Misunderstood: Difficult Concepts of the Bible

By Lemuel Baker Phd

I wanted to write a book that answered some of the confusing questions that nag Christians and which the answers seem difficult to come by. By answering some of these questions I hope to bring edification and spiritual growth, strength and maturity so readers may intern answer these same questions for others. God wants all of us to have peace of spirit as well as peace of mind.

The first four chapters cover the subject of covenant especially as the topic relates to the rapture, rest and tithing. Chapters four and five cover Gods covenant as it pertains to scriptural prosperity.In subsequent chapters you will walk away fulfilled with insights about the Lords Prayer Psalm 91 the secret place and much more.

The rapture has been a topic that is still not a point of full assurance for many Christians. This 173 page book ties the rapture to Gods covenant that provides logic and in so doing much assurance about the rapture for the born again believer.

Tithing is still a point of debate among Christians some adherents believing the tithe is a concept from the Old Testament and this misunderstood topic is discussed from scripture. You wont be disappointed.

The topic of rest is another area that Christians may struggle with and this book ties spiritual rest to the covenant of God.

Comfort is a topic that needs to be discussed and a subject that needs to move from mental ascent to a reality for many. Gods covenant has provision for rest.

This book discusses Gods covenant in such a manner to the degree that we understand a provision of Gods covenant misunderstood which is Gods covenant requires Him to seek out even the backslider when they stray. In our covenant with God, God is married to the backslider during the worst times of rebellion and works to seek reconciliation. Gods covenant is a full proof covenant. This understanding is often misunderstood. Gods covenant is so perfect and airtight it makes the best prenuptial contract seem like a toy.

The topic of prosperity is most misunderstood but from scripture is discussed in a refreshing manner.

I hope you enjoy this book and I believe it will strengthen you spiritually.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469174044

Lemuel Baker Phd

Dr. Lemuel Baker is the President and CEO of Lemuel Baker Ministries. He is an evangelical Christian and currently holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Jewish Studies 2007, an MBA in Business Management 2004 and a Bachelors of Art in Public Policy and American Government 1983 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has a special calling to the Nation of Israel and to the Jewish people group. Lemuel desires to see peace between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. If Abraham were alive today he would desire peace among his grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2012 by Lemuel Baker, PhD.

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Contents

Dedication

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 The Covenant of the Christian Rapture

CHAPTER 2 The Covenant of Rest

CHAPTER 3 The Covenant of the Tithe

CHAPTER 4 THE RICHNESS OF GODS COVENANTS

CHAPTER 5 Prosperity, the Children’s Bread

CHAPTER 6 Prosperity, What Does the Bible Say About it

CHAPTER 7 Mental Health, the Church and Society

CHAPTER 8 FINDING COMFORT IN HOPELESS SITUATIONS

CHAPTER 9 Finding Comfort in God’s Word

CHAPTER 10 UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH

CHAPTER 11 THE LORDS PRAYER

CHAPTER 12 THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

CHAPTER 13 PSA LM 91

CHAPTER 14 Understanding and App ropriating The Life Of God

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wonderful daughters Deborah Jane and Abigail who gave up much play time with dad to allow me to write this book. I appreciate their continual love and kindness during this process that continues even today. I also thank Clair Ho Sang for her selfless attitude and the countless hours she donated to type hundreds of pages for this manuscript. I pray God’s greatest blessings for all of you.

With deep love and affection

Dad

INTRODUCTION

I wanted to write a book that answered some of the confusing questions that nag Christians and which the answers seem difficult to come by.

By answering some of these questions I hope to bring edification and spiritual growth, strength and maturity so readers may intern answer these same questions for others.

God wants all of us to have peace of spirit as well as peace of mind.

The first four chapters cover the subject of covenant especially as the topic relates to the rapture, rest and tithing.

Chapters four and five cover God’s covenant as it pertains to prosperity and the foundation of the discussion is from scripture.

Chapter seven is extremely important because it covers God’s covenant with regards to our mental health. You should not miss this chapter.

Chapters eight and nine cover God’s covenant as it relates to the topic of comfort especially during troubled times.

Chapter ten focuses on God’s covenant that promotes understanding and in this chapter understanding fundamentals of the organism called the Church.

Finally chapters eleven through fourteen deal with God’s covenant as it pertains to "who He is, His covenant of protection and His covenant to provide unprecedented life to our spirits and to every aspect of our lives.

You’ll not be the same after reading this book. May the Lord put together everything in perspective for you where scriptures have been misunderstood.

God Bless you.

CHAPTER 1

The Covenant of the Christian Rapture

The Rapture is Guaranteed for every True Convert You Never Have to Wonder Again Will I Be Taken In the Rapture. Do not be Anxious about Christ’s Second Return.

This very important discussion regarding the Rapture of the Church is very timely as the Church is closer now to the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings. Many Christians hope to be a part of the rapture and believe that whenever Christ returns they will be a part of that great snatching away.

The Christian Bible actually guarantees that God is obligated to snatch all true converts out of the earth as a corresponding action to His covenant with Christians. If you are a true convert with a genuine heart conversion, Jesus has to snatch you away and is obligated to do so therefore there should never be worry or concern regarding what will actually happen at the rapture.

The term convert is selected for this chapter as the only way to identify a person who has experienced the new birth, because only God knows the heart of any professing Christian. There is an everlasting covenant that Elohim has with all Christians through the miracle that takes place at the point of salvation where they surrender to Christ and one aspect of this Elohim-Convert Covenant is a guaranteed snatching away for those who are His.

We were never intended to debate will we be raptured, will we go pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post tribulation but to have assurance in our salvation first and foremost and just as importantly to have all assurance that God’s covenant compels Him to snatch every convert to Himself upon the Jesus’ arrival in the clouds.

Remember after the rapture Jesus will come back to earth after 7 years and this the Bible refers to as the Second Coming of Christ when Jesus actually touches the earth on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to set up His 1,000 year Millennium reign on earth. In the spectacular event we term the rapture Jesus will call us from the location where the clouds are located but His feet will not touch the earth at that time. The rapture will be noticeable especially the Tekia Gedolah or the final blast, all ears will hear it. See article entitle Jewish High Holy Days and The Basics of Judaism for more detail about Tekia Gedolah.

Today every convert can have an assurance that God who is the Holder of His own covenant, cannot violate His own covenant, will not violate His own covenant and as a result of His covenant will snatch away every saint or Hagios-Holy Ones as seen in the original Koine Greek, already decided pending His implementation of sending Jesus back for us. This is good news and another level of peace of mind for all who are called by His name.

The Rapture is an Undisputed Benefit

of Our Christian Covenant with God

The Bible speaks about a distinct significant event commonly termed the rapture that describes a happening whereby Jesus Christ returns to earth as a conquering King unlike His previous time on earth where He came as a lamb to the slaughter for the purpose of redeeming mankind from all sin, iniquity and transgressions and to be the sacrifice that would give mankind access back to God the Father.

The term rapture does not appear in the New Testament but the concept of being snatched away decisively by a competent force is communicated. A critical point to make at this juncture of our discussion is God’s covenant requires decisiveness regarding the rapture because His own integrity is at stake if His covenant is ever breached from His end. God is infallible and will never make any mistake. Thus if the human being is truly converted then we’ve met our side of the agreement and God then has to meet His side of the agreement.

There is never a conflict with a decisive rapture because a true convert will always look forward to the coming of Christ and live thusly every single day. Christians have good days as well as seasons with much opportunity however at the moment of Christ’s return His covenant will override every challenge, every heart ache, every negative opportunity, every negative situation and sadness. The critical requirement for all human beings is then to have a solid covenant with God so that your salvation is assured even to the event of the rapture. If you engage your side of the covenant then God will engage His side of the covenant to full completion which includes a rapture for you even on a bad day.

A bad day does not mean you’re not saved on that day it only means you are exercising your faith or fighting the good fight of faith pending the coming of Christ. It may mean you slipped and fell or came short of the image and likeness of God for that day, moment or period but always asking God to help you be all He wants you to be in that situation.

As a true convert, God knows who you are, has a covenant agreement with you and acts accordingly even on that bad day you’re having. Thus if Christ returns on that so called bad day, you can be assured that the covenant will keep you and reserve for you your significant place in the rapture whenever it occurs.

Having the knowledge of God’s covenant with us provides spiritual and mental stability regarding all aspects and challenges of our earthly lives ranging from God’s covenant to protect us, to supply all our needs, to heal us and to provide an edge or an advantage for us over the world system that is not available to a non-convert. The gospel of John 10:10 records . . . but I am come that you might have life and have it abundantly.

The Koine Greek word used for abundantly is perissos which literally means over and above, more than is needed. Perissos also means life with advantage. You see a true convert who entered into a covenant with God through asking or inviting Jesus Christ into their heart and life has an advantage in life over the tricks, schemes and powers of the world system that the non-Christian does not have and included in this parcel of benefits is the assurance to be among the raptured.

I must point out that God does provide essentials to non-Christians such as both groups have basic needs met, the sun to shine on them as well as natural benefits such as rain fall etc. but as a Christian there is more for you, another layer of blessings called covenant blessings.

The Glorified Body—The Body Type

Jesus Had Post Resurrection

Let’s discuss some of the workings of the rapture with regards to our human bodies that may sweeten the pot for the Christian so to speak.

The Bible records in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 the following: For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Koine Greek word caught up used that describes the rapture concept is the word Harpadzo which means to seize, carry off by force and to claim for ones self eagerly. This is the literal description of the rapture and as we look at the meaning of the word Harpadzo in light of covenant we can see that if we belong to Jesus on a good day or bad day His perspective or vantage point through His eyes is we are His sheep, we belong to him therefore His responsibility is to appropriately