ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE FUTURE?

There is no reason for you to have a fear of the future if you are a born-again child of God. You have the promise of living eternally with God on this earth after it has been redeemed and perfected. But if you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have every reason to fear the future. The signs of the times given in the Bible indicate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is about to return to take His believers out of this world in preparation for the pouring out of God's wrath during a period of seven years that the Bible refers to as the Tribulation. It will be a time of unparalleled horror on this earth, so terrible, in fact, that one-half of humanity will die during the first three and a half years! God does not wish that any should perish 2 Peter 3:9;  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  That's why He has provided us with signs to watch for that will indicate the season of His Son's return. We are in the midst of that season. We are living on borrowed time. Don't delay. Give your heart to Jesus today John 3:16;  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  And   Romans 10:9-11;  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. I would like to hear from you if you have made a decision to follow Christ by accepting Him as your Savior. What can I do to assist you in learning more. Give me a comment or email me with your request there is a link to my email on the site. Blessings, Pastor Coutts 

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A WORD STUDY: "PARACLETE"

Well Sunday service was awesome. We talked about the Holy Spirit. Whenever you talk about the Holy Spirit you cannot help but be blessed. One thing I realized though, was, not too many people really understand the Holy Spirits role. So, I have for you an in depth study of the word Holy Spirit or as the greek says, “PARACLETE”.  I looked at the etymology of the word, I looked at the definition in the Classical Greek, in Judaism and then in Christianity. In the end there is only one conclusion which you can read below. I hope you enjoy this study all you students of the Word. Blessings to you as you dig.

The Word:    Paraclete (Greek. παράκλητος, Latin. paracletus) means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term paraclete most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.

The Etymology    Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (paráklētos, that can signify "one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; hence refreshes, and/or one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court"). The word for paraclete is passive in form, and etymologically (originally) signified "called to one's side". The active form of the word, parakletor, is not found in the New Testament but is found in Septuagint in Job 16:2 in the plural, and means "comforters", in the saying of Job regarding the "miserable comforters" who failed to rekindle his spirit in his time of distress.

ParacleteIn Classical Greek  The term is not common in non-Jewish texts.The best known use is by Demosthenes:

Citizens of Athens, I do not doubt that you are all pretty well aware that this trial has been the center of keen partisanship and active canvassing, for you saw the people who were accosting and annoying you just now at the casting of lots. But I have to make a request which ought to be granted without asking, that you will all give less weight to private entreaty or personal influence than to the spirit of justice and to the oath which you severally swore when you entered that box. You will reflect that justice and the oath concern yourselves and the commonwealth, whereas the importunity and party spirit of advocates serve the end of those private ambitions which you are convened by the laws to thwart, not to encourage for the advantage of evil-doers.

Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon apart from Demosthenes (above) cites also the example of a slave summoned as a help.

Paraclete In Judaism Philo speaks several times of "paraclete" advocates  primarily in the sense of human intercessors.

The word later went from Hellenistic Jewish writing into rabbinical Hebrew writing. For a summary of rabbinical usage see Jewish Encyclopedia 1914 "Paraclete".

The word is not used in the Septuagint, the word "comforters" being different in Job. Other words are used to translate the Hebrew word מְנַחֵם (m^ənaḥḥēm "comforter") and Melitz Yosher  (מליץ יושר).  In modern Hebrew, the cognate 'praklit' (פרקליט) means 'solicitor' or 'legal counsel', 'praklit ha-mechoz' means district attorney, and 'praklitut ha-medina' the Israeli equivalent of the solicitor-general.

Paraclete In Christianity: ( In The New Testament).    In the Greek New Testament the word is most prominent in the Johannine writings. It appears in the Gospel of John (14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7) where it may be translated into English as "counselor", "helper", encourager, advocate, or "comforter".

The early church identified the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,1:8,2:4,2:38) and in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 v. 4 Jesus Christ uses the verb παρακληθήσονται, paraclethesontai, traditionally interpreted to signify "to be refreshed, encouraged, or comforted". The text may also be translated as vocative as well as the traditional nominative. Then the meaning of 'paraclethesontai', also informative of the meaning of the name, or noun Paraclete, implicates 'are going to summon' or 'will be breaking off'... The Paraclete may thus mean 'the summoner' or 'the one, who, or that which makes free.

In 1 John 2:1, "Paraclete" is used to describe the intercessory role of Jesus Christ who pleads to The Father on our behalf. And in John 14:16, Jesus says "another Paraclete" will come to help his disciples, implying Jesus is the first and primary Paraclete.

In Matt 3:10-12 and Luke 3:9-17, John the Baptist says a powerful one coming after him "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NIV)

Verses like these are often used by Christians in Trinitarian theology to describe how God is revealed to the world and God's role in salvation. According to Trinitarian doctrine, the Paraclete or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who among other things provides guidance, consolation, strength, and support to people. Other titles for the Holy Spirit include 'Spirit of Truth', Lightful Spirit of God Almighty, Holy Breath, Almighty Breath, Giver of Life, Lord of Grace, Helper, 'Comforter', 'Counselor' and 'Supporter'

During his period as a hermit in the mid 12th century, Peter Abelard dedicated his chapel to the Paraclete because "I had come there as a fugitive and, in the depths of my despair, was granted some comfort by the grace of God”.

Conclusion: The "another Paraclete" of John 14:16 is in many ways "another Jesus," the Paraclete is the presence of Jesus after Jesus ascends to his Father.

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THE FIRST TRUMPET IS ABOUT TO BLOW!

OK, I am not an alarmist and I am certainly not a fear monger. I was told by a minister just recently that other ministers who preach about the destruction of earth to come, and the tribulation and all of the things that Christ said would surely come on the earth, were fear mongers. They are just trying to scare people into the kingdom. Well I disagree completely. My Bible tells me that the blood of those I do not tell will be on my head. This preacher is not going to let that happen. 

We are living in some pretty gruesome times and to go around with our heads in the sand is sure destruction to our souls.

I found a video concerning the first trumpet of Revelation which is about to sound. This video was done in 2011 and is more true today than it was then. I hope you take the time to watch the whole thing. It is about fourteen minutes long but packed with the things you need to know. Pay special attention to the bit about the Pope. He is in America right now and the implications are ominous. Then following that, be really aware of the three woes, the last three trumpets explained in the video.

I hope this gets your attention and if you do not know Jesus as your Savior, today is the day. Invite Him in to cleanse you from sin and make Him Lord of your life. Then comment on the video and especially if you accepted Christ as your Savior. I would love to hear from you and pray for you. Enjoy the video.

(I could not upload the video here but if you click on the following link, it will take you to it.)

https://www.worldslastchance.com/view-video/458/7-trumpets-of-revelation-the-day-trumpet-1-hits-earth.html

 

(If you have a comment, click below and thanks in advance. If you would like to support this ministry in any way, please click the donate button at the top right of this page. Thank you and the Lord Bless You.)

ARE YOU FED UP?

I am fed up.

Yes,  I am fed up with people who say they are a Christian yet they act like the devil. They are no different than those in the world. They lie, cheat, steal, covet, are full of anger, commit adultery, unforgiving, cheaters, and they do all these things as a Christian thinking they are above the law. (God’s law that is), and it is all ok because they are a “Christian” Well it is not ok. You are held to a higher standard than the people who do not know Christ. We are to be examples  because we are the image of Christ in this world. If those who do not know Him are going to come to know Him because of the light shining in you, what will they see? Will it be just more of the same old same old? Or will it be a transformed life.  Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. I think it is high time, if not past time, that true believers get it right or more explicitly, make it right and draw a line in the sand. Either you are or you are not sold out to Christ. In Revelation 22: 11; it tells us or rather instructs us with urgency. It says…  “He that is unjust let him be unjust still, and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still. (cold, lukewarm, dabbling in sin, lackadaisical).* and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (* emphasis and extra words mine).  And just so you know, no I am not holier than thou! I am a sinner just like you. The thing is, Gods Word pricks my heart and keeps me in check. I pray every day for forgiveness  and I pray I will never allow myself to be classed among the hypocrisy that is sweeping our land. I want to be ready and when He comes for me I want to be spotless as only He can make me. Yes, I am fed up….fed up with the devil and his manipulative powers over many good Christians. I pray we will all be awake to see that God wants holiness!  1 Peter 1:16;  “Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am Holy”

 (If you have a comment, click below and thanks in advance. If you would like to support this ministry in any way, please click the donate button at the top right of this page. Thank you and the Lord Bless You.)