Truth Be Told: A Blog by Pastor Bill Alderson

  I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living .              Psalm 27:13 I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living .               Psalm 116:9 I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living .                                   Psalm 142:5 In each of the above verses, the psalmist refers to the quality of life available to the one who finds his life within a personal relationship, in communion with God. There is a clear sense of walking in His presence and the provision for life that this relationship brings to the believer. It speaks of a purity of heart that allows him to see the Lord (Matthew 5:8). Hezekiah’s Prayer A writing of Hezekiah, ...

  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church [ ekklesia – called out ones], and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "             Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus’s public ministry began at His baptism, followed immediately by His temptation in the wilderness. While still ministering in Galilee, He introduced the principle of kingdom life, proper behavior in the kingdom of heaven. It meant a radical change in the laws given at Sinai, those commandments that focused on the public activities of the believer. The Sermon on the Mount was intended to focus attention on the private, inward life. In the beginning, Jesus centered on the inward convictions that would result in blessings of the kingdom. In the above passage, J...

  8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kind of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues .              1 Corinthians 12:8-10 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues .                  1 Corinthians 12:28 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his...

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own [private] interpretation [ epilúseos   - indicates that no prophecy comes from any private source, referring to the exposition of the will and purposes of God by the prophets themselves].        2 Peter 1:20 “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from                it.          Deuteronomy 12:32   “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you .      Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to His words, or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.     Proverbs 30:6 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in th...