According to Scripture, the Joy of The LORD is our strength. It builds us up and refreshes our soul. It gives us faith and hope. It helps us overcome spiritual and physical obstacles set before us. But what is it? What is the Joy of The LORD? And how do we get the Joy of the LORD? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for Truth in our video, What Is The Joy of The LORD?
Nehemiah 8:10 Luke 2:10 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 Hebrews 10:32-39 Luke 8:15 John 15:8-11 Romans 12:2 John 17:13 John 16:20-24 1 Chronicles 16:27 Revelation 21:3-4 James 4:7-10 James 1:2-8
What Is The Joy of The LORD?
The Joy of The LORD is our Strength
10 Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’
Nehemiah 8:10
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:10-11
5 His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6 For You make him most blessed forever; You make him glad with the joy of Your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
“I think God would want me to be happy” is a common response in today’s Church whenever we’re being spiritually corrected. But is that a fair statement? Does God want us to be happy? It would seem only right that God would want us to be happy and enjoy life to the fullest, but is that what God really wants for our lives? Is the Joy of the LORD the same as happiness? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the Truth in our video, Does God Want Me To Be Happy?
Revelation 20:11-15 Matthew 18:7-9 Matthew 26:40-41 John 21:15-19 Romans 7:14-25 Psalms 37:3-4 1 Samuel 13:14
Does God Want Me To Be Happy?
How to Have Joy
Oftentimes, we fall into this trap because we have been told that God loves everyone and just wants us to have the best. That statement in itself is true, but the problem with that statement is that we base ‘love’ and ‘best’ on cultural standards instead of Biblical standards. According to Biblical standards, God’s desire for us is to have life and life more abundantly. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be a millionaire because that’s living life more abundantly, and let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with being a millionaire; that’s just not what God was promising.
Having life and life more abundantly had nothing to do with material things; instead, it was about living without the chains of sin, shame, anger, depression, anxiety, etc. God’s promise was FREEDOM. Freedom from the chains and strongholds of this world. And happiness is one of the biggest strongholds of this world. If we stop chasing happiness, then we can start chasing freedom. Then and only then will be filled with The Joy of The LORD. And the Joy of The LORD, that is our strength. God doesn’t want us happy, He wants us filled with His joy because happiness doesn’t lead to freedom.
The world seems to be falling straight into the trap prophesied by Paul 2,000 years ago. Even though the world seems to be hopeless, he still implores us to continue to not grow weary of doing good. But why? Join ArieRashelle as she explains why we must continue to do good, even though everything seems hopeless, in our latest video, I Will Give You Rest, But When?
Galatians 6:7-10 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Matthew 11:28-30 Hebrews 12:1-3 Matthew 11:29-30 John 16:33 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 Revelation 21:3-4
Jesus promised that He would give us rest. He gave us this promise over 2,000 years ago, yet we’re still running a race, according to Paul. So when will we have this rest? Paul even goes on to write to Timothy that difficult times are up ahead.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:8-10
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Don’t grow weary of doing good, for every good seed you are planting today will bear fruit tomorrow.
More Verses on When God Will Give Us Rest
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:1-3
45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Matthew 26:45
Now is not the time for rest. Now is the time for spiritual warfare. Yes, Jesus is on His throne. Yes, Jesus has overcome the world, but we still have work to do. We still have to fight our loved ones. We still have to fight for the lost. Look at what Jesus says,
“4 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:4-5
Jesus lives in and through every Christ-Following Christian. As long as there are Christians on this earth, there is light. As long as there is light, there is day. Therefore, we must work while we can. Jesus is coming back soon, and when He does, there will no longer be time for anyone to work. When Jesus comes back, He is taking His bride with Him into their Eternal Rest. Will you be one of them?
The world is rampantly pushing God out of their homes, cities, countries, and even churches. Is it possible that the world is preparing for the end, and if it is the end, could it be The Great Tribulation? And if so, what if the Church has to endure the tribulation? Does Scripture tell us when the rapture will take place compared to The Tribulation? And if the Church has to go through it, is there a way to overcome the great tribulation? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scriptures for the answers in our latest video, The Great Tribulation: Does The Church Go Through It?
John 15:18-21 Matthew 24:4-22 Daniel 11:31-32 Daniel 12:10-12 John 10:4 Daniel 11:32 Revelation 13:7 Romans 8:27 Daniel 9:27 Daniel 11:23 Matthew 24:21-22 Daniel 11:36-37 Daniel 7:24-26 Revelation 15:1-2 Revelation 15:5-8 1 John 4:17-18 Romans 8:30 1 Corinthians 6:11 Revelation 7:13-17 1 Corinthians 4:16-18
The Great Tribulation: Does The Church Go Through It?
From the days of Paul, men and women were looking forward to the rapture. Some even thought that they had missed it during the time of Paul and the other apostles. As time goes by, the world runs farther and farther away from God and His ways. We often hear that Tribulation is coming, but when exactly? Paul prophecies of the way the world will turn during the end times in his second letter to Timothy.
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
The Rapture and The Great Tribulation
Overcoming The Great Tribulation
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The idea for someone or something to move from one place to another in a blink of an eye has been an idea from ancient times. Whether by beam or simply disappearing and reappearing in another place, the idea of teleportation isn’t new. If other ancient religions believed in teleportation, did the Jews? And if they did, does that mean the Bible supports teleportation as well? Join ArieRashelle as we search through Scripture to find any basis for the science-fiction notion of teleportation in our video, Does The Bible Support Teleportation?
Matthew 19:26 Genesis 1:16-18 Matthew 27:45 Jonah 1:3 Matthew 12:38-41 Matthew 27:46 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Acts 8:38-40 Revelation 12:5-6 Revelation 4:1-2 Ezekiel 8:1-4 Matthew 4:1 Acts 2:16-20
Does The Bible Support Teleportation?
Stories of Teleportation in the Bible
Enoch
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 5:21-24
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5
Korah
31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Deuteronomy 16:31-33
How could they fall from the surface of the earth to the center of the earth into Sheol without dying? This has to be some form of portal, as that distance would have killed them and smashed all of their goods. I’d say that this is the Bible in support of teleportation.
Elijah
11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, ‘My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw him no more.
2 Kings 2:11-12
Ezekiel
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: ‘Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!’ 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. 15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
Ezekiel 3:12-15
1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be His waist was fire, and above His waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. 3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.
Ezekiel 8:1-4
1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 And He said to me, ‘Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.’
Ezekiel 11:1-4
24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.
Ezekiel 11:24-25
1The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.
Ezekiel 37:1-2
1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city. 2 In visions of God He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.3 When He brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway. 4 And the man said to me, ‘Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.’
Ezekiel 40:1-4
1 Then He led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of His coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when He came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Ezekiel 43:1-5
Jesus
Not only does the Bible say that Jesus was teleported into heaven in the ascension, but Jesus teleports multiple times throughout the Gospels. Would this not be the Bible in support of teleportation?
5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to His throne,6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Revelation 12:4-5
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ 4 But He answered, ‘It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple6 and said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command His angels concerning you,’ and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’’ 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your Godand Him only shall you serve.’”11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.”
Matthew 4:1-11
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19
Philip
38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:38-40
John
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
Revelation 4:1-2
The Rapture
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:30-31
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Throughout our public-school system and private schools, Evolution is taught as a fact with it being the absolute and only truth explaining the existence of mankind. While Creationism is not only removed from the curriculum but mocked and called foolishness and a crutch. This now begs the question, “Is Evolution fact?” Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he digs deep into the claims of Evolution compared to Scripture in our latest video, ‘The Creation Story Pt. 4: The Theory of Evolution.’
Genesis 1:26-28 Genesis 11:1-9 Acts 8
The Dangers of Evolution vs. Creation
Evolution is currently the only explanation for the existence of mankind taught in our public school system today. Evolution is the Scientific Theory that all organisms evolved from one common ancestor through Natural Selection and Genetic Drift. The earliest undisputed evidence of life, according to secular Scientists, dates back 3.5 billion years ago during the Eoarchean Era.
Evolution states that mankind or homo sapiens evolved from primates or more specifically Genus Homo. This evolution from primates to humans took around 15 to 20 million years to evolve and mutate into the mankind we have today. This is in direct contradiction to the Genesis account of Creation.
Genesis 1:26-28
26 Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’
Explanation
According to Scripture, which is the Word of God and is directly God-breathed, God came down to earth and formed man in His own image. He then put the man to sleep, took one of his rib bones, and formed a woman from man. They then went on to multiply and fill the earth. So, according to God-Himself, the Creator of everything, we did not evolve from apes. God formed us by hand. We were divinely designed.
Some could ask what could be the danger of believing in Evolution rather than Creation? Well, here is one danger. According to The Theory of Evolution, mankind evolved from Primates into Neanderthals, and finally into humans. Secular scientists tell us that blacks were the first humans on earth and that Africa is the motherland of all people. This statement doesn’t sound like a problem until you take your time and really think about what this statement is saying. According to The Theory of Evolution, we are evolving to survive, and only the strong survive. Therefore, the more we evolve, the smarter, stronger, and more superior we become. So, as Yale so kindly pointed out in a video showing our evolution as humans, the most evolved humans are white.
So, according to Evolution, all non-white blonde light-eyed people would be inferior as they are less evolved. Therefore, evolution not only justifies the slavery and extermination of any and all non-whites, but it also encourages it, as only the strong shall survive. This dangerous thinking can lead to many injustices and even genocides, such as the Jim Crow Laws, Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Native American Reservations, to name a few.
What Does God Say?
This is not the way that God created nor intended us to see or treat one another. We were all created and formed by the hands of God. He came to die so that none would perish, but all have Eternal Life. God is not a God of hate or evil, but instead, He is a God of love and goodness. He sacrificed Himself so that we may live and not die. No man or woman was created inferior to another; instead, we were all created equal. Not only is Evolution false, but it is also a racist, degrading, and chaotic belief that leaves humans divided amongst each other with no purpose for existence. Evolution is a hopeless belief that divides us as the human race, while creation is filled with hope, unity, and equality.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). Freedom comes only through the Son of God, but what is Jesus Christ setting us free from? Some say freedom from the laws of the land, but if we are freed from the laws of the land, why do we get arrested when we break the laws? Others say freedom from sin, but if we are freed from sin, why is there still so much temptation? So what exactly did the Son (Jesus Christ) set us free from? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answers in our video, Free Indeed: But What Am I Freed From?
John 8:34-36 Romans 5:15-18 Galatians 5:1 Ephesians 6:12 Hebrews 12:1-2 1 John 4:4 1 John 5:4-5 Galatians 3:23-29 John 1:12-13 John 1:12-13 Revelation 12:10-11
Free Indeed: But What Am I Freed From?
Freedom from Sin in Christ Jesus
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:22
38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by Him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:38-39
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:21-23
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son (Christ Jesus) in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
Are we free from the laws of the land?
Though we are free, we are not freed from the laws of the land, nor are we freed from the rights of the land. When Jesus came, He died on the cross to take our punishment for our sin (Romans 5:8 & Romans 4:25). In doing so, He became our perfect and only sacrifice, thereby completing and fulfilling the first covenant, which is the law (Hebrews 9:11-14 & Hebrews 10:1-7 & Matthew 5:17-20). Peter addresses this very subject in his first letter. “13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperoras supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:13-17). According to Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we as Christians are to obey the laws of the land and honor those in authority.
This is easy to do until the law of the lands forbids us from fulfilling the laws of God. There is an order to which we are to obey. We obey God above everything. Above laws, culture, and our own desires. Look with me at what Peter said in response to being charged to be silent by the rulers, elders, and scribes of Jerusalem. Acts 4:18-22, “18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.” Peter said that they cannot but speak of what they had witnessed, as should be the same with us. We must continue, no matter the repercussions, the ultimate will of God, which is to preach the gospel from one end of the Earth to the other. The disciples and the Early Church were persecuted and martyred by various governments for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peter then goes on to tell slaves to obey their masters, even if they were unjustly enslaved. Instead, Peter tells them to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, saying, “23 When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). This is by no means an easy teaching, but what teaching of Truth is easy to accept? Very few, if any. Don’t return injustice done to you with more injustice. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave the whole world blind and toothless. There was a time for that law, but no longer, for we have been forgiven a debt that we could never pay.
As 1 Peter 2:17 stated, we are to “17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” We are to honor the President, the Senators, the Governors, and all other elected officials. We do this by giving them the respect they have received by being voted into their office and respecting the laws they put into place. This is the importance of voting. Though we are free in Christ Jesus, we are not free from the rights of the land. We don’t have to fulfill these rights though, that’s why they are called rights, they are optional, but our freedom in Christ has nothing to do with it. Those who are not Christians still have that freedom or right to either vote or not to vote, but how can we follow the laws of the land if they are against God’s law? This is the importance of voting. I urge you to listen to what the candidates say, but even more so, to watch what they do and what they have done. Anyone can say they are for you, but unless their actions match their words, they are liars and hypocrites.
May the LORD give each and every one of you the wisdom to vote for the godliest candidate, and the strength to endure any injustice that may come your way. May the LORD Bless you and keep you.
“No one is perfect” is a common phrase in our world today, but is that the Truth or is it just another excuse? And if it is the Truth, then does that mean no one will ever be perfect? Does God expect me to be perfect? Should we aim for perfection, or would that be prideful to do so? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to the question “Does God Expect Me To Be Perfect?”
Matthew 5:48 Colossians 4:12 Romans 12:1-2 Ephesians 5:25-27 Ephesians 6:10-18
Perfected in The Image of God Verses
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Galatians 6:15
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Galatians 4:7
These verses are saying that no longer are you your past, but now you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. You are now being transformed into a new creation. Look at what Paul writes in his letter to the Romans.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
You are being perfected into the Image of God, as Adam was perfectly made in the Image of God. How? Because the veil has been removed from our eyes and our eyes are being opened by the Holy Spirit who is now living in us.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
There is an ongoing debate in the Church today that dates back 2000 years, the Rapture. The debate isn’t whether or not the Rapture will happen; most agree there is a rapture. The debate is on when the Rapture will happen. There are three main theories: Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation. But what does the Scripture say? What does the Bible say about The Rapture? Are there verses that have been overlooked that are about the Rapture? Can we truly ever know when the Rapture will take place? Join ArieRashelle as she searches Scripture to find the true timing of The Rapture.
Revelation 14:14-16 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Matthew 24:29-31 Titus 1:1-3 Job 2:10 John 15:18-21 1 Peter 2:12-17 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The Most Overlooked Verses on The Rapture
Out of The Mouth of The Prophets
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
Daniel 7:25-27
Out of The Mouth of Jesus
15 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short…
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (the rapture).
Matthew 24:15-22, 29-31
Out of The Mouth of Paul
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him (the rapture), we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 8
Now’s The Time To Prepare For The Rapture
As we read in these overlooked verses on the Rapture, there is no mid-tribulation or pre-tribulation rapture. There is only the post-tribulation rapture. The Great Tribulation is coming, but don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged because we are not alone. God has equipped us with weapons not of this world but of His that can tear down strongholds, defend every fiery dart of the evil one, protect our mind and our hearts, and so much more. We are not alone, for God is within us. We are the Temple of God Almighty. Greater is He that is in us, that He that is in the world. We are overcomers through Christ Jesus, our God, and our Savior.
We’ve often heard the phrase, “God understands.” But does He? Does God let certain sins slide because He knows that we’re only human? Does He let it go because at least we wanted to do good? Join ArieRashelle as she answers the question, “Does God Understand?”
John 14:16-17 2 Corinthians 15:7 John 8:34-36 Romans 6:1-2 Ephesians 5:1-2
How Much Does God Understand?
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Does God understand? God understands that we are dust. He understands that we will fall into temptation and give into sin. God understands that sinners sin, but that doesn’t mean that God overlooks sin. On the contrary, God, in fact, expects us to be perfect as He is perfect. Why? Because if we strive for mediocrity, the most we can be is mediocre. Why would we strive for anything less than perfect?
The purpose of Jesus becoming a baby and dying a man was so that He could take our sin upon Him. It was so that one day we would live with Him forever in Eternity. If we don’t strive for perfection and settle for mediocrity, we deem Jesus’ sacrifice pointless. We can be mediocre on our own. We don’t need help with that; this why we have to strive for perfection. The only way that we can become better is to strive for better. Jesus first overcame, and therefore we will overcome. If you have been saved, then you have been set free, so why would you return to slavery when Christ set you free?
So much does God really understand? Well, Jesus understands that sin is hard to overcome. He understands what it’s like to be tempted in every way, so never feel as though you can’t go to Him. You can go before the Throne of Grace no matter what sins you are ashamed of. Christ died for you. He died for you knowing exactly what you have done and will do in the future. Christ died so that you could live. Repent, and He shall save you. Once you repent, you are freed in Jesus’ name. So, live your life as one who has been freed, not as a slave.
