BUT YOU FORGOT TO STAND ON THIS ONE PRINCIPLE, TED! | By Edwin Christiaan

And that is, the unconditional pledge you signed to endorse, in this case, Donald Trump! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty1eETVIFMs

Under pressure today, Ted Cruz admitted that he holds a grudge against Donald Trump for “maligning” his wife and father. http://www.foxnews.com/…/trump-calls-cruz-non-endorsement-n…

I said this all along: Ted Cruz, who calls himself a born-again Christian, is nothing but a religious deceiver and a liar and was never called by God to become president!

“God said to be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing!” 1. Peter 3:8-9 NLT

“And when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:25 NLT

Ted Cruz’s behavior is that of a man who acts all religious, but in reality he is unloving, unforgiving and puffed up with pride! (See 2. Timothy 3:3-5)

“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” Matthew 7:20 NLT

GOD CONTROLS THIS WHOLE THING | By Edwin Christiaan

The Bible says in Daniel 2:21 NLT that,

“God controls the course of world events; He removes kings and sets up other kings.”

That’s why it says that,

“For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God!” Romans 13:1 NLT

Make no mistake!

“The LORD does whatever pleases Him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths.” Psalm 135:6 NLT

PERIOD!

MOST PASTORS HAVE BAD MARRIAGES | Edwin Christiaan

So many pastors have bad marriages, and yet they continue to teach the church how to obtain God’s breakthrough in their personal lives and be blessed! How in the world is that possible?

Let me explain.

First of all, the Scriptures clearly teach, that a pastor must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.  For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? (See 1. Timothy 3:4-5)

Now, what you often see from pastors who have bad marriages is that their wives are not submissive to them, but instead they dominate and take authority over them. These ambitious wives are basically the ones who are leading the church (behind the scenes), teaching and instructing the men. This is the exact opposite of what the apostle Paul taught, namely that,

“Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them!” 1. Timothy 2:11-12 NLT

It is no wonder, that there is so much confusion and disorder in the church! The Bible says,

“For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:16 NLT

Furthermore, the Bible says, that the wives of pastors must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do! (See 1. Timothy 3:11)

“For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do!” 1. Timothy 2:10 NLT

WARNING: BE AWARE OF JUST SUBMITTING TO A CHURCH LEADER | By Edwin Christiaan

The church, or the Body of Christ, today is split and fractured into literally countless denominations, fellowships, associations, and the like. Many of them will not allow fellowship with a brother or sister from another church or denomination. Many pastors, church leaders, and ministers tend to be very judgmental and look down their noses at others, who do not belong to the same group as they do. They are proud and arrogant. Too many are prone to “judge their brother” because of doctrinal errors on minor points (or what some might call “major points”), when they themselves have major problems with attitudes, hidden sins, and a wrong spirit. They control the flock with false teachings and doctrines, fleecing them financially, and in doing so, these leaders cause major wounds and hurts in the people!

So, before you commit or submit yourself to a church and its leader or leaders and support them financially, it is important that you should follow these guidelines:

·      First of all, a church leader or pastor must be a man and not a woman! (See 1. Timothy 3:1) Why? Because the Bible does not allow women to teach men or have authority over them!  (See 1. Timothy 2:12)

·      Secondly,

“A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall!” 1. Timothy 3:6 NLT

·      Thirdly,

“A church leader or pastor’s life must be above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.  He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.  He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.  For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” 1. Timothy 3:2-5 NLT

·      Furthermore, a church leader must care for the flock of God that is entrusted to him. He is supposed to watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what he will get out of it (moneywise), but because he is eager to serve God. He should never control the people assigned to his care, but lead them by his good example. (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

·      A church leader should never impose the Old Testament Law of Tithing on the people, obligating them to pay 10% of their income, and in doing so, binding them to his church or ministry. Why? Because the Bible clearly says in the New Testament that, 

^“You must each decide in your heart how much to give!” 1. Corinthians 9:7 NLT

And,

“On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned!” 1. Corinthians 16:2 NLT

·      A church leader must preach the word of God! He must be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. He must patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching, leading the people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ! (See 2. Timothy 4:2)

·      A church’s leaders’ responsibility is to equip the people to do God’s work and build up the church, the body of Christ! (See Ephesians 4:12)

ONLY if a church leader or leaders pass the above qualifications, can you obey them joyfully and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your soul, and they are accountable to God. (See Hebrews 13:17)

The Bible says that you should,

“Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God! Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.” Hebrews 13:7 NLT

It also says,

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.” Galatians 6:6 NLT

And furthermore that,

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 1. Timothy 5:17-18 NLT

Conclusively, we should always be like the people of Berea in the Book of Acts, who searched the Scriptures day after day to see if what the apostles Paul and Silas were teaching was indeed the truth! (See Acts 17:11)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOUL AND SPIRIT | By Edwin Christiaan

Even though the soul and the spirit are connected, they are separable

The Bible says in Hebrew 4:12 NLT:

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.”

And in 1. Thessalonians 5:23 NLT, it says:

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

These passages make it very clear, that there is a distinction between the soul and the spirit.

Humans are spirit beings, who live in a body and possess a soul. The real person inside of us is our spirit. Our soul consists of our mind, will, and emotions. Our bodies are what we live in, while we are here on earth.

When Jesus Christ chooses us to become His follower, our spirit is instantly reborn and made new, as stated in 2. Corinthians 5:17:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

On the other hand, our soul is not born again, but instead needs to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as it says in Romans 12:2 NLT:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

This is why so many believers can continue to struggle with sin even after accepting Jesus Christ. Their soul still needs be purified and washed clean!

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever!” 1. Peter 1:22-23 NKJV

Demonic spirits can also remain in our souls, and must be driven out, as Jesus commanded to do, when He said:

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name!” Mark 16:17 NLT

Many find it very hard to believe, that a born-again Christian can have a demonic spirit. It is because they simply don't understand the difference between the soul and the spirit of a person. They believe everything is made new the moment a person accepts Jesus.

But, it is through the soul, that demonic spirits torments and possesses people! Like the woman that Jesus delivered, whom an evil spirit had crippled for eighteen years, causing her to bend double so she was unable to stand up straight. (See Luke 13:11)

Or, like the boy, who suffered from terrible seizures that caused him to oftentimes fall into fire or water. Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. In that very moment, the boy was well! (See Matthew 17:15, 17)

I pray that the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again! God will make this happen, for He, who calls you, is faithful! (See 1. Thessalonians 5:23-24)

PLEASE! YOU NEED TO KNOW… | By Edwin Christiaan

That when God has chosen you to be His child, He will be working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him! (See Philippians 2:13)

Then you will only be asking for things what pleases God!

You will know that He hears you when you make your requests, because He will give you what you ask for, which will be what He desires for you! (See 1. John 5:14-15)

That’s why Jesus said; “You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name!” John 15:16 NLT

LET ME TELL YOU THIS! | By Edwin Christiaan

God can do anything, anytime, anywhere with anybody!

That’s why it says that with God everything is possible! (See Matthew 19:26)

God is able to accomplish infinitely more than you might ask or think! (See Ephesians 3:20)

And God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them! (See Romans 8:28)