddenly dawns on you that you're family was right after all when they kept telling you about the rapture of the Church. Then to your horror, you realize that you've been left behind and have been catapulted into mankind's darkest hour, the 7-year Tribulation that really is coming upon the whole world. But thankfully, God is not only a God of wrath; He's a God of love as well. And because He loves you and I, He has given us many warning signs to show us that the Tribulation is near and that His 2nd Coming is rapidly approaching. Therefore, The Final Countdown takes a look at 10 signs given by God to lovingly wake us up so we'd give our lives to Him before it's too late. These signs are the Jewish People, Modern Technology, Worldwide Upheaval, The Rise of Falsehood, The Rise of Wickedness, The Rise of Apostasy, One World Religion, One World Government, One World Economy, and The Mark of the Beast. Like it or not folks, we are headed for The Final Countdown. Please, if you've haven't already done so, give your life to Jesus today, because tomorrow may be too late!



For What Did Christ Die
by Paul W. Moreland
Article: http://paulmoreland.com/2009/04/11/for-what-did-christ-die
4-11-09

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5

"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." I Peter 2:23-25
Today a carnal gospel is being preached around the world. Time after time I hear people declaring that God wants us to be prospered in that which is disappearing, that He wants us to be rich in that which will be destroyed. Today, Saturday of “Holy Week” here in Colombia, we are awaiting the celebration of Christ’s resurrection which we will have tomorrow. As we transition from remembering how He died and was buried to celebrating His return to life we have time to reflect on the simple question: “Why?”

To hear many preachers today, the “Why?” can be summed up as “Christ died so that you will have an abundance of earthly wealth and never suffer from a cold again.” To hear them preach one is left wondering “If Christ heals all my bodily ills - from what will I die?” Did Christ indeed die on the cross only in order to give us freedom from illness and disease? I think not. A careful examination of the scriptures above gives us a clearer picture of the answer to the question “Why did Christ die?”

In Isaiah the prophet gave clear reference to the healing ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. He said “surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows” and this the Christ did. It is recorded that ALL who came to Him received full healing, unlike those who flock to modern “healers” and yet return home with the same illnesses more often than not. But then Isaiah says “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.” The reason Christ was pierce was “for our transgressions” - not for our illnesses. The reason He was crushed was “for our iniquities”, not for our diseases. His wounds were a punishment, of which is written “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” and “by His wounds we are healed.” The whole purpose of Christ going to the Cross and suffering humiliation, torture and death was to take our place and pay the price for OUR sins. That is the “Why?” we asked before, as in “Why did Christ die?” He died to take our place and to pay for our sins.

That is why the Apostle Peter wrote: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Christ’s death on the cross healed us of our sin so that we can “die to sins and live for righteousness.”

Does this mean that Christ does not heal our bodies? Of COURSE He heals our bodies!!! But His healing is dealt out according to His will - not ours. And if He were to heal all our sicknesses - of what would we die? This corruptible flesh can not inherit incorruptibility - it must be transformed. Those who die in Christ will be raised up with a new body - one that is not bound up in corruption like the one they formerly dwelt in. Those who remain until He comes will be “transformed in the twinkling of an eye” - because this body we currently dwell in is destined to be destroyed!

However, our soul is the object of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. While our body must be transformed our soul is already ready for eternal life. All that is needed is for it to be cleansed by God’s redeeming power through the washing of Christ’s blood. And that is why He died. He went to the cross willingly - if reluctantly - in order to pay for the transgressions that we have committed against our God and Creator. That, my dear friends, is a far greater benefit than one’s corruptible body being relieved of one of a multitude of infirmities. This body will one day die or be transformed. We should care for it as it is the “temple of the Holy Spirit” - but we should always remember that it is merely a temporary arrangement and that it WILL pass on and be replaced at Christ’s coming.

Sin is what separates us from God - not physical infirmity. In fact, many people have come to God because of their illness. But it is sin that divided Adam from his Creator and it is sin that took Christ to the cross. That is why Christ died - so that we can live in unity with the Father because the Son took our place and was punished for our transgressions.



The Big Question

The big question is if you was to die to today would you go to Heaven or hell?


If you do not know Jesus as your personal savior and want to get saved from an eternal hell and receive the gift of salvation, then I encourage you to watch the video below and see what you can do to have this amazing free gift from God.


Pastor Billy- http://www.niagarafrontierbible.com
 
 
 
 
Whatever Happened To The Bible?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE BIBLE?


by Pastor Kirk Romberg, Bellevue, WA
Copyright 2001-2009

Years ago while attending Bible College, a wise professor exhorted me and a room full of other ministry-hopefuls. He warned us, “A lot of fads and trends come down the pike of popular Christianity. They come and they go. They always do.”He continued, “As ministers of the Gospel, you have to be wise. You have to be discerning. You have to avoid the temptation to do something just because it’s popular. And most of all, never forget that the main tools God has given you for ministry are His Holy Word and prayer. If you focus on those basics, you may not please Man. But you will please God, and your flock will be fed and cared for.”I’m not sure how many of us would-be pastors were listening but that was very sound advice! “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

That sounds so simple. But why is it so hard for us to get it right? Whatever happened to a commitment to these basics? For that matter, whatever happened to the Bible?

The preaching of God’s Word today is quickly being replaced by brief self-help messages with a couple of proof texts. The focus is Man and his “felt needs” rather than Christ and His cross. And the aim is to help people feel good about themselves rather than to declare the Gospel. Undiscerning Christians soak it in believing the doctrine to be sound just because the terminology seems familiar enough.

When talking this over with another pastor, his remark to me was, “Kirk, there’s just not room in our society for a direct spiritual message. It’s just not effective anymore.”

But my question is this: from Genesis to Revelation, when has God ever prescribed anything but a direct spiritual message to address the condition of Mankind? Who are we to change the plan? Who are we to assume responsibility for “effectiveness” or even determine what that means?

For nearly a hundred years Noah was a preacher of righteousness, warning of things to come. During that time not a single person, except for those in his own family, received the message of God through His servant. Yet, in Hebrews 11, Noah is commended for his great faith – not because he was effective, but because he obeyed God.

Paul put it this way to his young protege, Timothy. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge. Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

May God fill His pulpits again with preachers who heed those timeless words!

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