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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!

All of us face difficulties in this life. Sometimes, it may seem that nothing goes as you expected. One failure after another seems to be your lot in life, and there may appear to be no reason to continue. But there is, God is still on the throne and His Word, Power, and Authority rule over everything in this life.

Notice what God said to His people through David. Psalm 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” And then he said in verses 11-12, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. To the end that my glory (soul) may sing praise to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”

In Numbers 23-24, we have the account where Balak called for the prophet Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. He was promised many things if he would do this. It seems that because of that promise he wanted to do it. But the Lord had told him that he could only speak what He told him to say. Each time Balaam opened his mouth he spoke blessings on the Israelites which made Balak furious.

In Deuteronomy 23:5 Moses tells us why it occurred this way. “Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you.”

Joseph’s brothers betrayed him when they sold him into slavery. But the Lord turned it around for his benefit and even for the benefit of the descendants of his brothers. Genesis 50:20-21 says, “But as for you, you meant it for evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now, therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

As God has done for others, He can and will do for you. Let’s get our focus off ourselves and put it on His promises in Scripture. He loves us with everlasting love and always keeps His promises!

There are many things that affect our lives, but ONE stands out as greater than all the rest. What we know or believe about that one thing is worth our time and attention to get it right. There are many lesser things that are important but none equal this one thing. All of us in many ways have allowed  other things to influence our life  rather than this one thing! What is this ONE thing? It is what we believe about GOD!

But what if there is no God? That belief will affect  all your life for time and eternity! If you are among those who take the position that ‘my life is my own and I can do with it whatever I want to do’ then you have rejected the revelation of God to humanity and will suffer the same consequences as the one who does not believe in God at all! Believing in God, and what we believe about Him affects every aspect of our lives!

ONE RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT GOD

God has revealed Himself to us in different ways, among them is creation (Romans 1:20). But the most reliable source is the living Word of God – Jesus  (John 1:1-4, Hebrews 1:1-4) and the written Word of God- the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What you believe about Jesus as revealed in the Bible affects every aspect of your life! Is the Bible just a compilation of human writings or was it given by Divine inspiration? This is important! Was Jesus a mere man or was He the Savior sent by the Father to be our sacrifice to redeem us back to God? (Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:13, Colossians 1:9-18). Jesus is the ONLY way back to the Father (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). The Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus as we hear the Gospel presented (John 6:44,63). When we believe IN Jesus and His resurrection we have salvation and His life IN us (Romans 10:9-10, Colossians 1:27, 1 John 4:4).

NOW, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

Read and meditate  the Word of God – the Bible. Start in the Gospels and read the New Testament. Read some every day. Think about what it says and means and how it is applicable to your life.

Get involved in a Bible believing church. You can’t do life victoriously on your own. You need a body of believers to encourage, disciple, walk along beside you as you grow in knowledge and spirituality.

Develop a life of prayer. As a new believer, learn to pray by praying the Model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.

Have your own personal Pentecost.  You cannot live the life that God expects without the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1-2, Acts 2:33-39, Luke 24:46-49)

Share what you have learned from the Word with family and friends as you live out the Gospel in your life.

I am not asking if you are born again, the passages below are directed to Christ’s followers, so we assume they are born again. So, something else must be in view instead of the new birth.

WHAT IS YOUR SOUL?

Usually, the Greek word psyche refers to the mind, will, and emotions. The general understanding is that one is born again in his spirit, the innermost part of the inner man. We can think of it like this: the body is our house. The soul is the non-material part of us that contains the three things mentioned and the innermost part of the soul is the human spirit. When one is born again, the spirit contains the life of God (John 3:6).

Notice the following passages:

Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.”

Heb.10:36 “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (destruction) but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

James 1:21 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.”

1Pet.1:22 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…”

1 Thess.5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I offer this for your consideration, saving the soul means renewing the mind with the Word of God (Rom.12:1-2), submitting the will to Jesus’ Lordship, and harnessing the emotions.

THINGS THAT WILL HELP US DO THIS

Faith – Heb.10:39

Receiving the Word – James 1:21

Obeying the Word – 1 Pet.1:22

Submit to the sanctifying power of God – 1 Thess.5:22

This topic is something to think about!

The Kingdom of God encompasses all that God is doing in the universe. In the Model Prayer we are told to pray, “Your Kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” That His Kingdom come is the expressed will of the Father. By encouraging us to pray for it, Jesus invites our participation in His Work. It further reveals the forces who desire to hinder its’ manifestation. They are:

• Satan – 2 Cor.4:4 says, “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
• World system – 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
• Un-renewed mind – Eph.4:23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

God knows everything about us – He needs no additional information (John 2:24-25). Since Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been instructed to obey God. Joshua 1:7-8 says, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make you way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.”

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and Make Disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

2. DAILY CHOICES

Mark 8:34-35 “Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

3. TWO THINGS

• WORD – Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate in it, & Obey it.
• Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to his world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
• Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
• Psalm 119: 34 “Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
• Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
• Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.”

• HOLY SPIRIT – power, specific guidance and revelation.

John 14:16-18  “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

SO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? LEARN to hear and recognize the voice of God and LEARN to obey Him.

Each of us were born in sin. We all had the capacity and will to be rebellious and do our own thing. This occurred because of the fall in the Garden of Eden (Rom.3:23, Rom.5:15-17). But God did not leave us this way, He provided a way for us to be changed from the inside out! Galatians 3:22 says, “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

JESUS TOOK OUR SIN

John 1:29 reveals that John saw Jesus and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Also Hebrews 9:26 says, “…now at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Verse 28  says, “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

MADE FREE FROM SIN

Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 6:18 “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Colossians 1:14 says, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Through the work of the Cross, “…by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of God…He has forgiven all trespasse, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross.”(Col.2:11-14).

THE OLD LIFE CRUCIFIED

Romans 6:6-7 says, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise you also, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

SET FREE FROM THE LAW (DOMINION) OF SIN

Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  But what about the sins that we may have committed since being born again? They were taken care of with the others of the past, as well as, all future sins that may occur. You see, Jesus has shed His blood once for all time and eternity and it is sufficient to forgive and take away our sins.

NO MORE SIN CONSCIOUSNESS

Hebrews 10:1-3 says, “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sin, but in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.”

HOW TO CONFESS OUR SINS

1 John 1:9 says,”If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The way most evangelicals have understood this verse is that I should name out my sins one at a time and tell the Lord I am sorry for them and ask Him to forgive me. However, I will suggest a better way to confess sin. I understand that God has already provided for the forgiveness of my sins once for all. When I recognize that I have sinned I declare in prayer that His blood through grace has forgiven me of my sin (s) and I thank Him for it. By praying this way I have acknowledged my sin and His forgiveness !

REAL SOUL MUSIC

There is a form of music known as “soul” music. It is sometimes said that a certain song has a “soulful sound.” The soul is involved in worship. While we acknowledge that the regenerated spirit is the origin of true worship, it is expressed through the soul, and sometimes flavored by it. For example, we might say that some praise choruses are very emotionally moving, which is why some people like praise more than deep worship. Some songs are conducive to praise and others are more conducive to worship. Yet both can come from the spirit and be expressed by the soul.

The Scriptures tell us to speak to one another (message song) in “psalm, hymns, and spiritual song.” It also says “singing to the Lord” (worship). Sometimes our preferences are because of our past experiences (perhaps the way we were raised) or our personality (a very calm or very emotional person) these will affect the type of music we prefer. And if we are a very aggressive person we tend to look for Scriptures or examples that support our position.

1. There is a time and place for hymns that are Biblical in content. They often strengthen one’s resolve and commitment of the will. They instruct the mind. They usually relate to something about redemption.
2. There is a place for praise choruses. They relate to and are expressed through emotional responses. They are good at expressing how deeply we feel about God.
3. There is a place for songs (choruses, hymns, or spiritual songs) that lead into worship. These stress who God is, and our awe of and worship to Him.

There is a place for each of these. None should be rejected nor neglected because of their soulish attachments or emotional responses or lack thereof.

Thanksgiving, praise, and worship are not only steps in approaching God, they are complete in themselves in their proper place. For example, the giving of thanks is not worship when done by itself, but is very useful in expressing our gratitude to God for what He has done.  This often leads to worship. Praise alone is not worship but an avenue to praise Him for what He has done. We praise Him because of what we know of His deeds and character.

In judging the quality of a song and where it should be used, we need to consider the following:

1. Is it Biblical in content?
2. Does it lead us into worship?
3. To whom is it directed?
4. What is the focus of the song, God or man?
5. What is its’ message?
6. Can people praise and worship with it?
7. What emotional/soulish response comes from it?
8. Does it leave us wanting to draw close to God?
9. Is it just entertainment for one to show off their musical talents and abilities?
10. Is there an anointing of the Holy Spirit on it?

Human beings are born with an innate desire for singing and worship. How we release it or get it fulfilled is very important. Let’s get the most from our souls by expressing praise and worship that is “in Spirit and truth.”