It is the privilege, and responsibility, of Christians to know what the will of God is. True or False? Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day, http://ping.fm/YcTsl

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-18-2012

Question: We are surrounded by overwhelming evidence that resurrection is a fact. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! We can go around and point out all the reasons why resurrection is impossible, but after all is said and done we are still surrounded by overwhelming evidence that it is a fact. Every blade of grass, every ear of corn, every beautiful flower, bears witness to the fact of resurrection from the dead. Now, out of the 780 responses we received to this question, an excellent 92% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

The Resurrection of Christ and The Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul, in discussing the resurrection of the dead, came to the simple and valid conclusion, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen" (1 Corinthians 15:13).

But the Apostle Paul does not stop here. Listen to what he says as he presses a further argument home, "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). And this leads to yet another conclusion, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).

These are frank words about stern realities. If there is no such thing as the bodily resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised from the dead, and if such is the case we have NO living Savior.

But granting all this, can we believe in what is palpably impossible? Ah, but is resurrection palpably impossible? The Apostle Paul answers this question quite simply in this same discussion, in 1 Corinthians 15:

"But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (1 Corinthians 15:35).

Mark well, this is not an interested inquiry, but a challenge, meant to prove that resurrection is impossible, and the Apostle answers it this way:

"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die" (1 Corinthians 15:36).

What a devastating reply! We can go around and point out all the reasons why resurrection is "impossible," but after all is said and done we are still surrounded by overwhelming evidence that it is a fact. Every blade of grass, every ear of corn, every beautiful flower bears witness to the fact of resurrection from the dead.

Yes, Christ is alive from the dead, and, "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

What things soever ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24. By the words “believe that ye receive them” we understand, expect God to give them to you. But it is at THIS point that so many of God’s people fail in their prayer lives.

Look, there are THREE main things to be considered when praying, and here they are...

First: Make sure that you are asking for something that is in accordance with God’s Word: see 1 John 5:14.

Now, right here, the devil will foil you unless you are on guard. He will come as an angel of light and preach a sermon to you on God’s Holy Will. Yeah, the devil is quite capable of that! Now, it is our privilege, and our responsibility, to know what God’s will is! “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). It is the REVEALED will of God which is in view in these passages and in Mark 11:24, because, in respect to His “SECRET” will, we have nothing to do with that; it’s none of our business.

God’s revealed will is made known in His Word, The Bible. Fix this in your mind; never allow Satan to inject a thought (Ephesians 4:27) to shake you on this, that everything God has commanded you to do, every precept and exhortation addressed to you, is “God’s will” for you, and is to be turned into prayer for enabling Grace. It is God’s will that you should be “sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:2), that you should “rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), that you should “make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10), that you should “grow in Grace and in the knowledge of the LORD” (2 Peter 3:18).

SECOND: Having made sure that what you are praying for is according to God’s revealed will, then plead His promises, such as Matthew 7:7, Philippians 4:19, and so on.

Plead them in the name of The LORD Jesus Christ, asking God to give you the “desires of thine heart” (Psalms 37:4) for The LORD’s sake, that He may be honored in and by a Godly walk from you, and that His people may be helped and encouraged by your example. Those are prayers which God cannot, and will not, deny.

Third: Expect God to do what you have asked.

Unless there is an expectancy, Faith isn’t being exercised. It is this expecting from Him which honors and pleases God, and which always draws down from Him answers of peace.

There might be some difficulty, problem, and trial, which takes on the size of a mountain. Never mind that: do not let it depress, discourage, or confuse you. Praise the LORD it stands written in the eternal Word of Truth, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall say unto this mountain be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; It shall be done” (Matthew 21:21).

Now, take note, it is not “If thou doubt not and have faith, BUT, “if ye have faith” and then (while you are awaiting God’s answer) “doubt not”.

When you first get down on your knees, beg God in the name of The LORD Jesus Christ, and for His own glory’s sake, to work in you, by His Spirit, that expectancy of faith which will not take “NO” for an answer; but confidently says, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). That is what honors God. Then, let’s not forget that we have, “A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) and “Thou hearest me always” (John 11:42). Then, make use of Him, and ask Him to present them to His Father and your Father, and, if they are for God’s glory and your (REAL) good, be assured that they will be granted. The LORD Jesus Christ, will be honored and you will be strengthened in the Faith.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.