Three words that sound alike, but vastly differ in meaning:
Wholly
Holey
And holy.
1. Wholly
The Bible is the Word of God, from cover to cover;
It is wholly true,
completely reliable
And perfectly recorded.
There is no need to alter it; the truth needs no altering.
Copied inspiration is total inspiration;
The ten Commandments are copies, and have been re-copied by God. They are not “original“!
“Oldest and Best manuscripts?” Who says so? A matter of preference.
Chevrolet better than Ford?
Vanilla ice cream better than chocolate?
All a matter of “taste“.
2. Holey
You have to believe it!
If you do not believe all of the Bible, you have a Bible that is full of holes!
Cut out that which you don’t accept, and see what you have left--a holey Bible!
A “holey” Bible is no Bible at all! It is as if you had a bag full of money with holes in the bag!
There is no stability when the foundation is full of holes.
The real “Water of the Word” leaks out!
Nothing tangible can be reliable when it is full of holes.
3. Holy
A Holy Bible is the only kind we need.
God-inspired; Christ ordained;
A holy Bible that is obeyed is a holy life that is consecrated. It has to be! (Heb. 4:12)
Do you believe it? Then obey it!
When the guide for our lives is holy, and we follow it in obedience, we too must be made holy!
There is no excuse for dis-obeying God’s Word!
Read, heed, study, and it will prove itself superior.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Be ye thankful
Thankfulness—A key to Prosperity
How can we ask the Lord for more of His wonderful blessings when we have not thanked Him for those we already have? Can we honestly keep expecting something from Him when we seem as if we do not appreciate it in the first place? Yet, we do. How unthankful we are in today’s society.
Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said that “a man that is unthankful is nigh well hopeless” and he was not exaggerating at all. You see, thankfulness begins in the heart then it finds its way up to the mouth—it is conditioned on character, and it grows stronger with exercise. Unthankfulness, therefore is a heart condition, and not a matter of a mere lack of manners. Don’t you think that the Lord appreciates our attitude when we are thankful for His blessings? Psalm 100: 4 tells us to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving”, and the word “thanks” alone is mentioned 37 times in the New testament alone. (With 36 in the Old Testament).
Look at Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” God mentions that these were not thankful, as if that was a part of the reason for their spiritual demise. Then is Col. 3:15, we have a command to be thankful. Thankfulness is an important commodity in the Christian life, and a key to greater blessings from God.
How can we ask the Lord for more of His wonderful blessings when we have not thanked Him for those we already have? Can we honestly keep expecting something from Him when we seem as if we do not appreciate it in the first place? Yet, we do. How unthankful we are in today’s society.
Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said that “a man that is unthankful is nigh well hopeless” and he was not exaggerating at all. You see, thankfulness begins in the heart then it finds its way up to the mouth—it is conditioned on character, and it grows stronger with exercise. Unthankfulness, therefore is a heart condition, and not a matter of a mere lack of manners. Don’t you think that the Lord appreciates our attitude when we are thankful for His blessings? Psalm 100: 4 tells us to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving”, and the word “thanks” alone is mentioned 37 times in the New testament alone. (With 36 in the Old Testament).
Look at Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” God mentions that these were not thankful, as if that was a part of the reason for their spiritual demise. Then is Col. 3:15, we have a command to be thankful. Thankfulness is an important commodity in the Christian life, and a key to greater blessings from God.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thanksgiving--an anagram.
Thanksgiving
There is so much to be thankful for today. Yes, we have lost a lot of freedoms; we have been subject to ridicule and persecuted for our beliefs, but there is still much to be thankful for. If we will meditate on the Lord and His blessings, we will see that there is much we take for granted. Let us give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercies are new every morning.
Thank you Lord for thy many blessings;
How can we thank thee enough?
All the love that thou can bestow,
Necessitates our esteem;
Know, dear Lord, our hearts desires;
See our tears of joy;
Grant us Lord thy perfect peace.
In all my ways I’ll acknowledge thee,
Visit me in thy grace;
Illustrate in me thy perfect love,
Never forsake thy people.
Give gifts unto men.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
There is so much to be thankful for today. Yes, we have lost a lot of freedoms; we have been subject to ridicule and persecuted for our beliefs, but there is still much to be thankful for. If we will meditate on the Lord and His blessings, we will see that there is much we take for granted. Let us give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercies are new every morning.
Thank you Lord for thy many blessings;
How can we thank thee enough?
All the love that thou can bestow,
Necessitates our esteem;
Know, dear Lord, our hearts desires;
See our tears of joy;
Grant us Lord thy perfect peace.
In all my ways I’ll acknowledge thee,
Visit me in thy grace;
Illustrate in me thy perfect love,
Never forsake thy people.
Give gifts unto men.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Are You Excited?
“Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?” (Isa. 63:15)
Why is it that we seem to “cool off” as the years go by, and the original zeal, and excitement we initially experienced when first saved seems to wane and weaken as time goes on? Could it be that man cannot hold on to that excitement for very long before it is swallowed up in the mundane chores and activities of life? Or perhaps it is merely because we are wrapped in thin coat of flesh, and are too weak to be consistent and too lazy to get back the Bethel where we began! No one can stay excited all the time, it is nearly impossible to do so in this world, but how often do we visit the joy of yesterday, and bask in the glory endowed us? What will it take to get us back to that place again where we actually rejoiced in the Lord instead of living by rote and repetition? Let us continually seek the Lord in spite of our misgivings and doubts. Yet, it seems there is a maturity in the Christian life, a “tamed zeal” if you will.
A child is easily excited, sometimes their exuberance is seen in smiles or in jumping up and down, or talking rapidly about the event or object of excitement; whatever way it may manifest itself, we know they are excited. As one matures though, he is more settled, and the excitement has less control over him; he is just as excited, perhaps, as the child, but it is repressed more, and manifested differently; so it is in the spirit realm; I do not question whether it should be so, but I see that it is so.
Why is it that we seem to “cool off” as the years go by, and the original zeal, and excitement we initially experienced when first saved seems to wane and weaken as time goes on? Could it be that man cannot hold on to that excitement for very long before it is swallowed up in the mundane chores and activities of life? Or perhaps it is merely because we are wrapped in thin coat of flesh, and are too weak to be consistent and too lazy to get back the Bethel where we began! No one can stay excited all the time, it is nearly impossible to do so in this world, but how often do we visit the joy of yesterday, and bask in the glory endowed us? What will it take to get us back to that place again where we actually rejoiced in the Lord instead of living by rote and repetition? Let us continually seek the Lord in spite of our misgivings and doubts. Yet, it seems there is a maturity in the Christian life, a “tamed zeal” if you will.
A child is easily excited, sometimes their exuberance is seen in smiles or in jumping up and down, or talking rapidly about the event or object of excitement; whatever way it may manifest itself, we know they are excited. As one matures though, he is more settled, and the excitement has less control over him; he is just as excited, perhaps, as the child, but it is repressed more, and manifested differently; so it is in the spirit realm; I do not question whether it should be so, but I see that it is so.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Holy Family Tree
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Eph. 2:20)
It seems that there is a revived interest in family genealogies nowadays. Many people are excitedly tracing their “roots” and there are even ads on tv to find that great grandparent, or ancestor, etc. Suddenly it has become important to know about the history of our families, but there is a “family tree” that is traced through the Bible for each of us, if we know Christ as our personal Savior. It is built upon a solid foundation of apostolic authority, and Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone. The entire story is told in only four verses in Ephesians:
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
It is an “habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Actually it is two trees joined together in Christ, built upon the prophets for the Jewish race, and upon the apostles for the Gentiles. Being “fitly joined together,” both are made one in Christ. This union, unknown in the Old Testament, is a mystery that has been revealed in these latter days.
This family tree would begin with Jesus at the top, with twenty-four branches, which are the apostles and the prophets. These branches would branch out to multitudes of saints, down through the ages. The “tree” is indeed a “tree of life”, and is vast in proportion to any other ever known. All of us would be in there somewhere, and the myriads of branches would be endless, as if one would attempt to count the leaves on a huge, old tree. Praise God, we are all in the Lord’s family tree!
It seems that there is a revived interest in family genealogies nowadays. Many people are excitedly tracing their “roots” and there are even ads on tv to find that great grandparent, or ancestor, etc. Suddenly it has become important to know about the history of our families, but there is a “family tree” that is traced through the Bible for each of us, if we know Christ as our personal Savior. It is built upon a solid foundation of apostolic authority, and Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone. The entire story is told in only four verses in Ephesians:
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
It is an “habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Actually it is two trees joined together in Christ, built upon the prophets for the Jewish race, and upon the apostles for the Gentiles. Being “fitly joined together,” both are made one in Christ. This union, unknown in the Old Testament, is a mystery that has been revealed in these latter days.
This family tree would begin with Jesus at the top, with twenty-four branches, which are the apostles and the prophets. These branches would branch out to multitudes of saints, down through the ages. The “tree” is indeed a “tree of life”, and is vast in proportion to any other ever known. All of us would be in there somewhere, and the myriads of branches would be endless, as if one would attempt to count the leaves on a huge, old tree. Praise God, we are all in the Lord’s family tree!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Words
The most profound words in the Bible:
“I AM” (Ex. 3:14) spoken by the Father;
“I am”… (John 14:6) spoken by Christ.
The most prideful words in the Bible:
“I will”…(Isa. 14:13,14) spoken by Lucifer.
The most prolific words in the Bible:
Who can?”. (Prov. 20:9) (Psa. 106:2)
The most prophetic words in the Bible:
“I must”…(Lk. 2:49) spoken by Jesus Himself.
The most promising words in the Bible:
“I go”…(jn. 14:2,3) Again spoken by Jesus.
The most powerful words in the Bible:
“I can” (Phil. 4:13)
Words are a road to truth;
Truth will form our thoughts;
Thoughts are the birth of action;
Action is accomplishment,
And accomplishment leads to reward.
Reward is the wages of service;
Service is the duty of man.
Man is the glory of God.
“I AM” (Ex. 3:14) spoken by the Father;
“I am”… (John 14:6) spoken by Christ.
The most prideful words in the Bible:
“I will”…(Isa. 14:13,14) spoken by Lucifer.
The most prolific words in the Bible:
Who can?”. (Prov. 20:9) (Psa. 106:2)
The most prophetic words in the Bible:
“I must”…(Lk. 2:49) spoken by Jesus Himself.
The most promising words in the Bible:
“I go”…(jn. 14:2,3) Again spoken by Jesus.
The most powerful words in the Bible:
“I can” (Phil. 4:13)
Words are a road to truth;
Truth will form our thoughts;
Thoughts are the birth of action;
Action is accomplishment,
And accomplishment leads to reward.
Reward is the wages of service;
Service is the duty of man.
Man is the glory of God.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Paradox of Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)
“Substance” is that which we can hold in our hands; it is tangible physical matter, but it is also something of practical value, and perhaps moral value. Faith is substance; it is of practical value; it has worth.
This entire verse is a paradox; one wonders how faith can have substance and be felt or touched or held in the hands? When you think of it, there is no substance in hope--it is a mere longing for, or excitement for something. That is the paradox, but there is another in this verse also, and that is that something unseen can be evidence! “Evidence” is that with which we would use to prove a fact; again, one might ask, “How can that which is unseen be valid evidence?” I do not know the answer to that, but I do know that faith is the evidence of things unseen.
The Bible clearly states this mystery, and it is a fact, whether we understand it or not, because without faith, the Bible says, “it is impossible to please Him” (God). Hebrews 11 goes on to verify the wonderful acts of faith, and faithful men; it is a wonder-working faith that moves mountains, and yet, Nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 1:37)
“Substance” is that which we can hold in our hands; it is tangible physical matter, but it is also something of practical value, and perhaps moral value. Faith is substance; it is of practical value; it has worth.
This entire verse is a paradox; one wonders how faith can have substance and be felt or touched or held in the hands? When you think of it, there is no substance in hope--it is a mere longing for, or excitement for something. That is the paradox, but there is another in this verse also, and that is that something unseen can be evidence! “Evidence” is that with which we would use to prove a fact; again, one might ask, “How can that which is unseen be valid evidence?” I do not know the answer to that, but I do know that faith is the evidence of things unseen.
The Bible clearly states this mystery, and it is a fact, whether we understand it or not, because without faith, the Bible says, “it is impossible to please Him” (God). Hebrews 11 goes on to verify the wonderful acts of faith, and faithful men; it is a wonder-working faith that moves mountains, and yet, Nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 1:37)
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