A Christian Study: www.achristianstudy.com

Our new website - www.achristianstudy.com - is under construction and nearly done!

I'm not going to tell you much about it; just go take a peek!  We'll be offering Christian studies for purchase to help you get to KNOW God better - personally.  Soon!  Thank you!   

A Christian Study of Evil: THE BOOK

The teaching "A Christian Study of Evil" has just been published as a Kindle book!  Click on this link to go to my Amazon Author Page:

amazon.com/author/marylynnstults

Just look around you - it's an evil world, but you don't have to sit back ineffectual and take it.  Jesus, The Word of God, has given us His own authority over evil - in fact, over all of the power of the enemy! - as well as thorough instruction in how to implement it.  Such wisdom helps us conquer fear and live the abundant life right here and now on Planet Earth that He prepared for us.  I believe that, regardless of how insignificant or great your biblical savvy, you'll be amazed at the sound doctrine and exciting information you'll glean from "A Christian Study of Evil."

If you don't have a Kindle, you can get a free Kindle app on your smartphone, or you can go to this link and get the app on your PC for free.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc/download

Should you have a MAC, just go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/mac/download  It's free, too, and it's great even for other books besides mine ;D

Here's a little video that introduces the book (it's also on the Author Page):

Let me know if you have any questions!   Thanks so very much and blessings, Marylynn

Welcome to Abraham Publishing

A CHRISTIAN STUDY OF EVIL

Here is a preview of the one-hour teaching, A Christian Study of Evil. Ignorance of evil is arguably the greatest danger to life. Our lack of awareness about what God said about it has caused us to be deceived by it, submit to it, and sin. In this report, we'll learn how knowledge of His perspective empowers us and works to our great benefit for He provides every means necessary to overcome evil in the name of Jesus. From this short sample, you can glimpse the study's doctrinal validity, significance, timeliness, and potential for great benefit and revelation.

Also, if you "Click This Wonderful Painting of Jesus" near the top right of the blog, you can view a 7-minute sample of the study that gives you a few more specifics.

Please write me at mgstults@gmail.com for more information.

SOMETIMES LIFE SUCKS

Here’s Why, What You Can Learn, and What You Can Do

If sometimes life just seems unfair or things are just too hard to bear, this word may bring you great benefit. This isn't another highfalutin, philosophical "life's unfair, but God is good" message, but one of meat for a hungry follower of Christ.

You should first know that I am not coming to you from an ivory tower, peering down on the misfortunes of others with pretentious rhetoric while isolated from them. No, rather, just as a quick overview, I was raised and spent my early years enduring alcoholic physical and mental abuse; as a businesswoman and divorcee, I've been defrauded, bankrupted, evicted, kidnapped, molested and raped; I have buried my mother, father, cousin Patty and only brother Jerry; together, my son Greg and I have worked lovingly for 27 years with residual effects of his traumatic brain damage (he's graduated from college and is are overcoming, I might add!); and my husband Michael struggled for about ten years with severe heart damage (no one except God and I, to a lesser extent of course, had any concept of his unrelenting daily agony); and he took off to heaven in March of 2010.  The point is, I could have thrown in the towel long before this and said to hell with it all; who needs this? And I think God would have had mercy and grace, and forgiveness.

BUT GOD! He has been teaching The WHYs. Why the struggles. Why the pains. Why the deaths. Why the agonies. Oh, I pray that you will hear, learn, and grow from what He has taught! Here in this little synopsis is the gist of it (however He has provided so much more for this teaching from His Word to help us come through and OVER):

Planet Earth is our proving ground. In John 15:1-2a, Jesus has just told us that He is the true vine and His Father, the Husbandman, Who takes away every branch that does not bear fruit. That makes perfect sense, and is good news for us. But then, in John 15:2b, He gives us the answer to our ‘Why the horrible stuff’ questions:

“Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.”

He purges (cuts, lops off, removes) the FRUITFUL (GOOD!) ONES?

Yes. We aren’t just disciplined when we’re unfaithful; He carves each and every one of us to make us even better when we’re doing well!

His pruning hurts even more when we haven’t done anything wrong. A dead limb being lopped off isn’t particularly painful since it has no life in it, but having a perfectly fine, living arm cut off is mere torture to us. We actually know this is so, for this is what we’re experiencing. And, He has told WHY these agonizing things are happening:

So we will bring forth MORE fruit.

Paul told us more. “[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!” (Romans 8:18, Amp).

IN THE INTERIM, THOUGH, THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US TOOLS AND TREASURES WITH WHICH TO OVERCOME ADVERSITIES YOU MAY HAVE NEVER BEFORE REALIZED!

I'd welcome the opportunity to share with you some of the mysteries God's revealed during my 13 years of studying the wonderful Word of God with Him! Amen in Jesus' name.

The HEY! Series

1. “HEY, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING ‘ROUND NAKED?”... when God has a closet full of clothes for you to wear! “Huh? What’s that mean?” you ask.

In the Bible, dozens of times the LORD uses the word "garment," and speaks of our “putting on” and “taking off,” being naked, unclean, filthy, and even stinking! But, He's got us covered if we learn how to bathe and dress ourselves! Since we first sinned and were naked – vulnerable – to the enemy, the LORD has provided many protective coverings for us. Unlike the clothes we wear just to cover our nakedness, His garments - like the full armor of God (Eph 6) - have supernatural powers! Is it redundant, therefore, to speculate He wants us to - and is ready to help us - clean up our acts?

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2. “HEY! WHO TOLD YOU THAT? WHO TOLD YOU THOSE LIES?”... lies like, "You shall not surely die" (Gen 3:4) stated by the serpent to the woman in the beginning.

Yes, for thousands of years, man’s been buying lies – hot air! – not knowing Truth from a lie which itself is a problem, but the bigger problem is we don’t know it’s a problem! Whew! Let’s shine the light of Truth on lies. Let’s get a hold of the TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD and the love, mercy, grace, and power resident in it.

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3. “HEY! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT?”

"What?!! How dare you?" Please don't take offense, but God did make us with two eyes to see, two ears to hear, yet only one mouth for talking. Think He might be telling us something? Yes, it's a wonderful concept to be quiet to hear His still small voice.

When communication is taught, it's usually to instruct how to talk, not listen. This is a great teaching to help you not only listen better to others, but yourself, as well (and, that can be a real eye opener!). "But the tongue can no man tame..." (Jas 3:80).

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4. “HEY DEVIL! GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY FAMILY!”

“The thief (devil; Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” Jesus enlightened us in John 10:10.

My Family (I'm the little one with the sax)

The LORD has shown me how Satan is powerless to our prayers prayed scripturally when we understand the Biblical principles set forth in this teaching. But, WARNING!! DO NOT TRY THIS ALONE! (Hey: You don’t have to, because Jesus and the Holy Spirit will make intercession with you.) 

Who Needs the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

A gentleman friend from Ireland - Raymond is his name - and I spoke at length regarding his concerns about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I shall include some of his questions and thoughts as FAQs to look at this sometimes controversial church doctrine. Like all teachings posted, this is just a portion of the lesson.

Since its inception, most people have been and remained unaware of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in general, and of its potential for us, in particular. In Acts 19:2, we read that the Apostle Paul found some disciples in Ephesus and asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they had believed (in Jesus as LORD), to which they replied that they had never even heard of Him! Are we any better informed now? Do we really know Who He is?

In a 2002 survey, Christian pollster The Barna Group wrote, "More than four out of five Americans claim to be Christian and half as many can be classified as born again Christians. Nine out of ten adults own a Bible. Most adults read the Bible during the year and a huge majority claims they know all of the basic teachings of the Bible. How, then, can most people say Satan does not exist, that the Holy Spirit is merely a symbol, that eternal peace with God can be earned through good works, and that truth can only be understood through the lens of reason and experience? How can a plurality of our citizens contend that Jesus committed sins and that the Bible, Koran, and Book of Mormon all teach the same truths?" (End of quote. Whew!) And, although I couldn't find anything specific about the Holy Spirit BAPTISM addressed by Barna per se, it's safe to assume most people are clueless about it since they think He, Himself, is just a symbol!

Jesus desired His disciples - as well as you and I - be baptized with the Holy Ghost. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance," said John the Baptist, "but He" - Jesus! - "that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE" (Mt. 3:11). This same exact promise is recorded in Luke 3:16; then, in Mark 1:8 and John 1:33, the same promise is made with a slight variation in text.

That alone should tell us how important and wonderful the baptism of the Holy Spirit is: JESUS DOES IT! One would think it would be a customary experience among Christians. But it isn't. I believe that is because it is misunderstood because it is not understood.

FAQ: Raymond wrote, "I have previously assumed that baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred the day that I became a believer and accepted Christ as my Savior. Am I to assume that baptism in the Holy Spirit is different to this?"

The applause meter is ringing; good question, Raymond! The very first thing we should determine is WHAT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS. Forthwith, we shall put elements together as the Holy Spirit gives lead for I have prayed for His guide to teach what He desires us to know from the Scriptures He inspired!

Here is one look at the profound thoughts of one believer, Smith Wigglesworth, a renowned early 20th century evangelist who operated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit healing the sick and raising the dead in the name of Jesus. He wrote, "When I received the new birth at eight years of age, it was so precious and lovely. Since that time, I have never lost the knowledge of my acceptance with God. Then, brothers and sisters, God did a wonderful work in me when I waited for the baptism. I was in a strange position. For sixteen years, I had testified to having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I had really only received the anointing of the Spirit. In fact, I could not preach unless I had the anointing. My wife would come to me and say, 'They are waiting for you to come out and speak to the people.' I would say, 'I cannot and will not come without the anointing of the Spirit.' I can see now that I was calling the anointing the baptism. But when the Holy Spirit came into my body until I could not give satisfaction to the glory that was in me, God took this tongue, and I spoke as the Spirit gave utterance, which brought perfect satisfaction to me. When He comes in, He abides."

Through Wigglesworth's experiences - and possibly your own - you can see the logic behind Raymond's conclusion. Study of Scripture substantiates Wigglesworth's final conclusion, too: That baptism in the Holy Spirit is an event separate from all others. Now, some of Raymond's and others' misunderstandings may center round the fact that no person can receive Jesus as our LORD and Savior except by the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 4:15). "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you...?" (1 Cor 6:19).

So, what then ignites of constitutes the baptism of Him of which Jesus spoke?

Let's start here: Jesus breathed on His disciples and told them to receive the Holy Ghost (Jn 20:22) after His resurrection and prior to His ascension, but they still had to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Lu 24:29)...

Learn how to receive this important baptism today; who it is for; what is required of it; and, what it meant to Jesus and can mean to you.

We, too, can do the works that Jesus did and great works as it is written in John 14:12 if we can believe and stay the course. We, too, can be born of the spirit and become sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ, but without the baptism of the Holy Spirit? JESUS REQUIRED THIS BAPTISM; WHO ARE WE TO DO WITHOUT IT?

Thank You, Father God, LORD Jesus, and Holy Spirit of the Living God! Love and Amen in Jesus' name, Marylynn.