Month: November 2024

Genesis 1:28 says, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

There are three basic positions on this question. 1) Those who believe it is still one hundred operational today, 2) Those who believe it is partially operational today, 3) Those who believe it will only be operational again in the millennium and/or new heavens and new earth.

When Adam and Eve fell into sin all of mankind and the earth were adversely affected. They were kicked out of the Garden as a result of their disobedience and the earth and humanity suffer because of it (Romans 8:18-23). But in Jesus’ redemption, there appears to be a lifting of at least part of the curse (Romans 5:17).

Let’s look at some passages in Romans 5 to find some answers.

Adam was a type of Jesus (Genesis 5:14) what he did affects us all. Even so in Christ, the price He paid for our redemption affects those who repent and believe in Him.

Romans 5:15 says, “…For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”

Romans 5:16 says, “…for the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses (trespasses) resulted in justification.”

Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:18-19 says, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience any were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:20-21 says, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Summation: Because of sin many died – removed from the presence of God thereafter born with a propensity to sin. But in Christ His grace is made known to us all. Because of sin all were condemned, but the free gift results in justification. Death reigns, but those who receive the abundance of grace along with the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ.

Our body is the house or tent on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:1). But our spirit is the dwelling place where Jesus, Holy Spirit dwell (John 3:6, 1 John 4:4, Romans 8:9) Since the fall our human bodies no longer experience the life that Adam and Eve had. But in the resurrection this mortal body will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:52-54). 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is apparent to me that we now in our redeemed spirit have the eternal life of God within us to anoint, lead, bring healing, and guide us. But the fulness of the FIVE FOLD MANDATE WILL BE EXPERIENCED AT THE RESURRECTION AND BEYOND FOR ETERNITY. Our life now has purpose, but the fulfillment of that purpose also has a continuation into eternity!

While reading and studying Scripture (the Bible) it is very important that we examine the context in which it is found. To whom was the author speaking? What covenant was in force at the time? Mosaic? New covenant? If it was in the Mosaic Covenant, has it been fulfilled or is it applicable in the New? All of these things are important in determining whether a passage of Scripture as given is in force today. Below I have given a few examples of this.

In Luke 24:49, right before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He told His disciples to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Most of us, when reading this passage, would know today we do not have to be in the city of Jerusalem to receive the promised Spirit of God. But often, some think they must tarry for a period of time begging God to send the promised Spirit to them personally. They are begging God to do what He has already done! The reason they had to tarry was because the Spirit had not yet been poured out, so that part of the promise is not applicable to us today as it was in the first century. Lots of times we hear people praying for God to pour out His Spirit as Joel prophesied and as it happened on the day of Pentecost. He, the Spirit of God, has already been given, all we need to do today is believe and receive. 

Another example of the same thing is being born again. When a sinner recognizes that he needs a Savior, Jesus does not have to come and die on the Cross for him again. No, all the sinner needs to do is repent (turn) from his sin, believe the Gospel by faith and be saved (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10) Jesus died once for all time, and has provided forgiveness of sin for all those who will believe. When we believe the promises of God, we can receive what they promised. We can be born again with all our sins forgiven, or we can have our personal pentecost and be filled with the Spirit’s power! The same principle applies to God’s promises found in the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament, was the promise fulfilled in what Jesus did in His first coming? (Matthew 5:17), will it be fulfilled in His Second coming? In one way or another, Moses either in type or shadow was speaking about Jesus! (John 5:39, 46, Luke 24:44).

We have been given everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet.1:3-4). We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Let us appropriate these and similar promises now in this life so that we may live victoriously! Let’s stop begging God to do what He has already done!

Congratulations on being chosen to lead our great country for the next four years! Millions of Americans believe that you should be our president for the next four years, as evidenced by the overwhelming vote.  Many Christians have been praying for you that our Lord would protect, and guide you into this office and into the way He wants our country to go. You have been given an opportunity to complete the good things that you started during your first term in office. Obviously our enemy, the devil, doesn’t want you to be successful as evidenced by the assassination attempts. However, I believe the Lord has protected you so that you can fulfill His plans.

As a Pastor, there are some things that I believe you can do that will enable more citizens to go along with your agenda. A bullying, arrogant attitude may be at times needed in the secular business world, but is less acceptable in the office of President, especially to the Christians who are praying for you. That is not to say that you need to be an easy pushover by those who would bend you to their belief systems. A great leader is one that can be both strong and humble when he realizes his source of strength and position comes from Almighty God and not his own abilities. These characteristics are  best expressed by one’s words.

I would encourage you to develop a lifestyle of reading the Bible, especially the New Testament, which will give you insight into the will and mind of God and His plans for mankind on the earth. This activity will open your eyes to many truths that will guide in decision-making as well as a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus!

Mr.President, most Americans, especially Christians, want to see you be successful as the Leader of the USA and the free world, because we know that when America is blessed by God His blessings will be experienced by many, many others.

God bless you, Mr. President, and may His richest blessings be on you, your family, and staff, and God bless the USA!

Pastor Carroll Parish

At least very few of them. Our family has been affiliated with New Life Church Louisville for over 43 years and in that time we truthfully have had very few Church Problems! What we have had are problems brought to church by individuals who have had problems, thereby, to some degree, making it our problem. As I think about those incidents I can see that most of them were because of Ignorance or Disobedience. They either did not know the Word well enough to know how to deal with their problems or they were purposefully disregarding the statements of Scripture and disobeying what it says!

If only our eyes were open to see what all Jesus has provided for us through His atonement (Ephesians 1:16-23) we would have even fewer problems! In this life, in our fallen world, we are going to have problems, difficulties, persecution, etc. Jesus knew that and that is why the atonement, His Word, and His plans have been given so that we would know WHO we are IN Him and WHOSE we are in this life. We are His Ambassadors working with Him to advance His Kingdom on earth today!

The source of many of our problems is not only Satanic attacks but the flesh. By flesh we mean areas of our life not yet submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and all of us have some of these areas. Example: worry, doubt, fears, anger, grudges and the list goes on. And when we participate in the church, or society in general, we bring all these things, and their derivatives, to the church and our environment. But surrender to Jesus and the application of His Word through the work of the Holy Spirit can deliver, and free us which then positively affects all those around us!