"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Sunday, December 28, 2014

The POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT


~ by James Fire

This teaching was presented at ETERNAL LIVING WORD church - West Side (8/11/19), and it may be viewed on video here.

GENESIS 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

COLOSSIANS 1:15-17
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.


The awesome power of creation, solely the purview of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is something we can witness, at least in part, on our planet, our solar system, and from images taken by far-reaching satellites and radio telescopes sights and macro-cosmic wonders of galaxies beyond our imagining. We also observe the creation of God with microscopes, electron microscopes and other instrumentation whereby we can perceive the microcosmic universe. Whether in the vastness of the heavens, or the intricacies of the infinitesimal, God's handiwork is an incredible work to behold! 
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Monday, December 1, 2014

CROSSING The T’s STUDY in 2 THESSALONIANS aka PROPHETIC and PERSONAL Perspectives – PART 2 of 4

PROPHETIC and PERSONAL Perspectives from 2 THESSALONIANS - PART 2

STUDY # 22 THESSALONIANS 2:1-17: The Perspective of FALLING AWAY INTO DECEPTION and IT's BIBLICAL PREVENTION

Theme: The Day of the LORD (This phrase is also seen in JOEL 1:15; 2 PET 3:10; REV 19:19 and elsewhere). This phrase refers to that period of time when God actively and openly begins to deal with the people of the Earth in judgment, beginning with the Jew and then the Gentile as portrayed in REVELATION 6–19.

It begins with (1) the translation of the church or rapture (“bride of Christ”) from Earth to Heaven and culminates at (2) the Great White Throne Judgment with the 70th week of Daniel (“time of Jacob's trouble” JER 30:7) in which the world will see the 7 year reign of anti-Christ or “the man of sin” (2 THESS 2:3) occurring between those two points.

The saints at Thessalonica were anxious because they thought that the Day of the LORD was upon them, but Paul corrects this misunderstanding in explaining that two crucial events must first happen before this occurs; we will see what those things are in 2 THESSALONIANS 2.

Outline: Intro: 1:1-4;

SECTION I – Comfort in persecution: 1:5-12
SECTION II – The Day of the LORD vs. the man of sin: 2:1-12
SECTION III – Exhortations and instructions: 2:13-3:15; Conclusion: 3:16-18.

STUDY # 2 – 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-17: The Perspective of FALLING AWAY INTO DECEPTION and IT's BIBLICAL PREVENTION:

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

The GOSPEL of MATTHEW: Ch. 10 Concluded – The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE:

 By James Fire

Note to TTUF readers: The conclusion of this chapter is rather brief, but I didn't want to include the content of this latter half with the former as that would have made the length of the overall teaching rather formidable. 

MATTHEW 10:24-31
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.


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Friday, November 7, 2014

The GOSPEL of MATTHEW: Ch. 10: Part ONE – The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE:

By James Fire

Previously in our study of Matthew, in Chapter 9 we saw how the LORD Jesus Christ was busy about His Father's business, bringing healing and wholeness to so very many hurting and wounded souls. Yet He did far more than merely this, though His miracles were indeed astounding and signs that authenticated His office as the Messiah of Israel; He brought the everlasting Gospel to the people of Israel, that which extends far beyond the healing of the body, but brings eternal life and the washing away of sins to immortal souls who will express faith in Jesus Christ and His work at the Cross of Calvary:

MATTHEW 9:35-38
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.


This very same compassion as expressed by the Christ is further demonstrated by His admonition to His disciples: to pray that the LORD of the harvest would send forth laborers (and proclaim the Gospel which is able to save the souls of the lost). Note that He calls Him “the LORD of the harvest” and that the directive to pray to Him, that He would send laborers into HIS harvest. 

The LORD Jesus is emphasizing that this is HIS harvest and HIS ministry that we simply enter into by our labors. At no such time should we ever consider the preaching of the Gospel or the teaching of the Word as 'my ministry' because in actuality, if we can rightfully claim any ministry as our own, it will be fruitless; or worse – it will bear bad fruit!
No, we saints are empowered by the grace of God to do the work of God and enter into His ministry, being effective only as the Spirit of God is yielded to by such as we: empty and clean vessels, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and ready for the Master's use (2 TIM 2:20-22). So let us continue on into Chapter 10 then!
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Friday, October 31, 2014

OUIJA BOARDS: PORTALS LEADING TO PERDITION: (Part II of the article, SAY NO, NO to OUIJA)

By James Fire

Death: it is the thing that we mortals seem to fear the most; Hamlet pondered it, and thought about whether “to be or not to be, that is the question” - a Shakespearean query about suicide, yet the young prince of Denmark was also apprehensive of what he would find in that “undiscovered country”.
We grieve and rage against the pain and seemingly unfair death of our loved ones. How many of us had wished we could have had one last moment of time with them to say goodbye (especially if our last words with them were less than kind!).

This film plays on the angst and sorrowful frustration of these teenagers who were stunned and mystified by the apparent suicide of their dear friend, Debbie; particularly her best friend, Laine who desired just such an encounter with their dearly departed.
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Saturday, August 16, 2014

CROSSING The T’s STUDY in 2 THESSALONIANS aka PROPHETIC and PERSONAL Perspectives – PART 1 of 4

STUDY #1 –
2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-12

The Perspective of COMFORT IN PERSECUTION

INTRODUCTION: This epistle might be referred to as 3rd Thessalonians, but not really. There may have been a forgery supposedly from Paul but actually from an imposter, and that might have been why the Thessalonian church was confused on certain matters. This was alluded to in 2 THESSALONIANS 2:2 (“not by letter as by us”).

This letter was written by Paul shortly after the first letter to the Thessalonian saints; both around A.D. 51.
Theme: The Day of the LORD (This phrase is also seen in JOEL 1:15; 2 PET 3:10 and REV 19:19 and elsewhere). This phrase refers to that period of time when God actively and openly begins to deal with the people of the Earth in judgment, beginning with the Jew and then the Gentile as portrayed in REVELATION Chapters 6–19.

It begins with (1) the translation of the church or rapture (“bride of Christ”) from Earth to Heaven and culminates at (2) the Great White Throne Judgment with the 70th week of Daniel (“time of Jacob's trouble” JER 30:7) in which the world will see the 7 year reign of anti-Christ or “the man of sin” (2 THESS 2:3) occurring between those two points.
The saints at Thessalonica were anxious because they thought that the Day of the LORD was upon them, but Paul corrects this misunderstanding in explaining that two crucial events must first happen before this occurs; we will see what those things are in 2 THESSALONIANS 2.

Outline:
Introduction: 1:1-4
SECTION I – Comfort in persecution: 1:5-12
SECTION II – The Day of the LORD vs. the man of sin: 2:1-12
SECTION III – Exhortations and instructions: 2:13-3:15
Conclusion:3:16-18.

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Evangelical Divide


by Anne Kisly

Rick Warren is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, currently the eighth-largest church in the United States. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, spawned a series of conferences on Christian ministry and evangelism. He is perhaps best known for the subsequent devotional, The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 30 million copies.

The following article is from late 2010, but is still a good resource for Christians who want the landscape of the Evangelical Divide happening in our churches. There are also some great links you can follow for background. (via Milwaukee evangelical | Examiner.com:)
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Saturday, August 9, 2014

PART 2 - A Review of Understanding Christian Zionism – Israel's Place in the Purposes of God

Written by Paul R. Wilkerson

Commentary provided by James Fire

We now will continue in our review of UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM!
Something that must be understood is that Christian Zionism does not stand upon the sentiment and affinities of Christians towards the Jewish people and the land of Israel; rather it stands upon the extraordinarily clear teaching and prophecies of Scripture (and Scripture alone!).
There are many that accuse 'Christian Zionists' – I prefer the term 'Bible-believing Christians' myself – of endorsing and promoting war (against Muslims, etc.) by Israel and a hatred towards those who hate Israel. Speaking for myself, and those that share my views, we hate no one (with the exception of Satan and his kingdom of darkness), but we do hate the deeds, practices and religion of Muslim people insomuch as these are the means by which an unjustified hatred and persecution of Israel persists.

I have never once observed Israel's actions to “drive the Muslims into the sea” or declare: “No negotiations with Muslims, no peace with Muslims, no Muslims!” whereas I have seen both of these things being repeatedly and feverishly declared without apology by Muslims who feign some misbegotten 'right' to the land that had always belonged to Israel since long before the time of the Anitquities.

I think its rather obvious to any one who thinks this through, that its most difficult for one to establish peace with any people who have sworn the annihilation of that one, regardless of any well intentioned overtures and extensions of harmonious peace. We who understand God's Word and plan for Israel, stand with the Jewish nation because of God's love for them, His faithful promises made to them, and His valiant protection and blessing upon them.

And so, without further ado, let us continue . . .
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Sunday, July 20, 2014

The GOSPEL of MATTHEW: Ch. 9 Concluded – The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE

We will now conclude Ch. 9 of this study, picking up in vs. 18; the Messiah is continuing in His ministry of healing when He comes across yet another person in need. This time it turns out to be one of the religious authorities, the ones that opposed Him nearly at every turn. Yet, our LORD, humble and meek will go and serve this man's dire need, and heal his daughter of the illness that threatens her life...

MATTHEW 9:18-21
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

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Sunday, July 6, 2014

The GOSPEL of MATTHEW: Ch. 9: Part ONE – The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE

By James Fire

Scripture speaks abundantly of the Divinely empowered healing abilities of the Messiah of Israel. Such passages from Isaiah and elsewhere (as we have seen in Ch. 8 in our study) reveal that the Messiah would make the lame man leap for joy, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak (ISAIAH 35:5-6).
These miraculous signs would be evidence to prove who the Messiah-King would be. As mentioned before, it's very much like the story of
The LORD of the RINGS where Aragorn the lowly Ranger from the North was identified as the King of Gondor because he was able to heal, which would be an attribute of a true King of that realm: 

     
Aragorn's humility and self-sacrifice gained him the hearts of the inhabitants of Gondor's capital city. His healing abilities were noted also by the people of Gondor; as Loreth said, 'The hands of the King are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known'. The people hailed Aragorn as King that same evening.” (Taken from wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aragorn).  
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Saturday, May 24, 2014

PART 1 - A Review of Understanding Christian Zionism – Israel's Place in the Purposes of God

This series is based on the book written by Paul R. Wilkerson UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM

Commentary provided by James Fire

What is Zionism? It is a term that is often used disparagingly by some who think either that the people in that land have no rights or claim to it, that they are not 'real Jews' or that the Zionist agenda is at best a work of the flesh or at worst satanic and not at all of God.

Others who adhere to amillennial eschatology or its subsequent variations believe that the church is 'the new Israel' since the nation of the Jews have rejected their Messiah.

TTUF adheres to a pre-millennial eschatology, fully recognizes Israel, not necessarily for her own claims, but because of the promises of God which He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel as recorded in sacred Scripture.
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ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND

Update: Rick Warren's Purpose Driven False Gospel
by Anne Kisly

This morning I read Roger Oakland's latest commentary titled, Rick Warren and the Chaplet of Divine MercyThe article discuss Warren's recent interview on the Roman Catholic channel, EWTN and the controversial statements made by a this very popular modern day preacher, a.k.a, "America's Pastor."  For me, that title alone should be cause for concern.  Though claiming not to compromise biblical truth, Warren's own words condemns him of deception.  

In a recent interview, Saddleback’s Rick Warren went on the Catholic Wordlwide EWTN channelA.  This interview is a clear picture that Warren preaches his Purpose Driven ideology, and not the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Vatican recently sent a delegation, about 30 bishops, from Rome to Saddleback, to talk about the "new evangelization", which Rick Warren claims he fully supports. 

Warren’s pastor-training programs welcome Catholics in a USA article posted on Warrens website:

“…Warren's pastor-training programs welcome Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women. “we have Catholic ‘purpose-driven’ churches … “I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?” (This evangelist has a ‘Purpose’” by Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY, July 21, 2003)

In 2005, Warren’s Southeast Asia Purpose Driven node reported on the roll out of PD to Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines… Also in 2005, Catholic Online.com featured this press release:
 Purpose Driven Church “Goes Catholic”

The Purpose Driven Church will—for the first time ever—be bringing their evangelical message of living out God’s five purposes to a Catholic Church: Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Illinois. …Each day’s session begins at 9 a.m., and will be delivered by Pastor Bret Schrock of the Purpose Driven Ministries. http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=1306

"There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes" (http://rickwarren.typepad.com/rick_warren/2007/05/seven_myths_abo.html )

“And, you know, growing up as a Protestant boy, I knew nothing about Catholics, but I started watching ETWN, the Catholic channel, and I said, ‘Well, I’m not as far apart from these guys as I thought I was, you know?” (Rick Warren, May 23, 2005, the Pew Forum’s biannual Faith Angle conference on religion, politics and public life, Event Transcript) (Emphasis added)

By the way, Rick Warren does not look at Roman Catholicism as a false religion, but a true religion. Then again, Warren believes that there is truth in all religions.


I should probably state that I am not against catholic people who sincerely believe that Roman Catholicism is the one true faith. I don't hate Catholics. I desire that they come to BIBLICAL SALVATION and the TRUE CHRIST of the Bible.

What is the "New Evangelization" by the Catholic Church?  The New Evangelization targets Christians, to "come home" to the "true" church.
It is a program designed to win the world to the Eucharistic Christ. 

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

ARE YOU FEELING BATTLE WEARY?

by A.M. Kisly

Are you feeling battle weary? I have been. Have you ever experienced times in your life when there seems to be a battle on every side?   We sometimes experience great conflict in our lives.    Those conflicts can come from anywhere; in the home, in the workplace, with friends and neighbors…even within the body of Christ. 


As believers, the most difficult battles we face are spiritual. The Bible teaches there is a conflict between God and Satan for the souls of men and believers are in the middle of that conflict.

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. We are to be strong "in the Lord and in the power of His might."  We are to, “Put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  Ephesians 6:11

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Sunday, May 18, 2014

The GOSPEL of MATTHEW: Ch. 8 – The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE:

By James Fire

The LORD Jesus Christ began His teaching ministry in the Gospel of Matthew in Chapter Five by going up into a mountain (MATT. 5:1) and sitting down; His disciples all gathered around to listen, as did the people who were hungry for a word from the LORD. Up until the time of John the Baptist and the LORD Jesus, there had not been a prophet in Israel for about four hundred years!

I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit found it necessary for Matthew to make note of this, that He went up into a mountain; one might wonder, 'Why was it important for us to know that Jesus went up to a mountain to preach? Why is it significant that He did this as opposed to going to a hill or a river or a lake?'

In Scripture, mountains are sometimes symbolic of kingdoms as we see here in the book of Daniel:

DANIEL 2:35
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth
.


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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW: The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE - CH. 7

By James Fire

We have been taught that when examining Scripture, in order to seek out its truth and correct interpretation, we must always look at any given verse in the context of the passage. Sometime later we learned that not only is the context of the passage important, but the entire chapter, and not just the chapter, but the book. And of course, we must interpret any verse not merely in the context of the book in which it appears, but in the entirety of God’s counsel as recorded for us in the Holy Bible.

In other words, a balanced and proper view of any verse of Scripture is ultimately provided when one examines it in the light of all the other Scriptures. When we do this, apparent contradictions disappear; verses that we thought were contrary suddenly align themselves in harmony; Scripture that would have baffled us, informs us instead when we heed the entirety of God’s Word. It should be noted that wrong interpretations, false teachings, heresies and cults are established when there is overemphasis on certain verses, to the exclusion of others.

This is why as Disciples of Christ, our reading of Scripture should never be sporadic, but systematic; that is, reading through the Word, from Genesis to Revelation, and once done, start over. This same practice is recommended for the study of Scripture; one of the important hallmarks of a healthy church fellowship is one that is committed to expositional studies.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW: Conclusion to Ch. 6:14-34 - The MESSIAH and HIS KINGDOM MESSAGE

By James Fire

We now conclude chapter 6 of the Gospel of Matthew, picking up where we left off previously in vs. 13. The LORD Jesus just finished laying out the model prayer for the disciples to pattern their own personal prayer after, incorporating worship of the Father, petitioning for His kingdom’s arrival, for our personal needs, forgiveness of sins, protection from evil, and a worshipful declaration of the glory of God as elements of prayer.

Once He finishes this lay out, He returns to a crucial point about forgiveness:

MATTHEW 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Why would the LORD reiterate this point? Perhaps because He knew that we would have difficulties in forgiving each other?
To forgive in this context is to allow dismissal, to forego any offense afflicted; when one wrongs another, they are indebted to them for the wrong-doing, and the offended party holds them until rectification is accomplished, but there are times when no apology is forthcoming and so rather than ‘holding a grudge’, we release them for their wrong against us personally.
What is significant is that when we harbor unforgiveness, it is we ourselves that are bound up by it, and not the one who committed the offense. This is spiritually dangerous for many reasons – for one, such unforgiveness can deepen into bitterness (HEB 12:14-15), resentment and cynicism in general. Another even greater reason is explained in our text above: “…neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

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