Is outward holiness just as important as inward Holiness?

Do You Want MORE POWER and Apostolic Revival in your Church? These principles will help our ladies and men to be holy.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (King James Version)
7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

...It first must start in the inside (Repentance) then when you've obeyed acts 2:38 and have been SET APART for Service unto the Lord and filled with the holy Ghost you will learn what holiness is all about.


Holiness is a separation from the World. Some church folks think it's only on the inside is what counts.But outward holiness is just as important as inward holiness. The Inside always reflects the outside! You shall Know the Tree by it's fruit it bears. As long as there is good fruit(a right attitude ,a Right Spirit) we are Learning and there will be a change like a season's change. It will be noticeable. A Real change from Darkness to light, Blind eyes will see the truth for the first time(revelation) and deaf ears(ears that didn't want to hear the Word of God will be opened!) Hallelujah!Apostolic REVIVAL!!! You see Jesus is in the business of making Men And Women COMPLETE IN HIM! He doesn't clean somebody up and fill them with the holy ghost to live back in sin!
That's like going into a grocery store and buying a chicken leg

when your family wants the whole chicken! LOL! It's just incomplete. Jesus cares about every detail of your life! He's not gonna give you a half of bird and leave you there hangin but give you the whole thing!AMEN!

 Some preachers can leave you guessing about outward holiness. If God blesses you with inward holiness he will surely bless you with outward holiness teaching. amen! The whole THING. :)

After all it is the Pastor's job to get you all the way to heaven!

In order to grow in the grace of God it teaches us somethings!! Titus 2:11-13 (King James Version)

11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

So if we are not learning we are not GROWING.Amen! Let's begin with that said the word of God teaches us somethings!


Jeremiah 6:15-16 (King James Version)

15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask... for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

These People were rebellious and had committed abominations unto the Lord and did they care? Well. no.

Let's read what the old Paths are and what is considered to be an abomination to our precious Lord and Savior?
So we can recognize what the Lord dislikes and likes in our walk with Him.
Do you think the Lord likes cross dressing?
No He doesn't. Cross Dressing is Women wearing pants and men wearing skirts.
Deuteronomy 22:5 (King James Version)

5The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

-Idolatry
-child sacrifice
- Witchcraft
- and Murder are all considered to be abominations to God as well.


Holiness is what pleases the Lord.


We are required to have holiness otherwise we can't see the Lord in heaven as stated in
Hebrews 12:14 (King James Version)

14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:


1. How do you perceive him? Is he somebody that is up in the Sky that don't care what you do? Maybe so. You just haven't had a REAL personal encounter with him yet. He will change your thoughts. Will you let him?

2.How you you talk? What can come out of your mouth can do more harm than good? This is what makes it good or bad fruit! The Tongue No Man can tame! Matthew 15:18 (King James Version)
18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
So are you willing to do it God's way and repent and let him fill you with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire?

3. How do you walk? Are you walking the spirit or in the flesh? Two sides of the spectrum. It's either one or the other.

4. What changes have you made since you've been in church(obeyed Acts 2:38)? Are you GROWING IN HIS GRACE? Does he REALLY care about how I dress? YES Absolutely! Some women can look like the world hiding their faces w/make-up that God HAS made beautiful without make up.
Holiness means to be set apart.
What are you set apart from?
The world paints dead stuff like barns cars and houses ect. Now that God has made You ALIVE by filling you with his spirit why do you still conform to the patterns of the world? Do you ever see somebody trying to paint a rose?A flower? A butterfly? Something that's Alive don't need painting.
There must be holiness to be in Love with The King.
The first mention of makeup the bible gives it in a bad light.
2 Kings 9:30 (King James Version)
30And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
Here is one about make up and Jewelry. FIRST we must ask ourselves?
Are we trying to draw attention to ourselves when wearing flashy jewelry? Or our we drawing attention to Jesus (holy Ghost in us) when people see us?

This was God speaking to Israel when they began to worship other gods.
Jeremiah 4:30 (King James Version)

30And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

Ok back to dress. Should a christian look different than the World? Does it matter what clothes I wear?
Let's seek the old paths and find out:
As I stated earlier No cross dressing. Women should wear skirts that are modest. Just look at the international symbol on the bathrooms. The male is distinguished by his pants and the Woman by her skirt. As Children of God we don't need to be confusing each other's gender. Amen. The World might do it but the church shouldn't.
Here's what The Word says about clothing:
Genesis 3:7 (King James Version)

7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
go to verse 21 and see that God does care.
Genesis 3:21 (King James Version)
21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. The Fig leaves they thought was acceptable but probably still showed nakedness. God however made them coats to cover themselves.
So it is today Many Christians think it's alright if I draw attention to the opposite sex with this blouse low cut,But really Where are your motives?Or No sleeves? If your heart is after a man or woman?It's shows when you wear that stuff. How does God feel about that? Showing nakedness is Worldly! The Flesh also CRAVES and LUSTS to be noticed. But if we as Children of God deny ourselves and dress modestly that PLEASES God Much!
What is Modesty? That means hidden or discreet.
We are trying to appeal to God not the world.
1 John 2:15-16 (King James Version)

15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Our Bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost and we are to treat them with honor and respect.

Romans 12

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your REASONABLE service.

Note*Some may contend it's unreasonable to dress holy.But our bible says it's our REASONABLE service. Amen.

2And 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.

Also to dress elegantly and modestly is to express that "I am Beautiful person on the outside,but I have much more beauty Within. " My appearance is attractive but my personality is striking"

When the Body is emphasized it takes away attention from the "person"in the body.

Clothing that doesn't Flaunt the body says: "You might notice my looks but please look at my character." :)

To be set apart from the world and UNTO JESUS is to walk in HIS Holiness.

With a humble attitude Let's pray!" Lord I Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and washing me clean! Now what can I do to please you today?" Help me Lord Jesus to draw closer to you and walk in the beauty of your holiness today!
Praise His Name! King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
In Jesus Name! Amen.

To Chew or to Sip? Never Quit!!

What does it mean to grow spiritually? Well if someone you know has been in church for so many years and knows everything the bible says and the pastor can't tell this person different. This person basically STOPPED GROWING Spiritually and has become like a dried up dead bone or weed.

Also one could experience extreme pressures of life and give up one's faith because they are not rooted and grounded in the truth of God's Word. The person may have gone to church for years then decided LIFE is too hard. CARNALLY Speaking.  note* to be Carnal is to think against God's Word. The natural sinful nature we are born with (Rom.3:23) always rebels against God's word.
                       
 Romans 8:5-7 (King James Version)


 ⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
 ⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
 ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The Carnal mind always uses it's own intellect and reasoning OVER God's word.
God's will for us is to walk in the Spirit!
HERE'S where the growing part comes in!
  Romans 8
 ¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Have you allowed God to change your spiritual diaper lately?LOL! I said that in all humor because I said the Big CHANGE word. lol! You see I didn't want you to get scared and run off. LOL! So then on a serous note: When you've obeyed Acts 2:38 you've put off the OLD man with it's deeds and PUT on Christ.

So have you given something to the Lord that he can work with you on in prayer?

Jesus doesn't just want a part of you but ALL of you!

What do you give God to work with in your situation?

Is your prayer life all one sided? WHOA is Me! All about self?
Try to start focusing on praying for others more and see if the Lord don't help you in your situation!

Again I will ask: What do you give God to work with?
Do you allow him to move in you heart and mind? Or again is it ALL ONE SIDED? Like No I can't Lord or I this and I and I that Prayers?
To serve God is selfless Love. Yes we have needs and He will take care of it IF YOU TRUST him.
Have you ever prayed: Lord Jesus USE ME for your Glory and Purpose? 

Lord, I want to be MORE LIKE YOU! sound familiar?


Many Christians have.I know I have. What did Jesus go through? Pain and suffering. Someone betrayed him spit in his face and was CRUCIFIED for YOU. He was Buried and ROSE again for you. That the New testament plan of salvation might be fulfilled for you and I and all those whom the Lord our God shall call. (acts2:37-39.) 
Well then we should expect to go through somethings!!Your situation will not be nearly as bad as what Jesus went through but problems in Life will come your way! Being a christian doesn't mean we won't have any problems in life.
BUT Rather Jesus wants you to learn from this lesson in Life and help you GROW Spiritually.But in order for you to GROW Spiritually You must deny yourself and take up the cross and FOLLOW HIM!You see THE Flesh MUST DIE.(repentance) So that We may live in Him.(The Holy ghost can Live in us.


You see He is always there for us. Your christian walk might be a little shallow starting out as babes (after obeying his true plan of salvation in Acts 2:38) in Christ,but after you learn to walk with Him and Talk with Him on a daily basis you will  be happy and satisfied with milk. So in order to wean a babe from milk ; Solid foods must be introduced since their GROWING.

Ever have a pastor or teacher give you a scripture and you had a hard time understanding it or maybe you didn't accept it and spit it out? Phhstt! I don't have to listen to that.

LOL. Sometimes you don't want to Chew on solid meat.  So in order to take it in as a whole  (God's word) We will soon learn how to chew on it a while until we can swallow it. :) Then after you eat the Steak(The word of God) You will desire More!!! because it tasted SO Good!! 

Ha,ha Also we know that eventually change will come. Change for the Good or Bad is up to you. One must use those God given chompers and Chew!
Have you obeyed Acts 2:38 by the grace Of God? We are made over comers by His Spirit!
If your looking for a change ask the Lord today for the Holy Ghost and he will give you more than what you need!
We cannot go to heaven on our own terms. It has to be God's way!!
We will grow in God when we learn to lean on Jesus more in Prayer And TRUST him in our trials or difficulties in Life. 
Because a life without God is most miserable. But With God All things are possible.

So I encourage you today don't be satisfied with milk and going through the motions of having church! Develop a real relationship with the Lord in Prayer. He Cares for you. Get to know His thoughts and plans for you in His word . Find an apostolic Pentecostal Church to be faithful to. If your already in one don't be easily offended. Let's face it there is no such thing as perfect church.

As long as there is humans in the church there will be mistakes. Amen.We ALL MUST GROW in the Grace and KNOWLEDGE of Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 (King James Version)

 ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
So let us not become Stagnate in our walk with Jesus!

 Rofl!
Let's seek Him today in prayer! 
The Lord will take care of his People.
The Lord Jesus Christ bless you.
In His Service,
Sister Morton











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OH What Prayer CAN DO!

 Hannah was barren. She had no children but by prayer the Lord remembered her and she had conceived from her Husband, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1 Samuel 1:1-20)

1 Samuel 2:1-3 (King James Version)

1 Samuel 2

 ¹And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
 ²There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
 ³Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Numbers 11

 ¹And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
 ²And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

2 Kings 6:14-17 (King James Version)

 ¹⁴Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
 ¹⁵And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
 ¹⁶And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
 ¹⁷And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.


Hezekiah was sick unto death But He PRAYED and The Lord healed Him and added 15 years to his life!
2 Kings 20:1-6 (King James Version)

2 Chronicles 30:17-20 (King James Version)

 ¹⁷For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
 ¹⁸For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one
 ¹⁹That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
 ²⁰And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
Job had Lost everything. His live stock,His Health and land,and His Money, and all his family except His wife and even his friends condemned him! His wife told him to curse God. He replied she was a foolish woman. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP OLE Job from PRAYING,AND PRAYING, AND PRAYING !!! He Didn't give up his Faith In God.

Job 42:10 (King James Version)

 ¹⁰And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Daniel Prayed an Angel down and shut the mouths of the loins in the loins den!
(Daniel 6:1-28)

Even rebellious Jonah God got him to the point He ended up in a Whales stomach! So Jonah repented in Prayer and the whale spit him up out!

Jonah 2:1-3 (King James Version)

Jonah 2

 ¹Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
 ²And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
 ³For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
This should be our example don't let your Pride and personal ambitions get you into a place that can be horrifying in a Deep pit!
Apostle Paul died daily in Prayer Repentance- a dying to self a denial of one's self and needing God as our strength will help you to stay in his will.

1 Corinthians 15:31 (King James Version)

 ³¹I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Even Jesus Humbled Himself in Prayer.
Matthew 26:39 (King James Version)
 ³⁹And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:42 (King James Version)

 ⁴²He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Even Jesus prayed a second time. 

Mark 8:23-25 (King James Version)

 ²³And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
 ²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
 ²⁵After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT ON GOD In Prayer

Luke 24:49 (King James Version)

 ⁴⁹And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
I wonder how many of us when seeking after the Holy Ghost don't wait on God? The person at the alter gets up too soon. The person has to leave early.

These people tarried many days for the Promise of the Holy Ghost to be poured out! We should have the attitude what ever it takes Lord and Wait on Him!


By Prayer and waiting on God 120 were filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost in the upper Room in Acts 2:1-6.
By Prayer and fasting the house of Cornelius had an angel come down from heaven and tell him to send for Peter to tell him how he and his family can be saved. Read all of Acts chapter 10.

By Prayer you can be used mightily of God.
Acts 4:31 (King James Version)

 ³¹And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Matthew 21:22 (King James Version)

 ²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.


Praise The Lord! I hope this article has encouraged you! The scriptures given are not exhaustive. There is Much to be said about what Prayer Can Do!The Lord Bless you!

Why should I be baptized?

I will give you 40 scriptural reasons why you should get baptized!

1. Because Jesus commanded it. He commanded His disciples to baptize those whom they had taught. (Matt. 28:19)

2. Because Jesus modeled it. He was baptized by John in the river Jordan in order to fulfill all righteousness. (Matt 3:13-15) If it was righteousness thing for Him to do, then how much more is it vital for sinners.

3. Because baptism is coupled with faith and linked to salvation in the teachings of Jesus. 'He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.' (Mark 16:16)

4. Because baptism is linked with repentance and the forgiveness of sins in the teachings of the apostles. 'Repent and be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of sins...' (Acts 2:38)

5. Because baptism in essential in receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38; see also Acts 19:3-5)

6. Because in baptism our sins are washed away. (Acts 22:16)

7. Because in baptism we call on the name of the Lord. "Arise and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16) Baptism is like an action of prayer. In this action we call upon God to fulfill all promises which He has made to us through Christ. Such calling upon the Lord is essential to our salvation.

8. Because in baptism we are brought into spiritual contact with the blood of Jesus. We are 'baptized into his death' where His precious blood was shed. (Romans 6:3)

9. Because in baptism we act out the burial of Jesus. (Romans 6:4) We are 'buried' with Him.

10. Because in baptism we act out the resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:4) We are raised with Him.

11. Because in baptism we mark the formal beginning of a new life in Christ. (Romans 6:4) After our baptism we walk in 'newness of life'.

12. Because in baptism we come 'into Jesus Christ' where there is salvation and blessing. (Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27)

13. Because in baptism we demonstrate our hope in the resurrection of the righteous. (Romans 6:5)

14. Because in baptism we 'put on Christ'. (Galatians 3:27)

15. Because in baptism we complete the process of new birth -which began when the Holy Spirit -inspired word was implanted into our hearts. (John 3-5)

16. Because being born of the water and the Spirit is essential to entering Christ's kingdom of salvation, "except a man be of the water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." (John 3:5)

17. Because in baptism we experience the circumcision of Christ in which the sins of the flesh are removed in the sight of God. (Colossians 2:11-12)

18. Because in baptism we are raised with Him through faith in the operation of God,: baptism demonstrates in the physical realm our faith about what God is doing in the spiritual realm when we are baptized. (Colossians 2:12)

19. Because baptism is a necessary to be counted among the followers of Christ. 'Those who received his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:41)

20. Because even Holy Spirit baptism was no substitute for obedience to Christ in Christian baptism. After Cornelius and his household were baptized in the Holy Spirit, Peter 'ordered' that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:48)

21. Because even the baptism of John the baptist was no substitute for Christian baptism. (Acts 19:3-5)

22. Because when people in the first century believed the gospel they were baptized immediately. (Acts 8:36; 19:5) The action must have been considered very important.

23. Because baptism is a prominent part of the preaching about Jesus. Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch. As part of his message he must have spoken of the importance of baptism. At the first opportunity the eunuch asked, "See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized." (Acts 8:35-36)

24. Because if one believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, there is nothing to hinder his/her baptism. (Acts 8:36-37) While teaching about the significance of baptism is important, one need not know all there is to know on the subject because he submits to the Lord in this act.

25. Because baptism leads to a realization that one has obeyed the Lord, hence to joy. (Acts 8:39) The newly baptized eunuch went on his way 'rejoicing'.

26. Because baptism, being the final act in a series of initial responses to the gospel, saves us. The Apostle Peter declared, "baptism now saves us..." (I Peter 3:21)

27. Because in baptism one is following the prompting of a good conscience. It is evidence that one is sincerely trying to do exactly what the Lord commanded. (I Peter 3:21)

28. Because we are baptized in the NAME of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The NAME is Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38)

29. Baptism is the natural result of having believed the preaching the things concerning about the kingdom of God, they were baptized..." (Acts 8:12)

30. Because baptism is required of all believers, "they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12). "We were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

31. Because we are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:16) Jesus is Lord!

32. Because healing happens when we are baptism. (Acts 9:18)

33. Because baptism is the natural response of a heart opened by the Lord. (Acts 16:14-15) Through the gospel the Lord opened Lydia's heart to respond to Paul's message. She responded by being baptized.

34. Because baptism is coupled with faith in the reports of salvation in the book of Acts. Many of the Corinthians heard him [Paul], believed, and were baptized.

35. Because baptism is the antetype of the crossing of the Red Sea. (I Corinthians 10:12) Just as Israel left the bondage of Egypt by passing through the sea, so we also leave the bondage of sin to enter into a new relationship with God in baptism.

36. Because baptism is the antetype of the waters of Noah's flood. (1 Peter 3:20-21). Just as the waters removed Noah from a sinful world, so in baptism we pass from a sinful state to a forgiven state.

37. Because baptism is the result of the work of the Spirit on the heart and mind through the word. "We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body" (I Corinthians 12:13)

38. Because there is one baptism which has been required since the first century and shall be required until the Lord returns. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5)

39. Because we draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience , and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

40. Because baptism is one of three witnesses. "For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one" (I John 5:8).
AND TO IGNORE THESE SCRIPTURES IS TO IGNORE THE WORD OF GOD.

Knowing This One God

This video is in response to a message in prayer to show the glory of who He is. If you find one who is like the Father in every way, then you have found Him. Praise Him, for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is risen and glorified!

There Is But One God

Here's something to think about!
God the Creator Gen. 1:1; Gen. 2:7; Job 93:4; Psalm 33:6; 104:30; Is. 40:28; Is. 44:24; Is. 45:11-18; Mal. 2:10
Jesus the Creator
John 1:10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:12-17; Heb. 1:8-12; Rev. 4:8-11; 10:6; 1...4:6-7; 21:5-7; 22:3, 7:17
God the Redeemer and Savior
Psalm 78:34-35; 106:21; Is. 47:4; 44:6; 43:3-11; 45:21; 99:26; Luke l:46-47
Jesus the Redeemer and Savior
I Jn 4:14; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Acts 20:28; Gal. 3:13; Luke 2:10-11; John 4;40-42; Acts 12:23; Phil 3;20; 1 Tim 1:1-3, 4-10; Titus 1:1-4, 2:10-13; 1 Peter 1:10,11; Jude 25
God the Shepherd
Psalm 23; 100; Is. 40:10,11
Jesus the Shepherd
John 10;8-12; 1 Peter 2;21-25; Heb. 13;20; 1 Pet. 5:4
God the King
Psalm 47; 44:4; 74:12; Is 43:10-15; 44:6-8; Jer. 10:10; Zech 14:9
Jesus the King
Matt. 2:1-6; Luke 19;32-38; Luke 23:3; John 18:37; 29:21; 1 Tim. 6:13-16; Rev 15:1-4; 19:11-16
God the "I AM" and "I am He"
Ex. 3:13,14; Is. 43:10-11,25
Jesus the "I AM" and I am He"
John 18:5-8; 8:24-28; Rev. 1:17-18
God the First and Last
Is. 41:4; 43:10,11; 44:6,8
Jesus the First and Last
Rev. 1;17; 22:13
God the Rock
Deut. 32:1-4; 2 Sam 22:13,32; Psalm 18:2; 31:3; 78:34-35; 89:26; Is. 17:10-11
Jesus the Rock
Matt. 16:17-19; Is. 28;16; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Cor. 10;4; Num. 20:1-11; Eph. 2;20-22; 1Peter 2:6-8
God is coming
Zech. 14:45; 1 Thes. 4;13-18; Rev. 19:11,16; Psalm 50:1-6
Jesus is coming
1 Thes. 3;11-13; Matt 25;31:46; Titus 2:11-13
So Jesus is of a dual nature - God and man. The perfect God; the perfect man. An awesome revelation of the scriptures shows us this fundamental Truth - the great Creator became our Savior. "John 1:10 - He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." There is but One God, and His name is Jesus!

What an Awesome God we Serve!! Hallelujah!

Isn't Salvation Just believing on the Lord Jesus Christ?

You cannot afford to make a mistake about Salvation. Your soul is too valuable, the lake of fire is too final and eternity is too long to be wrong.

Satan's master plan is to make people believe they are saved when in reality they are still lost. His plan is sly, crafty and deceptive. His timing is just perfect. The name of his counterfeit is called EASY BELIEVISM. Approximately ninety five percent of all Protestant churches now accept it and most evangelical tract companies print it as being gospel truth. It has swept upon our land at a time when the cry of the masses is, "We like it easy and comfortable". A person can become a millionaire overnight by inventing a gadget that will make a hard job easy or an easy job easier. You can see this principle revealed in the success of perma-press clothes, micro-wave ovens, electric door openers, automatic dishwashers and electric knives. Everyone is crying, "Make it easy brother".

Satan designed his plan to include parts of the Bible which would add reverence and credibility to his counterfeit and at the same time twist the truths and change the words to produce a subtle half-truth which is more dangerous than an outright lie. only the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH will save a man or woman from sin.

Is a person saved by simply and only believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior? Many churches now teach that a person is ready to meet the Lord in the second coming simply because they raised their hand and vocalized the phrase "I do now accept Christ as my personal Savior". This plan is simple, easy, soothing, mild, and effortless, but OH ... So FALSE! Ministers will be judged by God on the grounds of criminal negligence who allow their church members to continue in their sinful habits and at the same time believe they are gloriously saved. Saved from W H A T???

There is more to being saved than EASY BELIEVISM -please notice Acts 16:31 very closely. And they said "... thou shalt be (future tense) saved..." The Apostle Paul used the future tense, shalt be, which places the act or event in the future. Notice, he did not say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou art saved", like so many do today. It takes more to being saved than saying "I believe". James 2:14 teaches that faith alone can not save. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? Can Faith Save Him?. James 2:20 declares, "Faith without works is dead". You do not have faith if you do not have works. Faith without works is dead. It can not save you if it is alone. Works are proof of faith. If works prove faith, then the absence of works prove unbelief. Yes, faith is necessary to be saved, but it takes more than just faith.

Was Simon the Sorcerer saved in Acts 8:13 by easy believism? we quote "then Simon himself believed also..." the answer to this question is "NO" Simon was not saved by only believing. We know this to be a fact from Apostle Peter's stinging rebuke in Acts 8:20-21. Listen to what he said,"... but Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou has thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou has neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God". He believed but was still unsaved.

Even Simon Peter himself believed and made a confession of faith in Matt. 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". Was Peter saved according to the New Testament plan of salvation by his confession of faith? The Bible teaches he was not. In Luke 22:32 Jesus revealed Peter's spiritual condition by saying, "... when thou art converted (future tense) strengthen thy brethren". Mark 14:71 lets us know Peter was still in an unconverted condition of lying and cursing. Revelation 21:8 teaches us that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.

What about the thief on the cross? In Luke 23:43 we read, "And Jesus said unto him... Today shalt thou be with me in paradise". How was the thief saved without obeying the New Birth Plan of Salvation? The answer is, the thief actually lived in the Old Testament dispensation and did not have access to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost as we know it today. This is made clear in John 7:39, "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified". The Baptism of the Holy Ghost or the New Testament inheritance could not be given until the testator died. Hebrews 9:16-17. The thief was not saved according to the New Testament Plan of Salvation which is found in Acts 2:38.

What about Romans 10:9? "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart... thou SHALT be saved". Again please notice that the Apostle uses the future tense. shalt be, placing salvation in the future. The Apostle Paul realized that no man can truly confess Christ without the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3 teaches, "No man can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost". Besides all of this, he is not addressing sinners, but a church of saved individuals. We know this because he addressed them as brethren in 1 Corinthians 12:1.

Were the disciples saved under the New Testament Plan of Salvation in John 6:66-69 when they made their confession of faith? Let us read, "We believe and are sure, that thou art that Christ..." Easy Believism must answer "yes, they were saved here". Let us, however, notice what Jesus said to these same disciples in Matthew 18:1-3. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus... and Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye (Disciples) be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven". If the disciples could not be saved by Easy Believism, then neither can you or I.

Are the Devils saved? Easy Believism must answer in the affirmative. Why? Because James 2:19 teaches "The devils also believe..." Let us now examine the scripture to see if devils will be saved. Revelation 20:10 says, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire..." Also notice 2 Peter 2:4, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned,, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment". NO! Devils are not saved by only believing.

Acts 10:1-6 records that Cornelius, the centurion, was a very religious and devout man; who feared God, gave much alms and prayed to God always. Was he saved by doing all of this? After doing all of this the angel spoke and told him to send for Peter in Acts 11:14 "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved". In Acts 26:27-29 we read that King Agrippa believed. "I know that thou believest..." King Agrippa still remained unsaved however.

What is the New Testament Plan Of Salvation? Only Belief? Accept Christ? Join a Church? Pay dues every week? NO! Acts 2:38 is where the true plan is found. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". Repentance, Baptism in Jesus Name, and the experience of the Holy Ghost were the keys to the kingdom spoken about in Matthew 16:19. They are the fulfillment of the birth of the WATER and of the SPIRIT in John 3:5, and the resurrection power of the church as recorded in Romans 8:11. As there was a death, burial and resurrection in the life of Jesus; so repentance is our death to sin, Baptism in Jesus name is our burial, and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is our resurrection (To walk in newness of life). The church at Jerusalem believed this plan in Acts 2:38. The Church at Samaria believed in Repentance, Baptism in Jesus Name, and receiving of the Holy Ghost in Acts 8:12,16,22. The church at Caesarea also affirmed this truth in Acts 10:44-48. The church at Ephesus obeyed Paul's preaching and were baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost, Acts 19:5-6. As you can see, believing in Jesus is necessary, but after they believed, these people in the book of Acts went on to REPENT; be BAPTIZED in JESUS NAME, and received the HOLY GHOST (Which comes with the evidence of SPEAKING IN TONGUES as the SPIRIT gives the utterance - Acts 2:4).

Many today will say that you cannot be saved by works, therefore you are not saved by being baptized in water or being baptized in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. I submit that they are SO WRONG. Baptism is something that is done to you. All that you have to do is to receive it. The same is true with receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the speaking in tongues. It is a gift! It is done to you. All you must do is receive. Are you doing a work if someone gives you a gift? Absolutely not! If this is a work then the very act of accepting Jesus as your Savior or the repenting of your sins could also then be considered works.

I would also tell you that there are many good men, charismatic men, even Godly men preaching the gospel. Many are led by the spirit of God, but not filled with the spirit of God, rejecting the whole of God's truth because of self study, or theological or denominational beliefs. The most dangerous lie there is one that is wrapped in so much truth that you can't see the lie that will send you to hell. First, pray that God will reveal the truth to you regarding his plan for salvation. Then, study God's word for yourself. It's there in black and white. Not a mystery, yet there is none so blind as them that will not see.

You can disagree on many things in the bible, much of which we'll know by and by. But there can be no mistake in the plan of salvation. To be saved you must first believe, then repent (turn away from) of your sins, be baptized by submersion in water in the name of Jesus, be baptized in the holy spirit as evidenced by the speaking in other tongues.

ETERNITY IS TOO LONG TO BE WRONG

The orgin of the trinity

Why isn't the trinity sound doctrine?

The basic problem is that trinitarianism is a nonbiblical doctrine that contradicts a number of biblical teachings and many specific verses of Scripture. Moreover, the doctrine contains a number of internal contradictions. Of course, the most obvious internal contradiction is how there can be three persons of God in any meaningful sense and yet there be only one God.
Below we have compiled a number of other contradictions and problems associated with trinitarianism. This list is not exhaustive but it does give an idea of how much the doctrine deviates from the Bible.
1. Did Jesus Christ have two fathers? The Father is the Father of the Son (I John 1:3), yet the child born of Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Which one is the true father? Some trinitarians say that the Holy Ghost was merely the Father's agent in conception - a process they compare to artificial insemination! 
2. How many Spirits are there? God the Father is a Spirit (John 4:24), the Lord Jesus is a Spirit (II Corinthians 3:17), and the Holy Spirit is a Spirit by definition. Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).
3. If Father and Son are co-equal persons, why did Jesus pray to the Father? (Matthew 11:25). Can God pray to God?
4. Similarly, how can the Son not know as much as the Father? (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).
5. Similarly, how can the Son not have any power except what the Father gives Him? (John 5:19, 30; 6:38).
6. Similarly, what about other verses of Scripture indicating the inequality of the Son and the Father? (John 8:42; 14:28; I Corinthians 11:3).
7. Did "God the Son" die? The Bible says the Son died (Romans 5:10). If so, can God die? Can part of God die?
8. How can there be an eternal Son when the Bible speaks of the begotten Son, clearly indicating that the Son had a beginning? (John 3:16; Hebrews 1:5-6).
9. If the Son is eternal and existed at creation, who was His mother at that time? We know the Son was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4).
10. Did "God the Son" surrender His omnipresence while on earth? If so, how could he still be God?
11. If the Son is eternal and immutable (unchangeable), how can the reign of the Son have an ending? (I Corinthians 15:24-28).
12. If in answer to questions 3 through 11 we say only the human Son of God was limited in knowledge, was limited in power, and died, then how can we speak of "God the Son"? Are there two Sons?
13. Whom do we worship and to whom do we pray? Jesus said to worship the Father (John 4:21-24), yet Stephen prayed to Jesus (Acts 7:59-60).
14. Can there be more than three persons in the Godhead? Certainly the Old Testament does not teach three but emphasizes oneness. If the New Testament adds to the Old Testament message and teaches three persons, then what is to prevent subsequent revelations of additional persons? If we apply trinitarian logic to interpret some verses of Scripture, we could teach a fourth person (Isaiah 48:16; Colossians 1:3; 2:2; I Thessalonians 3:11; James 1:27). Likewise, we could interpret some verses of Scripture to mean six more persons (Revelation 3:1; 5:6).
15. Are there three Spirits in a Christian's heart? Father, Jesus, and the Spirit all dwell within a Christian (John 14:17, 23; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 3:14-17). Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).
16. There is only one throne in heaven (Revelation 4:2). Who sits upon it? We know Jesus does (Revelation 1:8,18, 4:8). Where do the Father and the Holy Spirit sit?
17. If Jesus is on the throne, how can He sit on the right hand of God? (Mark 16:19). Does He sit or stand on the right hand of God? (Acts 7:55). Or is He in the Father's bosom? (John 1:18).
18. Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus? Colossians 2:9 says the latter.
19. Given Matthew 28:19, why did the apostles consistently baptize both Jews and Gentiles using the name of Jesus, even to the extent of rebaptism? (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; I Corinthians 1:13).
20. Who raised Jesus from the dead? Did the Father (Ephesians 1:20), or Jesus (John 2:19-21), or the Spirit? (Romans 8:11).
21. If Son and Holy Ghost are co-equal persons in the Godhead, why is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost unforgivable but blasphemy of the Son is not? (Luke 12:10).
22. If the Holy Ghost is a co-equal member of the trinity, why does the Bible always speak of Him being sent from the Father or from Jesus? (John 14:26; 15:26).
23. Does the Father know something that the Holy Spirit does not know? If so, how can they be co-equal? Only the Father knows the day and hour of the Second Coming of Christ (Mark 13:32).
24. Did the trinity make the Old and New covenants? We know the LORD (Jehovah) did (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13). If Jehovah is a trinity then Father, Son, and Spirit all had to die to make the new covenant effective (Hebrews 9:16-17).
25. If the Spirit proceeds from the Father, is the Spirit also a son of the Father? If not, why not?
26. If the Spirit proceeds from the Son, is the Spirit the grandson of the Father? If not, why not?
 
Based on answers to these questions and others like them, we feel the majority of Bible believers instinctively think in Oneness terms and not in trinitarian terms. Moreover, it appears that when a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit he instinctively thinks in terms of Oneness belief.
Most Catholics and Protestants do not have a well developed concept of the trinity, do not know in detail what trinitarianism teaches, and cannot explain Bible passages in trinitarian terms. Today, we find a strong emphasis on trinitarianism and extremely tritheistic forms of trinitarianism primarily in some trinitarian Pentecostal groups. The apparent reason for this is that they have faced the Oneness issue, have consciously rejected Oneness, and so have gone into radical trinitarianism.
A simple question will help the trinitarian church member clarify his own beliefs. The question is: "When we see God in heaven, what will we see?" If he answers that we will see three persons with three bodies, then he is a strong, radical trinitarian. His answer indicates a pagan tritheism, not the strong monotheism of the Bible.  If he answers that we will see one God with one body, then he is close to Oneness. Given this answer, it is easy to demonstrate from Revelation that the One we will see is actually Jesus Christ, for in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Conclusion
The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the trinity, and trinitarianism actually contradicts the Bible. It does not add any positive benefit to the Christian message. Without the man-made doctrine of the trinity we can still affirm the deity of Jesus, the humanity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the atonement, justification by faith, the sole authority of Scripture, and any other doctrine that is essential to true Christianity. In fact, we enhance these doctrines when we adhere strictly to the Bible message that Jesus is the one God manifested in flesh. Adherence to Oneness does not mean a denial that God came in flesh as the Son or a denial that God fulfills the roles of Father and Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the doctrine of the trinity does detract from the important biblical themes of the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christianity should stop using trinitarian terminology and should go back to emphasis of the basic Bible message. Most Bible believers do not think in strong trinitarian terms, so a transition away from it would not be very difficult, at least on an individual level.
On the other side, strict adherence to Oneness belief brings many blessings. It places emphasis where it should be - on the importance of biblical terminology, thought, and themes. It establishes Christianity as the true heir of Judaism and as a truly monotheistic belief. It reminds us that God our Father and Creator loved us so much He robed Himself in flesh to come as our Redeemer. It reminds us that we can receive this same Creator and Redeemer in our hearts through His Own Spirit.
Oneness magnifies Jesus Christ, exalts His name, recognizes who He really is, and acknowledges His full deity. Exalting Jesus and His name in preaching and in worship brings a mighty move of His power in blessings, deliverance, answered prayer, miracles, healing, and salvation. Wonderful things happen when someone preaches a message on the deity of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the oneness of God, but rarely does one get inspired over a message on the trinity.
A strong belief in the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ is a crucial element in restoring the church to true biblical belief and apostolic power.

The Word

John 1 beautifully teaches the concept of God manifest in flesh. In the beginning was the Word (Greek, Logos). The Word was not a separate person or a separate god any more than a man's word is a separate person from him. Rather the Word was the thought, plan, or mind of God. The Word was with God in the beginning and actually was God Himself (John 1:1). The Incarnation existed in the mind of God before the world began. Indeed, in the mind of God the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8).
In Greek usage, logos can mean the expression or plan as it exists in the mind of the proclaimer - as a play in the mind of a playwright - or it can mean the thought as uttered or otherwise physically expressed - as a play that is enacted on stage. John 1 says the Logos existed in the mind of God from the beginning of time. When the fulness of time was come, God put that plan in action. He put flesh on that plan in the form of the man Jesus Christ. The Logos is God expressed. As John Miller says, the Logos is "God uttering Himself." [10] In fact, TAB translates the last phrase of John 1:1 as, "The Word was God Himself." Flanders and Cresson say, "The Word was God's means of self disclosure."  This thought is further brought out by verse 14, which says the incarnated Word had the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, and by verse 18, which says that the Son has declared the Father.
In Greek philosophy, the Logos came to mean reason or wisdom as the controlling principle of the universe. In John's day, some Greek philosophers and Jewish theologians influenced by Greek thought (especially the Jewish thinker, Philo of Alexandria) regarded the Logos as an inferior, secondary deity or as an emanation from God in time. Some Christian heresies, including an emerging form of Gnosticism, were already incorporating these theories into their doctrines, and therefore relegating Jesus to an inferior role. John deliberately used their own terminology to refute these doctrines and to declare the truth. The Word was not inferior to God; it was God (John 1:1). The Word did not emanate from God over a period of time; it was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was none other than the Word, or God, revealed in flesh. Note also that the Greek word pros, translated "with" in verse 1, is the same word translated "pertaining to" in Hebrews 2:17 and 5:1. John 1:1 could include in its meanings, therefore, the following: "The Word pertained to God and the Word was God," or, "The Word belonged to God and was God."

God Was Manifest in the Flesh as Jesus

The statement that Jesus is God necessarily implies that God took on human flesh. This is in fact what the Bible says.

1. "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (I Timothy 3:16; see verse 15 for further confirmation that God is the subject of verse 16). God was manifest (made visible) in flesh; God was justified (shown to be right) in the Spirit; God was seen of angels; God was believed on in the world; and God was received up into glory. How and when did all of this happen? In Jesus Christ.

2. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh…" (John 1:1, 14). Literally, the Word (God) was tabernacled or tented in flesh. When did God tabernacle or robe Himself in flesh? In Jesus Christ. Both verses of Scripture prove that Jesus is God - that He is God manifest (revealed, made known, made evident, displayed, shown) in flesh.

God is a Spirit without flesh and blood and invisible to man. In order to make Himself visible to man and in order to shed innocent blood for our sins, He had to put on flesh. Jesus is not another God or a part of God, but He is the God of the Old Testament robed in flesh. He is the Father; He is Jehovah who came in flesh to bridge the gap between man and God that man's sin had created. He put on flesh as a man puts on a coat.

Many verses of Scripture declare Jesus Christ to be the God of the Old Testament robed in flesh for the purpose of self-revelation and reconciliation.

3. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (II Corinthians 5:19).

4. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [spoken, revealed] him" (John 1:18).

5. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son… the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…" (Hebrew 1:1-3).

6. Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15; II Corinthians 4:4).

7. He is God veiled in flesh (Hebrews 10:20). As Abraham prophesied, probably without understanding the full meaning of his own words, "God will provide himself a lamb" (Genesis 22:8). God indeed provided a body for Himself: "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me" (Hebrews 10:5).

8. Jesus was the builder of the house (God the Father and Creator) and also a son over his own house (Hebrews 3:3-6).

9. He came to His own creation and to His own chosen people but they did not recognize Him or receive Him (John 1:10-11).

THE NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

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Even though man cannot fully comprehend God, God has employed several methods to reveal Himself to mankind. One of these methods is the use of different names or titles to identify Himself.

The Significance of a Name

The use of names in Bible times, especially in Old Testament times, carried much more significance than it does in our day. People often used names to reveal something about the characteristics, history, or nature of individuals, and God did too. Thus, God changed the name of Abram (meaning high father) to Abraham (father of a multitude), and the name of Jacob (heel catcher, supplanter) to Israel (he will rule as God). Even in the New Testament, Jesus changed the name of Simon (hearing) to Peter (a rock). The Amplified Bible quotes in a footnote on I Kings 8:43 from Davis Dictionary of the Bible, Ellicott's Commentary on the Whole Bible, and The New Bible Dictionary to point out the significance of the name of God. "To know the name of God is to witness the manifestation of those attributes and apprehend that character which the name denotes… God's name, that is, His self-revelation… The name signifies the active presence of the person in the fulness of the revealed character." Baylor University professors Flanders and Cresson state: "To the ancients the name is a part of the person, an extension of the personality of the individual."

God used names as a means of progressive self-revelation. For example, in Exodus 6:3 God said, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known unto them." Verses 4 through 8 make clear that the significance to Israel of the name Jehovah was its association with redemption and salvation. We know that Abraham did use the name Jehovah (Genesis 22:14); however, God did not make known to him the full significance of this name in its redemptive aspect. So, in Exodus 6:3 God promised to reveal Himself to His people in a new way. That is, He began to associate His name with a new understanding of His character and presence.

In addition to using names to manifest His character, God used His name to manifest His presence. At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon acknowledged that God was omnipresent and that no temple could contain Him (I Kings 8:27). Since God fills the universe, Solomon asked how the Temple, a man-made structure, could contain God. Then he answered his own question by reminding God of His promise: "My name shall be there" (I Kings 8:29). Although God's omnipresence could not be confined to the Temple, yet the fulness of His character as represented by His name could dwell there.

Solomon went on to pray "that all people of the earth may know thy name" (I Kings 8:43). Once again, this links the name of God with a revelation of His character. God Himself used the concept of His name to represent the revelation of His nature and power. He told Pharaoh, "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth" (Exodus 9:16).

The name of God represents His authority as well as His power. For example, He invested His name in the angel that led the Israelites (Exodus 23:21). This was probably a theophany of God since the passage expresses the idea that the angel acted with all the authority of God Himself.

God's name represents the following: (1) God's presence, (2) the revelation of His character, (3) His power and (4) His authority.

Here are some other points that show the importance God places upon His name:

1. God demands fear (reverence, respect) for His name (Deuteronomy 28:58-59). He commands man not to take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

2. God warns His people not to forget His name (Psalm 44:20-21; Jeremiah 23:25-27).

3. God promises a blessing for those who know His name (Psalm 91:14-16). There is a blessing for those who think upon His name (Malachi 3:16).

With the significance of the name in mind, let us examine some names used for God in the Old Testament.

Names or Titles of God In the Old Testament

Below is a list of the primary words used to designate God in the Old Testament. [6]

Table 2: Old Testament Names For God
	English	Hebrew	Example of Scripture
1	God	Elohim	Genesis 1:1
2	God	El	Genesis 14:18
3	God	Eloah	Nehemiah 9:17
4	God	Elah (Aramaic form)	Daniel 2:18
5	GOD	YHWH (Yahweh)	Genesis 15:2
6	LORD	YHWH or YH	Genesis 2:4
7	JEHOVAH	YHWH	Exodus 6:3
8	JAH	YH (Yah)	Psalm 68:4
9	Lord	Adon	Joshua 3:11
10	Lord	Adonai	Genesis 15:2
11	I AM THAT I AM	Eheyeh asher Eheyeh	Exodus 3:14
12	I AM	Eheyeh	Exodus 3:14
13	Most High God	El-Elyon	Genesis 14:18
14	The God of sight	El-Roiy	Genesis 16:13
15	Almighty God	El-Shaddai	Genesis 17:1
16	Everlasting God	El-Olam	Genesis 21:33

El means strength, mighty, almighty, or, by extension, deity. Eloah is probably derived from el, and always refers to deity. Elah is the Aramaic (Chaldean) form of Eloah. Elohim is the plural form of Eloah, and the Old Testament uses this word more than any other to mean God. In this case, the Hebrew plural is an intensive form denoting the greatness, majesty, and multiple attributes of God. The Bible also uses the word elohim to refer to false gods (Judges 8:33), spirit beings (I Samuel 28:13), and human rulers or judges (Psalm 82). In these cases it is translated god or gods. Adon means ruler, master, or lord whether human, angelic, or divine. Adonai is the emphatic form of Adon, and specifically refers to the Lord (God).

Yahweh (Jehovah) is the redemptive name of God in the Old Testament (Exodus 6:3-8), and the unique name by which the one true God distinguished Himself in the Old Testament from all other gods (Isaiah 42:8). It means the "Self-Existing One or the Eternal One." This concept also appears in the phrases "I AM THAT I AM" and "I AM," used by God of Himself. Flanders and Cresson explain that Yahweh is the third person form of the verb "to be" in Hebrew. [7] Yahweh means "He is." When used by God, the verb form is in the first person, or "I Am." In other words, Yahweh and "I Am" are different forms of the same verb. Furthermore, both connote an active (possibly causative or creative) existence rather than just a passive existence.

In the English, Jah appears once in the KJV as an abbreviation for Jehovah (Psalm 68:4). Jehovah appears by itself only four times in the KJV (Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:4) and only three times as part of a compound name (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24). In every other place, the King James translators used GOD or LORD (large and small capitals) to represent YHWH or its abbreviation YH. In most cases they used LORD (example: Genesis 2:4), using GOD only when Adonai (Lord) also appeared in the same phrase (example: Genesis 15:2).

In using LORD as a substitute for YHWH, they were simply following an ancient Jewish tradition of substituting Adonai for YHWH when copying or reading the Scriptures. This custom arose because the Jews wanted to safeguard against taking God's name in vain, which would violate the Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7). They felt that by constantly repeating the sacred name of God they might begin to treat it too casually and lightly. The name of God was so holy and sacred that they did not feel worthy to use it.

Jesus and the apostles also followed this custom. The New Testament uses the Greek word kurios, meaning Lord, when quoting Old Testament scriptures containing YHWH (Matthew 3:3; 4:7, etc.).

Since ancient Hebrew did not use written vowels and since the Jews stopped speaking the sacred name, no one knows what the original pronunciation of YHWH was. All we have are the four Hebrew letters (called the tetragrammaton), which are usually transliterated as YHWH or JHVH and pronounced Yahweh (Hebrew) or Jehovah (English). We will use Jehovah in the rest of the book to conform to traditional English and KJV usage.

Compound Names of Jehovah

In addition to the above designations for God, the Old Testament uses a number of compound names of Jehovah to describe God and to reveal Him further. They are listed in the table below. [8] Numbers 1, 3, and 5 appear as such in most English versions; the rest appear in the Hebrew but are translated in the English. Moreover, the New Testament uses "the Lord of Sabaoth" twice (Romans 9:29; James 5:4).

Table 3: Compound Names of Jehovah
	Name	Scripture	Meaning
1	Jehovah-jireh	Genesis 22:14	The LORD will see (i.e., will provide)
2	Jehovah-rapha	Exodus 15:26	The LORD that heals
3	Jehovah-nissi	Exodus 17:15	The LORD our banner (i.e., victory)
4	Jehovah-m'kaddesh	Exodus 31:13	The LORD that sanctifies
5	Jehovah-shalom	Judges 6:24	The LORD our peace
6	Jehovah-sabaoth	I Samuel 1:3	The LORD of hosts (i.e., almighty)
7	Jehovah-elyon	Psalm 7:17	The LORD most high
8	Jehovah-raah	Psalm 23:1	The LORD my shepherd
9	Jehovah-hoseenu	Psalm 95:6	The LORD our maker
10	Jehovah-tsidkenu	Jeremiah 23:6	The LORD our righteousness
11	Jehovah-shammah	Ezekiel 48:35	The LORD is present

The Progressive Revelation Of the Name

We find that in the Old Testament God progressively revealed more about Himself as various needs arose in the lives of man, and He used names to express this self-revelation. When Abraham needed a lamb to sacrifice, God revealed Himself as Jehovah-jireh, the LORD that provides. When Israel needed deliverance, God revealed that His name Jehovah had a previously unknown significance with respect to deliverance and salvation (Exodus 6:3-8). When Israel needed protection from disease and sickness, God revealed Himself as Jehovah-rapha, the LORD that heals. When Israel needed victory over enemies, God revealed Himself as Jehovah-nissi, the LORD our banner, i.e., victory. Thus, the names and titles described above all reveal important aspects about the nature of God.

However, none of them is a complete revelation of God's nature. Many people in the Old Testament realized this; they desired to know more of God and expressed their desire by asking to know His name. When Jacob wrestled with the man at Peniel (a manifestation of God), he asked, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name." God did not reveal His name but did bless him (Genesis 32:29). Manoah, the father of Samson, asked the angel of the LORD what his name was and received this reply: "Why asketh thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?" (Judges 13:18). The prophet Agur asked about God, "What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" (Proverbs 30:4), He was looking into the future, trying to see by what name God would reveal Himself when He would appear as the Son. Zechariah prophesied that a time would come when the LORD would be king over all the earth, and "in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one" (Zechariah 14:9).

The Name Jesus

When the fulness of time came, God did satisfy the longings of His people and revealed Himself in all His power and glory through the name Jesus. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name variously rendered as Jehoshua (Numbers 13:16), Jeshua (Ezra 2:2), or Joshua (Exodus 17:9). Both Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 show that Jesus is the same name as Joshua. (See NIV.)

Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, Jehovah our Salvation, or Jehovah is Salvation. This is why the angel said, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The identification of the name Jesus with salvation is particularly evident because the Hebrew for Jeshua is practically identical to the Hebrew for salvation, especially since ancient Hebrew did not use written vowels. In fact, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance transliterates Jeshua as Yeshuwa and the Hebrew word for salvation as Yeshuwah. Although others have borne the name Jehoshua, Joshua, or Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who actually lived up to that name. He is the only One who is actually what that name describes.

Jesus is the culmination of all the Old Testament names of God. It is the highest, most exalted name ever revealed to mankind. The name of Jesus is the name of God that He promised to reveal when He said, "Therefore my people shall know my name" (Isaiah 52:6). It is the one name of Zechariah 14:9 that encompasses and includes all the other names of God within its meaning.

The New Testament church is identified by the name of Jesus. In fact Jesus said we would be hated among all men for His name's sake (Matthew 10:22). The Early Church was persecuted for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:28; 9:21; 15:26), and they considered it a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41). Peter stated that the lame man at the gate Beautiful was healed "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 4:10). He then explained the supremacy and necessity of this name in receiving salvation: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The Apostle Paul wrote, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10).

Because of the exalted position of this name, we are exhorted to rely upon the name of Jesus in all we do or say: "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). We teach and preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28). We cast out devils, speak in tongues, receive supernatural power and protection, and pray for the sick - all in the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14). Signs and wonders are done by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30). We pray and make requests known to God in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14; 16:23). We gather together in the name of Jesus (Matthew 18:20). We baptize in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).

Does this mean the name of Jesus is a kind of magical formula? No. For the name of Jesus to be effective we must have faith in His name (Acts 3:16). We must know and have faith in the One represented by that name (Acts 19:13-17). The name of Jesus is unique because unlike any other name it represents the presence of its owner. It represents God's presence, power, and work. When we speak the name of Jesus in faith, Jesus Himself is actually present and begins to work. The power does not come from the way the name sounds, but it comes because the utterance of the name in faith demonstrates obedience to the Word of God and faith in the work of Jesus. When we call His name in faith, Jesus manifests His presence, performs the work, and meets the need.

Through the name Jesus, therefore, God reveals Himself fully. To the extent that we see, know, honor, believe, and receive Jesus, to that extent we see, know, honor, believe, and receive God the Father (John 5:23; 8:19; 12:44-45; 13:20; 14:7-9). If we deny Jesus, we deny the Father (I John 2:23), but if we use the name of Jesus we glorify the Father (Colossians 3:17).

The Bible foretold that the Messiah would declare the name of the LORD (Psalm 22:22; see Hebrews 2:12). Jesus asserted that He had manifested and declared the name of the Father (John 17:6, 26). In fact, He inherited His name from the Father (Hebrews 1:4). How did Jesus manifest and declare the Father's name? He did so by unveiling the meaning of the name through the works that He did, which were the works of Jehovah (John 14:10-11). Just as God in the Old Testament progressively revealed more about His nature and His name by responding to the needs of His people, so Jesus in the New Testament fully revealed the nature and name of God through miracles, healings, casting out of devils, and forgiveness of sins. Jesus declared the Father's name by His works; for by them He proved that He was indeed the Father, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (See Isaiah 35:4-6 with Luke 7:19-22.) By demonstrating the power of God in accordance with the prophecies, He proved that Jesus was the name of the Father.

Why is the name of Jesus the full revelation of God? Simply because Jesus is Jehovah and in Jesus dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, including the role of Father (Colossians 2:9)