Blog Tools
Edit your Blog
Build a Blog
RSS Feed
View Profile
« May 2010 »
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
You are not logged in. Log in
Entries by Topic
All topics  «
Group One
Tripod Home
Tripod Build
Register Your Domain
Group Two
Lycos Home
Lycos Search
Lycos News
Bearingthecross
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Direct Guidance, Revelation, and Prophecy in Modern Times?

　

Does God speak directly to people today? Some people claim that the Holy Spirit directly leads them in their lives. Some even claim to be prophets like in the New Testament. What does the Bible say about this?

Before the Bible had been completed, the Holy Spirit truly did speak directly to certain men who were called "prophets." This was necessary in order for men to know God's will, since it did not yet exist in written form. But today we do have the Bible, so do we still need these direct forms of inspiration?

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 plainly says that someday the gift of prophecy would cease, because it was only partial. This means that no one prophet received all God's will at any one time. Instead, the revelation came gradually, or "partially," to many different men over a long period of time. But verse 10 tells us that, "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." "That which is perfect" means that which is complete or has all of its parts. When God had fully revealed all the truth that He intended to reveal, then the revelation would be complete and the gift of prophecy would no longer be needed. So it would cease.

This may be compared to the process of building a house. As long as the house is only partially built, the carpenters hammer and saw in order to finish it. But when the house is complete, the hammering and sawing cease, because they are no longer needed. In the same way, direct revelation ceased when God's will for man had been fully revealed.

When did this happen? Speaking to the original apostles in John 16:13, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. This tells us that the complete truth was revealed to the apostles in the first century. This truth has now been recorded for us in the Bible. James 1:25 calls it the "perfect law of liberty." "That which is perfect" has come. And just as God predicted, when the Scriptures were completed, direct revelation ceased because it was no longer needed.

For a complete and thorough study of this subject, please go to www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our free online articles about miracles and direct revelation today.

　

(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 10/24/2007

(With permission to use as stated on the gospelway.com webpage)

Posted by bearingthecross at 10:21 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Daily Devonational

"Those Folks Are Different!"

Kevin Cauley --Preacher Files

This past week I was having a conversation with a friend who is a member of a denominational church. She mentioned to me that she wanted to come visit us and that she had told her "pastor" that she was going to visit us. Her "pastor" asked who we were and my friend responded, "the church of Christ." The "pastor" said, "Are you sure you want to do that? Those folks are different!"

There are many members of the church today who would react negatively to that analysis. They would say, "Oh, we’re no different than any of the denominations around us." To these, it is an embarrassment that they are considered to be different by the denominations. These would want to change the church into just another denomination, to legitimize and acquire instrumental music, to destroy the autonomy of the local congregation, to call the preacher, "pastor", to get rid of the name "church of Christ," etc. until the church is no longer distinctive from those around us. However, that would not be the way of God or Christ.

We read in the scriptures that God has always demanding of his people that they be different. In Deuteronomy 14:2, Moses tells the children of Israel that they are different. He says, "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." The word "holy" means to be set apart, different. God wanted the children of Israel to be a "peculiar people." The new English Standard Version translates this phrase "treasured possession." Certainly something that is a treasured possession is different from everything else one has and is set apart.

In the New Testament as well, Peter quotes from this passage in Deuteronomy and applies it toward "Spiritual Israel" – Christians. Peter writes, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). God wants us, as Christians, to be different. Paul writes to Titus these words regarding Jesus, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" Titus 2:14). Jesus died so that we could be different. We read in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." In order to be God’s children, the church must be separate, distinct, unique, different.

So, are we different? Yes, we are, and I am glad that we are. Today we live in a time when denominations around us are conforming to the world. We hear of denominations who condone abortion, homosexuality, fornication, and adultery. The church of Christ does not condone such activities because God’s word condemns these things. Instead of conforming to the way that the world would have the church, the church ought to be demanding of individuals that their lives be transformed through repentance and renewal of mind. In Romans 12:2 we read, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Are we different? Yes, we are. We are different because we have been transformed by Christ to be a people who are holy, the children of God, separate from that which is sinful; different from the way the world would mold religion in its own image today. It is our differences from everyone else that define who we are as Christians. We should never be embarrassed of that! The world and the denominations may think us "strange" (1 Peter 4:4) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. One day, Jesus will return and all will bow and God will be glorified, not because of our similarities with the world, but because of our differences (Matthew 25:34).

*With permission to use as stated on the preacherfiles.com webpage.

Posted by bearingthecross at 11:50 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Friday, 21 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Today's devonational is the last part of the four part lesson on Philippians from the Truth for
the world webpage.

An excerpt: "PEARLS FROM PHILIPPIANS - 4

Today marks the final lesson in this series of lessons, each dealing with highlights from each of the four chapters of this great epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Chapter 4 might be described as a chapter which gives a formula for peace, a peace "which passes all understanding." Surely we all seek peaceful living; yet, do we seek it from the proper source?

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/pearls4.htm


Posted by bearingthecross at 9:42 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Todays devonational is part 3 in of the lesson from Truth for the World, entitled: "PEARLS FROM PHILIPPIANS - 3"

Today we are looking at Chapter 3, a chapter that we might say deals with the theme of sacrificial living. Truly, if we are to please God and Jesus Christ his Son, it is only through a life of sacrifice.

The greatest sacrifice which was ever made was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, the shedding of His precious blood. This third chapter of Philippians, as we continue to look at some "Pearls from Philippians" is really a chapter that deals, to a great extent, with sacrifice. Paul talked about some sacrifices he made, some things he gave up, in order to become a follower of Christ. He said he didn't mind it at all: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Philippians 3:7-9).


* Read the rest of the article here: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/pearls3.htm


Posted by bearingthecross at 9:59 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Today's devonational is part 2 of the lessons coming from Truth for the World webpage:

　

PEARLS FROM PHILIPPIANS - 2

Excerpt: "Paul's epistle to the Philippians -- what a beautiful epistle it is! In our last study together, we highlighted Chapter 1, as we are in a four-part study, devoting one study to each of the four chapters in this book. Of course, by doing that, we may only highlight this great epistle; we cannot examine every rich verse of scripture in it in detail. We might say that we can only extract some of the "Pearls from Philippians." Oh, and what pearls they are!" ---TFTW

　

Link to rest of article: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/pearls2.htm


Posted by bearingthecross at 10:55 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Today' s daily devonational comes from two sources: a article from my church's bulletin, and a lesson from the Truth for the World webpage:

　

1) PEARLS FROM PHILIPPIANS - 1

With this lesson today, we begin a series of four lessons in the study of Philippians. What a great epistle this is -- the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Philippians! It has been called "Paul's love letter." There is a great deal that is said in this wonderful writing that is, certainly, extremely valuable to us today. In fact, it is an encouraging epistle which, if read and studied carefully, and if followed in terms of its teaching, may bring the same encouragement to us today---TFTW

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/pearls1.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Each day is a storehouse given you fresh every morn from God's hand;

Do you stop to think of this when at its door you stand?

Twenty-four empty, waiting hours, all ready for you to fill with worthwhile thoughts and worthwhile

deeds and service, if you will.

You're given a chance to store away treasurers of love and joy, and satisfaction of work well done

that time cannot destroy. So put your best into all your day with eyes opened wide to see, and eager

hands stretched out to grasp each opportunity.---Unknown Author, taken from church bulletin.

Posted by bearingthecross at 10:57 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Monday, 17 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Todays daily devonational comes from the June 26th 2009 editon of the Gospel Minutes

Excerpt: "The Real Deal
What sets Christians apart? What makes
them different? When you interact with people,
how can you tell if someone is a real Christian or not?" --Gospel Minutes newsletter

Read the rest of the article in PDF format: http://www.wfcoc.org/WFCoC/Minutes_2009_files/gm062609.pdf


Posted by bearingthecross at 11:32 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Daily Devonational

The Topic is Not Treasures but Trust

By Bob Young

 

Text: Matthew 6:19-24

 

The Content of the Sermon on the Mount: Wisdom Literature

We come today to one of the great and familiar texts of the NT. Because it is part of the

Sermon on the Mount, we meet an interesting genre question. The Sermon is set in the larger

context of the Gospels, and is frequently identified as wisdom literature. Blenkinsopp suggests

that wisdom and law are two great rivers which eventually flow together in Christian theology.

He also suggests that Matthew in his Gospel intended to place the teaching of Jesus within the

ongoing tradition of Israelite and Jewish wisdom. Matthew seems interested in presenting Jesus

as the wise teacher. Thus Matthew organizes Jesus' teachings into five discourses, perhaps

modeled on the Pentateuch. Wisdom literature is a broad genre. There is no doubt that the OT

wisdom tradition continues in NT, as wisdom is used in the NT with a variety of nuances. It

seems that Jesus recognized two types of wisdom—the one accepted and the other rejected.

 

"There is in the Sermon on the Mount the clearest and fullest approach to the wisdom method to be

found in the teachings of Jesus. The love of life and learning of large lessons with spiritual import from

nature, both of which characterize the sages of the OT, are evidenced in Jesus' longest sermon of record.

Even the short, pithy, sometimes antithetical method of the wisdom writers seems to have been

employed by Jesus."

 

The Context of the Sermon on the Mount

The structure of the Sermon on the Mount is complex, and there are many excellent treatments

of the subject, but to survey those is beyond the scope of this little essay. Consider this

overview of the Sermon. First, the Beatitudes are followed by several admonitions and

summary. Second, six contrasts (You have heard it said…but I say to you….) are summarized in

Jesus’ concern for righteousness. Chapter 6 treats three areas where righteousness can go

astray and follows with three negative admonitions. The sermon concludes with several

contrasts—this time representing kingdom choices. The kingdom contrast community will be

established on different principles, different practices, and different priorities.

 

The Choices of the Sermon on the Mount

Sermonic themes such as blessing and righteousness are typical of wisdom literature, as is the

rhythm of the Sermon—principles, practices and priorities; contrasts, new constructs, choices.

What is the focus of life? What shall we run after? What do we seek? What can we trust?

 

I think of three illustrations. First, John Updike, in "The Bulgarian's Poetess," writes, "Actuality

is a running impoverishment of possibility." On too many days, the minister's life resembles

"Let's Make a Deal." Which door will I choose? What shall I do? By what power will I accomplish

it? Whom do I trust? Solomon, allowed by God to choose one thing, chose wisdom.

Second, consider Billy Crystal and the movie "City Slickers." What do you do, where do

you go, how do you respond when life is boring, routine, and meaningless, and you are caught

up in sameness? Crystal's character in the movie leaves the corporate world to be part of a cattle drive. There he meets Curly, played by Jack Valance. One memorable scene from the

movie has Curly saying that all of life is summed up in finding that "one thing." That life is about

finding "one thing" speaks to our priorities.

Finally, Paul in Philippians 3 says, "I am focused on one thing, one thing I do. I forget the

past, I forge on to the future, because there is a prize there worth more than anything else." In

the teachings of Jesus, the same truth is present in the parables of the hidden treasure and the

pearl of great price (Matthew 13).

 

The Content of Matthew 6:19-24

In preaching and in life, few tasks are more difficult than discerning what matters, what

is important, and to what we are called. We are surrounded by the siren songs of multiplied

missions, opportunities, numberless challenges, and pressing needs. What shall we do? Where

shall we spend our time? The trivia of the urgent often finds actuality impoverishing possibility.

To turn from the trivia of the urgent to the priority of the essential is a first step toward

wisdom. In life, there are plenty of opportunities to spend our money, cut an ethical corner,

and do our own thing.

 

Trust and treasures—where we spend our resources

Wisdom literature sharpens our focus and defines our priorities. In ministry, I must ask

myself, where is my focus--on Jesus or on self? What shall I think about? tomorrow? next

Sunday's sermon? For ministers, this is a special problem, for our tomorrow is often intimately

wrapped up in "kingdom things." My very life is "kingdom things"--at least I can rationalize it so.

Can I really be focused on kingdom things if I am not focused on Jesus Christ, the king? Can I

really be focused on kingdom things if I am relying upon my own abilities to get my tasks done?

Everyday life presents the same challenge for every one of us. Dependence and trust

lets go and lets God. We can only store treasure in heaven when we see the temporary nature

of this world and decide that storing up things here is ultimately foolish.

 

Trust and tactics—law and ethics

How will I get it all done? Ministry is always a place for dependence and a time for trust.

Where can I find refuge, focus, direction, priority? Jesus says such are kingdom issues (Mt. 6:33-

34). In ministry as in life, our answers are in the kingdom matters, not in the material world.

Merely quoting the verses provides no panacea. The passage demands interpretation,

because Jesus responds to our questions with the same words, "Seek first kingdom things." Can

following Jesus really be that demanding? Are priorities really that important? What price are

we willing to pay—even to compromising our own ethics? If law and wisdom merge in Jesus’

sermon, we must see that the ethics of the law have not been removed—they have been

exalted to a higher place where they are no longer an exterior concern but an interior reality.

 

Trust and tasks—doing whose thing?

My task is not to identify your kingdom things. My task is to remind you that all of life is

in finding your one thing--"your kingdom things"--and pursuing it. Pursue it according to your

talents, abilities, inclinations, personality, preferences, and opportunities. But pursue it trusting

in God's power, not your own. Find your kingdom role; seek God's power to fulfill that role. To

say, "don't worry about what you cannot do--do what you can do" raises the wrong issue. Today I will seek God's will and God's way by God's power, for today. Tomorrow will take care

of itself. That is trust. ---From the Bob Young resource page; http://www.bobyoungresources.com/articles.php#text

With permission to used as stated on the webpage

Posted by bearingthecross at 11:22 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Daily Devonational

Today's Daily Devonation comes from the Gospel Minutes newsletter entitled;" Lessons from Two Dead Men" From the June 19th 2009 edition

The article is based on the story out of luke 16: 19-31 parable of the begger and the rich man

An excerpt from the article" The above story of the rich man and Lazarus
is a familiar passage of Scripture to most of us. It
is often used as a scriptural reference, and quite
often is completely misapplied. There have been
long arguments as to whether this was a parable
or an actual event" of history which Jesus relates."

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.wfcoc.org/WFCoC/Minutes_2009_files/gm061909.pdf
This is a PFD format file


Posted by bearingthecross at 12:12 PM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Daily Devonational

The Apocrypha and the Canon of the Bible

�mp;euro;€

The apocrypha is a group of books found in the Old Testament in Catholic Bibles, but non-Catholics do not accept them as inspired. Some seven books and about that many portions of other books are included.

While I believe the apocrypha do not belong in the Bible, I also sincerely believe that the doctrinal differences between Catholics and non-Catholics are not fundamentally caused by the differences between their Bibles. That is, I believe I can use the Catholic Bible, complete with apocrypha, to demonstrate the truth about every major point of difference I have with Catholicism. Hence, I conclude that the apocrypha is not the major difference between Catholics and non-Catholics. Nevertheless, we do need to know, of course, whether or not these books belong in the Bible.

If you go to our Gospel Way site at www.gospelway.com/instruct/, you can find there an article about the preservation of the Bible. This article deals in general with the question of whether we today have the Bible as God's complete and perfect revelation, or whether parts have been lost or changed over the years, etc. The apocrypha is just one aspect of that study (see specifically the last section of that article).

The main point to remember (as discussed in our article about the preservation of the Bible) is that the books of the Bible which we have, and which we all agree are from God, promise that God intended for the Bible to completely reveal His will for man. Therefore He promised to preserve it by His power so it would always be available for man's instruction. Our faith in the Bible, as we have it, is not fundamentally based on specific evidence regarding every particular book, but on our faith that God promised He would preserve the Bible. Men have carefully studied the issue of what books belong in the canon, but such men are simply tools God has used to fulfill His promise to preserve His word. Our faith is in God's promise, not in the men.

The preservation of the Old Testament demonstrates that God has fulfilled His promise to preserve His word. We can be sure that the Old Testament was properly preserved, because Jesus and His disciples used the Old Testament exactly as the Jews of Palestine in that day accepted it; they never once criticized the Jews choice of what books to include. This is proof positive that God kept His promise and did preserve His word. Since the New Testament was preserved in exactly the same way as the Old Testament, I conclude it too is accurately preserved today, just like the Old Testament.

Specifically regarding what books belong in the Old Testament, it is a known fact that the Jews of Palestine in Jesus' day did not accept the apocryphal books as being inspired. They knew which books they believed to be canonical, and those books are the ones now found in non-Catholic Bibles. Even the Catholic Bible admits that the Jews did not accept books such as 1 Maccabees, etc. (this is often openly admitted in the introduction to such books in Catholic Bibles). If the Jews erred there, would not Jesus and His apostles have said so?

Another argument against the apocrypha is that they were not quoted in the New Testament. But that is less important to us than what books were known to be accepted by the Jews. If the Jews had been wrong about this, Jesus would surely have said so. Instead He just took their Scriptures and cited them as Divine Authority.

It is true that the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament includes the apocrypha, but that does not prove they were considered to be inspired. My copy of the Septuagint sets the apocrypha apart from the other Old Testament books, as though they are an appendix. Other translations (including, I believe, the Vulgate) included the apocrypha, even though the men who made them did not think those books were inspired. Again, the Jews of Jesus' day knew that these books were included in the Septuagint, but they still did not consider these books inspired, and Jesus never disagreed with them about what books they accepted. That is the issue.

It is also not really an issue as to when the Jews made an official, formal statement expressing their rejection of the apocrypha. The point is that the Jews in Jesus' day did know what they considered to be Scripture, and they did not accept the apocrypha. Yet Jesus and the apostles used those Scriptures without ever disputing with the Jews about their view of what books are canonical. If there was doubt about this, Jesus and His apostles would have dealt with the issue. The Jews did eventually make an official list of accepted Scripture, and that list agrees with what Palestinian Jews in the first century believed, and it did not include the apocrypha.

Finally, remember that the apocryphal books are all in the Old Testament, which no longer applies to us as Divine law today. (See our articles about this at www.gospelway.com/instruct/.) We all agree on what books belong in the New Testament, which is the portion of Scripture that includes God's laws for us today.

�mp;euro;€

(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005

With permission to use as stated on the gospel gate way site.

ref article: The Preservation of the Bible:
The Transmission, Ancestry, and Canon of Scripture

http://www.gospelway.com/bible/bible_preservation.php


Posted by bearingthecross at 10:37 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 13 May 2010 10:39 AM EDT
Post Comment | Permalink

Newer | Latest | Older