here is his Blog by Rev. Tullian Tchividjian, http://liberatenet.org/2013/07/30/peter-and-the-promisehttp://liberatenet.org/2013/07/30/peter-and-the-promise
Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for You Jesus Or in awe of You be still Will I stand in Your Presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine So TRUE BLESSING BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU THROUGH THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD And through the SON, JESUS. He's the Christ. The Yeshua Homeshiak!.
Friday, August 02, 2013
Peter And Promise
here is his Blog by Rev. Tullian Tchividjian, http://liberatenet.org/2013/07/30/peter-and-the-promisehttp://liberatenet.org/2013/07/30/peter-and-the-promise
Rev. Tullian's Book Due Out In October About God's One Way Love And Inexhaustable Grace
What is grace?
The definition I give for grace in my forthcoming book, One-Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World, comes from Paul Zahl. He writes:
Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable…. The cliché definition of grace is “unconditional love.” It is a true cliché, for it is a good description of the thing. Let’s go a little further, though. Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the lover. Grace is irrational in the sense that it has nothing to do with weights and measures. It has nothing to do with my intrinsic qualities or so-called “gifts” (whatever they may be). It reflects a decision on the part of the giver, the one who loves, in relation to the receiver, the one who is loved, that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…. Grace is one-way love.
Grace doesn’t make demands. It just gives. And from our vantage point, it always gives to the wrong person. We see this over and over again in the Gospels: Jesus is always giving to the wrong people—prostitutes, tax collectors, half-breeds. The most extravagant sinners of Jesus’s day receive his most compassionate welcome. Grace is a divine vulgarity that stands caution on its head. It refuses to play it safe and lay it up. Grace is recklessly generous, uncomfortably promiscuous. It doesn’t use sticks, carrots, or time cards. It doesn’t keep score. As Robert Capon puts it, “Grace works without requiring anything on our part. It’s not expensive. It’s not even cheap. It’s free.” It refuses to be controlled by our innate sense of fairness, reciprocity, and evenhandedness. It defies logic. It has nothing to do with earning, merit, or deservedness. It is opposed to what is owed. It doesn’t expect a return on investments. Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver.
It is one-way love.
Rev. Tchividjian, grandson to Rev. Billy Graham, preaches, writes, pastors Coral Ridge Church where Dr. D. James Kennedy preached as well.
. An extra great Christian Music Video : The Middle Of Your Heart by For King and Country < click
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Why I'm Not A Word of Faith Hype Individual.
In a pull toward being honest I would say it's not unbelief so much that I don't wonder but 'false concepts of God' and 'false concepts of ourselves in Christ' which we definitely need scripture, grace, and the Spirit for, to be operating in us to change. Saying yes to Jesus Christ and allowing Him to help us, empower us for our need to learn of Him, He identifiying with I, Christ and His love working within we do change. What is change all about and does what we believe need to change with God's help and timing not our agenda? Rhetorical question. I'm using as a rule the Bible and Christan Faith. This is not just semantics for me because I was beat over the head all my life by 'judaizers' (Like those of Galatia preaching we ought to come back to law not grace) who are some present-day 'word of faith' prosperity preachers in TV land saying 'I just had to believe more' and that all lack of money, wealth, or health is just caused by my unbelief. I'm sorry, wealth, health, and money is not my goals, to know God & Christ as I should is. It's usually toned like we're on the outside of a cup people struggling 'ants' never capable of getting into the cup of belief but only an elite with 'hyper faith' will. As Scripture has so rightly voiced and said here conviction of sin(s) is for the heathen and conviction of righteousness is for the believer and let's keep healing of mind and body and spirit within the work of the cross and its effects and the reach of true faith & belief but exclude that which is not Spirit Full Temple's fringe benefit alone. "Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness..." . But let us make believing something energized by the Spirit of God not our covetousness. Notice my tone is conciliatatory because I know I have been guilty of this talk & well meaning brothers are in error and we have probably all done this talk, but love covers and let us put on love and ask God for repentant change. 'Lord help my unbelief' was for healing the physical body. "All things are possible for him/her who believes" is a Christ saying 'in God's time,' by believing God and the moving of the Spirit, & gift of memory of the Word in God's time. I'm saying we should let Jesus save and reveal Himself innerly by the Spirit, He becoming the 'prophecy like' Living Logos, not mix, unbelief with a lack of anything that we cannot take to heaven with us. I believe in good health but not being very greedy about getting it. Happiness is a choice. Matthew 5,6,7.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
The Good Effects Of Christ's Death In Giving A New Nature, Etc., Far Outweigh The Effects Of Adam's Sinful Fall
Is God the Author of Evil?
Is there any sense in which God can be said to be the author of evil? In the quote below one author answers yes. See if you agree.
God is the author (is in sovereign control) of everything that happens.
Evil is something that happens.
So God is the author of evil.
If this is correct, then even if God is not the author of any evil “thing,” would He not still be the author of evil events? In which case, God would still be the author of evil.1
The author then quotes several Scripture passages involving God’s sovereignty. He further explains how God authors evil.
Nevertheless, note that the word author is being used in two different senses. Yes, God is the author of everything, including evil, in the sense that He permits it, but not in the sense that He produces it. Evil happens in His permissive will, but He does not promote evil in His perfect will. God allows evil yet does not encourage it. Just like parents give limited freedom to their children to learn from their mistakes, even so God does with His children. But in no way does God “author” evil in the sense of producing, promoting, or performing it.2
______________________
Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?: A New Way to Think About the Question (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2011), 23. ↩
Ibid. ↩
Related Posts:
John Ankerberg: No Context for Real Dialogue about Truth
Norman Geisler: Context, Application and Defense
Beyond Geisler & Olson by James Swan
tagged as Norman Geisler, problem of evil in apologetics,Culture,morality,theology
The above article was posted on July 22, 2011
13 comments
DavidCandel2
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DavidCandel 4 minutes ago
God uses evil disasters to judge or bring judgment. Floods and earthquakes abound. God can restrain sinners from sinning and He can allow restraint to look like He permits sinning when depravity abounds. But where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.Edit (1 minutes)
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Dave Candel Jul 30, 2011
I have so very much enjoyed reading the whole book, "If God, Why Evi?" by Norman Geisler! I'm notetaking a second read because it's so edifying. You can confirm and infer He is Biblical if you read it through thoroughly and isn't especially Calvinist or in five points TULIP but is cal-am as I believe is true. When I consider the timeliness of such a book as He writes I'm humbled by recognizing the good it can do. I used to read Jonathan Edwards in Bible College. A book by Barnhouse, "Invisble War" was a view I took for many years also but Dr. Geisler is a very intelligent read convincingly so comparatively speaking! He has in my mind the persuasive skill to bring many into Christ as Savior and Lord with the help of the Holy Spirit. May it be ever so.
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Mark Jul 30, 2011
Dave, I'm finishing the book and am finding inconsistencies. It is a decent overview of the problem of evil though. Some of the analogies explaining purposes of evil I found wanting. And his presentation of free will as the reason for evil were unsatisfying and inconsistent. Anyway, I hope to point this out in my review.
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Dave Candel Aug 5, 2011
Mark I can appreciate how you find the book as I find it intellectually a lot of stimulating logic to follow. However, I appreciate the sheer numbers of reasons for evil he mentions and a few he omits. Apologetically though I feel his points are taken well and his defense of perhaps Paul in Romans eight is fair, "The sufferings we endure for Christ, are not worth mentioning in comparison to the weight of glory in Heaven!" I want to err on the side of caution being that I'm not a critic who can bargain being less talented myself at explaining ironies and cause and effect, and such! Such is the existance of a depraved sinful sinner as I. All of grace.
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TurretinFan Jul 22, 2011
Does that mean Geisler is a "moderate Calvinist" after all?
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Mark Jul 22, 2011
You know, on this issue he might be, if this can be said to be the Calvinist position. :) Let me finish the book to see where he ends up. Of course, this also doesn't tell where he lands on the five points.
But you all ready know all that.
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Mark Jul 22, 2011
All, Geisler's position here is similar to Jonathan Edwards' position. He did clarify what he meant by "author" as well as mention the two wills of God position.
They who object, that this doctrine makes God the Author of Sin, ought distinctly to explain what they mean by that phrase, The Author of Sin. I know the phrase, as it is commonly used, signifies something very ill. If by the Author of Sin, be meant the Sinner, the Agent, or Actor of Sin, or the Doer of a wicked thing; so it would be a reproach and blasphemy, to suppose God to be the Author of Sin. In this sense, I utterly deny God to be the Author of Sin; rejecting such an imputation on the Most High, as what is infinitely to be abhorred; and deny any such thing to be the consequence of what I have laid down. But if, by the Author of Sin, is meant the permitter, or not a hinderer of Sin; and, at the same lime, a disposer of the state of events, in such a manner, for wise, holy, and most excellent ends and purposes, that Sin, if it be permitted or not hindered, will most certainly and infallibly follow: I say, if this be all that is meant, by being the Author of Sin, I do not deny that God is the Author of Sin, (though I dislike and reject the phrase, as that which by use and custom is apt to carry another sense,) it is no reproach for the Most High to be thus the Author of Sin.
[1.Edwards, Jonathan (2009). The Works of Jonathan Edwards, volume 1 of 2 (Samizdat Edition with Active Table of Contents), improved 2/5/2011 (p. 63). B&R Samizdat Express. Kindle Edition.]
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threegirldad Jul 22, 2011
"Author of evil" is a metaphor, and as such, not much use with strict definition.
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Cathy M. Jul 22, 2011
Calling evil good is a sin. Calling good evil is a sin. God is good. God has ordained that evil exists. Everything that God ordains is good... even if it's a mystery to me; but, to claim God is the author of evil is untrue, and a sin.
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Andrew Jul 22, 2011
I rarely like the permissive vs. perfect will argument...generally because it is not equally applied. If God permissively authors evil, why do He not also permissively author election/salvation? I know this is a rather ad hominem argument (and I believe Geisler does apply this logic to both situations), but I just feel that there is a better solution to the problem.
PS- I also tend to bristle at purely logical explanations for God without Scriptural scaffolding.
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Christiane Jul 22, 2011
God is good.
Evil is the absence of good.
God cannot 'contradict' Himself, so God is not the author of evil.
Some people take their description of a wrathful god too far.
Was Jesus Christ the creator of evil ?
Or was He the answer to evil.
Satan is alive and well in the souls of puffed-up theologues.
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Mark Jul 22, 2011
Christiane, that is another part of Geisler's argument. He seems to agree with Augustine that evil is not a "thing" but an absence of good.
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Mark Jul 22, 2011
Andrew,
Isn't that the issue with God's sovereignty no matter how one works it out? Unless, of course, it is believed that God is passive in the history of humankind not effecting the outcome of anything.
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Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Bethel Assembly of God: The Stephens Family Music Ministry
Bethel Assembly of God: The Stephens Family Music Ministry: This Sunday we enjoyed the music ministry of the Stephens Family. If you are interested in finding out more about them, their website can b...
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Is There A Prayer To Pray To Obtain Salvation?
Answer: Many people ask, “Is there a prayer I can pray that will guarantee my salvation?” It is important to remember that salvation is not received by reciting a prayer or uttering certain words. The Bible nowhere records a person’s receiving salvation by a prayer. Saying a prayer is not the biblical way of salvation.
The biblical method of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Salvation is gained by faith (Ephesians 2:8), by receiving Jesus as Savior (John 1:12), and by fully trusting Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), not by reciting a prayer.
The biblical message of salvation is simple and clear and amazing at the same time. We have all committed sin against God (Romans 3:23). Other than Jesus Christ, there is no one who has lived an entire life without sinning (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Because of our sin, we have earned judgment from God (Romans 6:23), and that judgment is physical death followed by spiritual death. Because of our sin and its deserved punishment, there is nothing we can do on our own to make ourselves right with God. As a result of His love for us, God became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life and always taught the truth. However, humanity rejected Jesus and put Him to death by crucifying Him. Through that horrible act, though, Jesus died in our place. Jesus took the burden and judgment of sin on Himself, and He died in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was then resurrected (1 Corinthians 15), proving that His payment for sin was sufficient and that He had overcome sin and death. As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice, God offers us salvation as a gift. God calls us all to change our minds about Jesus (Acts 17:30) and to receive Him as the full payment of our sins (1 John 2:2). Salvation is gained by receiving the gift God offers us, not by praying a prayer.
Now, that does not mean prayer cannot be involved in receiving salvation. If you understand the gospel, believe it to be true, and have accepted Jesus as your salvation, it is good and appropriate to express that faith to God in prayer. Communicating with God through prayer can be a way to progress from accepting facts about Jesus to fully trusting in Him as Savior. Prayer can be connected to the act of placing your faith in Jesus alone for salvation.
Again, though, it is crucially important that you do not base your salvation on having said a prayer. Reciting a prayer cannot save you! If you want to receive the salvation that is available through Jesus, place your faith in Him. Fully trust His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins. Completely rely on Him alone as your Savior. That is the biblical method of salvation. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, by all means, say a prayer to God. Tell God how thankful you are for Jesus. Offer praise to God for His love and sacrifice. Thank Jesus for dying for your sins and providing salvation for you. That is the biblical connection between salvation and prayer.
If you have received Jesus as your Savior because of what you have read here today, please click on the "I have accepted Christ today" button below.
A Song of thanks : music video, by Peter Fuhler : I'm Alive. < click
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-of-salvation.html#ixzz2Y69zfC9M
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Bethel Assembly of God: Corinthians 34 Concerning Ressurrection
Bethel Assembly of God: Corinthians 34 Concerning Ressurrection: The slides for this study can be found here
Monday, June 17, 2013
Bethel Assembly of God: Fathers of Light Matthew5:13-16
Bethel Assembly of God: Fathers of Light Matthew5:13-16: The slides for this study can be found here
Thursday, June 13, 2013
My Testimony "the testimonies of The Lord are sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19
Bethel Assembly Of God Church
Thanks Lord for being there for me! How can I say thanks Lord God for the good things? Look what You have done for me!! Look, it's the Finished Work of Jesus!! I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of God. Christ is the Name above all Names, Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord, Immanuel, God with us. I will become Who You say I can become and already Are through my confession of faith in Your Person and Work Lord Jesus! When I gave my heart to Jesus Christ in 1961 at age four I knew I'd be accused of being a "being good" "being good" "goody-two-shoes" but I determined I'd belong to God and take in His Counsel and His Kingdom I'd seek along with His Presence glorify God as well even as a lad in Grade School with all my heart I sought this. God says I'm salt and light to my generation and I want to become more this witness together greater!
I'd try to not let my left hand know what my right hand is doing as Christ said about giving but live within the confines of my conscience God gave me in giving and sacrificing my life for His service. A Bondslave of Jesus Christ and Others and knowing God at an early age, I tried to tell others about finding Christ inside fully and what that means to our life now as the Apostles were told by God to explain as in Acts 5:20. I heard about abuse from Jews and Catholics but I stayed the course and remembered to talk to God about everybody before I talked to anybody about God. I wanted to be a disciple of Jesus' in spirit and truth not just an outward Christian. My Pastor and parents said and I knew that if I learned the Bible well and was continually taught all about the characters in it and the story of Redemption in God's grace thereof, hiding God's Word inside me, then I'd be building on a good foundation on Christ against the storms of life to come. And it has been so.
Righteousness by faith is what I long for. God's Righteousness is what I need (God's.) Stuff can take a back seat. Things and possessions can just get in the way. They go, yes mostly go. But even as a child I wanted to tell others what I found in knowing God and it wasn't always easy. My godly parents took me to Church every Sunday and Wednesday. Twice on Sunday. And I went forward often to the altar to pray. I needed God and I was not a good sinner. I wanted to live for Christ and be determined to be weak in my own weakness that Christ only may be strong in me. It was my intention to have God change my life to please Him. The fulcrum of my life was His. My sins, failures, and faults were substituted in Him. By faith in Him I lived this. * He's lived in me to substitute and replace my life for His.
By grace I've been saved, and the transaction's done. I've already won. I have a certain salvation. I have faith in Him and in His Name and my anchor holds within the veil, and grips the Solid Rock; This Rock IS Jesus! My motive is to live by faith in God, His grace and not in myself without Christ nor trust in my good works, lest any boast. And He grips me back. He does so with LOVE so BOLD, I need a REVOLUTION... It's not about me but what Christ has done FOR me and you in His Finished Work because of what He's Finished or accomplished on the Cross for me and Who He is, His Nature and Character and Attributes and Names which give us His Provision.
Almighty God Most Holy Lord, glorious Almighty God is He! We love, adore, affectionately worship You Abba with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Whatever my hands find to do I do with all my might. Let my life-song sing to You and be proof of Your love! I read and reRead my Bible and then read tracts or little Gospels Booklets or Gospels as I began to call them, being young and I began to see the plan of God in blueprints in His Words, of God's Perfect Plans or Will better as a child. Seems like we won't soon forget that overdraft of His checks we write against His Finished Work forgetting nonetheless or His Backdraft of Fire of Who He is (the Cross and what it stands for,) if we do that innocently as a child of God a New Creation forgiving! We need to keep in our minds eye the Price Paid for which we were bought and paid a Ransom for and emotions will follow even mood being set and signalled: re: our love for God fervent & foremost white hot for Him because this world would try to take that away. This world has an enemy, the devil and, satan is his other name. No elder brother is the devil, oh please (says some Mormon.) Christ loves us first and it's all about His love for us and our "being the disciple whom The Lord loved."
Ephesians says, "Be filled in and with the Spirit." and "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Put on Helmet, Sword, Shield, Belt, Shoes, Breastplate, and Pray always with all prayer and supplication on all occasions for all the saints as that suit of armor. May you see the Savior' Blood applied to your life and find your happiness and joy in belonging to Him if you haven't believed on Jesus' Name already! The promises of God is as bright as our shades, our sunglasses for we know the sun of righteousness and He comes with healing in His Wings!
It says in Hebrews, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." All it takes is prayer to God and commitment to Christ to admit that you're a sinner, a falling short (of God's glory, person) wretched sinner, guilty as charged, and worthy of hellfire for eternity but then on the fly knowing that you're confessing God's love, forgiven, as one who accepts Jesus Christ as your individual Savior and Lord from sin. No condemnation now I dread then but justification from Him is what God wants. You then follow Him (Christ) dug in, abiding in Him accordingly bearing fruit, then being a witness for Him knowing you're a fruitful Christian from His doing and now you are of course Born of God.
Love God with your whole heart and soul mind and spirit and let Him know that you love Him continually and tell everyone, proclaiming Eungelion, the Gospel, "release," "you're free! of this world: the lust if the eyes, the pride of life." "Your chains are gone." ("You're in amazing grace.") You're in it to win it; not in it for a problem-free life but a hallowed consecration of whatever it takes to follow and belong to Jesus with savor. Have that encounter with Him in God's sight. Ask God for a right stand.
Jesus is that Davidic Covenant Keeper, Messiah. He fulfilled the Law perfect actually keeping it thoroughly by love and obedience. He went beyond obeying to be pleasing approvingly also by the Father God. He loved God and His fellow perfectly. He is therefore able to save to the uttermost all we (servants) that come unto God by Him seeing He ever lives to make intercession for us. He lives by the power of an indestructible life after His Resurrection. We are priests now after the order of Melchizadek as He is! Sin's wage is death but death could not hold Him! He rose! We sit with Him, victors, HuperNikao overwhelming victors, not victims, overcomers in Him in the Heavenlies at the Ark at the Throne.
As THE perfect the Lamb of God who was sacrificed then, Jesus' Blood was (shed) so we could be free. Now I'm forgiven. Jesus keeps giving and giving. Love is not love until it goes through a test & until it is of faith pure like pure gold and dross is removed and gold poured out given. We give. We come to our senses to faithful give our lives away. God wants us to choose Him by faith and use our will and passions to know I or us belong re: His Possession and enforce Lordship on us as I or we voluntarily co-labor on that. I or us behave naturally but it's the Holy Spirit supernaturally.
It's a Gift, Eternal Life, and we must accept it, mission in hand. Make that the prayer to know God and obey the Son. Justification happens. Sanctification. You become salt of your earth and light to shine in this dark world with the Light of the world Jesus indwelling. You're lighter than a feather in feeling forgiven. You begin to really live like you're alive from the dead and everlasting in trait. Grace becomes God's riches at Christ's expense! God's love becomes so real! The Holy Spirit is your gift when you believe the Finished Work and apply it to you, not these happenstance things nor gaft in your world of coincidences. In your world God's love and grace reality means more now. In God's déjà vu timing all good things become beautiful. God is good. "Occupy until I come," Jesus said, on the offensive winnning battles on your knees. Jesus won the war and we lead triumph to parade victory in Jesus' Name. Snatch them from the flame calling God Holy! And when you do, make disciples! Remember you're seeking and finding a personal relationship to God that makes you born again, not a fake religiousness in fake religion. Jesus coming in will make changes. Welcome Him. Released from dead works to serve the Living God it's all of Grace as well as Jesus really does surgery on us. I see visions of what God through Christ by the Holy Spirit can do in us His Church as we all do our functions in the Body of our Lord! Let this be a functioning Believer's Group Abba Father Getting Together in Jesus' Name doing the work of Jesus in the power of Jesus through His Name by grace. Amen.
"Religion will always try to sell you the lie that God wants to relate to you based on your 'works', but the Gospel proclaims the truth that God actually desires to relate with you based on the finished work of his Son." - Mick Mooney
"Trust him. And when you have done that, you are living the life of grace. No matter what happens to you in the course of that trusting — no matter how many waverings you may have, no matter how many suspicions that you have bought a poke with no pig in it, no matter how much heaviness and sadness your lapses, vices, indispositions, and bratty whining may cause you — you simply believe that Somebody Else,by his death and resurrection, has made it all right, and you just say thank you and shut up." - Rob Capon
Dave Candel
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Bethel Assembly of God: Corinthians 33 Concerning Resurrection
Bethel Assembly of God: Corinthians 33 Concerning Resurrection: The slides for this study can be found here
Bethel Assembly of God: After Acts Acts 2:40-47
Bethel Assembly of God: After Acts Acts 2:40-47: The slides for this study can be found here
Bethel Assembly of God: Testimony Power
Bethel Assembly of God: Testimony Power: The slides for this study can be found here
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