HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

 “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:19-21

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible was written to be read. An unread Bible is like food that is refused, an unopened love letter, a buried sword, a road map not studied, a gold mine not worked. It is said that a book is a book only when it's in the hands of a reader.

For all practical purposes, reading is the foundation of all learning. If you can read you can learn anything. If you are going to learn the Bible, you will have to develop the habit of reading large portions of the scriptures. Bible study is essential to be a "workman approved unto God" (II Timothy 2:15). But the foundation of that study must be reading. There is a big difference between devotional reading and study reading.

Unless a person has the regular habit of reading the Bible, he will never develop a regular study habit. In fact, it is usually the consistent practice of reading the Scriptures that inspires a person to become a student of the Bible. The person who enjoys studying the Bible first developed the habit of regular reading.

READ DAILY

Daily Bible reading is to your spiritual life what daily eating is to your physical life. Just as the body needs a regular feeding time to maintain its energy level, so the spiritual man must regularly be fed the Word of God.

SET A REGULAR READING TIME

It is important that you set aside a certain time of the day for Bible reading. How much time should be devoted to reading the Bible each day depends on the seriousness and discipline of the person. If you are a good starter and poor finisher, five minutes will do. It is better to be consistent at five minutes a day than nothing. But, if you really want to develop a working knowledge of the Bible, you had better plan on a minimum of fifteen minutes daily.

SET A REGULAR PLACE

It will help your concentration and consistency if you set a regular place to do your daily reading. You should read sitting and preferably at a desk or table, as it aids in concentration. The less you have on your desk besides your Bible while reading the better. Coming regularly to this "quiet place" helps establish the devotional mood.

READ WITH A PENCIL AT HAND

The biggest danger to devotional Bible reading is in letting your eyes run across the words and assuming you have read the material. Many people follow their Bible reading with prayer and assume they have had an effective quiet time. But if you asked them an hour later what they had read, they can't recall. Their eyes read the words but their brain wasn't turned on.   

The best way to dial your brain into a vital attitude is to pick up a pencil and be ready to receive a message from God. Another thing it does is assist your memory. When you see something special in your reading, write it down. This helps to cement the thought more forcibly into your brain.

READ THE BIBLE DEVOTIONALLY

The Bible is a living book written by God to His children and it is "profitable" (practical). In it He provides basic principles, guidance and inspiration on how to live. It was written to people and because human nature hasn't changed in the years since its writing, it has a message for us today. The Bible is food for the soul.

Even when a person doesn't find anything special in his reading there still is an aspect of spiritual benefit just in the reading, for it feeds our soul. Devotional reading provides that spiritual inspiration for daily living that we all need and it is always based on the truth revealed in the Word of God.

WHAT BIBLE READING REALLY INVOLVES

Have you ever read an entire page in a book unaware of what you were reading? If so, you know that it is possible to read without having read! The eye activity of reading, basic as it is, is not enough in Bible reading. More activities are involved. How can we help ourselves to become sharper observers, and avoid the pitfall of the heavy eye?

READ ALOUD

It will amaze you how new vistas are opened as you hear your own voice speaking words and sentences you may never have voiced before. When you read, read interpretatively, with meaning and feeling.

READ CAREFULLY

Read alertly, not mechanically. There is a place in Bible study for the quick, cursive reading, but in devotional reading you must read slowly as well as carefully, weighing each word, and even the punctuation. Train your eyes to read carefully. It is very true today that there is much crooked thinking because there is much crooked seeing. Each word in the Bible has a function. Always seek to learn what that is. This may be slow going, but it is necessary.

READ REPEATEDLY

Return often to the beginning of the passage. One thrust of the spade does not unearth all the gems of the Bible's mine. Don't ever conclude that you have exhausted the meaning of a verse when it becomes familiar to you.

READ PERIPHERALLY

Peripheral vision is seeing the surroundings while the eye is focused straight ahead. A good driver must have excellent peripheral vision. So in Bible study you should keep your eyes open to the surrounding context of the words you are reading.

REFLECTION

When God speaks to us, we should stand still and consider what He is saying. In Bible reading reflection is the mind and heart at work, thinking over what the eyes have seen. That is quite different from merely seeing with the eye. Reflection in Bible reading should have the intensity of meditation, whereby the soul has the desire and intention of obeying God's Word: Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

REFLECT PURPOSEFULLY

The psalmist had a purpose in hiding God's Word in his heart: that he might not sin against God (Ps. 119:11). Bible meditation should not be haphazard, or little by little. If you want to keep a fire burning in your soul, don't scatter its fuel. Reading only isolated verses, out of context, and expanding them according to personal whims, is a dangerous practice. It is as foolish and fruitless to read the Bible without purpose as it is to search about a room looking for nothing in particular.

What are your purposes as you meditate on the Scriptures? Do you want to know God more intimately, and glorify Him? Do you want to know more about yourself? Do you want to know the truth? Do you want to grow strong spiritually? Do you want to know God's will, hear a word of comfort? Then reflect purposefully!

REFLECT IMAGINATIVELY

This is not difficult, if you are willing to put yourself into the situation of the Bible passage. Taste and feel every word you read. If the passage is narrative visualize the setting. Something is bound to stir within your soul the moment you begin to reflect imaginatively as you read the Bible.

REFLECT HUMBLY

The Word you are reading is the Holy Word of the Holy God. God is bigger than His Book. It should humble you to think that this Holy one, who is also the Almighty One, has spoken to you in the Bible, and has given you the blessed privilege to read it, and so to listen to Him.

REFLECT PRAYERFULLY

If you reflect humbly, you will reflect prayerfully, for the contrite heart craves to speak to the One on whom it depends.

REFLECT PATIENTLY

Patience in any phase of life is priceless. The New Testament makes many references to patience. Patience is surely a requirement in the meditative process of reading God's Word. Reflection requires time and concentration, and the good Bible student will give both.

LA ORACIÓN CAMBIA LAS COSAS

 Santiago 5:13-20

Cuando se trata de pruebas y tiempos difíciles, muchas personas tienden a tirar la toalla antes de que ir a Dios en oración. La oración es una comunicación íntima con Dios. Para muchos, la extensión de su vida de oración es en la mesa de la cena o antes de irse a la cama. El diablo no le importa ese tipo de oraciones, ya que no tríen resultados.

Si queremos experimentar algo poderoso y nuevo en nuestra vida vendrá a través de la oración. La oración ferviente poderosa del justo puede mucho. La oración no se mide por su longitud, sino que se mide por su profundidad. Se ha dicho que la fe mueve montañas, pero la oración mueve a Dios. No es asombroso que nuestras oraciones, ya sea grande y gloriosa o débil, puede mover el corazón de Dios que creó el universo.

¿Qué clase de persona tiene una oración efectiva? Un hombre justo, (un amante de Dios), si usted quiere que sus oraciones sean eficaces, primero debe ser un amante de Dios. ¿De qué sirve la oración el domingo, si vive su vida como Ud. quiere durante la semana? Oración efectiva cambia su carácter. Ya no desea hacer las cosas que solía hacer. Ya no quiere satisfacer su propio deseos (Prov. 15:29). Si usted vive su vida para agradar a Dios, entonces Dios también hacer todo lo posible por complacerte.

Cuando se trata de la oración y confiando en Dios con nuestros problemas, somos un termómetro o un termostato. Un termómetro está cambiando constantemente dependiendo de las circunstancias. Sin embargo, un termostato se establece y se mantiene ajustado. En lugar de dejar que el tiempo controlar la temperatura, el termostato permanece en control. Cuando se trata de la temperatura de la habitación, el termostato tiene control. No importa la temperatura se mantiene constante.

A veces en la vida nos enfrentamos con calor de la gente. A menudo se caliente bajo el cuello, pero si somos como un termostato, entonces estamos en control. Las circunstancias no nos controlan, nosotros controlamos las circunstancias. ¿Eres un termómetro, permitiendo que las circunstancias lo controle o eres un termostato que mantiene siempre el control, a pesar de las circunstancias que te rodean? Usted ve, los tiempos difíciles no duran, pero la gente fuerte si. Y cuando vienen los tiempos difíciles, el carácter es lo que se revela.

Si te sientes desanimado, llévelo a Dios en la oración. Si se siente estresado, llévelo al Señor en oración. Si te sientes solo, llévelo al Señor en oración. La oración cambia las cosas. Cuando ponemos nuestra confianza en Dios y no en nosotros mismos, entonces estamos reorientando nuestra fe. La oración cambia nuestra fe. (Santiago 5:17, 18)

Nuestros hijos nunca vienen a nosotros y nos dice: "Papá, estoy muy preocupado por las cuentas de este mes. Sé que tuvimos algunos gastos inesperados últimamente y estamos un poco cortos. ¿Crees que vamos a hacer? “No, ellos no se preocupan por esas cosas. Tienen otras cosas en su mente. Ellos dejan esas cosas a sus padres.

Dios nos dice, presenten sus necesidades a mí. Dame tus preocupaciones. Dime lo que hay  en tu corazón, y yo mi encargo de ello. Dios dice: "Déjame sus preocupaciones" (Fil. 4:6). Podemos confiar en Dios para satisfacer nuestras necesidades. No tiene que preocuparse por las cosas grandes, se las dejamos al Señor. ¡Él es nuestro Padre celestial! ¿Qué hacemos cuando oramos? ¡Cambiamos nuestras preocupaciones a oraciones! A través de la oración, glorifica a Dios, darle el control a Dios, reconocer su señorío y recibir sus bendiciones. Nuestra fe en Dios es elevada a otro nivel, cuando oramos.

Un ejemplo de esto se encuentra en el personaje del Antiguo Testamento de Nehemías. Nehemías vio una necesidad. Las paredes de la ciudad de Jerusalén fueron destruidas. Nehemías ayunó y oró. Buscó al Señor sobre este asunto. Y entonces, él hizo algo al respecto. Dios guió a Nehemías para comenzar un proyecto de construcción. Nehemías no se quedo sentado y no hizo nada. Él oró y luego actuó en consecuencia. Nehemías quería una respuesta de parte de Dios, y luego se convirtió en parte de la respuesta. Mientras que algunas personas se convierten en parte del problema, Dios quiere que seamos parte de la solución.

"Oh, Señor satisfacer las necesidades de nuestra iglesia". Y sin embargo, no damos nuestro diezmo para apoyar a la iglesia por la cual oramos. Debemos orar y ser parte de la solución. "Oh, Dios bendiga a nuestra iglesia. Pero usted no hace nada para ayudar a la iglesia crecer. Ya es hora de ser parte de la solución. No sólo debemos orar por las almas nuevas, tenemos que salir y traerlas. Cuando oramos, Dios nos da la instrucción, y tenemos que actuar sobre estas instrucciones o nuestra oración no se cumplirá. Se llama obediencia.

Usted puede orar: "Oh, Dios, estoy corto de fondos, por favor haga un milagro en mi economía". El Señor dice: “¡diezma!" "Oh, Señor, no puede dar el diezmo en este momento, pero realmente necesito un milagro financiero". Toda la oración en el mundo no va a conseguir su milagro económico, pero diezmando lo hará. Toda la oración en el mundo no va a conseguir su milagro, pero la obediencia lo hará. ¿Qué hace la oración? La oración activa nuestra fe. ¡La fe sin obras está muerta! La oración cambia las cosas. Debe haber fervor en nuestra oración. No podemos estar en comunión con Dios, que es un fuego que consumidor, si no hay fuego en nuestras oraciones. "

Nuestro conocimiento está limitado a nuestra visión. Pero cuando nuestra comprensión se convierte en el entendimiento de Dios, nuestra visión se amplía. Vemos las cosas de manera diferente. No con nuestros propios ojos, pero a través de Sus ojos. La oración cambia nuestra visión. Ya no pensamos como nosotros mismos, sino más bien, nosotros tenemos la mente de Cristo.

Podemos leer libros y obtener asesoramiento para corregir nuestra visión espiritual, pero nada funciona como la oración. Nuestra visión es limitada. Pero al cerrar los ojos y oramos, vemos las cosas a través de los ojos de Dios. Cuando no oramos, nuestra visión se queda estrecha, y nos quedamos en nuestra limitada perspectiva propia. La mejor visión que podríamos tener es cuando cerramos los ojos y oramos. Cuando cerramos los ojos, tenemos la mente de Cristo, y nuestra visión se multiplica.

Oración corrige nuestra visión. Ya no me quedo estrecho de mente. ¿Alguna vez ha tratado con una persona de mente estrecha? Ellos tienen una forma de pensar y es casi imposible cambiar su perspectiva. El problema es que se niegan a dejar a un lado su propia visión y asumir la visión de Dios. Se niegan a cerrar los ojos, y cerca su propia perspectiva para ver la de Dios.

La oración cambia nuestro carácter. La oración cambia nuestra fe. La oración cambia nuestra visión. La oración cambia las cosas en realidad. El hijo de Dios que lucha contra el diablo pelea mejor sobre sus rodillas.

Si tuviera que hacer la pregunta, "¿Cuántos de ustedes creen que necesitan pasar más tiempo en oración?" Todo mundo levantare la mano. Si sabemos que tenemos que aumentar nuestros esfuerzos de oración, entonces ¿por qué tan pocos de nosotros en realidad lo hacen, cuál es el problema? Queremos orar, pero no hacemos planes para orar.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

James 5:13-20

When it comes to trials and difficult times, many people often tend to throw in the towel before they even go to God in prayer. Prayer is intimate communication with God. For many, the extent of their prayer life is at the dinner table or before they go to bed. The devil doesn’t mind those type of prayers because they go nowhere.

If we want to experience something powerful and new in our lives it will come through prayer. The powerful fervent prayer of a righteous man can do much.  Prayer is not measured by its length; it is measured by its depth.  It has been said that faith moves mountains, but prayer moves God.  Isn't it amazing that our prayers, whether grand and glorious or feeble and faint, can move the heart of God who created the universe.

What kind of person has an effective prayer? A righteous man, (a lover of God); if you want your prayers to be effective, you must first be a lover of God.  What good will your prayer be on Sunday, if you go out and live your life the way you want to during the week? Effective prayer changes your character. You no longer desire to do the things you used to do. You no longer want to satisfy your own desires (Prov. 15:29). If you live your life to please God, then God well make every effort to please you.

When it comes to prayer and trusting in God with our problems, we are either a thermometer or a thermostat. A thermometer is constantly changing depending on the circumstances. But a thermostat gets set and stays set. Instead of letting the weather control the temperature, the thermostat stays in control. When it comes to the temperature of the room, the thermostat has control. It doesn’t matter what the temperature it stays constant. 

Sometimes in life we face heat from other people.  We often get hot under the collar, but if we are like a thermostat, then we are in control. The circumstances don't control us, we control the circumstances. Are you are a thermometer, allowing the circumstances to control you or are you a thermostat who always remains in control, in spite of the circumstances that surround you? You see, tough times don't last, but tough people do. And when the tough times come, character is what is revealed. 

If you feel discouraged, take it to God in prayer.  If you feel stressed out, take it to the Lord in prayer. If you feel alone, take it to the Lord in prayer. Prayer changes things. When we put our trust in God and not in ourselves, then we are redirecting our faith. Prayer changes our faith. (James 5:17, 18)

Our children never come to us and tell us, "Dad, I'm really worried about this month's bills. I know we kind of had some unexpected bills come up lately and were kind of short. Do you think we're going to make it?" No, they don’t worry about those things. They got other things on their mind. They leave those things up to their parents.

God tells us, present your needs to me. Give me your cares. Tell me what's on your heart and I'll take care of them. God says, "Let me take your worries away" (Phil. 4:6).  We can trust God to meet our needs. We don't have to worry about the big stuff; we give those to the Lord. He is our heavenly Father! What do we do when we pray? We turn our care into prayer! Through prayer, we Glorify God, give God control, acknowledge His Lordship and receive His blessings. Our faith in God is increase to another level, when we pray.

An example of this is found in the Old Testament character of Nehemiah. Nehemiah saw a need. The walls of the city of Jerusalem were torn down. Nehemiah fasted and prayed. He sought the Lord concerning this matter. And then, he did something about it. God led Nehemiah to begin a building project. Nehemiah didn't sit around and do nothing. He prayed and then he acted upon it. Nehemiah wanted an answer from God, and then he became part of the answer. While some people become part of the problem, God wants us to be part of the solution.

"Oh, Lord meet the needs of our church." And yet we don’t give our tithe to support the church we pray for. We must pray and then be a part of the solution. "Oh, Lord bless our church. But you don’t do any thing to help the church grow. It is time to be a part of the solution. We must not only pray for new souls, we must go out and bring them in. When we pray, God gives us instruction, and we must act upon those instructions or our prayer will not be fulfilled. It is called obedience.

You can pray, "Oh, God I'm short of finances, please work a miracle in my finances." The Lord says, "Tithe!"  "Oh, Lord I can't afford to tithe right now, but I really need a financial miracle." All the praying in the world won't get you your financial miracle, but tithing will. All the praying in the world won't get you your miracle, but obedience will. What does prayer do? Prayer activates our faith. Faith without works is dead!  Prayer changes things. There must be fervency in our prayer. We cannot commune with God, who is a consuming fire, if there is no fire in our prayers."

Our understanding is limited to our vision. But when our understanding becomes God's understanding, our vision is expanded. We see things differently. Not by our own eyes, but through His eyes. Prayer changes our vision. We no longer think like ourselves, but rather, we have the mind of Christ.

We can read books and get counseling to correct our spiritual vision, but nothing works like prayer. Our vision is limited. But when we close our eyes and pray, we see things through God's eyes. When we don't pray, our vision stays narrow, and we stay in our own limited perspective. The best vision we could have is when we close our eyes and pray. When we close our eyes, we take on the mind of Christ, and our vision is multiplied.

Prayer corrects our vision. I no longer remain narrow-minded. Have you ever run across a narrow minded person? They have one way of thinking and it's almost impossible to change their perspective. The problem is that they refuse to let go of their own vision and take on God's vision. They refuse to close their eyes, and close their own perspective to see God's.

Prayer changes our character. Prayer changes our faith. Prayer changes our vision. Prayer indeed changes things. The saint who wages war against the devil fights best on his knees.

If I were to ask the question, "How many of you believe that you need to spend more time in prayer?” Everyone would raise their hand. If we know that we need to increase our prayer efforts, then why do so few of us actually do it?  What is the problem? We want to pray, but we don’t plan to pray.  

¿DONDE ESTA ELISEO?

II Reyes 2:8-15

La pregunta que se debe hacerse hoy, no debe ser, ¿dónde está el Dios de Elías?” Más bien, “¿donde está Elíseo?”

Todo mundo está familiarizado con la historia del llamamiento y vida del profeta Elíseo. Elíseo había sido un agricultor prospero hasta el día que dejo todo por seguir al profeta Elías. El sirvió a Elías como su discípulo por muchos años. Estos fueron años de obscuridad para Elíseo, hasta aquel gran día cuando cayó sobre él, el manto de Elías. Cuando el volvió al Río Jordán, Elíseo pregunto, “Donde esta Jehová, el Dios de Elías?” Tomando en su mano el manto de Elías que se le había caído, golpeo las aguas del Jordán y se dio cuenta que el poder de Dios que había estado sobre Elías, ahora estaba sobre él.

Ahora, Elíseo ya no era ese impotente y obscuro sirviente de Elías, ahora era un potente profeta de Dios. Las proezas de Elíseo fueron muchas y poderosas y a veces espectáculos. El hizo mucho en favor de reino de Dios, pero había una razón por ello. Elíseo, no siempre fue una persona prominente. El llego a ser grande por las elecciones que él hizo en su vida. Cuando él eligió dar su espalda a la seguridad económica de su finca, para seguir al profeta Elías, el se estaba humillando para ser ensalzado. Cuando él estuvo depuesto para ayudar y atender a las necesidades de Elías”, el estaba preparándose para ser un líder.

En el hecho de cuidar el profeta de Dios, el estaba acumulando un tesoro de sabiduría que no se podía haber encontrado en otro lugar. En atender a sus responsabilidades serviles que eran de un discípulo de un profeta, Elíseo sentó un fundamento para una gloriosa carrera.

Ahora, mantos de hombres y mujeres grandes de Dios están cayendo. Hay poder en estos mantos, pero lamentablemente, en muchas ocasiones no hay un Elíseo para tomarlos. Los Elías de hoy están siendo llevado por el Señor sin quien reciba el doble porción de su espíritu. El mundo y el pueblo de Dios como ovejas perdidas tropiezan en la oscuridad porque no tienen profeta quien lo guía y los instruye.

“¿Donde está Elíseo?” En muchos ocasiones estos Elíseos de mañana están ocupados con sus sueños de grandeza, que no pueden  tomar tiempo para preparare. Desprecian los trabajos serviles de un discípulo porque no quieren ensuciarse las manos, están planeando y buscando como pueden avanzar pronto en la vida o en el ministerio. Muchos de ellos se piensan muy listos para escuchar o aprender de los consejos de los profetas viejos. Prefieren guardarse en Betel, Jericó o cercas del Jordán donde hay más seguridad. Por estas y muchas otras razones, no están presentes, ni preparados para recibir estos mantos, el Poder y Gloria que Dios tiene para ellos.

Hay iglesias que carecen pastores y ministros, hay campos misioneros que sufren por qué no hay un misionero. Hay Escuelas Dominicales que carecen maestros, hay sociedades en iglesias que sufren porque no hay nadie que quiere ser lideres. La obra de Dios sufre por que los Elíseos no se han preparado para levantar los mantos que han caído.

¿Esta Ud. depuesto para ser un Elíseo? ¿Esta depuesto a dar la espalda a la seguridad de este mundo y dedicares al servicio de Dios, y prepararse para ello? ¿Esta Ud. depuesto hacer lo que Dios y su obra pida de usted sea grande o pequeño? ¿Esta depuesto a escuchar y recibir consejos de los siervos de Dios, aun cuando usted piensa que sabe más que ellos?

Si esta depuesto, te esperan grandes cosas en el Señor. Frustración y vanidad le espera al que no se prepara. ¿Qué de usted? ¡Si quiere llegar a ser un Elías, primero tienes que ser un Elíseo!

WHERE IS ELISHA?

II Kings 2:8-15

The question that should be asked today, should not be, where is the God of Elijah? "Rather, where is Elisha?”

Everyone is familiar with the story of the calling and life of the Prophet Elisha. Elisha had been a prosperous farmer until the day he left everything to follow the prophet Elijah. He served Elijah as his disciple for many years. These were years of obscurity for Elisha, until that great day when, the mantle of Elijah fell on him. When he returned to the Jordan River, Elisha asked, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Taking in his hand the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters of the Jordan and realized that the power of God that had been upon Elijah was now upon him.

Now Elisha was not that obscure and powerless servant of Elijah, now he was a powerful prophet of God. The exploits of Elisha were many and powerful and sometimes spectacular. He did much for the kingdom of God, but there was a reason for it. Elisha was not always a prominent person. He became great by the choices he made in his life. When he chose to turn his back to the economic security of his farm, to follow the prophet Elijah, he was humbling himself to be exalted. When he was willing to help and attend to the needs of Elijah", he was preparing to be a leader.

In the process of caring for the prophet of God, he was accumulating a treasure of wisdom that he could not have found elsewhere. In meet his menial responsibilities which were those of a disciple of a prophet, Elisha laid a foundation for a glorious career.

Today, mantles of great men and women of God are falling. There is power in these mantles, but unfortunately many times there is not an Elisha to take them. The Elijah’s of today are being taken by the Lord without anyone to receive the double portion of his spirit. The world and God's people like lost sheep stumble in the dark because they have no prophet to guide and instruct them.

"Where is Elisha?" In many cases these Elisha’s of tomorrow are busy with their dreams of grandeur, that they cannot take time to prepare. They despise the menial jobs of a disciple because they do not want to get their hands dirty; they are planning and looking to see how they can advance quickly in life or in the ministry. Many of them think that they are too educated to listen and learn from the advice of the old prophets. They prefer to wait in Bethel, Jericho or close to the Jordan where there is more security. For these and many other reasons, they are not present, nor prepared to receive these mantels, the power and glory that God has for them.

There are churches without pastors and ministers, missionary’s fields that are suffering because there is not a missionary. There are Sunday schools without teachers; there are church auxiliaries that suffer because there is nobody who wants to be leaders. The work of the Lord is suffering because the Elisha’s have not prepared themselves to take up the mantles that have fallen.

Are you willing to be an Elisha? Are you willing to turn your back to the security of this world and dedicate yourself to the service of God and prepare for it? Are you willing to do what God and His work ask of you whether big or small? Are you willing to hear and receive advice from the servants of God, even if you think you know more than them?

If you are willing, great things await you in the Lord. Frustration and vanity awaits those who are not prepared. What about you? If you want to become an Elijah, you first have to be an Elisha!

INMORALIDAD SEXUAL

La persona que acepta el mal pensamiento, siempre cree que no va a llegar a cometer el hecho; pero cuando el diablo le presenta la oportunidad, entonces lo consuma, porque ya lo había aceptado en su mente. (Isaías 26:3)

Las Prácticas Sexuales Más Comunes:

1. La masturbación abre las puertas para que venga un espíritu inmundo de lascivia, y entonces se hace difícil ser libre, a menos que Dios nos libre. La masturbación es lujuria y está asociada con fantasías sexuales; es egocéntrica. Cuando llega a esto entonces es pecado.

2. Los problemas causados por incesto, abuso o por haber sido molestado sexualmente causan que la persona que fue víctima se sienta engañada, provocando que se vuelva emocionalmente fría y se retraiga ante la gente y consigo misma. Algunas víctimas de estos tipos de abuso, aun siendo casados se sienten culpables o se vuelven frígidas sexualmente. La mayor parte de individuos que han sido abusados y/o molestados sexualmente terminan destruyendo su hogar y aun su propia vida.

3. La promiscuidad por elección incluye actos sexuales como la fornicación, el adulterio, la masturbación, el sexo oral y el sexo anal.  (Hebreos 13:4)

A. La fornicación es una relación sexual entre dos personas que no están casadas.

B. El adulterio es tener una relación sexual fuera del matrimonio; infidelidad.

C. La masturbación es la estimulación de los órganos sexuales propios como un acto lujurioso. Algunas personas la practican como alternativa para experimentar placer sexual sin el peligro de un embarazo.

D. El sexo oral es la estimulación de los órganos sexuales por medio de la boca, como un acto lascivo.

La razón principal por la cual el sexo oral es prohibido por la palabra de Dios es porque: Dios creó cada órgano del cuerpo humano para cumplir funciones específicas. Dios hizo la boca para hablar, para adorarle y para bendecirlo; no para tener sexo. Esto va en contra de la naturaleza establecida por Dios. Por esta razón, Dios creó al hombre y a la mujer con órganos sexuales que cumplieran esas funciones específicas.

E. El sexo anal (donde el hombre inserta su pene por el ano), se agrupa bajo practicas que van contra “el uso natural” de los miembros sexuales creados por Dios. Es una práctica que va "contra la naturaleza".

     La práctica del sexo anal puede llevar a una de las personas a practicar la homosexualidad. Algunas mujeres se sienten tan desagradadas que no pueden hablar de esto en una reunión o sesión de consejería o liberación. Las personas que practican o han practicado el sexo anal, tienen una gran necesidad de ser libres de espíritus de lascivia, homosexualidad, degradación, depravación, perversión, culpabilidad, vergüenza y baja autoestima.

4. Las fantasías sexuales precipitan la actividad inmoral. Jesús nos advirtió que el hombre es culpable del pecado, tanto de la mente como del mismo acto físico. Es por esta razón que la pornografía, en cualquiera de sus formas, debe ser evitada; porque puede llevar a prácticas de promiscuidad sexual y actos de inmundicia de todo tipo. No podemos jugar con fantasías sexuales en nuestra mente. (Mateo 5:28)

5. La pornografía lleva a muchas consecuencias como aumento de las violaciones sexuales y crímenes relacionados con sexo, divorcios causados por los materiales pornográficos llevados al hogar, introduce a los niños a la masturbación y a la necesidad de experimentar su sexualidad.

6. Las prácticas de masoquismo sexual es una perversión sexual donde se usan la violencia y el dolor para obtener placer. Esta práctica deshonra el cuerpo, pervierte la naturaleza de las relaciones humanas y ofende a Dios.

7. El bestialismo es cuando personas, tanto hombres como mujeres, tienen fantasías o/y relaciones sexuales con animales. En algunos casos, esto ocurre porque sus padres han practicado actos de bestialismo. En otros, son personas cuyos padres nunca les dieron amor y cayeron en este pecado. (Éxodo 22:19)

8. Los abortos causan que las mujeres y hombres que han practicado abortos necesitan ser liberadas del espíritu de asesinato. Lamentablemente, la mayor parte de los doctores dicen que esos fetos no tienen vida, y que por lo tanto, nadie está muriendo. Pero, la palabra de Dios dice que Él ya les ha dado aliento de vida, que ya son seres humanos que sienten el dolor, el rechazo, el amor y el odio.

9. La homosexualidad y el lesbianismo ha llevado a la iglesia a juzgar y criticar a las personas homosexuales. En vez de ayudarlas y traerlas al conocimiento de la verdad, las hemos aislado de la iglesia. Incluso aquellas personas que han salido de esta práctica han sido juzgadas y maltratadas, hasta llegar a alejarlas de la misma iglesia. Debemos pararnos firmes y estar en total desacuerdo con el pecado de homosexualidad. En otras palabras, debemos amar al ser humano; pero debemos ayudarlo a que abandone ese camino de pecado. (Levítico 18:22)

Algunas causas por la homosexualidad son: una maldición generacional, el rechazo al sexo del bebé, la rebelión contra los padres, abuso sexual, la dominación paterna o materna, y las relaciones homosexuales voluntarias.

10. Actividades sexuales con demonios.  A través de la historia, se han conocido frecuentes casos de demonios que se acercan a una mujer o a un hombre y tienen relaciones sexuales con ella o él. Hay dos espíritus involucrados en este tipo de prácticas: El espíritu “íncubo” es un demonio con apariencia de varón que estimula y lleva a la mujer a tener placer sexual. El espíritu “súcubo” es un demonio con apariencia femenina que estimula y lleva al hombre a la eyaculación. (Génesis 6:4)

Los demonios usarán cualquier ruta para entrar a la vida de una persona. Una vez que los demonios entran en el individuo por la práctica continua del pecado, éstos lo controlan y lo dominan hasta esclavizarlo, y finalmente, matarlo. ¡Tenemos que cerrar toda puerta a todo espíritu inmundo y ser liberados a través de Jesús!

SEXUAL IMMORALITY

The person, who entertain an evil thought always believes that he will never commit the act, but when the devil presents them with the opportunity; they will commit the act, because they have already accepted it in their mind.  (Isaiah 26:3)

The Most Common Sexual Practices:

1. Masturbation opens the door for an unclean spirit of lust to enter, and then it becomes difficult to be free, unless God delivers us. Masturbation is lust and is associated with sexual fantasies, it is egocentric. When it comes down to this it is then sin.

2. The problems caused by incest, abuse or being molested sexually causes the person who was the victim to feel deceived, causing them to become emotionally cold and retract from people and themselves. Some victims of these types of abuse, even being married feel guilty or become sexually frigid. Most individuals who have been abused and/or sexually molested end up destroying their home and even their own life.

3. Promiscuity by choice includes sexual acts such as fornication, adultery, masturbation, oral sex and anal sex. (Hebrews 13:4)

A. Fornication is sex between two unmarried people.

B. Adultery is having sex outside of marriage, infidelity.

C. Masturbation is the stimulation of your sexual organs as a lustful act.  Some people practice it as an alternative to experience sexual pleasure without the risk of pregnancy.

D. Oral sex is the stimulation of the sexual organs with the mouth, as a lewd act.

The main reason why oral sex is forbidden by the Word of God is because: God created every organ of the human body to perform specific functions. God made the mouth to speak, to worship Him and to bless Him; not to have sex. This goes against nature which was established by God. For this reason, God created man and woman with sex organs that meet those specific functions.

E. Anal sex (where the man inserts his penis into the anus), is grouped under practices that go against the "natural use" of sexual members created by God. It is a practice that goes "against nature".

     The practice of anal sex can lead to people practicing homosexuality. Some women feel so degraded that they cannot talk about it in a counseling session. People who practice or have practiced anal sex, have a great need to be set free from a spirits of lust, homosexuality, degradation, depravity, perversion, guilt, shame and low self-esteem.

4.  Sexual fantasies precipitate immoral activity.  Jesus warned us that man is guilty of sin, both of the mind as well as the physical act. It is for this reason that pornography, in any form, should be avoided, because it can lead to sexual promiscuity practices and acts of all kinds of filth. We cannot play with sexual fantasies in our mind. (Matthew 5:28)

5. Pornography leads too many consequences such as increased rape and sex-related crimes, divorces caused by pornographic materials taken home, introduces children to masturbation and the need to experience their sexuality.

6. The practices of sexual masochism are a sexual perversion which uses violence and pain for pleasure. This practice dishonors the body, perverts the nature of human relationships and offends God.

7. Bestiality is when persons, both men and women have fantasies and/or sex with animals. In some cases, this is because their parents have practiced acts of bestiality. In others, they are persons whose parents never gave them love and they fell into this sin. (Exodus 22:19)

8. Abortions cause women and men who have practice abortions the need to be should be liberated from the spirit of murder. Unfortunately, the majority of doctors say that these fetuses are not alive, and therefore, no one is dying. But the word of God says that He has already given them the breath of life, that they are human beings who feel pain, rejection, love and hate.

9. Homosexuality and lesbianism has led the church to judge and criticize homosexuals. Instead of helping them and bring them to the knowledge of the truth, we have isolated them from the church. Even people who have come out of this practice have been judged and mistreated which has caused them to leave the church. We must stand firm and be in total disagreement with the sin of homosexuality. In other words, we must love them as human being, but we must help them to abandon that path of sin. (Leviticus 18:22)

     Some of the causes of homosexuality are: a generational curse, the rejection of the baby’s sex, rebellion against parents, sexual abuse, paternal or maternal dominance and voluntary homosexual relationships.

10. Sexual activities with demons. Throughout history, there have been many known cases of demons approaching a woman or a man and having sex with them. There are two spirits involved in these practices: The spirit "Incubus" is a demon-like man who encourages and leads a woman to have sexual pleasure. The spirit "succubus" is a demon with feminine appearance that stimulates and leads man to ejaculate. (Genesis 6:4)

Demons will use any means to enter the life of a person. Once the demons enter the individual through the continued practice of sin, they dominate, control and enslave him, and eventually kill him. We have to close every door to every evil spirit and be delivered through Jesus!