Offthebookshelf.com
Mark Stevens
Chaplain Stevens graduated from the Institute of Jewish Studies, a school of the Philadelphia Biblical University. He is an ETA (Evangelical Training Association) certified Bible Teacher. He holds a BA in Theology and an MA in Ministry from Freedom Bible College and Seminary, and is the final stages of receiving his Doctorate in Theology from Freedom. He has completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Cooper Trauma Center. He is a staff Chaplain at Cooper University Hospital and Ancora Psychiatric Hospital. He is also a Certified Psychiatric Rehab Counselor. He is the published author of 3 books When God Hides His Face , Be Sure Your Drink Isn’t Poisoned, and Why God Had to Die He can be reached for speaking engagements and books signings at….
chaplainmarkstevens@gmail.com
609-346-8343
All Books By This Author:
- When God Hides His Face
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I chose to develop this thesis to assist people that minister to the sick, the dying, and the people that have been affected by the careless words and insensitivity of others. I have experienced pain and tragedy in my own personal life and as a Hospital Chaplain and Prison Minister I have seen my fair share of pain. I spent 23 years in the Air Force and I have seen the effects of war and death. I came home from Desert Storm and came down with an Auto-Immune disease (Sarcoidosis) like many of my fellow service men, we suffer for reasons no one can or is willing to give an answer. I am blind in one eye, I am in pain 24/7 from the rheumatoid condition caused by the Sarcoidosis and I also have Lymphadema from lymph node damage from the Sarcoidosis.
This book is for care-givers, pastors, chaplains, and hospice workers....or someone that is dealing with their own personal pain.
- Genres: Religion
- Why God Had to Die
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Millions of people think Jesus (Yeshua) was just a “good” man, a guru of sorts, or a prophet with a nice message. Jesus was and is God. C.S. Lewis said a man that made the claims Jesus did had to be God or a lunatic. Denial of this fact can cost you your soul. If this knowledge is SO important, why is it hidden to so many? Keep reading. I pray you are enlightened.
It has been said that trying to understand the trinity of God will make one lose their mind...but denying the trinity will cost you your soul. Millions of people are of the opinion that Jesus was some New Age guru that found nirvana, The Holy Spirit is some impersonal force (i.e. Star Wars), and God is a cosmic big bang that accidentally spawned mankind from some left-over protoplasm. The problems with these lines of thought are that they will leave you without a heavenly Father, a Savior for your soul, and a Spirit to keep and guide you. There are some specific things that we shall examine to help you defend and understand the truth about Jesus humanity and deity. Jesus is the most talked about man in history, and sadly the most misunderstood and misrepresented. Jesus was a Jewish carpenter who was also The Son of God. To some it seems quite contradictory for God to subject himself to such a humble existence. The Jews expected the Messiah to be a warrior and not a humble servant. Even Christians forget that Jesus was the ultimate example of servitude. Remember Peter’s reaction when Jesus wanted to wash his feet? Peter knew that God was kneeling before him and it was hard for him to understand how the Messiah could wash his feet.
- Genres: Family, Religion, Spirituality
- Why is My Church Dying?
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“America has thousands of churches! There are some in Cathedrals, Small Chapels, Storefronts, Private Homes and Warehouses. Some of these churches are denominational and some are not, some are traditional and some are very unique, and finally some are growing and unfortunately MANY are DYING! There are a lot of churches, ministries, and Christian Centers that are on life support spiritually. Why? I believe the question is on the hearts and minds of many Pastors and church members, and the answer is available…BUT can we handle the TRUTH?
The truth is something most Christians avoid like the plague! Why? I think we (Christians) would rather blame the devil for things that are really our fault and responsibility. Is the devil our enemy? Of course he is! But WE reap what WE sow. The church preaches a lot about sowing and reaping, especially when it comes to money and wealth. If you read the verses in Malachi about tithes, read carefully! It wasn’t the people God was rebuking, IT WAS THE PRIEST! But many churches lay this on the members and yet they don’t practice what they preach. Tithes in the Old Testament were not JUST for the priest! The Levites, The Strangers (homeless), The Widows, and the Fatherless ALL benefited from the tithe.
Local churches are supposed to make an impact on the communities they are in by GIVING back, (Matt. 5:14-16) Sinners should have to even confess and admit that the Church in their community makes a difference in the neighborhood! I want to give you ten answers to the QUESTION! “Why is my church dying!” Hold on to your hat’s the answers may shake up your traditional thinking…and make you THINK!” It is not a sin to think outside of the box of tradition…it is a sin to stay ineffective.
There is nothing wrong with having a storefront church! But if after 20 years your storefront church still has the same 12 members, you need to padlock the door and admit your church is dead! Saints should beget saints, we were saved to lead others to salvation in Jesus Christ! My prayer is that this small book will make you mad enough to do something!
- Genres: Religion
- Everyman's Battle
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I am writing this book with the hope of helping Christian men and women that may be struggling with sexual sin and the temptations connected with sexual sin. We live in an age when illicit sexual intercourse is the norm, Pornography is in mainstream society, and sexual perversions are considered the everyday way that modern men and women live. The Bible is filled with examples of the same sins and struggles we have today. Samson is on the cover because he was the “poster child” for a believer with sexual addictions. Samson however had a comeback because he cried out to God. If you are struggling, maybe it’s time for you to cry out for help. The problem is the pulpit is silent on the subject of sexuality positive or negative. Young people today need direction and answers on issues concerning sex. The average teenager today starts having sex at the age of 14; this is terrifying to me.
I hope this short book will help you realize how the enemy carefully calculates your destruction through the avenue of sexual sin. I share some funny stories and personal things so you will know you are not alone in this struggle. Jude 24 is my favorite scripture when it comes to God keeping us in this evil world, meditate on it and make it your mantra. The Lord can keep you from falling, sometime even when you DON’T want to be kept! If don’t believe me keep reading!
- Genres: Spirituality
- Witches and Wolves in our Pulpits
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Anytime someone is trying to control YOUR life and it is NOT by the leading of the Holy Spirit, someone is practicing witchcraft on YOU! Spiritual leaders are SUPPOSED to lead us to a relationship with Christ Jesus and be under His leadership...NOT MAN'S! These men and women are not shepherds they are WOLVES!
Saints, we in the Body of Christ dare not allow the devil's power to be magnified in the house of God! His power is limited, and he cannot penetrate a Holy Ghost wall of fire. When the disciples were sent out with power to heal the sick and raise the dead, they came back rejoicing: "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (Luke 10:17).
The only pastor who can fall under the control of a witch is one who indulges in secret sin--who is driven by greed or success, or who has betrayed the Lord through unbelief or neglect! A man of God who has mortified the deeds of the flesh and wields the sword of the Lord will know the enemy. He will discern any trap and will stand against the wicked one, as Paul did with the witch at Philippi.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT (1 SAMUEL 15:23)
- Genres: Religion
- Why God Had to Die (Updated Edition)
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There are some specific things that we shall examine to help you defend and understand the truth about Jesus humanity and deity. Jesus is the most talked about man in history, and sadly the most misunderstood and misrepresented. Jesus was a Jewish carpenter who was also The Son of God. To some it seems quite contradictory for God to subject himself to such a humble existence. The Jews expected the Messiah to be a warrior and not a humble servant. Even Christians forget that Jesus was the ultimate example of servitude. Remember Peter’s reaction when Jesus wanted to wash his feet? Peter knew that God was kneeling before him and it was hard for him to understand how the Messiah could wash his feet.
- Genres: Religion
- NJITS Correspondence Bible Course
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The Correspondence School of Ministry is a new spiritual, educational training track of the New Jersey Institute of Theological Studies. This condensed, correspondence format will allow many of the basic courses of NJITS to be offered in a time frame better suited to the demands and time constraints of busy adults; particularly many of whom are already actively involved in ministry.
COORESPONDANCE format
The Correspondence Manual is to be read and the test at the end of the lesson book is to be taken and mailed back to the School for grading. The test can be taken with an open Bible. Some answers to the questions are NOT found in the manual but require the taker to study the scriptures for the answer.
Challenging studies
The goal of this course is to challenge the student to study the Word with intensity and diligence. There will be other study books coming out in the near future.- Genres: Religion, Self-Improvement, Spirituality, Educational
- The Demon Question
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The subject of demons has mystified humanity for centuries. Every major religion has in their belief structure beings that embody evil. From the Judeo/Christian belief structure they are called demons or devils. The Muslim calls them Jinn. Humanist say they are a figment of our imagination. Whatever name you call them, they do exist! This booklet is based upon the Bible and it’s description of these evil spirits, or fallen angels.
Demons are disembodied spirits that were once angels that fell when Lucifer decided to rebel against God. Demons are mans enemy and are constantly seeking mans downfall. The Latin definition of “demon” is “Those that divide”. I really believe they seriously try to cause division in the church.
- Genres: Religion, Educational
- The Basics of Christian Doctrine
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The Bible itself reveals those doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith. They are 1) the Deity of Christ, 2) Salvation by Grace, and 3) the Resurrection of Christ. These are the doctrines the Bible says are necessary. Though there are many other important doctrines, these three are the only ones that are declared by Scripture to be essential. The truly regenerate may be ignorant to some extent of one or more of them at the beginning of his/her new life in Christ, but he will come to a proper understanding of these three issues as he studies the Word of God. A non-regenerate person, or a cultist (i.e., Mormon or Jehovah's Witness), will deny one or more of these essentials.
- Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Educational, Metaphysical
- The Book of Acts (A Verse by Verse Commentary)
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The Book of Acts was penned by Luke, the physician. Many people
call Acts the Acts of the Apostles, but really, if you are wanting to
add to the name Acts, perhaps, a better name would be the Acts of the
early church. Really, very little is written about the apostles in
Acts.In Colossians 4:14 Luke is called, the beloved Physician. In
verse 24, Paul speaks of Luke as a fellow laborer. In Second Timothy
4:11 Paul says, that only Luke is with him. My own personal belief is
that Luke and Paul were very good friends and, perhaps, Luke being a
physician was of some assistance to Paul with his (thorn in his side)
illness. Paul had prayed three times for God to heal him, and the Lord
had said no.The Book of Luke (penned by Luke) and the Book of Act (penned by
Luke) were both addressed to Theophilus. The word Theophilus means
friend of God. If there was a real Theophilus, he was probably a
person high in government. I personally believe that for fear of the
letter being intercepted and getting in the wrong hands, Luke wrote
this to a friend of God (unnamed). At the time this was written, many
Christians were being killed for their belief. Perhaps, Luke was
trying to protect whoever this was.There are many who feel that Acts is one of the most important
Books in the Bible, because it shows the struggles of the early
Christians, and how many of the practices of the church were
established.In Acts, we see the departure and promise of the return of our
Lord Jesus Christ. We, also, see teachings on the power to minister
or witness that the Spirit gives to the believers. We will see home
missions and foreign missions dealt with, as well. A great deal of
Acts deals with Paul's journeys.We see in the Book of Acts how the gospel of Jesus Christ is
spread not only to the Hebrews, but to the entire world through the
empowering of the Holy Spirit of God. One thing peculiar to Acts is
that, Luke reassures in this letter that Christians are not trying to
overthrow the Roman government.- Genres: History, Philosophy, Religion
- A Biblical Defence of Pentecostal Doctrine
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The Holy Spirit teaches
''But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" John 14:26.
God has sent into our hearts His very own Spirit - the Spirit who ''knows everything'' (1 John 3:20; Hebrews 4:13) and who "searches all things, EVEN THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD'' (1 Corinthians 2:10). Thus the Holy Spirit helps us by teaching us - and in times of spiritual attack, He helps us recall parts of His own Word, making it alive to our hearts (see Luke 12:11-12; Nehemiah 9:20).
''This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit... ' 1 Corinthians 2:13 (read also verses 9-16; 1 John 2:27).- Genres: Religion
- The New Reformation
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Martin Luther dealt the symbolic blow that began the Reformation when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church. That document contained an attack on papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials.
But Luther himself saw the Reformation as something far more important than a revolt against ecclesiastical abuses. He believed it was a fight for the Gospel. Luther even stated that he would have happily yielded every point of dispute to the Pope, if only the Pope had affirmed the Gospel.
And at the heart of the Gospel, in Luther's estimation, was the doctrine of justification by faith--the teaching that Christ's own righteousness is imputed to those who believe, and on that ground alone, they are accepted by God.
Luther saw poor people taken advantage of and fleeced by the church and the clergy that was supposed to feed them and help them. Today it is no different. The Gospel and the Anointing of God is being merchandised by the same type of men and women. I am NOT Martin Luther, but I believe we need men and women like him today to put these “Pulpit Pimps” on notice! God is not pleased! When the Church starts to ACT like Jesus and do MORE and TALK less, THEN we will see a REVIVAL in the land!Chaplain Mark H. Stevens, Th.D
- Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Educational
- It Must Have Been The DOG in ME!
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Some of you will accuse me of stereotyping men as being somewhat simple, but when it comes to sex and women most men are. Chris Rock the comedian once said, “A man is only as faithful as his options”. That of course was meant to be funny, but there is a thread of truth to this statement. If a man avoids temptation he won’t fall! The Bible says in Proverbs, “Can a man take fire unto his bosom and NOT be burned”, I know from personal experience that this is very true!
- Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Marriage
- Guide to Deliverance Ministry
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Some demons require more than simply a command to drive them out: Matthew 17:14-21, "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit THIS KIND goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."
- Genres: Religion, Metaphysical
