ELISHA, AGANG OF CHILDREN, TWO BEARSWritten by Irvin L. Rozier
What are your thoughts on these two passages of scripture?2 Kings, chapter two,verses 23 and 24 "And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by way, there came forth little children out of city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in name of LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of wood, and tare forty and two children of them." My thoughts..Elisha had just performed a miracle (healed waters). He was feeling good, and devil used a whole gang of ruffians
| | The Right of Passage. Written by Rev.Anthony R. Smith
The Right of Passage. by Anthony Smith Isaiah 64:6-64:6 The Right of Passage. In this world today there are many rights of passage from boyhood to manhood, different cultures and different ways. Many are extremely dangerous. For one reason or another these rights of passage became into being and very popular. Most of them come about because of cults and witchcraft. Many of these rights end up with death of participant, many with foreknowledge of parents. The right of Passage that I want to speak of today is Sainthood. I have no intention of putting anyone down for their belief’s but to enlighten all in word of God. For it doesn’t matter what you believe, what matters is what Word of God says. Did you ever wonder what or whom a Saint is? The dictionary says a saint is; “A person officially recognized, especially by canonization,[To declare (a deceased person){ The Apostil Paul wasn’t talking to dead people ,when He called them Saints, was He?} to be a saint and entitled to be fully honored as such. To include in biblical canon. To include in a literary canon. To approve as being within canon law. To treat as sacred; glorify{ The Bible says to Glorify God, not man}.], as being entitled to public veneration and capable of inter-ceding for people on earth. An extremely virtuous person.” As I looked at this definition, I thought, “If this is a saint then were all in trouble.” Do I really need to be, canonized, officially recognized, an intercessor for people or an extremely virtuous person to be a saint ? And believe it or not I found answer was NO. I found that anyone can be and are Saints of God. Weather man, recognizes, qualifies, justifies, or puts a good housekeeping seal of approval on it. I know your going to ask,”Who then is a Saint?” The answer, Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, thats who.Lets look at “A person officially recognized ” Officially recognized by who? Man? And if so, where did this authority come from, man or God? If from God ,then where in scripture is it found? Then if its from man, do they over-step their authority that only comes from God? An intercessor for people? 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, man Christ Jesus;. Is there another intercessor or mediator, between God and Man except Jesus? If so, again where is His authorization, where does it come from? So what is right of passage for a Saint? “keep commandments of God, and faith of Jesus.” Lets read a little. Saints, saints, saints There are 95 verses in Scripture that declair, who is a Saint by Standards of God and not man. Mat 27:52 And graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept arose,Where these people canonized? No.recognised ? Yes by God. Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: What about these people? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. Act 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to saints which dwelt at Lydda.Or these? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. And what about an extremely virtuous person?, The Apostil Paul never once said, that He was, nor anyone else in Scripture ever call Paul “an extremely virtuous person” 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Acts 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. I thought “an extremely virtuous person” had to be a righteous person? So what does God have to say about our righteousness? Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like wind, have taken us away.
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