Vs6) God is in control. Wow! That itself is just woah. The Earth melting refers to God’s judgment. So the world how did it come to be? Was it the big bang theory? No, it wasn’t. The world came into existence because God said his word. God said “Let there be…”  <<Genesis 1:3

When it comes right down to it God is in control, and everything – I mean EVERYTHING- is about God and when he speaks it then it happens.

Vs7) God is the commander BUT he is also a personal God and he will keep his covenant to his people. What is His covenant? Is it external life, loving kindness, or joy? Well these are parts of the covenant. How about the Rainbow – God’s promise? This is a covenant but I’m talking about THE covenant (Pastor Bill emphasized) The MAIN COVENANT is that God the Father sent God the Son-Jesus- down to fulfill the New Testament and give us all SALVATION!!

Vs8/9) This is just a scene of God’s glorious kingdom. How peaceful it will be – amen?!

God is going to let and continue to allow the desolation that is happening happen on Earth. Then, God will stop it; stop it ALL! There will be a one thousand (1,000) year period with God just throws it in the pit.

Revelation 20:

1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Vs10) isn’t it so comforting to know. It’s hard but comforting. It gives that peace that passes understanding praise to God’s awesome majesty and confirmation.

 

Vs11) to finish the chapter this verse copies verse 7. Since it is being repeated in the same chapter of the same book even then it must be a pretty import set of words. God is pushing to us that he LOVES us and he WANTS us to be saved. He does not want to see any of humanity perish or suffer in the hell. Hell was not created for humans/humanity. God doesn’t repeat himself to hear himself talk he repeats himself for us so know and understand the love he has and how much we are worth to him.

You see the world were in today expects us to act and not wait but at time we need to wait on God because things happen in HIS time.

Look at all the crazy things that happy today over the smallest of things; like a long line for Tim Horton’s in the morning and someone getting anger because they can’t get their coffee or have to wait f..o..r..e..v..e..r. Pray and talk to God during that wait. Think about paying it forward when you go through the drive-thru.  Keep Calm and talk to God.

Psalm 47

This Psalm is one that you could just jump up on the table and start singing. (Umm Pastor Bill you can get off the table now. Let’s talk about this chapter). There is such enthusiasm in this Psalm that is expressed through emotional worship.  It is jubilant celebration to God’s kingship. Look at it and it exalts God where God should be. Worship is supposed to be ABOUT GOD not about US!! If someone says they didn’t get anything out of the worship service then honestly, what did they put into it? They need to worship God not the song. They need to understand come into worship with an open heart ready to praise God. The Jews understood this and we must understand this as well. That being said, not only Israel is called to celebrate. All nations are called to celebrate because is the absolute sovereign God and there is no other religious sect that can say that. Their “gods” are dead. God Almighty is ALIVE. “GOD’S NOT DEAD, HE IS SURELY ALIVE”. Mormons take the deity from God. Jehovah Witnesses don’t believe in the way, truth, and life; but you have to accept it all. It’s either all or nothing. What about the amish-they don’t particularly believe in being “born again”. You have to be born again to accept Jesus. Accepting Jesus is the only way to God and that’s being born again.

Subdue under our feet means that we will have victory though God.

Vs 4) the excellence that is spoken about through inheritance is speaking of forgiveness, love, eternal life, all of it!!

Vs5) What does it mean?! Don’t hold back when you worship. This can mean three things that are all true yet different:

1.)    God ascended to the Holy Throne

2.)    David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and that God sat on the ark’s “Mercy Seat”

3.)    Prophecy of Jesus going to the Father

Vs 6/7) sing praises is repeated five times. This must be pretty important then. We are NOT spectators but CELEBRATORS and OVERCOMERS. True worship involves praise, it can be through singing, dancing, reading, or speaking but most importantly by opening your heart. Celebrate this! There’s a little boy that stands on the pew during church just dancing to the worship music. Jesus said “Let the children come to me” We need to have the faith, excitement, and love that children have.

Vs9) People of Abraham is referring to EVERYONE who has given their life to God.

So even when you look at this at the wildest point of view it is has covered all people of every nation. God has POWER and Authority over everything yet he can hold back.

In Psalm 46,47 and Romans 11 we see the reaction to Israel can the comeback we are grafted into as Israel’s adopted children.

If you are looking for a good read check out Warren Marcus’ Book Shalom. It talks about him coming to Christ after being raised a Jew.

It is so interesting to see how God is working in our lives and to read and look back at how Christ fulfilled the Old Testament.

The difference between Charismatic and Traditional Catholics – Charismatic believe one is saved by faith which bring works from the love of Christ whereas Traditionalist believe one is saved by faith and works.

If you believe “I have to because if I don’t God won’t bless me” that means you believe in being saved by works. That is not what Jesus said. Jesus said to Nicodemus,

John 3

New King James Version (NKJV)

The New Birth

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?¹¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.^[a] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but^[b] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to thelight, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

One is Born Again->Saved by grace->Sanctified and this is a lifelong process!

Saved/Being Saved/Will Be Saved

Why are there so many denominations if the Bible is the truth? Everyone looks at everything different but when we all die and we see each other in heaven well laugh and say we didn’t have it right on Earth.

Knowing the Truth is Key

So to summarize the answers to the questions stated in the opening of this article and as we study the Bible, we can see that there is only one true Church, and that is the body of Christ. This is the assembly of believers (though they meet in all parts of the world, at different times, in different buildings). Many churches are needed to support the 1/3 of the world’s known population of Christians (and the underground population that must hide for safety).

Denominations are a man-made thing. Not all denominations, or even churches are under the Headship of Christ Jesus because some have drifted away from what the Bible teaches as essential doctrines. When a church deviates from the truth that is in the Bible, they are not part of the true Church. When they teach anything other than the true gospel, they should beware because the Bible warns against this (Gal 1:9; 1 Tim 6:3-4).

If you are interested in joining with a church, be sure to ask to see their statement of faith — if it does not line up with what the Bible teaches or if there is no statement of faith, think again and continue searching for a doctrinally sound church. Remember there is no perfect church because we as humans are not perfect, but Jesus taught us about the true Church and this is all recorded in the Bible. As Christians we should have a biblical world view and the only way to do that is to read the Bible to learn what it says about the subject at hand.

Some are absolutely heretical and others teach a smorgasbord of beliefs from the Bible and other religions.  Yet others teach that Jesus became God and was not God at one time.  Some believe that even God the Father was at one time not a god.  This teaching is contrary to what the Bible says (John 1).

Even though there are thousands of denominations, there really is no single church that has all known truth and teaches it perfectly.  There is no one church that has absolutely no error, just like every Christian alive can not possibly know all truth.  As long as the essentials to the faith are there, like the Chief Cornerstone Jesus Christ being the central focus of worship, churches can still be under the Headship of Christ Jesus.  If you look at nature, if you look at the human race, and if you look at the intricacies of human understanding, you see that God loves variety so it should not surprise us that there are a variety of different denominations embedded within different nations and cultures.  Its like asking why are there so many different flowers like the rose, the lily, the iris, and so on.   Just like there are no two snowflakes that are exactly the same, there are no two Christians or no two churches that are identical.  I believe God loves such variety as long as there are no blatant doctrinal errors within the body of that church.  God seeks the worship of all nations, all ethnic groups, all people groups, from all over the world.

Any church that does not teach the divinity of Jesus Christ, that He was God before the earth existed, that there is a Holy Trinity, that Christ came to earth and was born of a virgin, lived a sinless, perfect life, and died to have the wrath of God placed on Him instead rightfully being placed on humans, that He was raised or resurrected on the 3rd day and today sits at the right hand of God in Heaven, is not the one that Jesus Christ built and founded.  It is simple as that.

Any church that deviates from these essential and vital doctrines can not be, based upon the written Word of God, the true church that Jesus founded and it is teaching a false gospel.  If any of these essentials are missing, take heed to God’s warning through Paul’s letter to the Galatians, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse” (Gal 1:9)!  How much stronger of a warning can Paul be issuing to those churches or Christians who teach another gospel?  They are “under God’s curse.”  Paul told Timothy:

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions” (1 Tim 6:3-4).
Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/why-are-there-so-many-churches-why-are-there-so-many-denominations/#ixzz2xoDCfxIu