The more you know about things in general the better you are equipped to make the right decisions.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war?
Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war?: Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war?
What does it mean that the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)?
What does it mean that the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)?: What does it mean that the love of many will grow cold? What is the meaning of Matthew 24:12? Why will the love of many grow cold?
Monday, January 1, 2018
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Avoid superficial Bible study . Unfortunately, some Bible studies consist of nothing more than person's saying, "I guess this verse means..." or "What does this verse mean to you?" Basically that's a pooling of ignorance--a lot of people sitting around telling what they don't know about the verse. To have a successful Bible study, someone has to study the passage beforehand to find out what it really means. Only then can you discuss it intelligently and apply it. Interpretation requires work. Don't take the easy way out and believe what everyone tells you the Bible says. Check the facts out yourself. Don't assume there are many interpretations of a biblical passage. There may be many applications, but there is only one true interpretation. God's Word is precise. It is not ambiguous. God has given us the ability to discover its meaning.
Since God Hates the Shedding of Innocent Blood, Can a Christian Vote for Hillary? | The Stream
Saturday, December 30, 2017
The question of why some suffer at death and others do not could be summed up in one statement: "God is sovereign." That is not just a trite and easy statement. When Jesus healed a man born blind, the disciples questioned Him. "‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life’" (John 9:1-3). In this passage is a principle that can be applied to our question. God allows some to suffer so that "the work of God might be displayed." In other words, God allows some to suffer to bring glory to His name and others not to suffer for the same reason. It is His sovereign will that determines each circumstance. Therefore, we can safely say that no suffering is without a purpose in the plan of God, even though we as finite humans may not see that purpose clearly.
Friday, December 29, 2017
False teachers
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude 12-13
As Jude begins to wrap up his indictment of the false teachers in the church, he uses a battery of metaphors to describe them, beginning with “blemishes at your love feasts.” This is the only place in the New Testament where the expression “love feast” is used, but the practice is discussed in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22. In the first century many congregations observed communion in the context of a larger meal where fellowship among believers was expressed and the poor were fed. Indications are that in the second century, these meals were separated from communion into two different occasions.
Other than that, I think Jude’s metaphors are pretty self-explanatory, and we easily can see his disdain for false teachers. In the next short paragraph, things get interesting…
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Jude 14-16 In case you missed it, I posted on the issue of extra-Biblical sources used by Jude yesterday that might help you with this section. This is where Jude uses this quote from 1 Enoch, and in so doing, Jude is summing up his case against them. That they are a danger to faith of others is clear, that they are not “nice” people is also clear, and that these people have run well afoul of the Lord is made abundantly clear with the reminder that they are headed for a fiery judgment.
That there is false teaching in the world around us should come as no surprise. Since “the world around us” is generally understood to mean that which is apart from Christ and the community of believers is clear enough, so apart from Him what kind of teaching would we expect to find? The thing that has Jude writing a letter of this sort, is that these false teachers are within the Body of believers, passing themselves off as followers of Christ, while teaching people to rebel against Him.
Jude 12-13
As Jude begins to wrap up his indictment of the false teachers in the church, he uses a battery of metaphors to describe them, beginning with “blemishes at your love feasts.” This is the only place in the New Testament where the expression “love feast” is used, but the practice is discussed in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22. In the first century many congregations observed communion in the context of a larger meal where fellowship among believers was expressed and the poor were fed. Indications are that in the second century, these meals were separated from communion into two different occasions.
Other than that, I think Jude’s metaphors are pretty self-explanatory, and we easily can see his disdain for false teachers. In the next short paragraph, things get interesting…
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Jude 14-16 In case you missed it, I posted on the issue of extra-Biblical sources used by Jude yesterday that might help you with this section. This is where Jude uses this quote from 1 Enoch, and in so doing, Jude is summing up his case against them. That they are a danger to faith of others is clear, that they are not “nice” people is also clear, and that these people have run well afoul of the Lord is made abundantly clear with the reminder that they are headed for a fiery judgment.
That there is false teaching in the world around us should come as no surprise. Since “the world around us” is generally understood to mean that which is apart from Christ and the community of believers is clear enough, so apart from Him what kind of teaching would we expect to find? The thing that has Jude writing a letter of this sort, is that these false teachers are within the Body of believers, passing themselves off as followers of Christ, while teaching people to rebel against Him.
Knowledge explosion
In the past 100 years there has been a literal explosion in the increase of knowledge.
The invention of electricity, automobiles, airplanes and computers have all taken place
in our generation.
The Hebrew word for “increase” (ra^ba^h) implies not only an addition of knowledge,
but also a multiplication or a knowledge that is increasing exponentially. This is so
much of an exact prophecy that knowledge is now
presently doubling every twenty-two months.
Daniel uses the words “time of the end”. This increase in knowledge explosion has
happened in the same century as therebirth of Israel.
Scriptures
Daniel 12:4 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:
many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowering. O you hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern
the signs of the times?
The invention of electricity, automobiles, airplanes and computers have all taken place
in our generation.
The Hebrew word for “increase” (ra^ba^h) implies not only an addition of knowledge,
but also a multiplication or a knowledge that is increasing exponentially. This is so
much of an exact prophecy that knowledge is now
presently doubling every twenty-two months.
Daniel uses the words “time of the end”. This increase in knowledge explosion has
happened in the same century as therebirth of Israel.
Scriptures
Daniel 12:4 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:
many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowering. O you hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern
the signs of the times?
What is a Gentile?
What is a Gentile?: What is a Gentile? What was God's purpose in separating Jews from Gentiles? What is the difference between a Gentile and a Jew?
Thursday, December 28, 2017
What does Proverbs 1:7 mean?
What does Proverbs 1:7 mean?: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. - What is the meaning of Proverbs 1:7?
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
CRACKED POTS
The story is told of a water bearer in India who had two large pots. They hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck, but one of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his master's house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
In his compassion, the water bearer said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
It is an amazing thing (but true) that God is able to accomplish some wonderful things through our efforts, in spite of our imperfections. Paul said of his role as a preacher of the gospel:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Cor. 4:7).
Though we may often feel inadequate and useless, if we will continue about the task that God has given us, we will produce fruit and influence lives in ways we may not even be aware of.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor. 15:58).
May your life "abound" this day in the work of the Lord! Though you may sometimes feel like a "cracked pot", your efforts are not in vain.
-- Alan Smith
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
The Woman at the Well
The Woman at the Well: A shamed woman, trying to hide. A moral teacher, trying to rest. The day the woman at the well asked where to worship and instead found the heart of the one she was to worship.
Who was the first Jew?
Who was the first Jew?: Who was the first Jew? Was Abraham the first Jew? Where in the Bible does the word Jew first appear?
Monday, December 25, 2017
What does it mean that “the Lord said to my Lord”?
What does it mean that “the Lord said to my Lord”?: What does it mean that “the Lord said to my Lord”? What is the meaning of Psalm 110:1 and Matthew 22:44?
Sin
"Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). Billy Graham said, "One sin is more terrible than any other and that is the sin of deliberately rejecting God and refusing the gift He freely offers us of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus said this is the only sin that God cannot forgive..." John 6:40 says, "For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life." Billy Graham asked, "Have you sought God's forgiveness for all your sins?" Our lives are like batteries that will eventually loose their charge and then we will give an account for how we answered this question.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Mind
Words can have a negative effect on your mind. What is in your mind is in your heart. Some of Jesus' strongest words were directed at outwardly righteous people but corrupt in their thought's (Matthew 23:27). Behind everything we do is a thought whether for good or for evil. You may not even be aware at the time but we never act unless we thought about it Out of our hearts come evil thoughts (Matthew 15:19).
The way to safeguard your mind is to avoid anything that fills your mind with evil thoughts. Fill your mind with good things through prayer and reading the Bible.
Begin by committing your life ( this includes the mind) to Jesus so He can teach you more about Himself. That way Jesus will become the focus of your mind and heart everyday.
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