THE APOSTLES OF GOD

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THE APOSTLES OF GOD

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postle means a person who is sent to a distant place with a message. . He may be also called a messenger. As God cannot attend all the needs of his children, he used to send his angels on his behalf. Let us see two examples how the angels helped God’s people when they were in danger. Mr. Williams was a busy doctor in a remote part of China. One day, he came home late, and was about to go to bed. Just at that time, a ten year old girl came and knocked at the door. The doctor opened the door. She requested the doctor to come to her house and see her mother who was in serious condition. The doctor saw her mother and then complemented that she had a very good and responsible daughter. But the mother replied she had no body at present, and her only daughter died some time back. The truth is that one angel came and acted like her daughter who died and helped her in that helpless condition.

The second story is about a priest. John was a priest in a village in Scotland. Some heathens who did not like the spreading of Christianity in those days, wanted to kill the priest. Whenever they went to him they saw some people were moving around the house. They tried many times but in vain. Then one day the heathen leader came to the house of the priest and

89 asked him how many people were residing in that house. The priest replied only himself and his wife. Then all understood that God had sent his angels to protect the priest from the danger of the heathens. The heathens realized how God helped his people in times of danger. And they too became devoted Christians. These two examples show that God’s concern towards his people was wonderful. He always protects us from any danger by sending his angels.

According to some historical evidence, God created about 1 billion angels along with other creation. They are more handsome and intelligent than human beings. . As they have no sex, they are unfit for marriage, and to beget children. . It is also said that their height is about 25 to 30 feet, and are immortals. They never become old. They are very helpful to God in his administration in heaven. God put them in different cadres for different purposes.

The first cadre is called Arch angels who are next to God. They are Michael, Lucifer, and Gabriel etc. Michel was a good administrator and God liked him most. But Lucifer was more cunning and revengeful type. He claimed equality with God in everything and so rebelled against him .God became angry and at last sent Lucifer from heaven in to the bottomless pit. One-third of the angels followed him. Then he changed his name from Lucifer to Satan. His aim is to take revenge against God’s people. Satan’s first attack was Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He went to them as a serpent and tempted them to eat the fruit of knowledge. Adam and Eve, obeyed his words, and ate the fruit, and sinned against God by disobeying his words. God got angry and sent them out of the Garden of Eden. As the wages of sin is death, we lost paradise through Adam and Eve.

A famous English poet John Milton wrote a poem called paradise lost starting with the following lines:

Of man’s first disobedience

And the fruit of forbidden tree

This poem became very popular in all over the world. And it is said this poem was translated into seventy languages and people read it as the Bible. He also wrote another poem called paradise regained with the coming of Christ. After about four thousand years what we lost because of the sin of Adam and Eve we get back with the coming of Jesus Christ. So it is said “in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall be made alive”.

An angel appeared to Daniel on two occasions. When he was to clear the dreams of Babylon king Nebuchadnezzar, and when he was thrown into the lions den to save him. Gabriel the angel of God appeared before the woman in her old age and told her she would have a son, and his name shall be Samson. He also said Samson would deliver the Israel from the hands of the philistines. The angel came to Zachariah in his old age and told him that he would have a son and his name shall be John. The same Gabriel angel appeared to Mary and told her he was sent by God to tell her some important message that she would conceive a male child, through the Holy Spirit and he shall be called Jesus the son of God.

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The next cadre is called Angels. Their duty is to move around God and sing songs in praise of Him. Like Holy Holy Holy. It might be the same angels who came down from heaven when Christ was born and sang songs in his praise with celestial music.

The third cadre is called Cherubs. Their duty is to take care of the tabernacle and make necessary arrangements.

The forth cadre of angels is called Cherubims. God appointed an angel from this group at the Eastern gate of the Garden of Eden. So that nobody could enter the garden and touch the tree of life.

The next cadre is thrones, powers, authorities, crowns, principalities and dominions. It seems there are ten divisions among angels.

Three angels came to the house of Abraham and they ate bread in his house. The angels told him he would get a son at the age of ninety nine. Two angels visited the house of lot son of Abraham’s brother. They ate bread in his house and informed him that he should leave his place Sodom immediately because they were going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness and adultery.

An angel came from heaven to Elijah when he was in deep hunger. He fled from the notorious queen Jezebel who wanted to kill him. The angel gave him bread two times. With that he survived for forty days and forty nights.

The angel came to the house of Gideon and told him to save Israel from the oppression of Medianites. The angels sat under the oak tree and spoke with him what God wanted from him to do. Two angels waited at the tomb of Jesus Christ and informed Mary Magdalene that he had risen. He also told Mary that Jesus wanted to meet his disciples in Galilee

When Paul and Peter were imprisoned the angel went and brought them out. Like this we can quote as many examples as possible from the Bible to prove that the angels are the real, missionaries of God.

If we look into the last book of the Bible, The book of Revelation, we can understand clearly how the angels appeared to be busy at all times and play important roles. Seven angels were in charge of seven churches, seven angels were in charge of seven seals and seven angels were in charge of seven vials etc. According to the prophecy of Jesus Christ about John, we see how he became Saint John to write 'The Book of Revelation'. Some angels took John and showed him some places including the New Jerusalem. So, by all these above mentioned examples, we can understand clearly that the angels are the real, messengers of God who helps God in his administration.

When you are in persecution:

1.Rejoice and be happy

2.You must love your enemies.

3.Bless them that curse you

4.Do good to them that always hate you.

5.Pray for them that purposely use you and persecute you.

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THE BIBLE

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1.e must realize our spiritual poverty

2.We must be sure that we have received Christ as our personal savior.

3.We must have surrendered lives.

4.We must be filled with the spirit of God

5.We must try to produce the fruits of the spirit in us

6.We must be a witness to Christ

7.We must be sensitive to the needs of others in the society

8.We should not be half Christians

9.We must perform prayers always for regular contact with God

10.We must not be critical of others.

11.We must develop a taste for spiritual, things

12.We must be emotional to others and their problems

13. We shall love every body in the society

14. We must stand courageously

15. We must realize that we are immortals and live forever with God in heaven

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Some words from the Bible

1.For in Adam all die even so in Christ shall be made alive

2.By faith Noah prepared an Ark and arranged every thing planned by God and became

a righteous man

3.Whosoever has faith like Abraham are called the children of Abraham.

4.Through faith Abraham tried to sacrifice his only begotten son Isaac and received

abundant blessings and Provisions

5.Abraham was also called the father of circumcision

6.God gave Abraham a covenant of circumcision and he did that to his son Isaac on the

eighth day of his birth.

7.Abraham through righteousness became a friend of God

8.By faith Abraham moved to many places like a wanderer.

9.When Moses became forty years, he wished to visit his brethren, the children of

Israel

10.Crossing of the Red Sea was a salvation to the Israel

11.The Red Sea at that time was about 10 feet deep

12.The Ten Commandments are called ten words in Hebrew language

13.The first part of them are religious and the second part is moral binding.

14.The sons of Jacob are called patriarchs

15.King David was also called patriarch

16.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the fools hate wisdom and

instructions

17.The city of Armageddon was built by King Solomon about 3000 years ago.

18.Never try evil for evil nor to take revenge. Because God said “revenge is mine”

19.A person is justified by what he does but not by faith alone.

20.If we love each other God will live in us and his love is complete in us

21.God is love whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him.

22.God said “be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life”

23.Our children do not belong to the devil but to the living God

24.Jews were the children of Judah and Benjamin

and twelve sons of Jacob

have mercy

Pentecost

Diana

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31.We must believe in one God Lord, one faith and one baptism

32.Christ is the author and finisher of our faith

33.Faith and belief result in blessings

34.In the Bible the measurements of Noah’s Ark and Jerusalem Temple are mentioned in

cubits. A cubit is 17 to 22 inches.

35.Love not this world nor the things of this world if one loves this world; the love for

the father (God) is not in him

36.The head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is man and the head

of Christ is God

37.Man is not created for woman but woman is created for man

38.The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, faith and longsuffering

39.Herod the Antipas, was the son of King Herod. He beheaded John the Baptist, killed

James and imprisoned Peter and Paul to please the Jews.

40.Names of the other two persons crucified with Christ were 1.Dysmus 2. Gertas

41.Jesus is the mediator between God and man.

42.Mathias was taken as the twelfth apostle of Jesus

43.In Joppa a woman by name Tabitha called Dorkas was a disciple. When she died

Peter raised from her death

44.The angel of God appeared to Cornelius. He was the first heathen who became the

Christian

45.Jesus said it is more blessing to you to give than to receive

46.When the people raised from the dead they neither marry nor given to marriage but

they remain in heaven without marriage.

47.Repentance is a noble thing because every body will rejoice at this

48.One cannot serve two masters as one cannot serve God andmammon (money)

49.Man must be born of water and spirit to enter into the kingdom of God.

50. As the body without spirit is dead the faith without work is dead

51.The prayer of the faith shall save the sick and the lord shall raise him up

52.Elijah prayed to God sincerely not to have rain and there was no rain for three and a

half years and again he prayed to God for rain. People got it

53.God did not spare even angels from punishment when theyrebelled against him and

committed sin. He cast them down to hell to wait there for final judgment

54.If we confess our sins, God is faithful and He forgives our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.

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25.MPORTANCE OF NO.40

IN THE BIBLE

1. In the days of Noah, people became wicked and sinned against God. So God wanted to

destroy people with rains, and trained for 40 days and 40 nights. (Genesis 7:17)

2. Isaac a was 40 years old when he married Rebecca (Genesis. 25:20)

3. Esau was 40 years old, when he married Judith. (Genesis. 26:34)

4. When Jacob died, he was embalmed with spices for 40 days. (Genesis 50:3)

5. When Moses was 40 years old, it came to his mind (heart) to visit his brethren, the

children of Israel, and accidentally killed an Egyptian, who was the Governor of Goshan.

(Exodus 7:23)

6. The Children of Israel ate Manna for 40 years in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:35)

7. Moses went to the top of the mount Horeb (Sinai) for the first time, to receive laws and

the 10 commandments and stayed there for 40 days. (Exodus 24:18)

8. Moses went to the mountain Horeb for the second time andstayed with God 40 days

and 40 nights without bread andwater to get the 10 commandments. (Exodus 34:28)

9. God asked Moses to keep 40 sockets of Silver under the lengthy board of the Tabernacle.

(Exodus 26:19&36:26)

10. Moses sent 12 members from 12 tribes to find out the position of Canaan and they

returned after 40 days. (Num.14:34)

11. The children of Israel wandered in wilderness for 40 years till they reached the borders

of Canaan. (Number 14:33)

12. Moses explained to the Israel about family relations, when they were judged they must

be given 40 strips as a punishment. (Deu.25:3)

13. Aaron was 40 years old when he left Egypt.

14. Joshua went to war with 40 thousand Israel and crossed the River Jordan. (Joshua 4:13)

15. Caleb was 40 years old when he went to see Canaan with other members of the team.

(Joshua 14:7)

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16. The Israel lived in peace for 40 years under the leadership of Othniel the son-in-law of

Caleb. (Judges 3:11)

17. The Israel chose new gods, when there was war in the gates, was there a shield or spear

among forty thousand Israel? (Judges 5:8)

18. After the death of the KingofCanaan, the Israel lived in peace for 40 years. (Judges

5:31)

20. God got angry over Israel and handed them over to Philistines for 40 years as a punishment.

(Judges 13:1)

21. Eli the priest judged Israel for 40 years. (1 Samuel 4:18)

22. Goliath a Philistine giant of 9’.6" feet height, challenged the Israel in the war both morning

and evening for forty days. (1 Samuel 17:16)

23. Prophet Samuel anointed Saul, a Benjaminite as the King of Israel, who ruled them for 40

years. (Acts 13:21)

24. Abner Captain of Saul’s army; made Sauls’ son Ishbo Seth, King of Israel and he was 40

years old at that time. (2 Samuel 2:10)

25. King David ruled Israel for 40 years. (2 Samuel 5: 4) (1 Chronicles 29:27)

26. In the war with Syrians King David killed 40 thousand footmen (2 Samuel 10:18)

27. Absalom, son of King David said that he wanted to pay his vow to God after 40 years in

Hebron. (2 Samuel 15:7)

28. King Solomon had 40 thousand stalls of horses for his chariots (1 Kings 4:26)

29. King Solomon ruled Israel for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42)

30. Prophet Elijah got bread from heaven by an angel twice, and with that strength he lived

for 40 days and 40 nights and walked to mount Horeb the Mount of God. (1 Kings 19:8)

of gifts to him (11 Kings 8:9)

(11 Kings 12:1)

95.10)

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36. I will make the Land of Egypt desolate among the cities for 40 years. (Ezekiel 29.12; 28)

37. After 25 years of Captivity. Ezekiel got a vision in which he saw one of the walls of the

second temple was about 40 cubits. (Ezk. 41:2)

38. Also. I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you 40 yearsthrough its wilder

ness to possess the land of the Amorites (Amos 2:10)

39. Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness for 40 years? O house

of Israel? (Amos 5:25)

40. Prophet Jonah told the people of Nineveh city that if they did not repent for their sins

within 40 days God would destroy them completely (Jonah 3:4)

NEW TESTAMENT

41. When Jesus was 40 days old he was taken to the Jerusalem temple.

42. Christ after taking Baptism from John the Baptist wandered in the wilderness of Jordan

River for 40 days and hungered. (Mark1.13 & Luke 4.2)

43. After resurrection. Christ spent 40 days with his disciples and ascended unto heaven

(Acts 1:3)

44. Simon Peter also healed a man near the temple gate who was above 40 years. (Acts

4.22)

45. More than 40 Jews joined together and took oath that they would not eat or drink till they

kill Paul. (Acts 23 13)

46. Paul said “Of the Jews five times received I 40 strips save one. (2 Cor.11 24)

47. But with whom was he grieved 40 years? Was it not with them thatsinned?

(Hebrews 3 17)

48. Some Christians observe 40 days as Lenten days and remain in fasting before the crucifiction

of Christ. (Good Friday)

49. In 2001 the Israel surrounded “ the Church of Nativity” in Bethlehem, because the

Philistines with 160 hostages remained inside the churchThey slept at the corners

of the church for a symbolic 40 days They survived with the juice of lemon leaves

mixed with oil from the lamps A priest served them juice once in three days.

50. According to historical information Christ was born in 5th B C anddied in 30 A.D He

wept and foretold the future destruction ofJerusalem and the temple On 70 A.D-

King Titus destroyed themjust 40 years after the death of Christ.

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