To think less of Gods gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly. The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your pathbut only if you read it and heed it. God can always be counted on to keep his promises (Titus 1:2). Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. A Lydian city founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159-138 b.c. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Revelation 3: 7. . When Gods mandates go unfulfilled on earth, Gods glory is diminished. That makes it easier to talk to Him. The letter to the church at Philadelphia is the one to which most current church members relate. The Holy Spirit is the means by which the Father and the Son dwell within the adopted sons of God. Bible Study | pastor | Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Philadelphia PA A Place Where People Encounter God Family Fellowship and Bible Study Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Senior. The church at Smyrna, the church at Philadelphia were faithful, godly, loyal, effective. If so, you might be neglecting a vitally important aspect of Christian living! The Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) is a non-trinitarian, . Best of allthese lessons are absolutely free! The Holy One is a common Old Testament title for God (Isaiah 40:25; 43:15). Or do you graciously say, Thank you, in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? Notice what Jesus says in Luke 11:9-10, 13: So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. When his thirtieth birthday came, he must have struggled with questions of why and if only.. It is nearly 70 ms. e. of Smyrna and about the same distance n.e. Integrity of heart is indispensable. The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world. He has served as Youth Pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Camden, NJ and Mount Zion Holmesburg Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa. Also, as Interim Pastor of Faith Fellowship Non-Denominational . Christ praised the believers for four principles that we often lose sight of among the practices and programs of modern church culture. The annual religious festivals that God commands true Christians to observe are clearly discussed in Leviticus 23. When you see opportunities to care for creationnature or your own bodydo so as a way of glorifying the Creator. We are currently meeting at the Homewood Suites at 4109 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Often modern translations have been rendered from faulty translations, rather than original texts. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Its one thing to say, I forgive you, but its another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. For example, if we do that with the booklet Who Is That Prophet? Unlike the other letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, correction is not to be found. 1 Corinthians 15:57. Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem! Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the door is open to some of the virgins and closed to others (Matthew 25:10-12). How often? The rapture of the church is the subject of three passages in the New Testament: John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 our scripture reading for this morning, none of these passages speak of judgment, but instead speak of the church being taken up to heaven. Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. It is available by subscription . The biblical city was located about 28 miles southeast of the city of Sardis. Most of the time, when modern translations differ in meaning from the King James Version, they are in error. Each of us has responsibilities and specific assignments (study 1 Corinthians 12). It will teach you why the Bible is true, teach you how to study more effectively, and answer some of life's greatest questions. A Place of Safety? The Philadelphians have had to knock because they have only a little strength, and they know it. We have not seen many mountains moving out of their places. Another reason to study is to be able to give an answer to those who may want to know more about that hope they see in us (1 Peter 3:15). Through Christ, we have entrance into the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of the Great God, which we may enter with boldness (Hebrews 10:19). That is integrity. By devoting time each day to the study of Gods Word. Stephen Flurry Article on Fear Winds Down the Wrong Road. When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protg, Timothy, he told him to show integrity in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. We sponsor the global broadcast of the "Tomorrow's World" television programa weekly half-hour telecast explaining the end-time prophecies of the Bible, announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God, and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. A concordance is a time-saving toolparticularly Strongs Exhaustive Concordance, because it lists every word used in the Bible and groups all the scriptures together that use that same word. We should be able to explain each doctrine in terms of what, why, when, who, where and how. But we need to remember that knowledge not used is really of no value. In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves soberlythat is, realistically or accurately. J. C. Ryle, I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? Church at Philadelphia If pride expands ones importance, does humility deflate ones importance? Expose` on the Royal . The more we let Gods Word correct our natural carnal thinking, the more we are fashioned into Gods image and prepared to be born into His eternal Family. A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. 6. Ezekiel 1:1, NIV, We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. He traces Christs genealogy to King David and refers to Him as the Son of David seven times. A fifth reason for studying the Bible is to be able to do Gods Work. We have a purpose for being hereto refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. And when he believed God, [God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Are You a Prisoner of Your Spiritual Comfort Zone. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893, I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. Forerunner, "Bible Study," April 2000. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day. They loved Jesus, and Jesus was not ashamed to call them brothers (Hebrews 2:11). When His friends let Him down? We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. By grouping all the scriptures together that use the same word we gain a deeper understanding of what each aspect of spiritual fruit entails and how specifically we need to change. This is God's word. John Calvin, Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible . It is located in the Kuzucay valley, near the bottom of Mount Bozdad, in modern Turkey's province of Manisa. Using a concordance, one can search out key words related to any one of these doctrines. Have you responded to Gods willing invitation to come to Him? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above .. Temptation. There are hundreds of such subjects! Notes from Sabbath services and Bible studies. This has nothing to do with how much money you do or dont havea poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. 7. Question: "I was baptized at age 11 by a minister of a large denomination, but I didn't understand the true meaning of repentance until I began studying my Bible and hearing your broadcasts. William Gurnall, Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realisticallyhumblyand minister accordingly. Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. So we study to be corrected. The truth is hidden in His Word (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:11), and only those with His Spirit can understand. Bible study gives us something that this world desperately needs. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his bones grew old and he groaned all the day long (verse 3). A leper approached Jesus and said, If You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus touched the man, saying, I am willing; be cleansedand he was healed (Mark 1:40-42). Hello Jesus! That verse changes our view of idolatry. God's Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it's too late. We may therefore presume that some from the other remaining churches will be taken as well So, what is Philadelphia? Some say the city was founded by Eumenes, in honor of his brother. A Harmony of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles does the same thing for those books. Today we look at the sixth church: the church in Philadelphia. Just reading a booklet is not really Bible study. As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in Gods truth and character, our lives are changedwe become more like Him. To see what is behind the open door, we must read and meditate on the rest of the chapter. The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing. Laodicea was also known for its medical school which concocted a spice nard for the treatment of ears and an eye salve [see Revelation 3:18, anoint your eyes with eye salve]. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. A real living hope can sure make the difference in how we handle lifes problems and what perspective we maintain. Meet the founder of the Philadelphia Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong College and the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead Gods people into the Promised Land because He believed in Gods promise and presence. Welcome to our Philadelphia church website! Flurry comes against FOX25 for news report on PCG. PHILADELPHIA, a city of Asia Minor, on the borders of Lydia and Phrygia, now called Alla-Shehr, or high city, with 3000 houses, about 15,000 pop., with few ancient ruins. "Its name was given to it in honor of Attalus II, because of his loyalty to his elder brother, Eumenes II, king of Lydia. (John 6:68). We study them to make the appropriate course corrections in our thinking. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we tune in to God and listen to His words, our faith increases (Romans 10:17). You can study this example here. How did He react to situations when He was challenged? (Part Four). Through study of Gods Word, we gain wisdom that helps us avoid sin and the misery that accompanies it. If He says something will happen, so be it. Thus, the One they seek responds, giving more of His Spirit. 2. We will start at 7:00pm at 3269 Independence Pkwy, Plano Tx. D. L. Moody, In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. No one can shut that open door, though we can certainly ignore it and neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Bible study is one of those assignments! Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. Herbert W. Armstrong College site allows users to study lessons, take tests online. Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. Study Bibles identify themes and provide outlines for each book of the Bible along with some commentary, among other things. Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Sometimes the scriptures that relate to a specific subject are not easily found in a concordance because the subject is broader than just one word used in the Bible. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. Transcript of the news story that aired in November 2008 on Fox 25. The Christians victory is through Christ. Think of every promise as a precious stone. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. There are also subjects like repentance, baptism, laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit, and what is a true Christian. James 2:23. How to Speak the Truth in Love in a Hostile World. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)? We all must overcome the world (I John 5:4), our nature, and Satan to be granted salvation, and if we do, entrance to God's Kingdom is an absolute promise! History of Philadelphia Church of God. By Grant Turgeon Dec. 7, 2016 The homepage of the Herbert W. Armstrong College Bible Correspondence Course The more we study, the more we become familiar with how God guides, delivers and heals His people. The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. Once enrolled, students can download lessons, submit tests, view their automatically graded scores and track their progress. The homepage of the online Bible course states that 100,000 individuals have enrolled in the mail-in correspondence course prior to its online launch. But this metaphor has no connection at all to Christ's quotation of Isaiah 22:22. With pride? You are welcome to join us for worship (10 AM) and a period of Bible study (11:30 AM). The best way to increase joy in your life is by developing a habit of daily time with God. Thats the view given by most English dictionariesa deemphasis on ones own importance. We invite all of our Dallas families to join us on Monday Nights for Bible Study service. Those who attain that level of character will be able to serve as kings! Do the problems and frustrations of this world continually get you down? If we neglect Bible study, however, we simply cannot grow sufficiently to be born into His Family. In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. (Romans 9:1-4). Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for . Armstrong International Cultural Foundation. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8). He refers to Jerusalem as the city of the great King. Matthew is a book about kingship. By giving the Spirit, He gives more of Himself. W. A. Criswell, Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you. Every single member of that bodyeach of us individuallyis important and necessary. When we look up all the scriptures where the same words are used we will develop a richer appreciation of what love is all about. God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. C. S. Lewis, For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Priests began their temple duty at the age of thirty. Bible students can enroll, study and take tests at bcc.hwacollege.org. With that in mind, the sermon on the mount, for example, takes on a deeper perspective. Thomas Watson, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. The Philadelphia period of church history (Adventist Movement), gave greatly increased attention to God's Word, particularly the prophecies of Daniel and of the Revelation, and to personal godliness, which is God's will for us during these end times we live in. Thats how He speaks to us. Out of the seven churches, only this church and the church in Smryna received unqualified praise and approval. The church of Philadelphia would be victorious over its enemies. It was founded by the king of Pergamum around 190 B.C. Baptism is an important step in your spiritual life and it must be done properly - at the right time and in the right way . . God's inspired words to the congregation at Philadelphia are an uplifting message of hope and encouragement. A doctrine is a teaching or that which is taught. Together they comprise the Churchs body of beliefs. 7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. It helps you find all occurrences of a particular word and its different translations. Matthew uses the word kingdom 56 times. God may have given him only two talents, but He knows that if he is faithful with a small amount of power, in the Kingdom he will faithfully administer all of the responsibility and effectiveness that God bestows upon him. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. The "church in Philadelphia," along with the "church in Smyrna," are the only two churches (of the seven mentioned) about which Jesus had nothing negative to say. Martin Collins explains that Scripture defines virtue as a strength or power that disciplined people use to produce beautiful traits of goodness. Because of volume we may not be able to promptly reply to submissions using the form below. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Far from suggesting that the Philadelphians are going to heaven, the chapter reiterates the fact of their access to the One in heaven. When you look at Herbert W. Armstrongs work, its like a pyramid, pcg Pastor General Gerald Flurry said. It is elevated above the valley, on the n.e. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, brings forth death (James 1:1315). Start today! Revelation 3:7, however, is clear that the key of David belongs, not to the church, but to the One who is holy and true, Jesus Christ. During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. Focusing on a particular book of the Bible will give us a deeper insight and context for its message. Finally, Halleys Bible Handbook is generally a good, concise resource. It will happen. Integers, from a Latin root meaning whole or entire. The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances. Nevertheless, in todays world, Bible helps can be usefulprimarily in matters of translation and as time-saving tools. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). We invite you to attend Sabbath services with us! Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Why Would Anyone Accept the Mark of the Beast? Philadelphia was founded about 150 B.C. It lay in the valley of the Cogamus, near the . If our prayers are getting stale and were running out of things to say, maybe were not listening enough. As Christ says in Luke 16:10, ". Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. He wants us to be happy, fulfilled and excited about our future in spite of all the pain and suffering in this present evil world. 5. Launched in 1888, features include: In-depth teaching on a wide range of key Bible topics Bible-based comment on contemporary culture and current affairs Interviews with, and updates from, Christians involved in the Lord's work Personal testimonies of salvation and spiritual growth In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while , , and 2.5 are fractions. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11). A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Commentaries and other Bible helps can be great reference works. Because they consistently knock, Christ reminds them of His pivotal position as second-in-command to the Absolute Deity and that through Him as Steward, they have access to the throne of God. God has seen to it that His Church is well-fed. Bible study is one of those assignments! The pcg won the copyright to the correspondence courses predecessor, the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, in 2003. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. The Philadelphia Trumpet began in February 1990 and is published 10 times a year by the Philadelphia Church of God. Its a fabulous breakthrough for us, Mr. But he never concluded his third epistle. The hardest part of forgiving another person isacting like the offense never occurred. That in turn enables the Church to have more of an impact in doing Gods Work! The major weakness of Laodicea was its lack of a water supply. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will. Attention Conservation Notice: A long take on why I left a small, cult religious group that I grew up in. John MacArthur speculates in his study Bible that it was: "probably the fruit of Paul's extended ministry in Ephesus (cf. In January 1990 Gerald Flurry and John Amos broke away from the Worldwide Church of God and began a new church called "The Philadelphia Church of God." They have pointed out many of the drastic changes Worldwide is going through, and claims to want to return to the faith of Herbert Armstrong, whom they look upon as "Elijah." Jonah 3:1-2. He listed them in verses 710. Are we able to disprove those beliefs and prove the truth of the commandments, the Sabbath, holy days, tithing, and grace versus law from the Bible? To enroll, send an email to [email protected] and request sign-up information. As far as a good education spiritually, what else do we have that compares to the Bible correspondence course? Is it things above? Wayne Turgeon Dec. 30, 2022 What Is the Unpardonable Sin? One reason for these articles is to help us prepare to rule with Jesus Christ, our Husband and King. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. He wasnt discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. Please browse around our website for various information about our church. When we understand Christ's reference to Eliakim, that He is now fulfilling that role, we can understand the open door without having to force anything. Jan. 31, 2023 The Day of Atonement The annual religious festivals that God commands true Dennis Leap Oct. 4, 2022 What Is the Feast of Trumpets? We tend to think of the Philadelphians as being without fault because Christ does not make a pointed and detailed listing of their sins. It begins with the tremendous help available to those who are weak, but who keep God's Word, who do not deny His name, and who persevere in faith. We are Gods FamilyHis royal householdand we need to thoroughly digest the meat contained in these articles. Only God has the words that shed light on the straight and narrow path leading to eternal life. Its the act of becoming too attached to the material things of the worldfalling more in love with the things on earth than on things in heaven. There is no cost or obligationever. If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? . was prophesied by name more than 150 years before he came on the scene. Daniels three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18).