Read the Proverbs through in a month,
one chapter per day.
Read the Psalms through in a month,
five Psalms per day.
See today's reading schedule & excerpts from the Psalms & Proverbs at the bottom of this page
Our congregation is dedicated to worshipping God in spirit and in truth as closely as we can ascertain from the New Testament. We search the scriptures for guidance and authority on how we ought to live our lives in order to be pleasing to God.
To learn more about us, or to get in touch with us — stop by in person or send us an email at:
wscoc@wschurchofchrist.org
.
Or Call (216) 671-1759.
Think about the old favorite hymn "Take Time to be Holy." Considering the theme of this song it's easy to see that in order to do anything worth while it takes time. No matter what we might be engaged in or trying to accomplish, it will take a concentrated effort along with time to see the end result. For instance, think of the time you spent getting ready for church services. You spent time in reading and study so that you could be prepared for bible study hour. You filled in the blanks of the questions and made notes in your workbook. You took the time to get up early enough so that you could be here at 10 AM thus reaping the benefits of group Bible study, keeping in mind the words of Paul when he told Timothy to "Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).
Perhaps you took the time last week to do something good for someone in need. You could have spent your time doing something you enjoyed but you sacrificed a little of your personal time in order to make someone more comfortable. By doing so you fulfilled "the Law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) and let other people see Jesus Christ in you.
Maybe you took the time to pray to our Heavenly Father. Everyday you set aside some time from your busy day to talk to God. As you continue your talks with Him, you get closer and closer to Him. We know this because the Bible tells us that if we draw near to God, He in turn will draw near to us (James 4:8). We are to pray and pray often, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) so that we can continue to develop a personal relationship with the Almighty God through our Savior Jesus Christ.
If you did not take time to serve God last week, then let us encourage you to begin to serve Him today. Make that commitment to take time everyday to talk to God, love Him with all of your heart, mind, strength and soul. Take the time to serve others first, then yourself. If we will but apply these principles into our everyday lives, they will be full, busy, fruitful and rewarding. A life where we "take time to be holy" will lead us down that narrow, rocky, and difficult path (Matthew 7:13-14) toward that final place with God (John 14:1-4).
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
As a “re-purposer” and bargain hunter I enjoy cruising the online classifieds. Its fun looking [for] items you don't have and probably don't need but are really cheap. One ad I usually take time to look at is the estate sale, especially those with lots of photos. These are the sales in which the complete contents of a house, garage or workshop are on sale. The estate sale is a common occurrence in our society and commonly held after a person or persons have passed away.
But recently I've begun to look at the estate sale in a different light. Instead of clicking through the photos looking for a great deal I've begun looking at the items on display as a collection of artifacts of a person who's time on earth has come to an end. Seen in the collection of items are the contents of a shelf full of little mementos of vacations past or gifts from friends. Decorative items line the walls still hanging where the deceased carefully placed them. A stack of old vinyl records that give you a clue to the music enjoyed in years past. A garage filled with well-worn tools used many years to care for the small well-kept yard. There's an alarm clock, still sitting on the night stand where it faithfully woke someone to rise and go to work. Hundreds of items kept, stored, and cherished that were once thought valuable are now for sale for only pennies.
The estate sale is a reflection of a person's life work and the gathering of material things. The writer of Ecclesiastes called this “vanity” or emptiness. We work so hard to gather up only what will be left one day for others. John wrote, “Do not love the world” and Paul said he counted his material wealth as dung. The important things in life aren't those we can hold in our hands but the products of the heart are the possessions that can last eternally.
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
The Old Testament was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Let's study what is said of sinful pride -
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Recently I watched a series of short documentaries on minimalistic living and tiny houses. There was a man who lived in a "hobbit-like" house dug into the side of a hill. Another man lives in a 12 x 24 (288 sq. ft.) house he built in the West Texas desert. There were young people who built their 2-story tiny house on a 16 ft. utility trailer. It was quite interesting to see just how little it takes to get along and live very comfortably if one's health and attitude allows.
Just how much "stuff" does a person really need? Growing up and living in a materialistic society has convinced most of us that we need a whole bunch of "stuff" in order to survive when the real truth is you only need food (including water), clothing and maybe shelter. I think about myself and just how much I have accumulated over my lifetime. If I took inventory I'm sure that I don't need 98% of my "stuff" and that's probably a conservative estimate.
As disciples of Jesus we need to be careful of the influence of materialism. We follow a Savior who had "nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58) and refused an opportunity to possess "all the kingdoms of the world" (Matthew 4:9). Jesus taught that we need not worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear, but make seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness our priority and God will supply those life sustaining necessities to us. Our problem lies in that we believe a person who has only the basics of life is the poorest of poor and we pity them because of this perceived poverty. Yet that's exactly the type of "man" that Jesus was.
The bible teaches that "contentment with godliness is great gain" and we should be content in the state of living we find ourselves in at the present time (1 Timothy 6:6; Philippians 4:11). So next time you think you just can't get by without that gadget, appliance, vehicle or house then take a moment and ask yourself, "How much do I really need?"
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Take your bible app and search the New Testament for "one another", mine returned 89 results. The first passage to note is John 13:34 where Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." As you begin to read through the selected verses you can begin to see a pattern of behavioral practices to apply in our relationships. You will read key words like "affectionate", "preference", "service", "gentleness" and "compassion". These passages will overwhelm you with encouragement and motivation and you will begin to wonder if the scriptures teach us to have these characteristics why is it that Christians can't get along with each other?
I believe the answer can be found in Jesus' own words, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Yep, that's it. We can't get along because we disregard the instructions of the "one another's". Oh how quickly we will condemn the individual who lies, curses or practices immorality. We stand with rocks in our hands ready to stone the adulterous offender while holding contempt in our hearts for each other. (John 8:3ff) Shame on us.
Can you imagine how strong and effective the church would be if we all applied the "one another's"? Let us begin today to encourage, appreciate, forgive, and love one another.
1 John 4:11From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
In life we are given warnings to prevent us from being harmed. However it is up to the individual to pay attention and heed those warnings.
The bible is full of admonitions (warnings) for God's people:
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
The way that we see the world depends a lot on our point of view or vantage point. Have you ever approached your driveway from the opposite direction than normal and notice how different it looks? Maybe you've had the opportunity to fly over your house while on approach to the airport, getting a bird's eye view. Have you ever sat in a different pew at church and discover that things look totally different from there? When we take a chance and try to see things from a different angle the possibilities of seeing new and undiscovered things seems endless. Many of us only look at our Christianity in one way. Some of us look at our service to God as an hour spent in a church building once a week. Others view Christianity as sitting in their pew three times a week. Some folks view Christianity as something to do when there's nothing better going on in their lives while others live and breathe serving the Lord 24/7. Some view Christianity as obeying a strict set of rules while others view it as a law of liberty. Many Christians view service to God as working with their hands whiles others see it as sharing their hearts and emotions with others. As you can see (no pun intended), we all seem to view Christianity in a different way. However, we must realize that God has placed us here in the church just where He wants us (1 Corinthians 12:18) thus making a body full of diverse talent and ability. But in order to continue to grow and mature in Christ we must continually seek new vantage points from which we can learn and grow.
This week try looking at some of your ideas of Christianity from a different vantage point. You may just discover a new way of seeing the cross of Christ that will help you continue your spiritual journey to eternity.
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
When meditating on the preceding passage one begins to realize that mankind's wisdom apart from God's wisdom can leave one spiritually destitute. Society and tradition can set one's moral compass to believe that his reasoning is correct even when it violates God's commands. The end result of such thinking is described by the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 5:20Christians must use the principles of God when called on to make moral judgments. That is why it is so very, very important to have a good knowledge of what the bible says and does not say. Another Old Testament warning states:
Hosea 4:6We must continue to give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine as prescribed by 1 Timothy 4:13. Just as "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", a little daily dose of God's word helps us build a healthy spiritual awareness that we can draw upon to help us make important decisions about what is right and what is wrong.
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
We all know the old saying, "Hindsight is 20/20". There's not a one of us who hasn't looked over our shoulder and questioned a decision or action committed in the past. Mistakes, misjudgments, tragedy and missed opportunity filled our memories and worry our minds. "If only I had...", begins a sentence of regret, wishing we had chosen a different path and perhaps the end results would have been different.
Regret is certainly one of the ironies of life because we learn and grow from those mistakes and missteps yet they are the things which make us sorry for the past! The first time we read of regret in the bible is in Genesis 6:6. Because of mankind's evil ways God was sorry that he had created such an unruly being. Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes the writer expresses much regret as to spending his life working, building and saving only to pass it on to someone else after he dies. Judas regretted the decision to betray Jesus and even though he repented, the pain was such that he took his own life.
Why would God give us such a worrisome emotion? Because regret causes us to realize our need for change and the need for God's forgiveness and His salvation. (2 Cor. 7:10) If I never felt remorse for my wrong doing I would never see the need to be obedient to God. Those who are accused of crimes have lawyers to be their advocates when facing judgment. You and I have an Advocate in Jesus Christ who goes to God on our behalf at the point of regret and confession.
"If only I had done things differently." Holding on to regret can weigh heavy on the heart but we must remember that Philippians 3:13 encourages us to let go of the past and move toward the future. A future filled with God's love, forgiveness and eternal reward.
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
It was a beautiful fall day in the small community, a perfect day for the annual fall bazaar. The closed off streets were full of people with craft merchants lining each side. Jennifer Crowley had taken David, her six-year-old, to the bazaar for a great fall outing. As they walked down the street hand-in-hand, Jennifer met Sandra Franks and the two struck up a conversation. While they were talking, David impatiently pulled and tugged on his mother's arm, "I wanna see the horses!" he insisted. A group of teenagers fooling around pushed by breaking Jennifer's grip on David's hand. After a brief moment of confusion Jennifer looked and David was no where to be seen. She quickly scanned the surrounding crowd but David had simply vanished. She told Sandra to begin looking up the street while she went the other way. After 10 minutes of searching she began to get frantic. She came upon Deputy Sheriff Darrell Height, told him what had happened and he immediately joined in the search. After 45 minutes with David no where to be found, Jennifer was now in a panic and began to cry, "Where is he?" As she wiped the tears from her eyes she scanned the crowd again and froze as she looked at the courthouse steps. There on the top step sat David watching and enjoying the small sea of people. Jennifer ran and picked up her little boy. "Momma, why are you crying?" David asks. With a big smile she answered, "Because I'm so glad to see you!"
In Luke 15, Jesus told three stories about lost things, a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. In each story, the one who had lost something had great concern over the thing that had been lost. The man who lost the sheep left all the other sheep to search, the woman who lost the coin cleaned the whole house in the search and the father of the lost son never lost his love and compassion. When one of our members wanders from the family (James 5:19-20) we should become as frantic as Jennifer did when David disappeared in the crowd. However, many times we don't even realize someone is missing until it's too late. We must begin to practice one-on-one Christianity and go search for the wanderers. We must never lose our desire, care or compassion for each other. Let me encourage you to go and find those who have left our family here and when we find them...
Luke 15:10From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
What causes a person to board a plane, train, ship or auto and head out to a distant vacation destination? Escape, to get away from the busyness and challenges of life for a while and to experience perhaps a beautiful new place. For Christians, the final destination is Heaven. It is one of the motivating factors that keep us moving through life. But what will it be like? What is it that draws us to it and gives us hope of being there for eternity?
Wow! I want to go, don't you?
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Last week when entering the church building we were met with an all-too-familiar odor. Unfortunately, some of us know firsthand just how bad a skunk can really smell. Whether you've encountered a skunk one-on-one or not, when you smell the distinctive odor produced by these little varmints, you can immediately identify it. If it smells like a skunk, then it probably is a skunk. Sin is like that. If some action or emotion feels like it could possibly be sinful, then there's a good chance that it probably is:
You get the idea. The Christian life is a constant growing experience and God want us to continue to learn about Him and His will through study and meditation of His Word. Outlined in the Scriptures are corrections and guidance to help us avoid the stench of sin.
Philippians 1:9,10From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
As Americans [we] are a proud people. We boast about living in the most powerful country in the world. Many wear their patriotism outwardly, believing that because they are a citizen of the United States they possess a superiority over all other people of the world. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with loving our country and being patriotic. However, as Christians we must be careful of too much self-imposed pride. Answer the following questions, "Did you [choose] the country of your birth?" and "Did you [choose] the race to which you were born?" Of course, the answer is "No," to both questions. So we must be very careful not to become arrogant and take credit for our nationality but rather be thankful for it.
The Christians at Corinth had this problem. They had become arrogant because of the spiritual gifts they had received and developed a sinful dose of pride because they could perform miraculous task[s] (1 Corinthians 4:6-7). Pride and arrogance are not only an unattractive characteristics but are emotions which God hates (Proverbs 6:17). Religious arrogance is especially condemned in the New Testament narrative, so much so that God will resist (oppose) the proud while embracing the humble spirit (James 4:6). There's nothing wrong with having pride in ourselves, our families, our country and our Lord. But when we become haughty, thinking ourselves better than others because we've received God's grace we commit the greatest of hypocrisy (Matthew 23:28).
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
God gave us the interesting characteristic of "curiosity" when He created us. It causes us to question and inquire about the things around us. Curiosity makes us wonder and seek out knowledge. The power and consequence of being curious is credited for our advances in education, science, and technology. What drives the desire to explore, invent and discover? It is the sense given to us called "curiosity".
Curiosity makes us "think" and "wonder". What else could motivate us to seek God? As seekers of knowledge we wonder about the Creator and ponder the mysteries of life. The old adage, "Curiosity killed the cat" can be a warning of being too curious in matters that might be dangerous, however the wise man of Proverbs wrote,
Proverbs 18:15Christians are encouraged to...
Eph. 3:1Thus we are to use our curiosity to seek out our spiritual path in life.
True, there are those questions we may never be able to answer, "Why must good people suffer?" or "Why is my life so challenging?" But with the right prayerful attitude we can accept things for the way they are and let our curiosity move us to please our Heavenly Father.
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
For Christians to have a right relationship with God they may have to get to the point in life where they say, "I give up!". This is not a declaration of quitting but rather admitting that they have tried to face life's challenges on their own terms instead of submitting to the Lord and letting Him help them get through life. The above passage simply states, "submit to God" which means we should give up and give in, allowing God to control every aspect of our lives. I know that's a tall order, however when we base our decisions upon God's instruction and wisdom life can indeed be less frustrating.
Now take a look at the next part of the passage. Resisting Satan is easier said than done because he'll use every means possible to make us fail in both our physical and spiritual lives. But God assures us here that if we stand up and stand strong the old devil will leave us alone for a while.
Finally, we're told to "draw near to God". We get close to God through Jesus Christ and when we trust and depend on the Lord to help us He will be right by our side. We're never promised that life will be easy, what we are promised is we'll be able to handle whatever life throws us because we have the peace that passes understanding in our hearts (Phil. 4:7) and our Father will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
Ephesians 6:11From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Self-awareness can be described in many ways. Knowing the person you are inside is the beginning of a successful life (or so they say). The ability to look at oneself in the mirror objectively is a difficult achievement because many of us look into a "magic" mirror which hides the person we truly are. With Satan's help our society is becoming more and more permissive, convincing us that no matter what lifestyle we choose it should be accepted and embraced as long as it falls into a skewed sense of morality.
However, for the disciple of Christ that illusion is shattered when we look into the "perfect" mirror of God's word. In it we learn that there are "none righteous" (Rom. 3:10) and "all have sinned and fall short" (Rom. 3:23).
All people need the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ through obedience and if we believe "I'm OK" without obeying God then we are just fooling ourselves (Gal. 6:3). We're not to think more highly of ourselves than we should (Rom. 12:3) and the Lord will reject the proud heart but accepts the humble (James 4:6). If the Apostle Paul who possessed a great faith, preached boldly, and suffered for the Gospel yet said he was the "chief of sinners" where does that leave us? We must never be convinced that sin is alright but having a realistic view of ourselves and having a sense of self-worth are two different things. God loved us so that He gave His Son for us and that we are "worth more than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:31).
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
April 1st is known as "April Fool's Day". The day is celebrated with pranks and practical jokes played upon friends and family all in good fun. However, in real life no one likes being the "fool". Christians should avoid foolish behavior and be aware of what the bible says about the subject:
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Christians should celebrate their spiritual freedom every day. Christ has set us free from a law of strict rules and regulations (the Old Testament) and given us the freedom to make our own decisions about matters of opinion not specifically outlined in the scriptures. Christ has also set us free from the bondage of sin. Romans 6 goes into great detail about how we've been liberated from sin. Sin no longer has [reign] in our lives and we're now free to seek a life filled with righteousness. Christian liberty can be a tricky business and easily misused. A [careful] study of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 will teach us that there are even times where we will have to sacrifice some of our freedoms for the benefit of a fellow Christian.ter of James is packed full of those kind of verses but one in particular is:
Our Heavenly Father wants us to enjoy our Christian liberty. The freedom to share the Gospel with all people is by far the most important aspect of our liberty. By the grace of God salvation has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11) and we can celebrate when our friends and neighbors obey the Good News and become part of God's family.
From Jay Launius, 2018, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
[In] the 13th Chapter of Romans, Paul gives instruction on how to interact with the government. To summarize he says obey the government so you can live a peaceful life. It is believed that the letter was written between 57-58 AD during the rule of Emperor Nero. Nero had become popular with the poor of Rome because he had given them tax relief and other benefits. The church was primarily made up of the poor thus their relationship with the government would have been somewhat peaceful. But that would soon change.
In 64 AD there was a great fire in Rome which destroyed as much as two thirds of the city. Some believe that Nero himself had the fire set for his own amusement. However he never took the blame but rather blamed the fire on the small sect of Christians living in Rome. Nero declared "open season" on Christians and thus started a dark period of terrible persecution. Christians were hunted, tortured and put to death. Most would think that it would be the end of the church, however historical accounts say that the martyrdom of those Christians killed caused an increase in faith and the church continued to grow. That's absolutely amazing and causes us to wonder how we would react to such persecution. Let's thank God for the church and the peacefulness we enjoy today.
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
About midway through my career I worked as a machinist inspector. My primary job was to assure that machining operations conformed to the specifications. After a part or vehicle was machined with new surfaces or holes I would measure the dimensions and compare those measurements to the technical drawings. If the dimensions didn't match the ones on the drawing then I had to reject the work. A lot of the time my friends had worked very hard on the job and it was very difficult to tell them they would have to do it all over again. Needless to say there were times they weren't very happy with me but I had a job to do and had no choice but to hang that "red tag" on their work.
As a minister of the gospel of Christ I have the responsibility of teaching and preaching according to the standards laid out in the inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I have an obligation to study and learn those standards so I can convey them to you in a way that is truthful and easy to understand. Just as with inspecting my friends work on the job there are times that I have to preach about things I know some of my church family members struggle with and it's difficult for me to do. But just as the worker has to correct his mistakes, you and I must do our best to correct those things in our lives that go against God's standards.
James 5:19,20,From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
( 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
The spreading of misinformation is a very real concern in our modern day society. With the huge mass of electronic information available at our finger tips we are perhaps the most informed generation in the history of mankind. It is said that "knowledge is power" (Thomas Hobbs, philosopher 1588-1679) and with it comes great responsibility. With advancements in software technology and graphics we can no longer trust what we see and hear to be the absolute truth.
When it comes to the spiritual well-being of God's people the search for the truth has always been of the utmost concern. The second letter to the church at Thessalonica seems to indicate that they were receiving some very disturbing teaching. Had the resurrection passed and they had missed it? Could it be possible that the persecution they were facing was the beginning of the end? According to some teachers it would seem that these things were true. But Paul assures them this is the work of Satan and that God will take vengeance on those who worry his people with such nonsense.
Spiritual misinformation is still being taught and in this information age it would seem an impossible task to tell the truth from a lie. But with diligence and study Jesus assures us "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (Jn, 8:32)
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Beginning in Luke 4:16 we read of Jesus going to His hometown of Nazareth. It was the Sabbath Day and as was His custom He went to the synagogue to read and teach. On this day He chose to read from the prophet Isaiah which just happened to be a messianic passage about Himself. After reading He sat back down and everyone was watching Him. Then He said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." And they marveled at this hometown boy who spoke with such authority. He then proceeded to teach that they would reject Him just as the Jews had rejected the prophets of old. This angered the crowd so much that they proceeded to throw Him out of town, carried Him up a hill so that they could throw Him off a cliff. Jesus easily escapes to continue His ministry.
There are times when elders, teachers and preachers must present biblical teaching that can be convicting to some individuals. These difficult admonitions must be presented with the correct attitude of humility and love (Eph. 4:15). All too often the recipient of God"s warning becomes angry at the messenger, accusing them of being condescending and breaks fellowship with the teacher or in some cases leaves the church altogether. We all should realize that "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23) and God corrects those that He loves.(Heb. 12:6) Becoming angry at the one delivering the message serves no other purpose than to divide the church and give Satan the victory. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God." (1 John 4:7)
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
One of the hardest things for us to do is to look at ourselves honestly. We'd like to think that we don't have too many faults of bad traits. We seem to have an inborn defense mechanism that prevents us from being completely honest with ourselves which all makes self improvement that much more difficult. But in the preceding verse, the bible says that we are to examine ourselves, that's honestly looking at the measure of faith that we possess.
It also goes on to say that we should test ourselves, give ourselves spiritual challenges which will make us grow and become spiritually stronger. Why is this important? Because Jesus Christ is a part of us and we're to live for Him everyday. Just as the athlete in the ball game or the race, we want to play by the rules and don't want to be disqualified from the game (1 Corinthians 9:27). Living a good, busy, faithful, trusting, loving, Christian life will keep us in the running with the Good Lord right by our side.
Every day we should look into the mirror of God's Word, concentrating on our own personal ability (or inability) to look at ourselves and see ourselves just as God sees us.
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
(See: Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 2:19-22; I Corinthians 10:16-17: 1123-30.)
As a memorial the Lord's Supper is both commemorate! and declared.
Jesus said, (Matthew 26:26-29 NKJB And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed {it} and broke {it}, and gave {it} to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body." (27) Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave {it} to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. (28) 'for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29) 'But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that. day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.' Jesus did not say that we are do this in order to remember Him, but because we do remember him. b. "ln remembrance of me," in I Corinthians 11:24 - 25 means, "for a memorial of me.'(l Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke {it} and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'(25) ln the same manner {He} also {took) tie cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink {it}, in remembrance of Me-" Those who cherish the memory of Christ in their hearts shall gladly show it in faithfully keeping the sacred feast. They do this for a memorial of Christ, His birth, life, teachings, obedience, good deeds, His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The world builds great monuments to commemorate the lives and deeds of great men, so we eat this feast to commemorate the greatest of all men. out lord Jesus Christ. (The Declarative to continue)
God is good. I love you all, In the Name of the Son, Amen and amen
Kevin J.
Dating when the book was written is not without controversy. When one dates the book will certainly have a bearing upon one's interpretation of the book, especially if one follows the "preterist" view. Two dates are usually proposed:
The external evidence (evidence outside the book itself) is inconclusive. In support for the late date, appeal is often made to a statement of Iraneaus who lived in the late 2nd century A.D. His statement is rather ambiguous, however, and can be understood in several ways (see Redating The New Testament, by John A. T. Robinson, for a detailed examination of Iraneaus' quotation).
In support for the early date, the Syriac version of the New Testament (dating back to the 2nd century A.D.) says the book was written during the reign of Nero. The Muratorian Fragment (170-190 A.D.) and the Monarchian Prologues (250-350 A.D.) claim that Paul wrote to seven churches following the pattern of John's example in Revelation, placing the book of Revelation even before some of the Pauline epistles (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 12; p. 406).
Because of the contradictory nature of the external evidence, I place more weight on the internal evidence (evidence from within the book itself). I believe the book itself supports a date of 70 A.D., before the destruction of Jerusalem and during the reign of Vespasian.
(Continued in Wednesday Class Article)
What is perhaps the one thing that has destroyed more congregations of the Lord's church than anything else?
Division.
Our inability to accept the diversity of opinions, personalities and liberties of fellow Christians causes the local church to fracture and come apart. When disagreements and disputes are not quickly resolved the result can be devastating. So how can we prevent such a disaster?
The answer can be easily found within the scriptures:
In the letters to the churches of Rome, Corinth, Colossi and Philippi, the Apostle Paul expressed his deep gratitude for those congregations. He was thankful for their faithfulness, fellowship and spiritual growth. Even though these groups of Christians struggled with temptation and sin, Paul appreciated his relationship with the church.
Can we say the same about ourselves? Are we thankful for the church? If so, how do we express our appreciation? Here are a few ways and reasons we should be eternally grateful for this great institution:
— Scott R
— Scott R
— Scott R
Continued below— Scott R
Hebrews 11:20-40 (NKJV)
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Jesus speaking: "...I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." John 8:24 (WEB)
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (WEB)
By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance... not knowing where he went. 9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10 (WEB)
By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead. Hebrews 11:11,12 (WEB)
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; 18 even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;" 19 accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 (WEB)
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 (WEB)
In God's love, Scott
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended?… Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know? Proverbs 30:4 (WEB).
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (WEB).
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. Romans 1:18-20 (WEB).
By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 (WEB).
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (WEB).
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness... Hebrews 11:4 (WEB).
By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death,... For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:5 (WEB).
By faith, Noah,... moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7 (WEB).
By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance... not knowing where he went. 9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8,9 (WEB).
In God's love, Scott
1 Samuel 8:5, " They said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." Samuel prayed to God and God told him in verse 7, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them." So Israel wanted to be like the nations all around them and have a king. They rejected God as their King and followed after the way of the world. Do you see the danger for our country if we 'remove God from our country' like the leftists in this land are trying to do. They want us to be godless, like Europe, and have a government that is godless, which is Socialism and Marxism. A good thing for us, God always reserves a remnant of faithful people, whether in the Old Testament time or New Testament, the saints, those who haven't bowed to foreign gods. God still led Israel and cared for them though they rejected him.
Some of the kings were faithful to God. The first three kings were and they were the only ones to rule over all of Israel. They were; Saul, who started out good but lost his favor with God by not consulting with him but the witch of Endor instead. King David was faithful and God promised him that through his bloodline the Messiah would come, and his son Solomon was faithful but permitted his foreign wives to have 'high places' to worship their false gods. Solomon's son Rehoboam was to harsh on the people with taxes and the nation split. The ten northern tribes became the Northern Kingdom, and the tribes of Benjamin and Judah stayed faithful to Rehoboam and God and became the Southern Kingdom. The northern tribes had 19 kings and all of them did evil in the eyes of God and were eventually punished and carried away by Assyria, never to come back.
Jim L
Our God is the God of order and not chaos. God gives us laws to follow to keep order and peace because mankind as a whole tend to make bad decisions and often behave like sheep and will wander away and become lost or get into some kind of trouble. We need rules, we need boundaries that cannot be crossed. We need a system that provides a way to enforce those laws fairly and justly for all. When that happens the result is freedom, happiness and peace. It has been God's intention for mankind that a system of rule be established to keep order. Mankind with no leadership is soon plunged into disorder and chaos and everyone turns to his own way resulting in anarchy. We are fortunate today to live in such a society that functions well when there is good leadership and the rule of law is followed. We can immediately see the harm that can be done when you have bad leadership and the system of rule breaks down.
God never wanted mankind to be left to his own devices. When man fell from grace in the Garden, we see from the sentence of punishment pronounced upon Eve; "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you", we can infer that God established a patriarchal system of rule. Reading through early Old Testament history you find that is the case. When the population increased, you had elders of family clans being the leaders. Eventually mighty men like Nimrod rose up building great cities, establishing themselves as kings. By the time the bible's greatest patriarch Abram arrives on the scene, most cities were ruled by a king. When we read Genesis chapter fourteen, we read about the 'battle of the kings' and see that most cities had their kings. God's people were a Patriarchy and he was their God.
Jim L
Luke 1:26-38
Introduction:
There are three great pillars upon which Christianity rests. These are: (1) the existence of God, (2) the inspiration of the Bible, (3) and the deity or Sonship of Jesus Christ.
On the editorial page of the third issue of Volume 1 of The Spiritual sword, Brother Tomas B. Warren set forth the basic argument for the Sonship of Jesus Christ in the following syllogism:
If the particular characteristics of the person and work of Jesus Christ are such to be beyond those of mere men. Then Jesus is the Son of God.
The particular characteristics of the person and work of Jesus Christ are such as to be beyond those of mere men.
Therefore, Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
If the major premise of this argument is true, then the conclusion must be true.
There are several characteristics of the person and work of Jesus Christ that can be set forth to show that He is the Son of God. Such things as His virgin conception and birth, His miracles, His teachings, His fulfillment of many prophecies, and His resurrection from the dead are a few of these characteristics that cannot be true of a mere man.
There are two accounts of Jesus' birth in the New Testament. One is in Matthew and the other is in Luke. Both accounts deal with the miraculous conception of Jesus by Mary His earthly mother. No other birth like this one has ever happened before or since.
The virgin conception and birth of Jesus as recorded in Matthew and Luke was the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy found in Isaiah 7.
What I want to do at this time is to take a careful look at that prophecy and go to our text in Luke 1:26-38 and view the prophecy from the standpoint of Mary and then go to Matthew 1:18-25 and view the prophecy from the standpoint of Joseph.
Isaiah 7:14 reads as follows: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel." [all Scripture references are from the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) unless otherwise noted.] The word sign, while not always referring to a miracle, does so in this text as Ahaz the king is told to ask for a sign "Ask for a sign from the LORD your God - it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven" (Isaiah 7:11). Ahaz refuses, so Isaiah said that the Lord Himself would give him a sign.
The difficulty with this prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 lies with the Revised Standard Version's translation of the Hebrew word almah as young woman. The King James Version, the American Standard Version, The New American Standard Bible, The English Standard Version, the Modern Literal Version and the New International version all translate almah as virgin.
In addition to Isaiah 7:14, the Hebrew word almah is used in Genesis 24:43, Exodus 2:8, Psalms 68:25, Proverbs 30:19, and Song of Solomon 1:3 and 6:8. H. C. Leupold concluded that it "cannot be denied that such a one is to be classified as a virgin" (156). In his work "The Virgin Birth of Christ", J. Gresham Machen indicated "there is no place among the seven occurrences of almah in the Old Testament where the word is used of a woman who was not a virgin" (288).
God is good, I love you all In the name of Christ
Kevin J.
More to come on this subject
He then tells us that Moses was warned when he was about to build the earthly tabernacle to make sure he made it according the the pattern (Greek: tupos – type), God showed him on the mountain.
The writer is telling us that the tabernacle was a type (a copy and shadow, not the reality itself) and therefore, he will say, so is the entire Mosaical system a type (a copy) as he elaborates in the rest of chapter eight.
What was Moses shown on the mountain? Deut. 25:8,9,40. It may have been pictures, drawings, or even a model of the tabernacle and all its furnishings.
Whatever Moses was shown, it was a plan from heaven of how God wanted the tabernacle constructed. This type (copy) is from the original in heaven, the archetype. The archetype was used to make a "copy & shadow of the heavenly things" on earth, an earthly tabernacle which itself is a type (copy) of the original in heaven.
What's the purpose of the copy? To show us the real object, the antitype, when it appears. And a copy implies an original.
Where does God live? Not in temples made by hands, Acts 17:24; 7:48,49. We are (the church) the temple of the God. 2 Cor 6:14-7:1. And individually our bodies are a temple also. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 you were bought with a price.
So glorify God in your body. 1 Cor. 6:19,20
In God's love, Scott
We are told the Christ would be a King. God calls His Son God and then sets Him above his companions by anointing Him with oil, making Him King. Psa 45:6,7
In addition to being a King, the Messiah would also be a priest, but not in the order of Aaron.
The Hebrew writer asks:
A change in the priesthood drives (requires) a change in the law.
What's the purpose of the priest? To make atonement for transgressions of the law. It's the solution, the remedy, to our transgressions (ie sins) of the law. Hebrews 2:17,18
The former law had flawed priests who were unable to make the worshipper perfect because the law made nothing perfect. However, the perfected Messiah, as our great high priest was made our remedy with an oath (from God). Because of this oath He can guarantee a better hope and since He lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Heb 7:18-24,28
A new priest, a new law, a good thing!
In God's love, Scott
"Haven't you read that God from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart." Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9 (WEB).
According to Jesus there are two genders male and female and in marriage a man shall join his wife.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (WEB) 9 Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
Canadian pastors are warning that a new "conversion therapy" bill, just passed by parliament, will likely ban them from teaching that homosexuality and transgenderism are sins according to the Bible.
The bill, known as C-4, unanimously passed both the House of Commons and the Senate before receiving Royal Assent.
[it officially became law on Jan 8.]
In the Preamble of the Bill, it says that the belief that "heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity and gender expression that conforms to the sex assigned to a person at birth are to be preferred over other sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions" is a "myth."
Check out these links for more info:
It is God who reserves the right to declare what is right and wrong by right of creation, Isaiah 45:18-19.
Now more than ever we need to be out informing our neighbors of God's message. Jeremiah 7:1-34
In God's love, Scott
Conventional wisdom tells us that when we are upset or angry to “let it all out” and get it off our chest. But while reading in the Proverbs I came across this extraordinarily different idea:
Could it be that in some cases it's better to keep my mouth shut rather than letting all of my feelings be known? Many a harmful word has been spoken while fueled by strong emotions. Not every situation is the same but we must use God-given wisdom to determine when to speak and when to keep quite. Back in the 90's I had a college course on the introduction to the Internet. One thing I remember from the class was that you never send an email in anger but wait a day and see how you might respond differently to the situation that upset you. Good advice that holds true today.
I'm reminded of the trial of Jesus when He was accused by the chief priest and elders and “He answered nothing.” (Matt. 27:12). Jesus could have easily spoken a word and destroyed them all but rather “He held His peace” (Matt. 26:63). We should never hold things in and allow them to fester into a worse situation. Rather we should take a breath, hold our response until after we've had time to settle down. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19)
From Jay Launius, 2019, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
If there's one thing about being a daily bible reader it's the fact that sooner or later you'll come across one of those verses that hits you square in the face. The letter of James is packed full of those kind of verses but one in particular is:
James 4:17, NKJVWow! Now don't that just get your goat! (Pardon the grammar). It's hard enough that I have to fight off temptations and abstain from doing all the bad stuff but now I have to worrying about not doing the good stuff too. In the preceding verse James has warned us not to be too presumptuous in taking tomorrow for granted, life is short and can end in an instant. Thus we must do our best to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. Galatians 6:10 come to mind,
Galatians 6:10I must admit that there have been many times I've let opportunities to do good or help others pass by, chances that will never come again. We all need to be reminded that
James 2:15-17, NKJVThe keyword to Christian maturity is “ACTION”. Ours is not a religion of leisure but of hard work. “You mean I have to do more than make a nice comment when someone posts their troubles on social media?” “Yep, you do.”
1 John 3:18, NKJV::From Jay Launius, 2018, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
We all face temptation, Satan is going to make sure that none of us are exempt. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that it is a common challenge for all people but those who are in God's family will be provided ways to resist and eliminate temptation. One great weapon we can use against the devil and his enticements is wisdom. Wisdom is available to every Christian who asks God for it (James 1:5) and can help us make good choices when we're tempted. But this is nothing new, long ago the wise man of Proverbs wrote about the advantages of using wisdom against evil. (Proverbs 2)
When wisdom enters our hearts (minds) and we use knowledge wisely, discretion will be key to keeping us from sinful things. Wisdom will help us recognize social pressure which gives the desire to “go along with the crowd” and participate in things not pleasing to God. Wisdom shows us that resisting physical desire contrary to wholesomeness (substance use, sex, dishonest behavior) will only give temporary pleasure that can lead to more trouble down the road.
James 1:6,7 warns us that the Christian who doesn't tap into the free offer of wisdom will be “wishy-washy” in their struggle with temptation and sin. Doubting ourselves and God can and will have devastating results in one's spiritual life. But we can happy to know that asking God for and receiving wisdom can lead us down the path of righteousness and a life that is pleasing to God.
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
During the last 14 years of my career I worked in an office that had no windows. There were times when I would be very busy and work most of the day without venturing outside the building. Because I had no exposure to the outside I had no clue as to what it was like outside. As we'd head out the door at quitting time and walked out into the sunshine I would suddenly feel better. The grogginess of the day seemed to go away and I felt a strange sensation of wellbeing. This little phenomena is just one of the benefits of light. Science tells us that we receive many health benefits from natural light. Our bodies absorb Vitamin D which helps with bone loss and heart health. Sunlight also can ward off depression and improve sleep. Best of all this health benefit is free, all we have to do is go outside into the sunlight.
With this in mind it's easy to see why God used the illustration of light so often in the bible. Is it any wonder why light was the first thing He made during the creation of the world? (Gen. 1:3) In John Chapter 1 Christ is described as the "Light". Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12) Without sunlight plants don't grow so it is easy to understand that if we're not exposed to the "Light" that is Jesus Christ we won't grow spiritually.
So just as our bodies need exposure to sunlight to benefit our health our spirits need exposure to the True Light so to continue our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
Last week when entering the church building we were met with an all-too-familiar odor. Unfortunately, some of us know firsthand just how bad a skunk can really smell. Whether you've encountered a skunk one-on- one or not, when you smell the distinctive odor produced by these little varmints, you can immediately identify it. If it smells like a skunk, then it probably is a skunk. Sin is like that. If some action or emotion feels like it could possibly be sinful, then there's a good chance that it probably is:
You get the idea. The Christian life is a constant growing experience and God want[s] us to continue to learn about Him and His will through study and meditation of His Word. Outlined in the Scriptures are corrections and guidance to help us avoid the stench of sin.
Philippians 1:9,10From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
(Mark 2:15-17)
Last week I saw a meme on social media that said, “Not all snakes crawl - Some sit in church.”
I gotta admit it set me back a bit that someone might make such a statement about church folks. But after some thought I had to admit that it is highly likely a true statement. It's true, there can be Christians who are not honest, nor have pure motives. There are New Testament examples of such people, for instance Paul said that, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (2 Tim. 4:10). Then there was Diotrephes, who loved to have superiority among the brethren and throw people out of the church. (3 John 9-10). Timothy was warned of liars and hypocrites that would be in the church (1 Tim. 4:1-3). With these examples there is no doubt that there are “snakes” in the church.
But you may be surprised that the church is exactly where the snakes need to be. In Mark 2:15-17 we read of an occasion where Jesus had gone to Levi's house for a meal and there were tax collectors (thieves) and sinners who were there. Jesus was accused of socializing with the less desirable crowd by the religious people. He answered their accusations by saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (v. 17)
There is a misconception among folks that the church is to be filled with perfect people and before one can be a part of the church they must be perfect. Only by God's grace and our obedience to Him do we find ourselves in His family. Yes, there are imperfect people in His church and that's right where they [we] need to be. - [Change added by SR.]
From Jay Launius, 2020, Maud coC, Maud, Texas
(Continued from Sunday Class article)
This internal evidence includes the following:
Therefore I suggest the internal evidence indicates that the Revelation was given during the reign of VESPASIAN, the SIXTH emperor, while the "beast is not". This would place the date of the book around the spring of 70 A.D. (as suggested by Philip Schaff, History Of The Church, Vol. I). A date between the death of Nero in 68 A.D. and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was also favored by F. J. A. Hort, J. B. Lightfoot, and B. F. Westcott (John A. T. Robinson, Redating The New Testament, p. 224). Another advocate of an early date is F. F. Bruce
Chapter One is an introduction to the rest of the book. It is written to emphasize that what is to be read is nothing less than the express word of God. It is not only the word of God, but it is given just when it is needed for “... the time is at hand.” Its three co-authors are claimed to be no less than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This again underlines the divine origin of the letter. The attributes of these three are characteristics for which the saints will have reason to be thankful in the days ahead. John claims the letter was the direct commission from heaven. He is told explicitly by Jesus to “... write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches.”
Our lesson text is Revelation 1:1-20; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Daniel 7:13-14.
Our lesson aim is to discover something about the book, its writer, and its Author, the Risen Christ in the midst of the lamp stands.
In our Lesson preview We will . . .
About 12 years ago a close friend gave my wife some saw tooth oak seedlings he brought back from Arkansas. We took them and planted them all over our place. One particular tree was planted out back near where we had burned brush while cleaning the place up after we bought the property. Another was planted out front near where the old railroad line used to run. The tree planted out back where the soil was rich with ashes and plant material immediately began to grow while the tree in the front didn't seem to grow at all. Now, after all these years the tree in the back is over 30 feet tall while the tree in the front planted in the rocks and clay struggles to top 12 feet even though the trees were planted at the same time.
Jesus told a similar story about growing in Matthew 13. There He told of seeds being planted in different growing conditions and the results there of. Our spiritual growth is dependent upon the conditions we allow ourselves to live in and the everyday things we do. We must ask ourselves, “Am I feeding my spirit with God's word? Am I doing things which will grow my faith?” or “Am I slowing my spiritual growth by neglect and over exposure to things of the world?” By reading the bible daily, regular worship, and living a life full of love and good works will provide the necessary growing conditions for a healthy spiritual life.
Continued
The question is, "what do 'fiducial knowledge' and 'evidentiary knowledge' have to do with the question 'DO YOU KNOW That GOD EXISTS?'"
There are innumerable empirical evidences that provide "evidentiary knowledge.”
The heavens with the sun, moon and stars declare to all men everywhere in the world the wisdom and orderly design of an all-wise Designer. Did it just happen by accident or coincidence that the sun is 93 million miles from the Earth? If the sun were closer, the Earth would burn; if farther away, it would be a ball of ice. Did it just happen by accident or coincidence that the moon is 238,700 miles from the Earth? That the moon is in the exact position to control the tides and keep them from inundating or flooding Earth Did the consistency of time for each day happen by accident or coincidence?
How is it that by that consistency man was able to design a watch dividing each day into 24 equal parts?
What about the design of the world in such a way that man and every creature will have provisions for life. The rain falls to the Earth, it waters the land, provides crops, goes into the creeks, rivers, and oceans, evaporates and then is picked up by the clouds and is once again deposited upon the Earth in the form of rain. The seasons were designed to provide for man.
IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH THE SEASONS HAD NO ORDER! How could man survive?
(to be continued)
God is Good, I love you all, in the Name of the King.
Kevin J.
Continued
Also, there is “fiducial knowledge.” The nature of the God revealed in the Bible is SO IMPORTANT in this discussion. He is the “un-lying God,” and the “God, who cannot lie,” Titus 1:2. It is impossible for God to lie; therefore, whatever HE tells us IS true! Hebrews 6:18. Interestingly, the God who will not and cannot lie directed our attention to the order and design that every one of us can observe empirically.
The Psalmist directs our attention to the universe,
Psalm 19:1-6The Apostle Paul urged idolaters to consider the natural world,
Acts 14:17The Apostle Paul addressed God's existence, its evidence, and its rejection by some human beings. He declared in
Romans 1:18-23:(to be continued)
God is Good, I love you all, in the Name of the King.
Kevin J.
Continued
Amazingly, NO ONE truly lives by that premise in any other area of life! Every person says he knows that things are true even though he cannot prove them empirically. For example, one may tell you about his/her parents, children, or siblings. If you have not seen them, do you know that they exist? If your mate or close friend tells you about and accident he saw recently, do you tell others about what you "know” even though you have no empirical knowledge? Do you know that Abraham Lincoln, Peter the Great, or Adolph Hitler actually lived? Do you have empirical knowledge of them? These are examples of how we all know things apart from or without empirical knowledge. This is called "fiducial knowledge.” It is knowledge based upon the truthfulness of the one relating the information to you. We all live by this premise daily! And yet, we are all SO cautious about living by this principle. Why? Has someone lied to you? Certainly! You thus realize that one who tells you information could be deceiving you whether intentionally or unintentionally!
Another kind of knowledge is "evidentiary” or "experiential knowledge.” Courts of law are based upon "evidentiary knowledge.” Judges and juries often have little if any empirical knowledge of one's crime. They did not see the accused person commit the illegal act. However, by the use "evidentiary knowledge,” the judge and jury can know that the accused is guilty.
(to be continued)
God is good, I love you all. In the name of the King.
Kevin J.
Continued
Others seem to be convinced that God exists because they have seen some artist's painting, Icon, or image. Some will advocate, "Even if there IS NO God, Christianity is still the best way of life." Often one affirms faith in God only to continue by saying, "No one can really KNOW if God exists." The next question is, "why be a believer then?" Every one of these statements is rooted in agnosticism, the idea that Christianity has NO certainty or basis for our beliefs. Thus, Christians are seen as merely gullible people who base their ideas upon fanciful theories that have no legitimate foundation.
True Christianity is completely different from the ideas mentioned above. TRUE Christianity is built upon a SOLID ROCK - absolute certainty that God DOES exist, and that man can and must know, respect, and obey God!
Understanding knowledge and how we know anything is extremely important to answering the question, "Do You KNOW That God Exists?" When discussing religion, atheists, agnostics, and many religious people live by the premise that the only way you can know anything for sure is by having empirical evidence. What is empirical evidence? It is knowledge based upon the experience of the five senses; what you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. Thus, atheists are SURE that God does not exist because they cannot see Him. So, atheists, agnostics, and "uncertain unbelievers" claim that they cannot "know" anything concerning the supernatural without empirical knowledge.
(To be continued)
God is good. I love you all in Christ our King and Savior.
Kevin J.
You, a human being, have lived for a number of years in this life. Perhaps you have heard some people totally deny the supernatural and others seem to be certain that there is NO supernatural being or "God." Those who deny the existence of the supernatural and of Divine Beings may see others who believe in God and the supernatural as dependent people who need a crutch for their emotional weaknesses or as mentally challenged people who seek assistance from above to help them overcome their struggles and to solve their problems. Many deny that "God" rally exists. They suggest that "He" is just a figment of people's imagination, or an idea (fable) that is passed down from parents to children.
Many religious people who claim to believe in God have almost the same position as those described in the previous paragraph. For example, a great percentage of people in "Christendom" will say, "There is NO WAY that I can KNOW that God exists! I just BELIEVE it!" Others seem to be convinced that God exists because they have seen some artist's painting, Icon, or image. Some will advocate, "Even if there IS NO God, Christianity is still the best way of life." Often on affirms faith in God only to continue by saying, "No one can really KNOW if God exists." The next question is, "why be a believer then?" Every one of these statements is rooted in agnosticism, the idea that Christianity has NO certainty or basis for our beliefs. Thus, Christians are seen as merely gullible people who base their ideas upon fanciful theories that have no legitimate foundation.
True Christianity is completely different from the ideas mentioned above. TRUE Christianity is built upon a SOLID ROCK - absolute certainty that God DOES exist, and that man can and must know, respect, and obey God!
To Be Continued
God is good, I love you all, In Jesus holy name.
Kevin J.
The southern kingdom had 20 kings and only a few did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and they too were punished and carried away by a foreign army, Babylon, and was there for 70 years. King Cyrus feared the God of Israel and permitted the remnant of the southern kingdom to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Of all the kings that both kingdoms had, none of them obeyed all of the rules that God gave them through Samuel to follow. God would speak to the prophets of Israel and give them hope of a king that would be faithful to God above all others. A sinless king, a Messiah who would deliver all of mankind from sin. King David speaks to this coming king who's kingdom will endure forever for all mankind, for all those who fear him and love him,
Psalm 145:9-13, "Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds." Daniel agrees, 2:44 "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever...The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." Praise be to the Holy and Living God of Heaven! He has given us a King above all kings, and a Lord above all Lords, he has given us Messiah. Brothers and sisters, we have a King! Amen.
Jim L
God made promises to Abraham that he would have a land to live in, have a family that would be so many they would be a nation and that through his seed he would raise up a king for all the people of the world. Over the next several hundred years God's people became so numerous, God raised up Moses to lead his people out of bondage from Egypt and God established a theocracy form of government with them. God as the head and Moses as his spokesman. God made a covenant with them that had all the rules for governing the people and how to worship him. They had a system of priests and judges to rule the people. Deu 17:8-10 says, "If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates; then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God chooses.
You shall come to the priests who are Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the verdict. You shall do according to the decisions of the verdict which they shall give you from that place which Yahweh chooses." The Lord, knowing the nature of man and how he is inclined to sin, prophesied to them just a few verses later how in the future they would break covenant with him, "Deut. 28:36, "Yahweh will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There you will serve other gods of wood and stone." The prophecy alludes to Israel installing a king and being punished for sin and being banished to another land. This happens when Israel's final judge Samuel, appoints his sons as judges over the people and they rebel against them because of his son's wickedness.
Jim L
What I want to do at this time is to take a careful look at that prophecy and go to our text in Luke 1:26-38 and view the prophecy from the standpoint of Mary and then go to Matthew 1:18-25 and view the prophecy from the standpoint of Joseph.
Isaiah 7:14 reads as follows: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel." [all Scripture references are from the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) unless otherwise noted.] The word sign, while not always referring to a miracle, does so in this text as Ahaz the king is told to ask for a sign "Ask for a sign from the LORD your God – it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven" (Isaiah 7:11). Ahaz refuses, so Isaiah said that the Lord Himself would give him a sign.
The difficulty with this prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 lies with the Revised Standard Version's translation of the Hebrew word almah as young woman. The King James Version, the American Standard Version, The New American Standard Bible, The English Standard Version, the Modern Literal Version and the New International version all translate almah as virgin.
In addition to Isaiah 7:14, the Hebrew word almah is used in Genesis 24:43, Exodus 2:8, Psalms 68:25, Proverbs 30:19, and Song of Solomon 1:3 and 6:8. H. C. Leupold concluded that it "cannot be denied that such a one is to be classified as a virgin" (156). In his work "The Virgin Birth of Christ", J. Gresham Machen indicated "there is no place among the seven occurrences of almah in the Old Testament where the word is used of a woman who was not a virgin" (288).
Who is the virgin mentioned here in Isaiah 7:14? In his commentary on Isaiah, Wayne Jackson lists the following possibilities:
Some have suggested she was the wife of Ahaz. But this is not possible since Abi, his wife (2 Kings 18:2), was already the mother of Hezekiah at this time. Others have opined that Isaiah's wife is in view; yet the prophet's wife had already given birth to a son (7:3), hence was not a virgin. The idea that the "virgin" was a personification of the house of Israel is a ridiculous attempt to escape the obvious import of the passage, The double-fulfillment theory, advocated by many, declares that the primary reference is to a girl of Isaiah's day (then a virgin, but later to marry, conceive, and bear a son), who serves as a type of the virgin Mary. Matthew, in the New Testament account (1:22), thus sees the virgin birth of Christ as a "typological fulfillment" of that unidentified Old Testament maiden. (21)
Even though some within the Lord's church hold to a double fulfillment view of this prophecy, I believe the evidence mitigates against such a view. Quoting Wayne Jackson again:
"First, if Matthew correctly applied Isaiah 7:14, then unquestionably a virgin birth was in the prophetic scope. It was a virgin who was to conceive; not a virgin who would become a non-virgin and then, by sexual intercourse, conceive. This would suggest that if Isaiah alluded to a girl of his own time, then history testified to two virgin births. If, on the other hand, Isaiah referred to a girl who was a virgin at the time of his prophecy, but would later marry and normally conceive a child, an antitypical interpretation regarding Mary could be made similarly, and the virgin birth of Christ denied." (21)
Oswald T. Allis stated that "if the birth of Immanuel in Isaiah's time was a perfectly natural one, this analogy would clearly favor the rejection of the virgin birth of Jesus" (13).
Using Isaiah 7:14, Matthew writes, "Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated 'God is with us'" (1:22-23). Matthew uses the Greek word Parthenos, unquestionably denoting a virgin. He also uses an expression found ten times in his gospel, "that it might be fulfilled," an expression found nowhere else in the New Testament. What we have here in Matthew is an inspired interpretation of an Old Testament prophecy. In the use of the Immanuel, we have set forth the dual nature of Christ. He is "God with us," or the God-man of prophecy. Notice also that in Matthew 1:16, Matthew says, "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." Matthew is careful to avoid the notion that Joseph was the biological father of Jesus. He does not say that Joseph "begat" Jesus as in the other cases in his genealogy (v. 16).
When Joseph found out that Mary his betrothed wife, was with child, he assumed that she had been guilty of sexual relations with another man and was about to put her away or divorce he secretly. But the angel informed Joseph saying, "…don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20).
God is good, I love you all. In Jesus name, amen and amen.
Kevin J.
The first criminal on the cross hurled insults at Jesus because he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. But the second criminal believed. That faith was reflected in what he said to Jesus.
Jesus did not look at all the bad things this man had done. Neither will the Father when this criminal dies. Because the Bible teaches that on the basis of our faith in Jesus, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus on us.
This criminal received salvation and could enter paradise not because of good things he had done. He had no more chance to do good things. Yet righteousness does not come from doing good deeds. It comes from a relationship with God attained through faith in Jesus Christ.
God is good, I love you all in Jesus name,
Amen and amen.
Kevin J.
Luke 23:39-43 MLV
Two criminals spoke to Jesus. One insulted Him while the other affirmed Him. Notice Jesus did not even respond to the first one who insulted Him. He totally ignored him and concentrated on what is important – ministering to the one who believed Him.
Would we be so tolerant with people that have insulted us? Usually when we hear an insult we respond immediately, "What did you just say?" Yet Jesus demonstrated what true love is. True love is slow to anger.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
When Jesus was on the cross, there were two criminals beside Him. One of the criminals hurled insults at Jesus. But the other one said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "Today you will be with me in paradise." That criminal did a lot of bad things in his life. That was why he was crucified. But Jesus was willing to overlook all the wrong that he had done. God does not condemn us for our past. He is willing to accept us as we are.
Do you feel that you need to straighten yourself out before you approach God? Jesus would say this to you.
Mark 2:17
God wants to accept you as you are. Jesus demonstrated this when He was willing to accept the criminal who did so much wrong he was sentenced to be crucified.
Is there some sin in your life that you think God would not be willing to accept? Why don't you confess that sin to God and ask Him to take away the guilt and condemnation.
God is good, I love you all, in Christs name, Amen and amen.
Kevin J.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Romans 13:1-14
We are told to stand with the government because it is commanded. We are not to protest, riot, or speak evil of the leader of our people.
This is what the apostle Paul said when he was ordered to be slapped by the high-priest
Acts 23:3
I am not here to talk against the government. I do care about the government passing bills that would allow God's people to be persecuted because of truth?... the point is to show love toward those who are in sin and help lead them to Christ. By doing this we are saving a soul that is dead. It is not to condemn the government for its poor choice of thing to approve of.
...[T]he Lord... never once condemned the government of His day.... If we set our eyes on Christ, then we will be at peace in our tormented souls.
God is good, I love you all, in Christs name, Amen and amen. Kevin J.
In Jesus Name, Amen and amen, Kevin J