Author: Mr. Powell,

Earned his Bachelor Arts in Bible and Theology and a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in which he is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Theology (ThD). He enjoys leading congregations, preaching, teaching, traveling with his family, and having long Bible discussions with people. His most favorite subjects are on the second temple period and the afterlife; not limited specifically to eschatology. He does research and investigation on the subjects of heaven and hell.

This is a discussion forum on “PRAYER”

Some of us may feel like we pray and pray, and it seems to us like we never receive a response from heaven. There are two common reasons for unanswered prayer. One has to do with us, and the other has nothing to do with us; let me explain. The first reason is that we do things that hinder our own prayers, and the second reason is that devils hinder our prayers. There are at least 5 common ways that we hinder our prayers to and from heaven. These are not limited to but are the most common reasons as follow: our mistreatment of others, the way we treat our spouses (for those who are married), the presence of sin and unrepented sin in our lives, the lack of faith through doubt and unbelief, and selfish prayers. One of the reasons that seems like it is ‘unanswered prayers’ has nothing to do with us. On many occasions, the Lord uses angels to bring us the answers to prayers. In the process, there are territorial demonic princes that fight to keep angels out of what they believe to be their jurisdiction. In the process of God to dispatching the answer, a spiritual war or battle is presently being fought to which we may be unaware in the second heavens; and the angels sent from God are held up by demonic forces to which we are unaware. To us however it would seem like the prayer was not answered. We are also involved in warfare, which is why God wants us to pray without ceasing. If the devil can make us give up, it will empower the demonic realm against the angels of God. When we continue prayer through… it empowers the angels of God against the demonic realm. This all may seem like science fiction but it is all true. It is an insult to God and to other believers for a person to claim to be a Christian but yet mistreat the people around them. God determines how you feel about Him based on the way we treat others. Consider the affirmation concerning how we say we love God whom we cannot see and yet despise people who we see every day? Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself was not a suggestion. It was the second greatest commandment to which all the Law and Prophets hang. We hinder our prayers when we mistreat or do wrongs to other people, becomes one of the ‘highlighted’ ways that we offend the Lord with our lifestyles.

– Blessings to all of you.

This Discussion Forum Is On “POLITICS IN RELIGION”

We all need to vote. This is our civil/civic responsibility, as citizens of this country; just as paying taxes is our civic duty. I learned that many people, especially Christians, do not vote. There are some who never vote but complain about the candidates in office. In 1st Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul admonished believers in Ephesus to “Pray for all who are in authority that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” This is also a true saying for us today. The practice of praying and ‘not doing’ is not a practice approved by the Bible. If we have it in our power or ability to do something – we need to do it and stop putting everything on God to do; and especially, stop blaming the devil for everything. We need to learn to take personal responsibility and accountability for our lives and actions. We need to learn how to solve problems when we have it in our ability to do so; what if Dr. Martin Luther King (to name one) took on many of the lazy attitudes we see in people today? Would there had been a civil rights movement for the civil rights for everyone? Probably not! So listen to the candidates that are running for public office, and research their backgrounds; to make sure the person you are voting for is the right candidate you are helping to put in office. Don’t vote for someone based on their ethnicity, gender, or because the candidate belongs to the same political party you favor. But vote for people who will do the right things by people and by this country. As a republic, this is the reason we vote candidates into office – not to represent themselves, but to represent us.

– Blessings to all of you.

This forum is about “THE HOLY SPIRIT”

The New Testament was written by men who knew Jesus personally.  Although it is possible that Mark and Luke may have never seen Jesus, they both were close companions to the Apostles that did see Jesus and knew Him. For instance, Mark (with Peter) and Luke (with Paul) were all close companions in the Gospel of Christ. They all received divine revelation from Jesus to write scriptures and instruct the church.  The Apostle Peter’s confession of Jesus, that He was the “Son of the Living God,” reciprocated a returned response that, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.”  It was upon the revelation in the identity of Jesus that Christ built His church.  On the birth day of the church, which was the day of Pentecost, it’s beginning was signified by the coming of the Holy Spirit, and indwelt the believers of Christ on the day of Pentecost.  In Peter’s sermon, he emphasized to the people how they must be saved, and the Lord never changed his message.  Peter said repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the Holy Ghost (Ac. 2:38).  As such, the New Testament church has been responsible to proclaiming the same message as Peter and the Apostles regarding salvation and the new birth experience.  One of the emphasis’ I want to focus in Peter’s message is the Holy Spirit.  The terms Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are synonymous and mean the same thing; they are used interchangeably. It is significant to understand that everyone that was baptized (born) of the Spirit spoke in tongues as the initial evidence of the indwelling and infilling of the former.  It must also be emphasized that the gift of the Holy Spirit was/is a promise to all who believe on Jesus (Mk. 1:8; Jn. 7:39).  A faith response is required of a believer in Christ along with obedience.  Faith is not a mental accent, but an obedient response to the Word of God.  In other words, if you believe something, you will do it; faith essentially means trust.  And once faith is present, the believer must move toward obeying God’s Word.  Even as the Apostle Peter commanded, that, the people must (1) repent, (2) be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; (3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  To refuse to obey God’s Word is disobedience.  And the refusal to believe and receive the Holy Spirit is synonymous to disobedience, which is sin.  Acts 5:32 says that, “…God has given the Holy Spirit to all those who obey Him” (Ac. 5:32).

– Blessings to all of you.

This is a discussion forum about “MONEY”

Just as Lucifer who started off right and ended up wrong, we see the same practice in many of the church leaders today. Many of them go into church leadership as a career, not a calling. And some of them that are called, end up wrong just as it was with Lucifer. Recall how Lucifer was once the “Anointed Cherub that Covereth,” and yet he fell from God’s grace. Many people today call us anointed. So if God’s anointed Cherub fell, so can we! They are getting filthy rich off of the gullible church members who keep stuffing their pockets with cash. The love of money is the root of all evil. Many preach for money, not souls. If they were in it to win souls, they would preach the truth; and take from their millions and assist the other suffering members in their churches. The practice of the true Christian church in the book of Acts was demonstrated when the Apostles didn’t stuff their pockets with money. They collected all offerings together and distributed to all other believers who were suffering and in need. But today, while many of their members are suffering financially, the preachers are living in mansions and driving expensive idol cars – with quoting the same ole rhymes like: give to us or sow a seed and God will bless you. In Romans 16:18, Paul said these types of people don’t serve Christ but their own bellies. The unrighteous mammon (which Jesus called it) or filthy lucre (which Paul called it) they preach for it, and money is more important to some of them than winning souls for the kingdom. God never intended Christian ministry end up this way. Finally, understand that there is nothing wrong with money in itself; money is not evil. But it is the LOVE OF MONEY that is the root of all types of evil.

– Blessings to all of you.

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