BG7 Message Forum

The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Investigation How one bible verse allowed one man to expose the deception of an entire Religion. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost A Biblical Critique What does the word of God say about this Holy Spirit? Is this a person of God or an impersonal force or energy of God? According to Watchtower theology we find that the Holy Spirit is defined in the following quotations: The Harp of God, 1921, p. 98. Peoples Pulpit Association., J.F. Ruthorford. Publishers – International Bible Students Association – Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1928. “The words translated in our bibles Holy Ghost should be properly translated holy spirit. The holy spirit is the invisible power and energy of Jehovah.” You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 40. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. [“As for the “Holy Spirit,” the so-called third Person of the Trinity, we have already seen that this is not a person but God’s active force. John the Baptizer said that Jesus would baptize with holy spirit, even as John had been baptizing with water. Hence, in the same way that water is not a person, holy spirit is not a person. (Matthew 3:11)”] Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, 1995, p. 31. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. “God’s holy spirit is not a person. It is Jehovah’s active force, used by the Almighty to accomplish his purposes.” In just a few quotations from Watchtower literature we find that the Holy Spirit is quickly robbed of a proper name or title by replacing the name “Holy Spirit” the name as in Matthew 28:19 in which our Lord says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” as well as in John 14:26 which reads, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” to “holy spirit” - the active force of God which the Watchtower compares to energy i.e. force. Through additional passages within Watchtower theology the Holy Spirit is stripped and denied of any glory and power that would make him God. Either the Holy Spirit is a person or he is not a person, if he is not a person then in no way would we find the word of God referring to the Holy Spirit as “him” or having characteristics as a person. The Watchtower Society uses Webster’s Dictionary as an authority and Webster’s New World College Dictionary – Fourth Edition defines a person as; “1. a human being, esp. as distinguished from a thing or lower animal; individual man, woman, or child:” Furthermore, Webster’s interprets the term “person” to be an “individual”, “living human body”, “personality; self; being” and “an individual or incorporated group having certain legal rights and responsibilities “ Lastly, we find Webster’s defining a person in “Christian Theol. any of the three modes of being (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) in the Trinity – in person actually present.” We now have a good understanding of the attributes of a ‘person’ and we shall see what the word of God has to say about the Holy Spirit and if we are justified by the Scriptures in calling ‘him’ a person and more specifically, a person who is called God. Does the word of God declare who the Holy Spirit is? Absolutely. What does God reveal about the Holy Spirit? _____ The Holy Spirit MOVES _____ 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17 _____ The Holy Spirit is CALLED GOD _____ Called God in Acts 5:4 and the Spirit of the Lord in Acts 5:9. Acts 5:3-10 reads as follows: 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts 5:1-11 _____ The Holy Spirit SPEAKS _____ 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matthew 10:19-20 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. Acts 1:15-16 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Acts 13:1-2 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Acts 21:10-11 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Acts 28:25-27 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Hebrews 3:7-11 _____ The Holy Spirit PROMPTS believers to speak _____ 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4 _____ The Holy Spirit is GRIEVED _____ 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 _____ The Holy Spirit INTERCEDES in Prayer (prays for us) _____ 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:24-28 _____ The Holy Spirit Testifies or BEARS RECORD _____ 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 1 John 5:5-10 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 15:26 _____ The Holy Spirit LEADS _____ 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:11-14 _____ The Holy Spirit is CREATOR _____ 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 _____ The Holy Spirit TEACHES and gives spiritual discernment _____ 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:23-26 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:7-16 _____ The Holy Spirit HEARS _____ 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-14 _____ The Holy Spirit can be BLASPHEMED AGAINST _____ 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31-32 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. Luke 12:8-12 _____ The Holy Spirit FORBIDS and COMMANDS _____ 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Acts 16:4-7 _____ The Holy Spirit DEMONSTRATES _____ 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Corinthians 2:4 _____ The Holy Spirit GIVES GIFTS _____ 1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:1-4 _____ The Holy Spirit can be RESISTED _____ 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Acts 7:48-51 _____ The Holy Spirit COMFORTS _____ 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts 9:31 _____ The Holy Spirit WITNESSES to and is given to Believers _____ 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:30-32 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts 20:20-23 _____ The Holy Spirit is able to REASON _____ 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Acts 15:24-29 _____ The Holy Spirit GUIDES, SENDS forth, and CONVICTS _____ 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:7-15 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. Acts 13:4 _____ The Holy Spirit LIVES IN US as believers _____ 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 _____ The Holy Spirit is the AUTHOR of the Holy Scriptures _____ 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (2 Timothy 3:16) Through the previous Scriptural passages the word of God has revealed the Holy Spirit to be God. Again, here are some examples; Acts 5:4 and the Holy Spirit is known from the Scriptures to be a person who; hears, speaks, convinces, testifies, convicts, prays for us, leads, guides, teaches, prompts speech, commands, forbids, desires, helps, and groans. The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed, lied to, resisted, grieved by sin and the Holy Spirit gives all believers spiritual discernment and he is eternal. (Hebrews 9:14) Without these invaluable gifts of God by the Holy Spirit, we, who were once lost, would have no clue about the deceptions perpetuated from neither Satan nor the depth of the sin within the heart of man. I personally would like to thank God for the spiritual discernment into this project that all started from a seemingly innocent knock at my door from members of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society who were just two of the approximately six-million Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world today spreading a false gospel and a different Jesus that is not the gospel of God preached of in the word of God. Our Lord Jesus said in John 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwellleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians writes, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaketh by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3). _____ Holy Spirit CALLED the SPIRIT OF CHRIST _____ 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:11-12 _____ SPIRIT OF THE SON in Galatians 4:6, Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah 11:2 _____ 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14 One of the attributes of God that makes him God is that he is eternal (John 14:16). Hebrews 9:14 validates that this Spirit is eternal and that God is “Spirit” which also correlates with our Lord’s words in John 4:24 in which Jesus is talking to the woman at the well, which reads, 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. The Lord Jesus says that God is Spirit (John 4:24) so why would those, who believe the word of God to be infallible, even doubt the record that God gave of the Holy Spirit. After reading the Scriptures can we really afford to reject the personal witness of the Holy Spirit?

A Goddess Called Mary

Exposing a False Prophet: Sherry Shriner

The expose is written to Sherry Shriner, the faithful brethren, and those who have had ears tickled by the words of Sherry Shriner. I will only quote directly from Sherry Shriner's own words from her websites in which she operates and will identify the source in which the quotation is made. Sherry Shriner has made doctrinal assumptions on the apostle Paul that are refuted by the Word of God of which will be examined throughout the following text. Sherry Shriner writes the following at http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/: "Can you prove Paul was an apostle? No! The simple answer is NO. You cannot prove he was an apostle when there's mountains of evidence against him! Why doesn't this mountain of evidence exist against any of the others? Until you or somebody can affirmatively prove that Paul was a genuine apostle, it would be wrong for any follower or pastor of Yahushua to follow, preach or quote Pauline doctrine." Ms. Shriner writes at http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/apostle_paul.htm: "I have had this code for about a month now and held onto it to just check, re-check, and re-check. The icing on the cake was finding his name(s) AGAIN in a code I was working on for 666 just last night (10-7-03). How much more proof do we need to know this man was of Satan and not God?" At http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/apostle_paul2.htmSherry Shriner writes: "The Lord led me back to the codes on Paul again on February 15, 2004. My first initial findings were on him in 2003. I have been praying over the last several months that I was not being deceived in any way to falsely be attacking a brother. Yahweh has confirmed many times Paul is and was NOT a brother. Now I'll stop bugging Him in worry, THERE IS JUST NO DOUBT. The Hidden Codes of the Bible don't reveal Paul is a deceiver, Paul's own Gospel does, as well as his own words. The Codes just confirm it." Why has Sherry Shriner written this? Like many false prophets that have come before her and are even now in the world, Satan is using Sherry Shriner to sway mankind from trusting the Word of God to trusting in the divination or the message of the divination. Satan is even using the instrumentation of the 'Bible Codes' to facilitate these divinations, even though Shriner reveals that the "Hidden Codes of the Bible don't reveal Paul is a deceiver...The Codes just confirm it." Why has Sherry Shriner written this? Like many false prophets that have come before her and are even now in the world, Satan is using Sherry Shriner to sway mankind from trusting the Word of God to trusting in the divination or the message of the divination. Satan is even using the instrumentation of the 'Bible Codes' to facilitate these divinations, even though Shriner reveals that the "Hidden Codes of the Bible don't reveal Paul is a deceiver...The Codes just confirm it." Based on that line of reasoning we can congruently state, 'The hidden stars in space do not reveal that they are giant pink rotating toilets, space just reveals that'. In other words, presupposition is a guide that nullifies the Word of God. One can say "the Word of God does not say that I cannot baptize my pet hampster!" On the other hand, the Word of God informs mankind who baptism IS for. Therefore, because the Word of God equips us with what is truth, it defends us from what is false. Much like the 'messages' of the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary lending more creedence to many Roman Catholics than that of the authority of the Word of God , Sherry Shriner's words enforce a Satanic intention to deceive people into believing that the Word of God has been corruptedbecause the Apostle Paul is according to Sherry Shriner- a false apostle. In doing this, Sherry Shriner has placed herself in extreme danger with the Lord God Almighty because her words do not simply cast of the person of Paul as a deceiver, they turn the entire New Testament into a crumbling pile of ash. Her words also are blasphemous against the Holy Spirit. Luke records in Acts 13:42-46: 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. _____ Here is another quote from one of Shriner's website found at: http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/false_apostle.htm: "Of the 22 times in the New Testament where Paul is referred to as an apostle, only twice is he referred to as an apostle by someone other than himself. These two instances came from the same person. Not from Yeshua or any of the original apostles, but from Paul's close traveling companion and personal press secretary Luke. Both accounts are found in Luke's record of the Acts of the Apostles, (chapter 14:4,14)." Luke, also a gospel writer is now revealed as one that was either privy to the deception propagated by Paul or he was deceived by Paul. In light of this argument Sherry Shriner has made Luke, the writer of Acts, at the least, a blasphemer of God. because it was Luke that wrote the account of the Acts of the Apostles. In Luke's gospel account of we read: Luke 1:1-4 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. It is this same Luke that had perfect understanding and who writes of Paul being filled with the Holy Ghost. It is this same Paul that Shriner calls a false Apostle: Luke records in Acts 13:1-10: Acts 13:1-10 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation ) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? Shriner also cast doubt on Peter's letters as well insomuch as has said the following at http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/prophecy_peter.htm of his epistle: "Whenever Paul is called into question, someone inevitably brings up Peter and what he said about Paul's letters that supposedly refers to them as Scripture. This is assuming that the book of 2Peter is authentic." "* Foot Note. There are those who maintain that the book of 2Peter is not authentic based on its grammatical structure and the treatment it received by the early "Church Fathers". The issue is neither here nor there when it comes to the prophecy that Yeshua gave to Peter as found in the Gospel of John, which book is relatively unquestioned in its authenticity. Interestingly enough, Yeshua's prophecy is fulfilled either way, whether Peter actually penned these words or not. Peter is still being bound by this passage and taken where he does not want to go... in support of Paul, against the law!" Because Shriner has done these things, she has rejected the Word of God and has lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter's words to Ananias and Sapphira should fearfully move us all to adhere to the Scriptures when Peter says: "why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost," (Acts 5:2). Peter writes of Paul and the perverting of Scripture in 2 Peter 3:15-17: 2 Peter 3:15-17 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 'Wrest' is translated from the Greek word Strebloo, which means, to pervert. Hebrew root word for wrest is natah meaning cause to yield. Peter is saying that 'they' which pervert the Scriptures will be led to destruction and to beware, lest 'we' also follow their wicked ways and are led away along with those that pervert the Scriptures. Peter also states in 2 Peter 1:16-21: 2 Peter 1:16-21 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. As recorded in John 10:35, the Lord Jesus tells us that "the scripture cannot be broken". By Shriner's own admission she has eliminated, as the Word of God, from the New Testament the books of; Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews (If written by Paul or Barnabus since Barnabus was in Paul's camp), and 1 & 2 Peter (since Shriner also casted doubt upon the authenticity of Peter's letters). Shriner's words blaspheme God. Her words make the words of Paul, Luke, adn Peter either not of God or at the very least, suspect as to its authenticity. Her words have made God out to be a liar because she has shown God to be unable to keep His Word preserved forever as promised in Psalm 12:7. She has made the Word of God corrupt when the Lord God Almighty say's that His Word shall stand forever in Isaiah 40:8 and is incorruptible in 1 Peter 1:23. Sherry Shriner also has made God a covenant breaker. Luke 2:32 reveals that God through the Christ was going to be "A light to lighten the Gentiles...". Because she has nullified the apostleship of Paul, in principle, the Gentiles are yet dead in sin because YHWH Messiah was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Does Shriner not realize how important it was for the salvation of the Gentiles when the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to Ananius and said to him, of Saul who would be Paul, "...he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" (Acts 9:15). In this battle we confer not with flesh and blood but of powers and principalities in the air and the Word of God is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds, holding all these principalities in subjection by the power of the Word of God which is sharper than any twoedged sword. Sherry Shriner is a false prophet in that her own words have attempted to destroy the purity and incorruptibility of God's Word. Shriner uses the methodology of the voice she hears in her head and the Bible Codes to convince people of her doctrine and reinforces this supposed 'evidence' with mountains of text that makes audiences drunk with men's words as opposed to edification that is given through and by the holy Word of God. Stay away from this doctrine that Shriner preaches and trust the Word of God. It is Truth.

God is Great

God is Great

God is Great The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- One God, of one God, in One God, for One God-by Three persons. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society teaches that because the Lord Jesus referred to His Father as ‘greater’ than the Son then the Son is not God. According to this line of rational we then would have to view Jesus as a separate God or god. This would be consistent with the WT teaching that Jesus is ‘a god’ rather than the eternal God of the Universe who fully manifested Himself as the man Christ Jesus. The Word of God reveals that there is only one God. The Word of God also reveals that the Lord Jesus Christ is called God by those God has called to pen the Scriptures. In brief and for context we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is identified as God in; Isaiah 9:6, John 20:28, Hebrews 1:8, Titus 2:11-13, Hebrews 1:8, 1 John 5:20, and in an abundant measure of other Scriptural passages. With the deity of Christ being revealed throughout the Scriptures we will examine the biblical interpretation of the argument that the Lord Jesus ‘implied’ that He was less than God. The Lord’s words, as recorded in John 10:29-30 read: [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one. (John 10:29-30) [16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13:16) [30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. [31] If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. [32] There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. [33] Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. [34] But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. [35] He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. [36] But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. [37] And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. (John 5:30-37) It was the will of the Father that the Son submitted Himself to. [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:3-9) Just as the Lord Jesus yielded His own will to the will of His Father, so we, as Christians, must yield and submit to the will of Christ our Lord as commanded by God, the Father. [14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14) [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. [20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. [21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. [22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1 John 3:19-20 [9] If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. [10] He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. [11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I John 5:19-12 The Nature of Animals, Man, Angels, and God. In 2 Peter 2:11, Peter writes: [9] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: [10] But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. [11] Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. [12] But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:9-11) The Holy Spirit teaches us through Peter that angels are greater in power than man. The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that mankind, at the resurrection, will become like the angels of God (Matthew 22:29-20). Notice that Christ does not say that mankind becomes like God. [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [6] And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:2-6) The Holy Spirit teaches us through the writer of Hebrews that Christ Jesus IS better than the angels. [10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. [11] And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. [13] Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. (Matthew 12:10-13) In order for you to put the Lord Jesus in a class of beings you must first identify the classes revealed by the Lord God Almighty. Almighty God is first Eternal and knows no other gods but Him (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8). Secondly, Almighty God is He, of the which, created all the created. Everything from the smallest unseen particle to the totality of space (as we can or cannot understand it in our finite minds) was created by Almighty God and only through His creative capacity that He alone has. Psalm 103:19-22 Almighty God From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. _____ Almighty God created Animals Genesis 1:20-21 _____ Almighty God created Angels Genesis 1:31; 2:1, Psalms 104, Hebrews 1:7 _____ Almighty God created Mankind Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7 Where is the Son of God placed? Or rather, what is the nature of Christ in terms of ‘being’? Is Christ a Created being or is he Almighty God? Animal? Christ created Animals Ephesians 3:9, _____ Man? Christ created man and was fully a man while on earth. Hebrews 2:14-19; 5:7, Philippians 2:3-9, 1 Peter 4:1 _____ Angel? Christ created Angels. Angels are subject to the Christ. 1 Peter 3:22, Jude 9 (Distinctions between Christ and angels: 1 Timothy 5:21, 2 Peter 2:11, _____ When did Almighty God create the Son of God? Almighty God created man. Almighty God created animals. Sheep and Sparrows – Animal – The Lord Jesus states that mankind is better than a sheep or a sparrow. Humans – Mankind – The Lord Jesus was a man. Mankind is not to worship man or angels. Mankind subject to Christ (1 Peter 3:22) Angels are a class – God is the Creator of all classes and for the sake of argument inhabits the class of Creator of all life and classes. Based on the Scriptures, where would the Lord Jesus Christ place? In Matthew 12:12 the word ‘better’ is translated from the Greek word diaphero (dee-af-er'-o). Diaphero means to ‘surpass’, ‘differ from’,... : From dia and phero; to bear through, i.e. (literally) transport; usually to bear apart, i.e. (objectively) to toss about (figuratively, report); subjectively, to "differ", or (by implication) surpass be better, carry, differ from, drive up and down, be (more) excellent, make matter, publish, be of more value. The Psalmist (Psalm 8) writes and it is again stated in Hebrews that Jesus WAS made lower than the angels for the suffering of death. It is this death that paid the price for the sin of mankind and it is this death that gave Christ the inheritance of a better name. [6] But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? [7] Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: [8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. [9] But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:6-7) [14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. [16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-19) When the Lord identifies God His Father, 'greater' than Christ was- it was not because He was not God- it was because he was 'made a little lower' for the suffering of death. God's Word defends God's Word. Let us trust His Word.