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Prayer Before Studying
Incomprehensible
Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge:
vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from
us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest
eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour
on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit,
quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance
of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the
eternal salvation of our own souls.
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Holy
Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift
of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in
all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I
may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies.
You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false
teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.
Topic/Agenda :
1.
To explain Belief and
Faith (Review)
2.
To explain what
miracles are and what is not.
3.
Why Jesus performed
them (and the other prophets).
Something to Ponder
- Do you believe in "Seeing is believing"?
- Do you believed that your Smart or Intelligent?
- Are you smarter than person/friend beside you?
- Let’s say you are not smart nor intelligent, do you think you will still have a bright future?
Walt
Disney's newspaper editor told the aspiring cartoonist he wasn't creative
enough
Madonna
lost her job at Dunkin Donuts for squirting jelly filling all over customers
Something to Ponder
- Do you believe in Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God?
- You will never leave or forsake Jesus our Savior?
- Do you think whatever happens Jesus will always be there for you even though your not in ideal situation?
What
is Belief vs. Faith?
Believing is not having faith and
having faith is not believing. Believing
in God is not having faith in God.
The act of believing in something is a choice. A very, very powerful
choice! The choices we make in life are based on what we believe.
The reason we make choices is because we believe that was the best course of
action to take. One thing that is very important to remember is that we often
believe something that is not real, right or the truth. Believing is choosing
to side with information. There is no spiritual power in believing because it
is all active in the soulish realm or the mind. It is a process of thought.
Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for
which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith
is the opposite of doubt. Belief with corresponding action is called faith. In
Mark 11:22-24 Jesus says we should,"have faith in God," and then
continues to tell us what our actions should be and what results we will have.
James continues to say that faith
without works is dead or you could say faith without works is just believing.
So to move from believing to faith you have to act on what you believe.
But you
cannot have faith without first believing something. You cannot believe
something without first receiving information. Romans 10:17 says,"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God." The more we hear and see the Word of God the stronger our belief
will be. The stronger our belief the stronger our faith can be.
In conclusion: The belief you act upon is an act of faith and it pleases
God!
The
Meaning of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-6
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[b] 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[c] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[d] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[b] 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[c] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[d] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
From the Movie Amish Grace
"Faith when everything is as you want it to be, is not real faith. It is only when our lives are falling apart that we have the chance to make our faith real."
"Faith when everything is as you want it to be, is not real faith. It is only when our lives are falling apart that we have the chance to make our faith real."
Meaning of Miracle and process of declaration
Magic vs. Sorcery vs. Miracle
"There
shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an
offering, anyone who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer.“(Deut.18:10-11)
2 Types of Magician: Trick (using illusions and slight of
hand) and Paranormal
Magic is
the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation,
ceremony, ritual, the casting of spells or various other techniques that presumably
assure human control of supernatural
agencies or the forces of nature.
- Magician:
Typically, this is a broad term used to denote someone that practices
magic in general. Thus it's sort of the overarching types of the other
terms.
- Necromancer: This is
a type of wizard that uses works with the powers of shadow and darkness,
but specifically death and the undead. These powerful beings can armies
armies of zombies, suck out and trap souls, drive victims of their black
magic insane, and the strongest of their kind can even summon demonic
forces. However, there is a price to pay for all of this power. Blood
rites, sacrifices and dehumanization are all required to be
ritualistically performed to achieve it. If the necromancer isn't
incredibly skilled, there is a strong possibility that their lust for
power will result in them summoning a spirit that they cannot control, and
will likely consume them.
- Sorcerer: This type of magician
has been represented in a variety of ways, but typically they have a
connotation of being an incredibly powerful wizard, that is to say, less
than a god but more than a magician. They aren't immortal, per se, but
their powers are truly mighty when compared to the average magician. Think
of it being something akin to comparing a hair dryer and a tornado in
strength. They are on par with forces of nature. Are said to be inherently adept to magic
and are considered as natural spell casters.
- Warlock: These
magicians are disgraced pagan outcasts. They have used Wicca to harm
another person, which is a violation of a cardinal rule within paganism.
They almost never discussed because of their betrayal. That being said,
what it means to be a warlock has changed over time to something between a
necromancer and a sorcerer, though distinctly different than either of
these categories, as they not as strong as a full fledged sorcerer, and
focus more on darkness in general than death, per se. It means a liar or
someone who is a traitor. In it's worse terms it means a person who has
sealed his soul with an demonic entity, hence why the name was labeled
onto male witches (or wizards) during the 14th century in Europe, as a
form of disgrace. I hope that helps you.
- Enchanter: This is
a special type of magician. Unlike the majority of their counterparts,
they usually cannot cast direct, active spells. What they can do is add an
effect to something, such as giving an animal the ability to speak, or
causing the land to grow plants at an alarming rate, or cause someone to
have an irresistible charm to all who lay eyes on them. In contrast, they
couldn't shoot a fireball at someone, or lay a death curse directly or
heal someone directly. They typically have to manipulate their environment
to achieve their ends.
- Wizard
(male) or Witches (female): Is just your average spell caster.
Again, all wizards are magicians, but not all magicians are wizards. Some
are necromancers, enchanters, etc. Wizards
learn their craft and spells from long hours of studying and meditation.
- A Shaman is someone, often in
more tribal groups, who is a spiritual healer of sorts, who often heals by
communicating with otherworldly spirits or energies to heal the ailments
in a person's spiritual being which in effect heals the person's physical
bodies. They may also work as intermediaries or spiritual leaders of their
communities like priests or clerics. They often do not practice other
forms of magic beside the more spiritual healings and some protections for
their tribes or clients.
A miracle is an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed
to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader.
There is an enormous difference between the intention and
purpose behind miracles and magic. “Magic intends to astonish, to draw attention to its own prowess, to put
the focus on the power itself. Miracle intends to use the exercise of power to
benefit another, to address the real needs of one human being or a group of
human beings.” As I wrote in a recent post, Jesus’ refused to exercise
his power to feed himself when tempted to do so by Satan; Jesus, however,
showed no reluctance use his power to feed the multitudes.
Magic is about the
magician’s power and desire. It serves the aims of the magician. Miracles are
about the power and will of God.
Moses vs.
Pharaoh’s Magician
Exodus 7:7-11, 19-2
8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says
to you, ‘Perform a wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and
throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.’” 10 So Moses and
Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded; Aaron threw down his
staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Then Pharaoh
summoned the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt,
did the same by their secret arts.
19 The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your
staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over its rivers, its
canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water—so that they may become
blood; and there shall be blood throughout the whole land of Egypt, even in
vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
Exodus 8:5-7, 16-19
5 [a] And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch
out your hand with your staff over the rivers, the canals, and the pools, and
make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand
over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.
7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs up on
the land of Egypt.
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch
out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats
throughout the whole land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so; Aaron stretched out
his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and gnats came on
humans and animals alike; all the dust of the earth turned into gnats
throughout the whole land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried to produce gnats by
their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and
animals. 19 And the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord
had said.
Elijah vs.
450 Prophets of Baal
1 Kings 18:17-46
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you,
you troubler of Israel?” 18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you
have, and your father’s house, because you have forsaken the commandments of
the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore have all Israel assemble for
me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four
hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the
prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah then came near to all the people, and said,
“How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God,
follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a
word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of
the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. 23 Let two bulls be
given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay
it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it
on the wood, but put no fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god
and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed
God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!” 25 Then Elijah said to the
prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you
are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 So they
took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal
from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice,
and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. 27 At noon
Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is
meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is
asleep and must be awakened.” 28 Then they cried aloud and, as was their
custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out
over them. 29 As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of
the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to
me”; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the
Lord that had been thrown down; 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the
number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came,
saying, “Israel shall be your name”; 32 with the stones he built an altar in
the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to
contain two measures of seed. 33 Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in
pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour
it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second
time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and
they did it a third time, 35 so that the water ran all around the altar, and
filled the trench also with water.
36 At the time of the offering of the oblation, the
prophet Elijah came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant,
and that I have done all these things at your bidding. 37 Answer me, O Lord,
answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you
have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed
the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the
water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their
faces and said, “The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God.” 40 Elijah
said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” Then
they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon, and killed
them there.
Miracles
Compared:
Moses
|
Elijah
|
Elisha
|
·
Waters
become blood
·
Frogs
·
Lice
·
Flies
·
Murrain
-- a plague or pestilence
·
Boils
·
Thunder
and Hail
·
Locusts
·
Darkness
·
Death
of the first-born
·
Red Sea divided; Israel
passes through
·
Waters of Marah sweetened
·
Manna sent daily, except
on Sabbath
·
Water from the rock at
Rephidim
·
Water from the rock,
smitten twice by Moses, desert of Zin
·
The brazen serpent in the
desert of Zin (Num. 21:8-9)
|
·
Widow of Zarephath's meal
and oil increased
·
Widow's son raised from
the dead
·
Rain at Elijah's prayers
·
Elijah fed by ravens
·
Ahaziah's captains
consumed by fire near Samaria
·
Jordan divided by Elijah
and Elisha near Jericho
·
Elijah carried up into
heaven
|
·
Waters of Jericho healed
by Elisha's casting salt into them
·
Bears out of the wood
destroy forty-two “young men”
·
Water provided for
Jehoshaphat and the allied army
·
The widow's oil
multiplied
·
The Shunammite's son
given, and raised from the dead at Shunem
·
Elisha Purifies the
Deadly Stew
·
A hundred men fed with
twenty loaves at Gilgal
·
Naaman cured of leprosy,
Gehazi afflicted with it
·
The Syrian army smitten
with blindness at Dothan
·
The Syrian army cured of
blindness at Samaria
·
Elisha's bones revive the
dead
|
Moses
|
Jesus
|
·
Waters
become blood
·
Frogs
·
Lice
·
Flies
·
Murrain
-- a plague or pestilence
·
Boils
·
Thunder
and Hail
·
Locusts
·
Darkness
·
Death
of the first-born
·
Red Sea divided; Israel
passes through
·
Waters of Marah sweetened
·
Manna sent daily, except
on Sabbath
·
Water from the rock at
Rephidim
·
Water from the rock, smitten
twice by Moses, desert of Zin
·
The brazen serpent in the
desert of Zin (Num. 21:8-9)
|
·
Cure of two blind men
·
Curing of the deaf and
dumb man
·
The blind man of
Bethsaida
·
The miraculous draught of
fishes
·
The raising of the
widow's son at Nain
·
The woman with the spirit
of infirmity
·
The man with the dropsy
·
The ten lepers
·
The healing of Malchus ‘
cut ear
·
Water made wine
·
Cure of nobleman's son,
Capernaum
·
Impotent man at Bethsaida
cured
·
Man born blind cured
·
Lazarus raised from the
dead
·
Four/Five thousand fed
·
Fig tree blasted
·
Centurion's servant
healed
·
Blind and dumb demoniac
cured
·
Demoniac cured in
synagogue at Capernaum
·
Peter's wife's mother
cured
·
Jesus Calms a Storm
·
Demoniacs of Gadara cured
·
Swine rush into and drown
·
Jairus's daughter raised
·
Woman's issue of blood
cured
·
Jesus walks on the sea
·
The transfiguration
·
The resurrection
·
The ascension
|
Human
Experience:
- Have
you watch Harry Potter? Do you
still remember the spells there?
- Have
you heard about a story of a real witch or mangkukulam?
- Have
anyone of you or know somebody who experience being inflicted with dark
magic?
- Do
you believe in obsession or oppression of a devil?
- Have
you heard a story of Exorcism of Emily Rose (relate any similar story)?
- What
are the modern miracles that still exist today?
- The
Shround of Turin
- The
Holy Eucharist
- The
Bleeding Host Miracle 1998 in Betania, Venezuela
- Sienna,
Italy -- August 17, 1730 --> Consecrated Hosts remain perfectly
preserved for over 250 years. Rigorous scientific experiments have not
been able to explain this phenomena.
- Amsterdam,
Holland 1345 --> Eucharist thrown into fire overnight miraculously is
unscathed.
- Blanot,
France -- March 31, 1331 --> The Eucharist falls out of a woman's
mouth onto an altar rail cloth. The priest tries to recover the Host but
all that remains is a large spot of blood the same size and dimensions
as the wafer.
- Bolsena-Orvieta,
Italy --> Again, a priest has difficulties believing in the Real
Presence, and blood begins seeping out of the Host upon consecration.
Because of this miracle, Pope Urban IV commissioned the feast of Corpus
Christi, which is still celebrated today.
- Lanciano,
Italy -- 8th century A.D. --> A priest has doubts about the Real
Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh
and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination
and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac
tissue which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood
type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB! Histological
micrographs are shown.
- Marian
Apparitions
- Lourdes
- Fatima
- Medjugorjie
- Our
Lady of China
- Akita
- Guadalupe
- Garabandal
- Miraculous
Medal
- The
Virgin of Revelation
- Zeitoun,
Egypt
- Prophecies of our
Prophets and Saints
- Gifts of Holy Spirit
- Incorruptible bodies
of selected Saints
- Healing Priests
- Exorcism of our Catholic Priests and Bishops
Life
Application:
Why
do God need to provide miracles to people through His prophets?
- To prove that
the prophet is truly send by God.
True
Prophets vs. False Prophets:
Things are a matter of Life and death, we must be able to separate the two.
Things are a matter of Life and death, we must be able to separate the two.
- Firstly, prophets
are humble and sincere but in themselves, they are NOT infallible; but
they serve an infallible God who allows His servants to sometimes stumble
to teach us that "Without Him we can do nothing." (John 15:5).
- Secondly, in
spite of their weaknesses and failures, God still demands 'respect' for
His prophets. "...do my prophets no harm." (Psalms 105:15).
- God always does
things according to His Word BUT Contrary to man's interpretation of that
Word.
- Jesus said,
"By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:15-20)
- "TRUE Prophet"
is not to be vindicated by his gifts and miracles alone. He can have these
things and still be a "False Prophet".
- False Prophets
will prevent the people from following on to know the Lord in the higher
heights and deeper depths of His Word. They will teach the People to
follow after the 'gods' of denominations, non-denominational and
independent groups (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
- A TRUE Prophet
will always point to GOD and the Absolute Authority of the Word of God,
NOT to a church creed (written or unwritten), and not to any ism or cult.
- False prophets
will look like sheep (Matthew 7:15)
- False Prophets
will pervert the ways of the Lord for their own purposes (Acts 13:6-12 and Exodus 7:8-12). They
will have power BUT it will be nothing compared to the power manifested in
God's True Prophet.
- False prophet
are extremely deceptive as revealed (Jeremiah 23:9-32 & Exodus 13)
- True Prophet -
When he prophesies in the Name of the Lord and the thing comes to pass.
- The prophet who
prophesieth of peace, WHEN THE WORD OF THE PROPHET SHALL COME TO PASS,
THEN SHALL THE PROPHET BE KNOWN, THAT THE LORD HATH TRULY SENT HIM.
- A TRUE PROPHET
will not take the people away from the WORD of God. -- The test of the prophet was his
conformity to the word of God, he condemns sin, he comforts the brethren,
and he speaks of things in the near future and later than his life.
Testing
a Spirit if it comes from God:
·
Remember
the will try to mislead you and will show himself as being the truth --
deception is one of his powerful weapon.
·
The
Spirit of God always speaks in accordance to God's Word, the Bible. He
acknowledges its authority. Anyone putting anything above the Bible or anyone
degrading the Bible, is not from God!
·
Check
the angelic visitations. We can compare our own experiences to
these:
To Abraham: Genesis 18:2; Genesis 22:11-18; To Hagar: Genesis 16:7; To Lot: Genesis 19:1-17; To Jacob: Genesis 28:12; To Moses: Exodus 3:2; To Israelites: Exodus 14:19, Judges 2:1-4; To Balaam: Numbers 22:31; To Joshua: Joshua 5:15; To Gideon: Judges 6:11-22; To Manoah: Judges 13:6; Judges 13:15-20; To David: 2 Samuel 24:16,17; To Elijah: 1 Kings 19:5-11; To Daniel: Daniel 6:22; Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:5-10; Daniel 10:16; Daniel 10:18; To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:28; To Zechariah: Zechariah 2:3; Zechariah 3:1-2; Zechariah 4:1; To Joseph: Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13; Matthew 2:19; To Mary: Luke 1:26-28; To Zacharias: Luke 1:11-20; To the Shepard's: Luke 2:9-11; Luke 2:13,14; To Jesus, after His temptation: Matthew 4:11; To Jesus, in Gethsemane: Luke 22:43; To Jesus, at the sepulcher: Matthew 28:2-5; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:23; John 20:12; At the ascension: Acts 1:10,11; To Peter and John: Acts 5:19; To Phillip: Acts 8:26; To Cornelius: Acts 10:3; Acts 10:30-32; To Peter: Acts 12:7-11; To Paul: Acts 27:23; To John: Revelation 1:1; Revelation 5:2; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 10:9; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8
To Abraham: Genesis 18:2; Genesis 22:11-18; To Hagar: Genesis 16:7; To Lot: Genesis 19:1-17; To Jacob: Genesis 28:12; To Moses: Exodus 3:2; To Israelites: Exodus 14:19, Judges 2:1-4; To Balaam: Numbers 22:31; To Joshua: Joshua 5:15; To Gideon: Judges 6:11-22; To Manoah: Judges 13:6; Judges 13:15-20; To David: 2 Samuel 24:16,17; To Elijah: 1 Kings 19:5-11; To Daniel: Daniel 6:22; Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:5-10; Daniel 10:16; Daniel 10:18; To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:28; To Zechariah: Zechariah 2:3; Zechariah 3:1-2; Zechariah 4:1; To Joseph: Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13; Matthew 2:19; To Mary: Luke 1:26-28; To Zacharias: Luke 1:11-20; To the Shepard's: Luke 2:9-11; Luke 2:13,14; To Jesus, after His temptation: Matthew 4:11; To Jesus, in Gethsemane: Luke 22:43; To Jesus, at the sepulcher: Matthew 28:2-5; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:23; John 20:12; At the ascension: Acts 1:10,11; To Peter and John: Acts 5:19; To Phillip: Acts 8:26; To Cornelius: Acts 10:3; Acts 10:30-32; To Peter: Acts 12:7-11; To Paul: Acts 27:23; To John: Revelation 1:1; Revelation 5:2; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 10:9; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8
·
Angelic
message will be verified by God's Word, it will never violate,
confuse or twist God's written Word.
·
An
Angelic visitation will be to promote God's will,
not flatter your flesh or promote darkness.
·
Does
this spirit socialize and spend undue time with you -
it is not a spirit of God.
·
Does
this spirit use physical things to impress you;
sights, sounds, colors, the "supernatural"; it is not a spirit of
God. God's angels deliver messages to God's people and then vanish. They do not
"hangout" with humans
·
Does
the spirit flatter you and build up your pride?
This is not one of God's angels.
·
Does the spirit try
to force you to do something against your will? This is not a true spirit of
God. God's Spirit in you will lead and guide you into all truth. You will have
an inner peace that this being is from God by its message.
Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today. May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.
Faith Experience:
References:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Magic_and_the_Supernatural/Attitudes/Magic_vs_Miracle.shtml?p=0
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=745014
http://www.indefenseofthecross.com/
•Holy Bible (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
•Catechism of the Catholic Church
•Wikipedia
•New Advent (www.newadvent.org)
•http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Magic_and_the_Supernatural/Attitudes/Magic_vs_Miracle.shtml?p=0
•http://www.indefenseofthecross.com/
Deuteronomy 13:1-313 [a] If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents, 2 and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, “Let us follow other gods” (whom you have not known) “and let us serve them,” 3 you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
Jeremiah 28:9: 9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”
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