Did Jesus pre-exist before his birth on Earth?

John 6:38-40
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

The first verse suggests that Jesus came down from Heaven. This seems to contradict the belief that he first existed as a man when he was born into this world. For if Jesus was first conceived through Mary and had no pre-existence, how could he come down from Heaven. We (Man) come into existence when we are born into this world, but would it be correct to say that we came down from Heaven? If a verse said that we came down from Heaven, would you think that we pre-existed in Heaven?

John 1:15
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ “

John the Baptist was 6 months older than Jesus Christ. So it is physically impossible for Christ to be before him. Surely this verse shows preexistence, at least before John the Baptist.

Jude 1:25
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

&

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

These 2 verses you just read blatantly say that he is before all things.

John 1:3
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

So there is nothing that was made that didn’t involve Jesus/The Word being there. This verse alone answers your question because the universe, angels and men were made and Jesus was present when they were created.

John 8:58
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Jesus claimed to exist before Abraham. The words I am mean I exist. So Jesus existed before Abraham.

Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Here we see that Jesus is the offspring of David, yet he is also the root of David, which at appears to show existence before King David.

Luke 10:18
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Compare Luke 10:18 with Revelation 12:1-10 and it appears that Satan and his angels fell to the earth before the birth of Christ as a man. Now we know that Jesus was the Word and was with God in the beginning.

What is Prayer?

INTIMACY WITH GOD

What is Prayer?

Prayer is communication with God; a desire to enter into conscious and intimate relationship with the God who is our life. One example in the Psalms:

Psalm 73:25, 26 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

It is speaking to God and listening for His answer; an intimacy that we share with Him. God actually hungers for our fellowship.

Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Prayer is adoration; the praise of God because of His greatness and goodness.

Psalm 145:3 “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable”.

Prayer is thanksgiving; the outpouring of gratitude to God because of His grace, mercy, and lovingkindness. You will see this exemplified in the Psalms.

Psalm 103:1,2,8,10-12 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases….the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy….He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us…..For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

THE TRINITY: THE FATHER

This text on the Trinity is by no means exhaustive, but is meant to give you a good foundation regarding the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

In eternity, before time began, the Godhead included the Father, the Word (Jesus, Son), and the Holy Spirit. Three persons, all equal in power and authority, having one will.

Every act accomplished is done in complete unity. Scripture shows the three Persons act in harmonious unity in all the mighty works set forth throughout the universe.

With our finite minds, we cannot comprehend three Persons in One. But, there are a few examples that can help us to understand:

1) H2O, is the chemical symbol for water. In its liquid form it is water; in its gaseous form it is steam; in its solid form, it is ice. All three have the same substance but different functions.

2) A prism looks like just a piece of glass until sunlight shines through it. When light shines through a prism it reveals the three primary colors plus all the resultant colors in the spectrum.

3) An egg. Before an egg can be called an egg, it has to have all three components: the shell, the yolk and the albumen or white of the egg.

Creation – Many, mistakenly believe, that creation is attributed to the Father, but in actuality, it was accomplished by all three Persons of the Trinity.

1) Father:

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

2) Jesus (Son):

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." John 1:2,3

3) Holy Spirit:

Job 26:13; ”By His Spirit He adorned the heavens…”;

Psalm 104:30 “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.”

Incarnation – Although only the Son was manifest in the flesh, all three Persons partook in the experience. In the gospel of Luke, we see the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary:

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

In the gospel of John we see Jesus is also called “the Word”.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ”

THE FATHER

The Father is the first Person of the Trinity; not because of importance or power (as Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are equal), but because of willing submission and subordination on the part of Jesus. In every area of Jesus' earthly life He was in complete obedience to the Father.

SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY

Most of mankind knows that man is made up of body and soul while assuming the soul and spirit are the same, but the soul and spirit are two separate parts of our being. Our primary substance is spirit because God is Spirit.

John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Our spirit is more real than our soul or our body. Let’s look at Hebrews and 1 Thes. 5:23.

Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1 Thes. 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are a spirit that has a soul that lives in a body. Our body is the outer shell, the tent that Paul and Peter speak of in 2 Corinthians and 2 Peter:

2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house (physical body) this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”

2 Pet. 1:13,14 "Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me“.

So then, our body is the house for our spirit and soul. Upon our bodily death, we just shed the figurative house or tent, and our soul and spirit live forever.

Brief explanation of Spirit, Soul and Body

Mark 12:30‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'


Brief explanation of Spirit, Soul and Body:
1) Spirit - relates to God – our God consciousness or our awareness of God. We relate to God through our Intuition (insight, our instantaneous comprehension); our conscience (inner moral self, knowledge or feeling of right and wrong); and by communion (sharing together, fellowship, interchange of thoughts or interests; a state of giving and receiving; agreement; a personal relationship).
2) Soul - relates to others – our personality or self-awareness; our relationship with others; our mind, emotions and will.
3) Body - How we relate to the things around us through our senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
The body is predominant; that’s what we see first. Our tendency is to judge by appearance. Our judgment might completely change when we get to know a person.
Our human nature is to judge people by their looks, but true knowledge only comes through relationship; spirit to spirit.

1) From the definition of soul, would you say a dog has a soul?

2) Does he have a spirit?

3) When you were saved, where did salvation take place Spirit, Soul or Body?
The answers to these questions are:

#1 - Yes, a dog has a soul because he has a personality. Some are mean and vicious and others are sweet and meek.

Answer #2 - No, a dog doesn't have a spirit because only man is made in God’s image. 

Answer #3 – Your salvation took place in your spirit for that is how God communicates with you.

WANAWAKE KUMTUMIKIA MUNGU

Ni uongo wa Shetani kwamba wanawake hawawezi kuwa Watumishi wa Mungu, wakahubiri, wakafundisha, wakatoa pepo au kumtumikia Mungu kwa namna nyinginezo.  Wanawake kumtumikia Mungu, ni jambo la Ki-Biblia hasa. 

Nyakati hizi za mwisho, Roho wa Mungu atamwagwa kwa WOTE, binti watatabiri (kuhubiri ni kutabiri pia) na Roho huyu wa Mungu atamwagwa kwa WATUMISHI WA MUNGU WANAUME NA WANAWAKE (MATENDO 2:17-18).  

Nyakati za Kanisa la Kwanza, wanaume na wanawake, wote walikuwa watendakazi, wakilihubiri Neno na kulifundisha (MATENDO 8: 1, 4).  Inatupasa kufuata mfumo huu wa ki-Biblia.  Mara kwa mara, katika Biblia, wanawake, wamekuwa na ujasiri wa kumtumikia Mungu na kuwa wanyenyekevu na watii kwa Yesu Kristo na Neno lake, kuliko wanaume.  Hapa tunaona wanawake waliomfuata Yesu kutoka Galilaya, karibu maili 100 kutoka Yerusalemu, wakija kumtumikia Yesu.  Hapa msalabani, hawakuwako wanafunzi wale kumi na moja wa Yesu kasoro Yohana (YOHANA 19: 25-26).  Wengi walikuwa wanawake waliokuwa wakijipiga vifua na kumwombolezea (LUKA 23:27).  

Wanawake walikuwepo msalabani mpaka mwisho na tena walikuwapo kwenye mazishi yake (MST 61) na pia wanawake ndiyo waliokuwa wa kwanza kwenda kulitazama kaburi siku ya kufufuka kwa Yesu (MATHAYO 28:1).  Mwanamke ndiye aliyewapelekea habari za kufufuka kwa Yesu, Petro na Yohana, na kuwatia moyo, NDIPO nao wakachangamka!  Hapo mwanzo, walikuwa wamekata tamaa na kwenda kuvua samaki (YOHANA 20:1-3; 21:1-3).  

Mwanamke Priska au Prisila alikuwa tayari kukatwa kichwa kwa ajili ya Injili aliyokuwa anaihubiri Paulo na Mwanamke Fibi aliwasaidia wengi mno (WARUMI 16:1-3).  Shime wanawake, tutende kazi ya Bwana! Wanaume pia tupate changamoto kwa watendakazi wanawake ambao wanatenda kazi ya Mungu kwa bidii pamoja na majukumu mengi ya kifamilia waliyo nayo.

Do you think Kadhi’s courts should be part of the new Tanzanian Constitution?

The current debate is about whether or not these “Kadhi” courts should be entrenched in the new constitution of Tanzania.

Confrontations rivalry on the mainland (Tanganyika) between the Muslims “minority” who are 35% and the Christians “majority” who are more than 55% have flared up frequently in the past few years. These exasperating tensions are too complex to be labeled as a fundamental antagonism based on religion. Neither Muslims nor Christians (in Tanganyika and Zanzibar) form a homogeneous block.

The endless debate in the "Bunge Maalum", which has focused itself on the (Mahakama ya Kadhi) kadhi’s courts and the constitutional review, has allowed extreme elements from both sides to speak out with great vehemence potency and so increased tensions between the two communities. It has crystallized the perceived hurts and prejudices that have lain under the surface of a thin veneer of mutual tolerance. Aspects of the entire situation must be examined for the influence of political elements who use religion for their own ethnic reasons.

So we stay with the whole phrase – rule of law – with each one appreciating it according to her needs or as the occasion demands.

Can’t Tanzanian Muslims rule themselves by themselves without being in the constitution? What is the big deal, a religious court being entrenched in the constitution that rules over different religions? What is the hidden agenda? I argue Tanzanians to learn from Nigeria, Pakistan and other nations with Kadhis courts and Islamic Sharia "Law"……..understand the meaning of Kafiris as described by Muslims and what sharia law advocates to the same.

Readers should remember that the fellows who are drafting the constitution are purely lawyers by profession, and going by their egos and personality they are fellows who can easily convince and confuse your reasoning without much ado. They can easily prove a day is a night. Entrenching the kadhis court in the constitution is purely improper, unmeritorious, unconstitutional and against human rights.

Therefore the needs of both the Christians, Hindus, Muslims and any other religion was catered for.

There are unforeseen consequences which are not apparent as per now but of which the coe (lawyers) are aware of. Who is a Muslim anyway? Where does she/he live? Whom does she/he live with? How does coexisting with Muslims affect your lifestyle and culture? Will inclusion of kadhi's court in the constitution change all these? The answer is yours.

Christians in Tanzania are arguing that including the Kadhi Courts in the constitution is (apart from favoring one religion) setting the stage for the introduction of Sharia law and simultaneously joining Organization of Islamic Conference “OIC”.

Do you think Kadhi’s courts should be part of the new Constitution? Shouldn't the constitution protect the interest of the majority as well as minority? By including Kadhis court in our nation constitution, it is a favor to one religion. It would mean that if need be, we could also include, e.g. Artificial contraceptive clause to favor the Catholic Church in the constitution. Otherwise, anything to do with religion and faith must be left to the concerned believers.

God Bless Tanzania,

By Max Shimba Ministries

New York, NY 10019

@2014 

Je, Mkristo anapaswa kufanya nini kama yeye ameolewa na asiyeamini?

Kuoleka na kafiri inaweza kuwa mojawapo ya changamoto ngumu sana katika maisha ya Mkristo. Ndoa ni agano takatifu ambalo linaunganisha watu wawili pamoja katika mwili mmoja (Mathayo 19:5). Inaweza kuwa vigumu sana kwa muumini na kafiri kuishi kwa amani na umoja (2 Wakorintho 6:14-15). Kama mpenzi mmoja anakuwa Mkristo baada ya ndoa, mapambano asili ya kuishi chini ya mamlaka aina mbili tofauti huwa huwa dhahiri.

Mara nyingi Wakristo katika hali hii hutafuta njia ya kujinazua kutoka kwa ndoa, wakiamini kwamba hii ndio njia pekee ya kweli ambayo italeta utukufu kwa Mungu. Neno lake, hata hivyo, linasema kinyume chake. Ni muhimu sana kutoridhika na hali yetu pekee, bali pia kutafuta njia ya kuleta utukufu kwake mbali na changamoto zetu (1 Wakorintho 7:17). Biblia hasa inahusu wale ambao wameolewa na wasioamini katika 1 Wakorintho 7:12-14: "... iwapo ndugu mmoja ana mke asiyeamini, na mke huyo anakubali kukaa naye asiwmeache. Na mwanamke ambaye ana mume asiyeamini, na mume huyo anakubali kukaa naye, asimwache mumewe. Kwa maana Yule mume asiyeamini hutakaswa katika mkewe; na Yule mke asiyeamini hutakswa katika mumewe; kama asiengekuwa hivyo, watot wenu wengekuwa si safi..."

Wakristo ambao wameoleka kwa wasioamini wanahitaji kuomba kwa ajili ya nguvu za Roho Mtakatifu ili kuwawezesha kukiri Kristo na kuishi katika mwanga wa uwepo wa Mungu (1 Yohana 1:7). Wanapaswa kutafuta nguvu za Mungu za ubadilisho kubadili nyoyo zao na kuzaa matunda ya Roho Mtakatifu (Wagalatia 5:22-23). Mke Mkristo ana wajibu wa kuwa na moyo mtiifu, hata kwa mume wake ambaye si mkristo (1 Petro 3:01), na atahitaji kubaki karibu na Mungu na kutegemea neema yake kumwezesha kufanya hivyo.

Wakristo hawastahili kuishi maisha ya upweke wanahitaji kupata msaada kutoka kwingine kama vile kanisa na makundi ya kujifunza Biblia. Kuolewa na kafiri haina haibadilishi utakatifu wa uhusiano, hivyo ni lazima iwe kipaumbele cha kila Mkristo kuomba kwa ajili ya mke wake na kuweka mfano mzuri, kuruhusu mwanga wa Kristo kuangaza (Wafilipi 2:14). Bu na ukweli ulio katika 1 Petro 3:1-kwamba mwanandoa asiyeamini "amevutwa kwa Kristo"n iwe tumaini na lengo la kila Mkristo ambaye ameoleka kwa mtu asiye Mkristo.

Je, kutakuwa na ndoa mbinguni?

Biblia inatuambia, "Kwa maana katika kiyama hawaoi wal hawaolewi, bali huwa kama malaika mbinguni"(Mathayo 22:30). Hili lilikuwa ni jibu la Yesu alipokuwa akijibu swali la kuhusu mwanamke ambaye alikuwa ameolewa mara nyingi katika maisha, yeye ataolewa na nani mbinguni (Mathayo 22:23-28)? Ni wazi kwamba, hakutakuwa na kama ndoa mbinguni. Hii haimaanishi kwamba mume na mke hawatambuana mbinguni. Hii pia haina maana kwamba mume na mke hataweza kuwa na uhusiano wa karibu mbinguni. Chenye inatuonyesha ni kuwa mume na mke hawataoana tena mbinguni.

kuna uwezekano mkubwa zaidi, hakutakuwa na ndoa mbinguni kwa sababu hatutajitaji ndoa. Wakati Mungu alianzisha ndoa, alifanya hivyo kutimiza mahitaji fulani. Kwanza, aliona kwamba Adamu alikuwa na haja ya mwaharusi. "Mungu Bwana akasema, Si vema huyo mtu awe peke yake, nitamfanyia msaidizi wa kufanana naye" (Mwanzo 2:18). Hawa alikuwa suluhizo kwa tatizo la upweke wa Adamu, kama vile haja ya kuwa na "msaidizi," mtu ambaye atakaa pamoja naye kama rafiki na kutembea naye katika maisha. Mbinguni, hata hivyo, hakutakuwa na upweke, wala hitaji lolote la wasaidizi. Tutazungukwa na wingu la umati wa waumini na malaika (Ufunuo 7:9), na mahitaji yetu yote yatatimizwa, ikiwa ni pamoja na haja ya urafiki.

Pili, Mungu aliumba ndoa kama njia ya uzazi na kujaza dunia na binadamu. Mbinguni, hata hivyo, mbinguni haitajazwa na uzazi. Wanaoenda mbinguni hufika huko kwa imani katika Bwana Yesu Kristo; hawataumbwa huko kwa njia ya uzazi. Kwa hiyo, hakuna kusudi kwa ndoa mbinguni kwa vile hakuna uzazi au upweke.

Bibilia inasema nini kuhusu ndoa?

Mwanzo wa ndoa umenakiliwa katika Mwanzo 2:23-24: “Adamu akasema, Sasa huyu ni mfupa katika mifupa yangu na nyama katika nyama nyangu, basi ataitwa “mwanamke,” kwa maana ametwaliwa katika mwanamume. Kwa hiyo mwanamume atamwacha baba yake na mama yake naye ataambatana na mkewe, nao watakuwa mwili mmoja.” Mungu alimuumba mwanamume na kisha baadaye akamuumba mwanamke ili amkamilishe mwanamume. Ndoa “iliwekwa” na Mungu kwa sababu kuwa “si vema huyo mtu awe peke yake” (Mwanzo 2:18).

Neno “msaidizi” limetumika kumwelezea Hawa katika Mwanzo 2:20 lamaanisha “kumzunguka, kumkinga, kumsaidia.” Hawa aliumbwa awe kando ya Adamu kama “nusu yake” awe msaidizi wake. Mwanamume na mwanamke, wakati wameoana wanakuwa “mwili mmoja.” Huu umoja umedhihirishwa mara nyingi katika tendo la ndoa. Agano Jipya inaongeza onyo kuhusu umoja huu. “Hata wamekuwa si wawili tena, bali mwili mmoja. Basi aliowaunganisha Mungu, mwanadamu asiwatenganishe” (Mathayo 19:6).

Kunayo nyaraka nyingi za mtume Paulo zenye zinahusu ndoa na jinsi Wakrito wanastahili kuwa katika ndoa. Ukurasa mmoja ni 1 Wakorintho 7, na mwingine ni Waefeso 5:22-33. Tulijifunza pamoja, hizi kurasa mbili zinatoa kanuni za kibibilia ambazo zinaunda mwongozo wa ndoa ambayo ni ya kumpendeza Mungu.