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Rick Joyner has authored more than fifty books, including The Final Quest Trilogy, There Were Two Trees in the Garden, The Path, and Army of the Dawn. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries, a multi-faceted mission organization which includes Heritage International Ministries, MorningStar University, MorningStar Fellowship of Churches and Ministries. Click here to take a look at Rick's latest Rant #ricksrants |
For centuries, there has been much speculation and accusation about who the great harlot, or "mystery, Babylon," is in Revelation 17. Because of verse 9, "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits" (Revelation 17:9), the Reformers nearly universally agreed that this was a reference to the seven hills that Rome is built upon, and therefore was a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
The next fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is “kindness,” which is defined as being considerate, generous, and benevolent. Kindness is the character trait that is the opposite of selfishness, and is the nature of one who is thinking of others.
Last week we learned that because of the root of evil (the love of money), and the coming of the beast and his mark (an economic mark), understanding and living by Christian economics is going to become one of the important issues of our time.
This week we continue our study with one of the more problematic verses in this epistle for modern times, Ephesians 5:22-24:
To live a great Christian life does not mean you must become famous. Some of the most well-known people on earth could be the least known in heaven. Likewise, the most well known in heaven could be the least known on earth. Having a great Christian life is not about fame. Rather it is having a life that is pleasing to the Lord and hearing on that great Judgment Day, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
We continue this week with just a few more Scriptures where the Lord gave a definition of what His disciples would be and do.
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8 NKJV).
Not only do disciples bear fruit, but they bear “much fruit.” Jesus is Life, so if we are abiding in Him, life will be multiplying through us.
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been an increasing swirl of controversy regarding Todd Bentley. I have had almost daily contact with him, and he asked me to post the following:
There are two Greek words most commonly translated “church” in the New Testament. Koinonia, which we began to address last week, speaks of the special bonding of the saints in relationship. The other is ecclesia, which speaks of church order, structure, and government. We must have both of these to become the church we are called to be and to experience fellowship as God intended.
