“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,” Romans 1:1, KJV
“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:15-16, KJV
“For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” 2 Corinthians 11:5-7, KJV
“For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention . . . But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 7-9, KJV
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17, KJV
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11, KJV
The question is, exactly HOW was Jesus TAKEN UP? And exactly what was this cloud that RECEIVED HIM out of their sight? Did Jesus just float up into the sky, as we see portrayed in so many movies, or is there more to this story that we dare not discuss for fearing of appearing “heretical” or “unorthodox”?
Article: “Nature of the Alien: ETs, Demons or a Government Plot?”:
There has been no blood or prison bars,
No electric shock so you see the stars,
You haven’t been crucified on a cross,
Nor suffered any kind of serious loss,
Yet you whine, murmur and complain,
You say that you are in so much pain,
It is time to wake up my dear friend,
Your trials are by no means the end,
Your troubles are really quite few,
If persecution came what would you do?
Would you really stand up to the test?
Would you backslide like all the rest?
“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2, KJV
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” Psalm 119:10, KJV
“KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.” Psalm 119:145, KJV
“And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7, KJV
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13, KJV
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Proverbs 8:17, KJV
“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53, KJV
On the other hand, look at what the Bible tells us regarding those who would offer the Lord lukewarm lip service :
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6, KJV
“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13, KJV
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16, KJV
If we do cry out to Him with a whole heart, we also have this promise found in His Word:
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Isaiah 59:1, KJV