Mark H. Stevens, Th.D's Blog – June 2009 Archive (37)

Signs of a Good Church

1. Inclusive

Be witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

For God so loved the world…that whosoever (John 3:16).

2. Diversity

God will have all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:1).

3. Authenticity

Speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Don’t lie to each other (Col 3:9).

4. Mutuality

Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10).

Have equal concern for each other (1 Cor. 12:25).

Serve one another (Gal.… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 9, 2009 at 9:02am — No Comments

Wake up People!

The fact is, these people can find only ONE verse that mentions "Prosperity" in the whole New Testament (and it is of dubious help, as we shall see). And there are dozens and dozens of verses in opposition! But which one do they choose to quote again and again? Here it is in the King James Version (which is the only translation that helps them in any way): "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2). Now, it is interesting to note… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 7:07pm — No Comments

Don't Drink The Kool-Aid

Jim Jones was able to take hundreds of lives in Guyana because someone refused to listen to their gut (spirit). I firmly believe in supporting the local church and helping pastors, I want to make that clear. However there is a real epidemic of spiritually stupid “saints” that don’t study their Bibles and try every spirit by the Spirit. We were given the ability to discern so we WON’T end up giving our money to crooks and drinking poison Kool-Aid! Many of today’s most prominent preachers would… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 3:17pm — 2 Comments

Don't Drink The Kool-Aid

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 3:07pm — No Comments

Sexual Sin and Bloodlines

The Canaanites were the most sexually deviant people of their time!

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus chapter 34)

Sexual sin’s pass through bloodlines because the demons that influence the perpetrators, never die! These vile spirits haunt families… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 2:43pm — No Comments

New Testament Giving

GIVING IS VOLUNTARY

The New Testament teachings on giving are unpretentiously simplistic involving the heart and not some law:

"…freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8b).

"Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not thou away" (Matt. 5:42).

"The churches in Macedonia and Achaia, you see, have thought it a good thing to make a contribution towards the poor Christians in Jerusalem. They have decided to do this,… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 1:20pm — 2 Comments

Training opportunity

Ministry Training at Cooper!

Every Friday @ 6pm to 7pm I will having Bible training sessions dealing with ministry, we will cover a wide range of topics dealing with ministry such as PRAYER, HEALING, SERVANTHOOD, MINISTRY GIFTS, LISTENING SKILLS, GRIEF, MENTAL ILLNESS etc. etc. Don't miss out on this divine opportunity!

All are welcome to attend, if you would like to volunteer as a member of the Pastoral Care Department we can make that happen, I am a firm… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 8, 2009 at 8:44am — No Comments

MONEY AND THE BELIEVER

There is not one example of anyone tithing MONEY to anyone in the entirety of the Bible! The only reference to "money" with regards to tithing has absolutely nothing to do with paying tithes ON money. It is found in Deut. 14:24-26, which we shall now read in it’s entirety:

"And if the way be too long for thee [to the place where God placed His name to be worshipped, especially during the fall feast harvest of tabernacles] so that you are not able to carry it [the tithe of their farm… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 7, 2009 at 6:53pm — 1 Comment

The Malachi Prophecy

I marvel that more people are not totally embarrassed by the way the world of Christendom exacts money from the poor and peddles the Word of God like so much merchandise for sordid gain. It is an international disgrace. I will not mince words, so get ready for some startling revelations.

WHAT WE WILL LEARN

What is the real message of Malachi’s prophecy for believers today?

Did Paul finance his international ministry through the tithing system?

Is… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 7, 2009 at 1:33pm — 7 Comments

What should be the Christian's Response to the Homosexual?

Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (her). Homosexuality is a sin and like any other sin, it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross and repented of.

Christians should pray for the salvation of the homosexual the same they would any other person in sin. They should treat homosexuals with the same dignity as they would anyone else because, like or not, they are made in the image… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 6, 2009 at 6:50pm — 1 Comment

You Have Been Warned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpu2V00mHas&feature=related

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 6, 2009 at 3:44pm — No Comments

An Exhaustive Biblical Study on Tongues (Praying in the Spirit)

For this study I will use the general term "gift" to refer to tongues, although, more specifically, tongues is a "working" or "operation" of the Holy Spirit through the Believer. God determines WHO gets WHAT Gift, Don’t feel bad if you DO NOT speak in tongues it is a GIFT, it doesn’t mean you are LESS Spiritual or even Spirit filled. In actuality, the spiritual GIFTS of the Spirit are found in Romans 12:4-8. The offices or "administrations" are found… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 5, 2009 at 7:19pm — No Comments

Deliverance 101

Preparing somebody to receive and maintain their deliverance is very important. This is a basic list of things that you might explain to somebody before you walk them through deliverance. I always like to make sure they understand what is going on, and not feel confused or in darkness over the process of deliverance.

Deliverance is often a process

While deliverance can be a one-time event, it can also be a process. If you don't receive all… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 5, 2009 at 4:06pm — No Comments

Even Great People of Faith Get Depressed

Elijah Longs for Death Here is one more example of depression in the Bible. Elijah, after just having seen God's marvelous power, runs for his life and hides. His fear, anxiety and fatigue result in suicidal thoughts. Often depression strikes after a personal high, or great achievements.

Elijah got depressed when he was rebuked by Queen Jezebel while he was anticipating a moment of triumph. His hopes were crushed, and his heart was painfully… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 5, 2009 at 9:03am — No Comments

What is Justification?

Verses showing justification by faith.

Justification is the legal act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his or her sins. It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is "declared" sinless. This declaration of righteousness is being justified before God. This justification is based on the shed blood of Jesus, "...having now been justified by His blood..." (Rom. 5:9) where Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and rose again… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 5, 2009 at 5:19am — 2 Comments

Beware of False Teaching

The Word Of Faith movement, which seems to go hand in hand with the Prosperity Doctrine, has much going for it in the realm of

marketability. After all everyone desires financial freedom,

prosperity, health and success. What better way could there possibly

be to get all these wonderful things that we want than by evoking the

power of the Living God to obtain them. How easy it is to fall into

the age-old trap of seeking to… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 3, 2009 at 8:57am — No Comments

Hope Deferred Makes One Sick.....

Lam 3:25 (NIV) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

C.S. Lewis on Hope, Desire and Longing

"Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise.

"We do not want to merely "see" beauty--though, God knows, even… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on June 3, 2009 at 8:46am — No Comments