Dan A. Rodriguez Artículos, Libros, y Podcasts

Parte 5- El Significado de Tener Fe: Humildad Que Recibe La Gracia De Dios

Mira como conectan estos versos: Por medio de quien (nuestro Señor Jesucristo) hemos obtenido acceso por la fe a esta gracia (Romanos 5:2 RVA-2015).
Dios resiste a los soberbios pero da gracia a los humildes (1 Pedro 5:5b RVA-2015).
Por medio de la fe tenemos acceso a lo provisto en la redención. 1ra Timoteo 1:4 dice que es “el plan de redención que es por (por medio de) la fe” (NET, EXB).
Gracia es el favor y el agrado de Dios. La gracia de Dios es el regalo de Dios a través de Jesucristo. Todo lo que Jesús hizo por medio de Su sacrificio es el regalo de Dios. Lo que Dios ha dado libremente en Cristo, El lo ha provisto en Su gracia. Esta palabra gracia es la palabra griega charis, y de ahí viene la palabra charismata cuando habla de los dones (regalos) del Espíritu (1ra Cor. 12:4). Cuando se usa la palabra charis podemos decir que es la regalía de Dios.
Dios da gracia a los humildes, y fe es lo que conecta con la gracia. Así que humildad es una parte integral de la fe, y sin humildad no se puede tener acceso a la gracia. Humildad abre la puerta a mayor manifestación de gracia (Santiago 4:6).Lo estudiamos con muchos detalles en este mensaje grabado el domingo pasado (8-14-16).
Del mensaje:
“Tengan fe en Dios (Marcos 11:22). No es fe en ti. No es fe en tu fe. No es fe en tu habilidad, o en tu fuerza, en tu capacidad. No es auto-dependencia ni auto-suficiencia, es fe en Dios.”
“TODO en el Reino de Dios opera por la fe. Nada queda excluido.”
“No te caen encima como aguacates de un árbol de aguacates o como cocos de una palma. Nunca estaciones tu vehículo debajo de una palma de cocos. Pregúntame como lo se.”
“La Palabra no dice que ‘esta es la victoria que ha vencido al mundo- la gracia.’ ¡NO! Dice: Esta es la victoria que ha vencido al mundo-nuestra fe (1ra Juan 5:4). La gracia fue y es la provisión dada por la redención de Cristo, y fe es lo que le echa mano a lo provisto.”
“Nunca es arrogancia o altivez decir de ti mismo lo que Dios dice de ti. Es altivez y arrogancia decir de ti lo que Dios no ha dicho de ti. Si es contrario a la Escritura o lo que Dios te ha mandado, ahí es que se entra en la altivez, arrogancia, y soberbia.”
“Humildad no es ser débil, ¡y ser manso no es ser menso!”
La Escritura se expone con unción y claridad, y también te reirás a carcajadas con los relatos acerca de los perros King y Bimbo, cuando el Señor llamó al hermano Dan, rabia en la carretera, y mas. También en este estudio vemos sinónimos de la palabra humildad: Respeto, acatamiento, fidelidad, rendimiento, dependencia, disciplina, reverencia, servicio. ¡Wow!

Parte 4- El Significado de Tener Fe: Reconocer Su Grandeza y Depender de El

Si este mensaje no llega a los rincones mas profundos y escondidos de tu corazón, ¡por favor pídenos oración porque algo anda muy mal y necesitas ayuda HOY mismo!
Tener fe en Dios no es cosa misteriosa o evasiva. Si estamos hablando de fe y de Dios, no hay otro libro que muestre esto con mas claridad que el texto bíblico. Por eso estudiamos minuciosamente la Palabra de Dios en cada servicio de la ASAMBLEA VENCEDORES. Si nos visitas en la Asamblea Vencedores, ¡trae tu biblia porque la vas a usar!
La importancia gigantesca de este tema de fe se refleja en estas verdades sobresalientes: 1. Es imposible agradar a Dios sin fe (Heb. 11:6). 2. Todo lo que no proviene de fe es pecado (Rom. 14:23). 3. Toda provisión de la redención en Cristo Jesús se recibe por medio de la fe (1ra Tim. 1:4 en las versiones NET y EXB en inglés).
En este estudio salen a relucir fuertemente dos claves poderosas acerca de cómo operar en fe: Reconocer la grandeza de Dios y tener dependencia total del Señor y Su Palabra.
Como hemos escrito anteriormente, otros enseñan fuertemente sobre elementos importantes de fe como la certeza, seguridad, creer, tener palabras que concuerdan con la Palabra de Dios, etc. En estos estudios que el Señor nos ha dado, estamos viendo ciertos elementos de fe que no se mencionan a menudo (o nunca se mencionan) en conexión con la fe.
¡Disfruta esta Palabra poderosa, ungida, y revolucionaria! 

Parte 3- El Significado de Tener Fe: El Valor Que Le Asignas y El Nivel de Estima Que le Das

Conforme a Marcos 6:2-6, la incredulidad de aquellos en Nazaret fue el rechazo, deshonor, la falta de darle respeto, y tratar con menor estima y valor (gr. atimia- "sin honor") que le mostraron a Jesús, su ministerio y enseñanza. Contrario a esto, la verdadera fe muestra (gr. timi)- honor, respeto, reverencia, asigna valor, y muestra deferencia (respeto dado a alguien admirado, y estima que se le debe a uno superior, reconocimiento, se valora, distingue, y se hinca ante) al Señor. 
7 Preguntas que nos debemos preguntar si vamos a tener la clase de fe que agrada a Dios (Heb. 11:6):
 
¿Qué valor le asignas? Mateo 13:44-46 (lo era TODO para estos); Marcos 4:24-26
¿Qué nivel de estima le das? Mat. 19:16-22. Asignó mas valor, honor, respeto, y estima a sus posesiones que al llamado y las instrucciones de Jesús. Cp. Con Mat. 6:33; Luc. 9:57-62; parábola de 10 virgenes- Mat. 25:1-13.
¿Qué tu abrazas y aprecias? Prov. 4:4-9, 1:20-33. 
¿Qué atesoras en tu corazón? Mateo 6:31; Cp. Deut. 6:5 (10:12).
¿Qué importancia le das? Luc. 10:38-40
¿Le das honor, respeto, estima a lo El te dice y lo que te dijo en Su Palabra?
¿Por qué le obedeces? Para obtener los beneficios y ser “bendecido” ¿o porque lo honras y estimas Su Palabra mas que nada? Si tu lo amas, obedeces Su Palabra. Si lo amas, das valor, honor, respeto y estima a lo que El te dice y lo que te dijo. Vea Juan14:15, 21, 23, 24. 
Estas cosas demuestran la fe que agrada a Dios. En este mensaje lo oirás con detalles. Estos mensajes vienen a ti gratuitamente así que no hay excusa por no saberlo, entenderlo, y hacerlo. ¡Eres amado!    

Parte 2- El Verdadero Significado de Tener Fe

Hace como unos años atrás, el Señor me habló del mensaje de fe que yo creía y enseñaba. El me dijo que me iba a enseñar mas sobre el tema. Yo empecé a estudiar este mensaje en el 1974, así que no me consideraba novato al tema en el 2011. Mi primera enseñanza o prédica en público (1975) fue tomada de Marcos 11:22-24, los versos clásicos sobre el tema. ¡Enseñé todo lo que había aprendido del mensaje de fe en 45 minutos!
Después de años enseñando y ministrando sobre el tema, creía que sabía algo. Los últimos cinco años me han mostrado lo poco que sabía del tema. Es inútil pensar que se entiende lo máximo acerca de cualquier tema del texto bíblico, por lo menos esa es la conclusión a que he llegado después de 40 años de estudio. Si fuera la Biblia como una de las famosas obras de Shakespeare o de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra pudiéramos declararnos expertos, pero sinceramente, después de todos estos años, siento que necesito aprender un montón mas para llegar espiritualmente al nivel de “FE 101.” No exagero.  
En la Parte 1 de esta serie, empezamos a estudiar a Marcos capítulos 5 y 6 en cuanto al verdadero significado de fe. Esta segunda parte entra en mas detalles. Estamos viendo que hay elementos dentro de la definiciónde “fe” que son usualmente desconocidos, ignorados, o malentendidos.
Fe es mas que “creer,” o las palabras de tu boca y hablarle a la montaña (Mar. 11:23). Fe es generalmente entendida como certeza, creer, creencia, seguridad, estar convencidos, mantener tus palabras en línea con la Palabra de Dios, ser positivo o estar asegurado de victoria, tener el espíritu de fe, etc. Estas son partes de lo que es fe, PERO hay otros elementos de fe que son pocos entendidos y reciben poca atención cuando se menciona la fe. Me enfoco en estas verdades por medio de estas enseñanzas. 
Fe como un tema bíblico es tan importante que Pablo escribió esto:   
Ni presten atención a fábulas e interminables genealogías que sirven más a especulaciones que al plan de Dios, que es por la fe (1 Tim. 1:4 Reina Valera Actualizada RVA-2015). 
Mira la ultima parte de este verso en estas versiones en ingles y mi traducción:
“God’s·work [plan; redemptive purpose], which ·is done in [or operates by; or is received by; or is known by] faith” (Expanded Bible- EXB). 
Mi traducción: “La obra [plan; propósito redentor] de Dios, que es- está hecho en [u opera por; o es recibido por; o es conocido por] fe.”
Esta versión entiende que la palabra griega traducida “plan” tiene el significado del “plan” o “propósito redentor” provisto por el sacrificio de Cristo.
“God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith” (New English Translation (NET Bible).
Mi traducción: “El plan redentor de Dios que opera por fe.” 
Así que el plan redentor OPERA por fe. ¿Qué quiere decir esto? TODA provisión de la redención lograda por Cristo se recibe por la fe. No existe excepción. Aunque las grandes provisiones de Cristo están disponibles a TODOS, solo los que le echan mano por medio de la fe reciben sus beneficios. Mira estos ejemplos de lo que se recibe por medio de la fe: 
 
Salvación es por medio de la fe (Efe. 2:8; Ro. 3:25; 2 Tim. 3:15).
Sanidad viene por fe (Mar. 2:5, 5:34, 10:52; Hech. 3:16; Stg. 5:14, 15; Mateo 8:17).
Sabiduría y la oración que Dios oye y contesta es por fe (Stg. 1:5-7; Mar. 11:24).
Victoria que vence al mundo es por fe (1ra Juan 5:4).
El escudo y la coraza de laarmadura de Dios que debemos ponernos se asocia directamente con la fe (Efe.6:16; 1 Tes. 5:8).
No hay manera de resistir al enemigo si no es por fe (1 Ped. 5:8, 9).
Heredar las promesas es por la fe (Heb. 6:12).
Para resumir, debemos de vivirpor fe (Rom. 1:17). ¡Eso lo dice todo!
El hecho es que es imposible agradar a Dios sin fe (Heb. 11:6), y TODO lo que no proviene de fe es pecado (Rom. 14:23). 
Jesús entró en la sinagoga y empezó a enseñar la Palabra de Dios, pero cuando lo oyeron, reaccionaron con desprecio por Su ministerio y lo que enseñaba.
2 Y cuando llegó el sábado, él comenzó a enseñar en la sinagoga; y muchos quedaban atónitos cuando le oían, y decían: —¿De dónde le vienen a este estas cosas? ¿Qué sabiduría es esta que le ha sido dada? ¡Cuántas obras poderosas son hechas por sus manos! 3 ¿No es este el carpintero, hijo de María y hermano de Jacobo, de José, de Judas y de Simón? ¿No están también sus hermanas aquí con nosotros? Se escandalizaban de él. 4 Pero Jesús les decía: —No hay profeta sin honra sino en su propia tierra, entre sus familiares y en su casa. 5 Y no pudo hacer allí ningún hecho poderoso sino que sanó a unos pocos enfermos, poniendo sobre ellos las manos. 6 Estaba asombrado a causa de la incredulidad de ellos. Y recorría las aldeas de alrededor, enseñando. (Marcos 6:2-6 Reina Valera Actualizada RVA-2015)
“Escandalizaban” fue traducido como “profundamente ofendidos” en la Nueva Traducción Viviente. En griego es skandalizo. El diccionario griego Thayer’s dice que esta palabra también indica ‘causar que uno empiece a desconfiar y abandonar al que se debe confiar y obedecer.’ ¿De que se ofendieron profundamente? Marcos 6:2 y 3 nos dice que se preguntaron:
¿De donde le vienen estas cosas? El reclamaba que Dios lo envió. Rehusaron respetar esto. 
¿Que sabiduría es esta que le ha sido dada? El reclamaba que Dios le dio el mensaje. Rechazaron que Su mensaje vino de Dios. 
¡Cuantas obras poderosas son hechas por sus manos! El reclamaba que Dios lo ungió para sanar y liberar. Refutaron que el era ungido de Dios porque era uno mas del montón en sus ojos. 
«Es un simple carpintero, hijo de María y hermano de Santiago, José, Judas y Simón. Y sus hermanas viven aquí mismo entre nosotros». El reclamaba que venia de Dios. Lo consideraban algo  imposible porque Jesús era un simple carpintero en sus ojos y mas nada.
Esto revela cual fue la “incredulidad” de ellos (cp. Mar. 9:24, 16:14). La incredulidad fue mas que “no creer.” Jesús explicó la incredulidad de ellos de esta manera:
“Pero Jesús les decía: —No hay profeta sin honra sino en su propia tierra, entre sus familiares y en su casa… Estaba asombrado a causa de la incredulidad de ellos. (Marcos 6:4, 6)
En el verso arriba, el texto griego usa la palabra atimos (gr. ατιμος) traducida sin honra. Esta es la forma negativa de la palabra timi. La palabra timi (gr. τιμη) indica honrar, dar respeto, reverencia, mostrar deferencia, y que algo tiene valor. Deferencia quiere decir respetar con admiración, estimar a uno superior, reconocer, valorar, distinguir, y aún hincarse ante otro por causa de tenerle un respeto profundo. Así que incredulidad es lo opuesto a timi y concuerda con atimos. Incredulidad es entonces mostrar deshonor, falta de respeto, irreverencia, y disminuir en valor y estima. ¡Eso fue lo que le mostraron a Jesús y a Su ministerio en Nazaret!  
Para hacer esto aun mas fuerte, la incredulidad también se conecta directamente con desobediencia y rebeldía. Vea a Heb. 3:17-19, pero lea desde el verso 7. Veremos esto mas tarde en esta serie porque fe está directamente conectada con obediencia, sumisión a Dios, y ser hacedor de la Palabra. Vea por ejemplo a Rom. 1:5, “la obediencia de la fe.” 
Y no pudo hacer allí ningún hecho poderoso sino que sanó a unos pocos enfermos, poniendo sobre ellos las manos (Mar.6:5).
Lo rechazaron y NO PUDO hacer ninguna obra poderosa de sanidad. No dice que el no quiso hacer grandes y poderosas obras de sanidad, dice que el NO PUDO. Jesús nunca ministró en la tierra como Dios (aunque era Dios manifestado en carne), sino como un hombre ungido por el Espíritu Santo sujeto a todo lo mismo que seres humanos pero sin pecado (Luc. 4:18, Hech. 10:38, Heb. 4:15). Nunca ministró como Dios, sino que se despojó a si mismo de sus poderes y derechos divinos cuando vino y moró entre seres humanos (Fil. 2:7- ver Biblia Ampliada). Por eso fue que por medio de este rechazo y falta de honor en Nazaret restringieron la manifestación del poder de Dios. Deshonraron al mensajero y el mensaje que le fue dado. No pudieron recibir grandes cosas de Dios porque deshonraron el ministerio, mensaje, y la persona de Jesús. 
En Marcos 5 y 6, Lucas 5, Juan 5, y a través de otros capítulos vimos la conexión en las partes 1 y 2.
En Marcos 5:17, 18, los gadarenos lo rechazaron. El se montó en el barco y se fue. Jesús no se queda entre aquellos que lo rechazan. Rechazar, despreciar, desestimar a Dios, Su Palabra, y a Jesucristo es un serio error y pecado. 
Los versos que siguen nos muestran esta verdad claramente. Solo los menciono aquí sin mucha explicación.Tienes que oír el mensaje para una explicación.
1 Sam. 2:30- “Desprecian” (bazah)- despreciar, desdeñar, o lo rechazar- ERV- “rechazan mostrarme respeto”; GNT- “me tratan con menosprecio” (desestima, repudia, el odio); JUB- “me estiman poco”; NLV- “los que me odian.”
De nuevo, si uno honra a Dios, El lo honra. Si uno lo desprecia, desdeña, o lo rechaza, El lo desprecia y le rechaza. Vea también a Luc. 10:8-16; Juan 12:48. Está bajo una maldición el que rechaza y desprecia a Dios. En 1 Sam. 2:30 (RVA-2015)- “tenidos en poco”- heb. qalal- traducido a menudo “maldición”- ej. Gen. 12:2, Exo. 21:17.
Mira a 1 Cor. 16:22- anatema- maldito-
Si alguno no ama al Señor, quede bajo maldición. NBD (Nueva Biblia al Día)
Si alguien no ama al Señor, tal persona es maldita. NTV (Nueva Traducción Viviente)
Si alguno no ama al Señor, quede bajo maldición. NVI (Nueva Versión Internacional)
¿Quien ama al Señor? Vea a Juan 14:21-23; Mat. 6:24; 7:21; Luc. 6:46.  
Ejemplos en los evangelios:
Mar. 5:22-24- Jairo le mostró honor, respeto, estima, fue humilde ante El (se postró), lo recibió, lo buscó y lo halló. “NO temas, solo cree” (v. 36) conectado directamente con lo mencionado. 
Mar. 5:25-34- La mujer que tenía flujo de sangre hizo lo mismo.
Luc. 5:17 ff. - Hombre paralítico le dio honor, mostró respeto, fue receptivo, lo buscó diligentemente. El fue el único que recibió el poder sanador que estaba presente.
Mat. 8: 5-10- mostró gran honor y respeto por la palabra de Dios en boca de Jesús. Mostró gran honor y admiración por el ministerio de Jesús.
Mat. 8:1-3- “vino (lit. se acercó) y se postró”; Juan 9:38- Aquí claramente se ve la conexión entre “creer” y “postrarse” en reverencia, humildad, rindiéndole honor y mostrándole respeto. Indica profunda reverencia y completo respeto.  
Mal. 1:6-14- Honor y reverencia. Honor- heb. kavod- gloria, dignidad, honor, reverencia. En hebreo “reverencia” es morah- temor, reverencia, terror. Hay que tener mucho cuidado con como uno trata al Señor. Como uno trata al Señor determinará si uno opera en fe o en incredulidad.
¡No te pierdas esta serie!
 
 
 
 

-Parte 1- El Verdadero Significado de Tener Fe

Si pensabas que fe es solamente “creer,” o “las palabras de tu boca” ¡te equivocaste! Es mucho mas la fe que tus creencias, tu confesión, o solo tener certeza y seguridad. Para empezar, estudiamos a Marcos capítulos 5 y 6. Allí vemos ejemplos claros en el ministerio de Jesús (y en los evangelios de Mateo y Lucas) de como algunos recibieron y como otros se fueron sin recibir la ayuda sobrenatural de Dios. Esto es sumamente significativo para el seguidor de Cristo porque la fe y su ejercicio gobierna TODO en el reino de Dios.
Ni presten atención a fábulas e interminables genealogías que sirven más a especulaciones que al plan de Dios, que es por la fe (1 Timoteo 1:4 Reina Valera Actualizada- RVA-2015).
Estas versiones en español dicen similarmente al final del verso:
“El plan de Dios que es por fe” (La Biblia de las Américas- LBLA).
“Al plan de Dios basado en la fe” (La Palabra Hispanoamericana- BLPH).
Pero nota estas otras versiones en ingles con mi traducción que le sigue:
“God’s· work [plan; redemptive purpose], which ·is done in [or operates by; or is received by; or is known by] faith” (Expanded Bible- EXB).
Traducción: “La obra [plan; propósito redentor] de Dios, que es- está hecha en [u opera por; o es recibida por; o es conocida por] fe.”
Esta versión y la New English Version son la mas precisa porque la palabra griega traducida “plan” tiene el significado aquí del “plan de redención” provisto por el sacrificio de Cristo.
“Nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith” (New English Translation (NET Bible).
Note la última frase: “God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.”
Traducción: “El plan redentor de Dios que opera por la fe.”
TODA provisión de la redención lograda por Cristo se recibe y opera por la fe. No existe excepción. Como he escrito antes, aún la salvación, sanidad, oración eficaz, y mas, se reciben por medio de la fe. Note estos ejemplos, pero hay muchísimos mas:
Salvación- Efesios 2:8; Romanos 3:25; 2da Timoteo 3:15.
Sanidad- Marcos 2:5, 5:34, 10:52; Hechos 3:16; Santiago 5:14, 15.
Sabiduría y la oración que Dios oye y contesta- Santiago 1:5-7; Marcos 11:24.
Victoria que vence al mundo- 1ra Juan 5:4.
Escudo y coraza de fe que debemos ponernos- Efesios 6:16, 1ra Tesalonicenses 5:8.
Para resistir al enemigo- 1ra Pedro 5:8, 9.
Para heredar las promesas- Hebreos 6:12.
Vivir por fe- Romanos 1:17.
El hecho es que es imposible agradar a Dios sin fe (Hebreos 11:6), y TODO lo que no proviene de fe es pecado (Romanos 14:23). Por estas razones no podemos ser ignorantes acerca del verdadero significado de la fe. Este es solo el principio de esta serie esencial.
No desestimes esto pensando que sabes a lo que nos referimos en esta serie. Cuando oigas este primer mensaje, casi inmediatamente te darás cuenta que muchos elementos de fe son pocos entendidos y enseñados. Confiamos que este mensaje empiece a traerte luz de una manera gloriosa.   
 

How To Get Out of Hell

Let me tell you a true story….
I went down, down, down, into what felt like falling into a dark and narrow well. I couldn’t stop myself and the walls were beyond my reach. It was like plunging into a void with no bottom. The longer I fell, the hotter it got.
Suddenly, the fall into the well turned into a cavern that spread into an unending distance in every direction. I descended even further into the deep darkness and suffocating heat.
I saw the gates of hell. It was an entranceway, but it was more sinister than anything I ever imagined. The gates looked so hideous that no one would ever dare to touch it. The creatures portrayed on the gates seemed to move with my approach. Guarding the gate were dreadful demon creatures with many heads and tails. They were there to forbid anyone from getting too close to the gates or from leaving them once someone entered them.
As I approached the gateway, I could see on the other side the masses of human beings in a place of fire like a volcano of molten rock. The wails and screams coming from the people were overpowering. I felt all strength leave my limbs as I approached the excruciating heat. The people kept screaming out my name and telling me not to enter the gates, but I couldn’t stop myself. An unseen evil power forced me forward through the barrier.
People were burning up without dying. Fiery worms were crawling in and out of their never-dying bodies, and the stench of rotten burning flesh was nauseating! I kept vomiting, I didn’t know what the ghoulish goo coming out of me was, but each time I threw up I writhed in excruciating pain, and then I hurled again. It never stopped.
Ominous words above the gate were etched in hideous stones that glowed darkly with the reflection of hellish fire. The words leaped in giant relief, and a strange and utterly offensive substance oozed from each letter to the ground.
I just glanced without reading, but the words read themselves to me and seared my mind like a branding iron.
ALL WHO ENTER HERE WILL SUFFER THE FIRES OF HADES AND A FURTHER SECOND DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER AND EVER. YOU ARE ENTERING THE GARBAGE HEAP OF ALL REALMS, THE PLACE OF THE DEAD, THOSE DEAD TO GOD AND TO HIS SON. YOU ARE ABANDONED. NO PRAYERS ARE HEARD, AND THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
I looked closer at the people as I passed through the pernicious gates. My eyesight was failing, and it got so black before me that I could no longer see my extremities. The only light I could see was a momentary glance as the fire burned me and the ghoulish worms ate me up. I could see people in the distance in suffering and torment that was unfathomable. I could hear their blood curdling screams of pain. Oh, the horrors! I could not communicate with them even as I screamed in pain. I felt the horrendous pain shoot through me over and over in never ending crescendos of hate, loneliness, and hopelessness.
In all my life upon the earth, I never felt a chill darken my soul like this place of torment. I never felt the utter despair of eternal torment like I felt at that moment. All hope was gone. I would never see my family or friends, and I was hopelessly lost forever with no way out! Oh God, if only I could warn my family. If only I could tell my friends that there is heaven to gain and a very real hell to shun!
Momentarily, I glanced up and saw the wretched beggar Lazarus that used to sit by my gate and beg for my help. I had so much in life, but I squandered my chance for deliverance by denying God and His commandments. Yet, what is this I see? Lazarus is seated next to somebody up there. Who is that?
Suddenly, I knew! It is father Abraham! Maybe he will have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue! I am tormented in these flames!
I called desperately with all the strength I had, but no one answered. I could see them, and they looked happy. They were not in torment! Lazarus had on the most beautiful clothes I ever saw. “Father Abraham, please send Lazarus to me! Please send Lazarus to me!” I cried and screamed. No help came…. But then, there was a small window opened to me to where Abraham and Lazarus were…
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31 NKJV)
That was not a parable. Parables were always stated in generalities and personal names were not used when telling them. Lazarus and that rich man were real people. The story was about two men in the area where Jesus was preaching. Jesus saw what happened to them after death in the unseen realm.
Yes, I took creative license with the story and retold it with my own descriptions. Notice that it is still based on the Scriptural teaching about Hades, and then the final resting place of hell and death, the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the place of eternal punishment. (See Revelation 20:10-15, 21:8.) Hades is a temporary holding cell until the final judgment, and the lake of fire is the eternal abode of the damned. Make no mistake about it, those in Hades will receive their final judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire. Once in Hades, it’s bye-bye for eternity. Eternity has no end, just like it has no beginning. It is a horror beyond all horrors. Nothing can be compared on earth, regardless of the tragedy, to eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I hear people all the time talk about the hell they went through. Others say they are going through hell. It’s NOTHING compared to eternal separation in the place of eternal torment.
Waiting until you die and are in hell’s flames and torment for eternity are not the place to try to get out of hell! It would be too late to get out! There is no redo! Once a person dies, it is judgement time! (Hebrews 9:27) Let me say it again in a slightly different way. There is an immediate judgment for each person that dies, and they are ushered into heaven in God’s presence, or they are incarcerated in Hades. Hades is not the end for them. Something worse is coming that is called the Second Death or the eternal lake of fire and brimstone. People will be finally judged for their lives upon the earth and the records will reveal what they did against God and show that they rejected God’s gift in Jesus.
The way to get out of going to a devil’s hell is by repentance if you are backslid or if you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior. It all begins with repentance.
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NKJV)
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19 NKJV)
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30, 31 NKJV)
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22 NKJV)
As a side note, this was addressed to Simon (Bar Jesus) who had already converted to the Lord. Acts 8:22 was addressed to a “born-again” and water-baptized Christian believer. Simon had allowed wickedness back into his heart and he needed to repent. Let’s get it correctly in our thinking. Initial repentance of sin is a part of believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:9). After that, if a Christian sins, we still have access to the eternal blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:7-10, 2:1, 2.)
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30 NKJV)
…But declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20
Yes, there is a heaven to gain by receiving what Jesus did for us through His sacrifice and by living for Him according to His Word and His moral guidelines. There is also a hell to shun. You do not want to perish and go there! God wants all people to repent so they don’t perish! (2nd Peter 3:9, Luke 13:3, 5)
Choose life (Jesus) so that you and your seed may live! Don’t choose the curse, darkness, and eternal death brought on by rebellion to the Lord and His Word! (Deuteronomy 30:19,20; John 3:16) That is the ONLY way you get out of going to a devil’s hell!
Some may be thinking, “Oh but that is narrow thinking and way too exclusive. Don’t you think that in God’s mercy He provided many ways to get to Him?” Absolutely not! Jesus stated about Himself that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him! (John 14:6) Read it and adjust your thinking to the truth. There are not hundreds of ways but ONLY one way to the Father, and His name is Jesus.
Yes, it’s a very narrow way.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NKJV)
It is so narrow that few there are that find it when you compare the broad way of the world of sin and darkness. Sadly, most human beings on the planet will go to hell, but you can be very happy and full of joy with the good news I am sharing with you today. You can avoid hell and gain God and all He provided through Jesus. Then, you can tell others about it if you are still alive on this earth.
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9, 10 NKJV)
After you do that, then there are everyday matters to live the Christian life. You must become obedient to God’s Word and His MORAL commandments in Scripture. Making Jesus your Lord means that you submit to His Word and obey His moral commandments. Too many miss that part about living in obedience to the Word.
7 Those who keep on doing good and are looking for His greatness and honor will receive life that lasts forever. 8 Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them. (Romans 2:7, 8 NLV)
The same verses in another translation:
He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness... NLT
And one more for the road:
…praise, honor, and immortality to those who continue in doing good and seek eternal life; but to those who are rebellious, and reject the truth, and follow iniquity, will come indignation and wrath… NMB
That is not Paul’s teaching on salvation by works, but it is teaching about good works (obedience to God’s commandments) and doing what is right according to God’s truth- His Word (not YOUR truth) AFTER you receive Jesus as your Lord. That is probably one of the most misunderstood New Testament teachings. No, you didn’t receive Jesus via good works. We received God’s gift in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, but there is more to it than that concerning eternal life. We must lay hold of eternal life so that it doesn’t get away from us. (1st Timothy 6:12)
Here’s the issue.
You stay saved by doing what is right according to the covenant AFTER your first encounter with Jesus as Lord and Savior. You don’t receive Jesus and then live like a sinner every day. That would nullify in your life your initial reception of His salvation. It is a devilish idea that if you practice sin as a Christian that grace will cover your sin and you will still go to heaven WITHOUT repentance. Practicing sin without repentance and cleansing from that sin by the blood of Jesus will keep a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.
Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. (Galatians 5:19-21 TLV)
The New English Translation (NET) states the last sentence like this: “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” I found at least 12 other translations that use the word practice besides the NET, and some use the words indulge, continue, and live that way. That is the correct way that last sentence should be translated. If you have fallen for any of these things as a Christian, IF you repent, then you can still go to heaven or inherit the kingdom of God. These verses warn Christians that practicing or making a lifestyle out of any of these sins will cause a person to be left out of the kingdom of God. There will be no welcoming committee in heaven for the Christian that practices sin without repentance. Paul taught that, but it is not the only place he mentions that truth.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:9-10 NET)
I’ve heard the Biblically ignorant state, “That was speaking to the unrighteous, and in Christ Jesus I am righteous. So, that refers to the world and not to me.” Wrong! The context of these verses is Paul correcting Christians for defrauding fellow believers, and then it is followed by an exhortation commanding believers to flee from sexual immorality. The unrighteous in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 is referring to the unrepentant Christian that has yielded to sin and continues to practice it.
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1st John 1:9 NET)
John is speaking to fellow believers and what to do if we sin. After we confess our sins to the Lord, He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all UNRIGHTOEUSNESS. Wait, but I thought that we were the righteousness of God in Christ! Why be cleansed from all UN-righteousness? It’s really simple. The righteousness that a Christian has in Christ, that righteousness they received upon their salvation, is conditional and not automatic. Our right standing with God is always conditional. The Christian’s position in that righteousness will be negatively impacted by unrighteous behavior, lawlessness, or sin. The person that sins must receive forgiveness and cleansing from that which is against righteousness.
It is a dangerous place to remain in sin because it connects a person with the unrighteous. Paul warns that if a person stays there and continues to practice that sin, whatever it may be, they are going to be rejected from the kingdom (rule and reign) of God. That means that the practitioner of lawlessness (not subject and obedient to God’s law or commandments of a moral nature) will hear the terrible words of rejection from the lips of the Lord in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
In case you have any question about what practicing lawlessness means:
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. (1st John 3:4)
Get straightened out with the following verses from any heretical mindset. It will work IF you will receive the Word of God on the subject.
And because lawlessness (sin is lawlessness – 1st John 3:4) will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12, 13 NKJV)
Only those that serve the Lord and obey His Word to the end will be saved. Note the condition. He who endures to the end shall be saved. Salvation is conditional. Enduring to the end means that when the end comes, you will not be practicing sin or lawlessness. That should be clear enough, but there are many more verses, so I will give you a few more.
But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end… For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end… (Hebrews 3:6, 14 NKJV)
We are His house IF (it’s conditional) we hold fast to the end! Wishy-washy Christians that die in their sins are left out of this equation. The unrepentant Christian is left out.
The other conditional statement in verse 14 about salvation is as clear as the first one in verse 6. We are partakers of Christ IF we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. In other words, and so that there are no mistakes in interpretation, it is not only how we began our life in Christ when we first believed, but it is how we wind up at the end of our lives (“to the end”). That is the moment of judgment, either to an eternal separation from God, or to an eternal bliss in the presence of the Lord. Again, note the conditional statements concerning our salvation. 
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1st Corinthians 15:1, 2 NIV)
You are saved by the gospel only IF you hold firmly to that Word. If you don't, then your believing is in vain! I feel sorry for those that continue to espouse a damnable once-saved-always-saved heretical theology! Salvation in Christ is conditional! It always has been conditional and always will be.
The next few verses will overturn the devilish thinking that that one can practice sin without responsibility or consequences.
Let me set up the next verse by asking the question, “Is Jesus the author of eternal salvation for everybody?”
…He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)
Nobody gets eternal salvation except those that obey Jesus!
Here is another statement on the subject from the lips of Jesus:
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV)
You can’t practice lawlessness and expect to hear, “Welcome to heaven and have a glorious eternity!” Be very cautious with these verses. They are no-nonsense. Even if you confessed His Lordship, and even had a part in supernatural ministry, but then reneged on your faith and practiced wickedness without repentance, you will hear the terrible words from the Master, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Do we see an immediate example of that in the Gospels? Yes, we see that happening to Judas Iscariot. He was sent and anointed by Jesus as an apostle, ministered supernaturally (Matthew 10:1-8), but he betrayed Jesus and was lost for eternity because he never repented and turned from his wickedness and committed suicide. (See Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-5) Matthew 27:3 says that when Judas saw what he had done and realized he was condemned that he was remorseful for his sin. Being remorseful or feeling bad over your sin may be a part of repentance, but real repentance turns away from wickedness, turns back to God, and seeks His forgiveness and cleansing from it. I wrote that last part of the sentence in bold and italics to emphasize what real repentance does. 
Look at the awful things king David did in the Bathsheba incident (Second Samuel chapters 11 and 12). He committed premeditated murder, theft, adultery, treachery, covetousness, lying, and probably a host of other sins. Talk about being guilty, David messed up in ways that many have never done, and yet he was forgiven and restored. See Psalms 51 for David's prayer of repentance and petitioning God for forgiveness and cleansing. It reminds us of 1 John 1:8-10! Most likely John had Psalms 51 in mind when writing 1 John 1:9. David's restoration and forgiveness were so complete that he married Bathsheba. God blessed the union because Bathsheba was the mother of king Solomon, the very blood line from where Messiah came! Wow!
No matter what sins you committed, there can be complete and total forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. David and Bathsheba are great examples of that truth. They are a demonstration of the great love, compassion, and grace of God!
Now, compare that to king Saul and how he was confronted on a few occasions for his sins (ex. 1st Samuel 26). There was no real repentance. He only had remorse and the sorrow as the world feels when they do something wrong. He wound up visiting a medium (1st Samuel 28), never repenting of sins, and he died by falling on his own sword (1st Samuel 31). 
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2nd Corinthians 7:9-10 NKJV)
Feelings of sorrow like the world has only leads to death. That is what happened to Saul and Judas Iscariot. Godly sorrow that leads to a real repentance is what works. That is what David had!
Here is an important instruction about those that truly know the Lord.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1st John 2:3-5 NKJV)
Keeping or obeying His commandments is at the center of knowing the Lord when you are a Christian. A Christian that lives in a consistent breaking or violation of God’s commandments does not know the Lord. I am speaking about those commandments in Scripture that reveal living moral or righteous life before God. I am not referring to any commandment in Scripture exclusively given to Israel or commanded concerning the Levitical priesthood, Temple worship, animal sacrifice, feasts and festivals, and other ceremonial type commandments. Do you know what I am referring to?
If you have not been taught about the clear distinction in the Bible between moral and ceremonial commandments, you must be taught it correctly. Here is my Scriptural contribution on this important subject. It’s a free 62-page PDF document. Get it here: Did the Grace of God Cancel Biblical Commandments?
Paul, when writing to the Corinthian church, stated it like this:
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s commandments is everything. (1st Corinthians 7:19 ISV)
The true follower of Jesus is described in Revelation 14:12 (NET) in this way:
This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.
There you also have the true definition of a “saint”. It’s not one canonized by the Catholic church. A saint is the one that is steadfast and enduring in their obedience to God’s commandments and holds to their faith in Jesus. No canonization is needed!
Once you make up your mind to be a follower of Jesus for the rest of your life, the next thing is to be baptized in water as evidence of your glorious decision for the Lord. (Acts 2:38; 1st Peter 3:21 NET) Then, you MUST find a church that never closed their doors for the Covid tyrannical nonsense and refused to open the door to the spirit of antichrist. If possible, you should be a part of a church that NEVER caved to the Covid mess. (Hebrews 10:26) The only way I would ever go to a church that bowed their knee to the Covid mess would be IF the pastor publicly repents for yielding to the devil! 

Redemption from the Curse-Part 10

 
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and Galatians 3:13 should be a mainstay in the Christian life. The first because it reveals what was included in the curse, and the second because it tells us Christ redeemed us from the curse when He became a curse for us on the cross. This revelation from the Word will set you up for victory in so many ways! We can't emphasize these truths too much. They have gotten me out of many bad situations throughout my Christian life.
In this podcast, we look at highlights of this series, and how to answer the world's intrusion with the Word. We also look at the definition of the word "pestilence" from Deuteronomy 28. We are redeemed from sickness and disease, depression and all mental health diseases, terrorism, fear and dread, famine, and so on. We are also redeemed from death in all its forms. Did you know that under the curse was all kinds of business failure? Christ has redeemed us from the curse!
Please feel free to spread these free messages and articles all over everywhere! People will be helped tremendously through these messages, IF they will believe it and receive it! Connect some people with our website. 
Be blessed!
 

Redemption from the Curse-Part 9

We are redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease, and from death and all its forms as recorded in the major list of the curse in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. We are redeemed because Jesus became a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13) The curse in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, includes everything that kills, steals, and destroys human life. It includes lack and poverty, slavery and bondage, defeat in war, rape and kidnapping, and failure in every realm. The curse includes early death, where a person is not satisfied with long life. (Psalms 91:16) The curse is so pervasive that nothing evil is excluded from it. That is the how deep our redemption runs. We are redeemed from everything the devil was able to bring upon this earth as the destroyer! 
Even though the curse is producing death and destruction over all the earth, we can walk free of its effects, NOW! Though we are still subject to physically dying, IF the Lord delays His return, we don't have to die with some stinking disease or because of some demonic accident! We die and go to heaven healed and whole, when our race is finished, and when the Lord and us are good and ready to go. I know that is an extremely controversial statement for the untaught, but it is SO scriptural that you would need satanic help to disbelieve or misunderstand it!
This podcast delves into all these things in some detail with many Scripture references. If you have not heard the other podcasts in this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The list of all the podcast can be accessed from our home page at https://danalanrodriguez.podbean.com. 
Also take a look at all our articles, podcasts, and books. Then, please spread these around. Be a giver of God's Word by sending these free resources to your family, friends, and acquaintances. Be mightily blessed through the exposition of God's Word!
 

Redemption from the Curse-Part 8

Read these verses from Nehemiah 9 and notice the reoccurring pattern. 
25And they took strong cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all goods, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat, and delighted themselves in Your great goodness. 26“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against You, cast Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets, who testified against them to turn them to Yourself; and they worked great provocations. 27Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who oppressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; and according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28“But after they had rest, they again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; and many times You delivered them according to Your mercies, 29and testified against them, that You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, and did not heed Your commandments, but sinned against Your judgments,‘ which if a man does, he shall live by them. ’And they shrugged their shoulders. Stiffened their necks, and would not hear. 30 Yet for many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. (Nehemiah 9:25-30 NKJV) 
Did you see the pattern? God would bless them, they would backslide by disobedience to His commandments. It would anger the Lord, and He would turn them over to their enemies. The Israelites would get a belly full of their enemies, cry out for deliverance, God would send them a deliverer, they would be free for a little while and have rest, and then the whole thing would happen again and again! That is a very important Biblical pattern. It shows us a side of God’s judgment on sin among His people that many prefer not to discuss. Yes, it is also found in the New Testament, even in the epistles of Paul! The key to staying out of judgment over sin, where you are safe from the enemy, is simple. If you sin, JUDGE yourself, and you will not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:28-33)   
In this podcast, we study this clearly in relation to our redemption from the curse. Don’t miss it because it answers many questions and provides numerous scriptural examples for your study. These are waters seldom tread in modern Christianity.
Be mightily blessed with God's Word!

Redemption from the Curse-Part 7

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:28-31 NKJV)
We must understand that we have redemption from the curse because the body of Jesus was bruised and bloodied when He became a curse for us on the cross. These verses in their context reveal that if we don’t judge ourselves as ready and able in Christ to receive the redemption He provided, then judgment would eventually come. The judgment is a reference to the curse; weakness, sickness, and premature death (“sleep”). That is either misunderstood or completely unknown, but there it is, in black and white.
When we partake of the communion table, it is a reminder and a participation of the provisions of Jesus’ death. One of those provisions is Galatians 3:13.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”.(Galatians 3:13 NET)
We continue to look at this Biblical idea of judgment. The bottom line is, IF we will judge ourselves, we will not be judged. Some people bring judgment on themselves because they do not discern the body of the Lord and the Blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins.  
May these podcasts cause many to rightly discern the body and blood of the Lord! May many step into the victory Jesus provided through His death and resurrection!
Be mightily blessed!