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Today's devonational is from the Gospelminutes:
Christ Arose and He Ever Lives
An excerpt: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the
basic, vital facts upon which the gospel of Christ is founded. The apostles
of the Lord, told by Him to go preach to all men everywhere, made the
resurrection a central theme of almost every recorded sermon.
Read the full lesson here: http://www.wfcoc.org/WFCoC/Minutes_2009_files/gm091609.pdf
Todays devontional comes from the bobyyoungresources.com page..Permission to use as stated on the webpage.
What Matters? What Doesn’t Matter? (8)
God desires to be recognized for “who he is”—God of gods, Lord of lords, King of kings. God wants to be known and recognized–acknowledged in his perfection. We have affirmed that understanding God requires understanding God’s grandeur and glory through (1) the human dilemma and the ultimate result of separation from God, (2) the plan of God developed through Jesus Christ with the potential to restore lost relationship, and (3) the New Testament as the communication of the covenant agreements. With these foundations in place, we are ready to move ahead.
God desires that the recognition of his nature result in respect and response. Both respect and response are shaped by the nature of God and by recognition of the New Covenant sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Recognizing and acknowledging the nature of God leads to the conclusion that how our worship reflects and honors God’s nature is important to God. How one responds to God through the access he freely and graciously grants in Jesus Christ must also be important. These two topics are the subjects of this article and the next.
Simply stated, how human beings worship God matters to God. It cannot be the case that any and all kinds of worship are acceptable. Both the Bible and human reasoning suggest that there is such a thing as unacceptable worship. How does God desire that his human creation demonstrate respect and honor for his nature and his actions on their behalf?
While aspects of OT worship appealed to the physical senses and occurred primarily in the physical realm, the NT teaches that God desires a spiritual worship or service (Romans 12:1-2). The context of this passage suggests that under the new covenant our lives are presented to God as priestly sacrifice. Because the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient payment for sins once for all, worship is centered in remembering that sacrifice. The early church participated in the Lord’s Supper weekly as a reminder and renewal of the covenant sacrifice. The Supper is not limited to a vertical dimension. It reaches both vertically and horizontally. Corporate worship is shared with a horizontal dimension, teaching, encouraging, and admonishing “one another.” God desires worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23, 24).
Participation in corporate worship never takes the place of individual worship, and vice versa. Worship is a mind—an understanding and attitude—which ascribes “worth” to God. Acceptable worship is rooted in God’s nature. God’s nature is the foundation and cause of our respect and honor for him. While one can live life “with an attitude” (a phrase often used negatively, but here used positively) of worship, biblical examples of worship are intentional. Worship does not occur accidentally as we go about the normal activities of life.
A longer article (or series of articles) would be required to set forth what the Bible teaches about worship, or even how the New Testament describes the worship of the first century churches. Suffice it to say here, by way of summary, that it matters to God that human creation recognize him and know him fully as he is (consistent with his nature), and that such recognition of God result in respect and honor worthy of God.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 6:15 am and is filed under Faith, God. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Today's devonational comes from the preacherfiles.com with permission to use as stated on the webpage
A Word To The House of Israel
Kevin Cauley---
And God said unto Ezekiel “Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:4,5). And God said unto Jeremiah “Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). And God said moreover to Jeremiah “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD…” (Jeremiah 2:2). And God said through Isaiah, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” (Isaiah 1:2). And God said through Jeremiah “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD” (Jeremiah 22:29). And God said to Ezekiel “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD” (Ezekiel 13:2).
And God said concerning his word to the Israelites through Isaiah “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12). So, God said through Jeremiah that he would send destruction upon the Israelites “Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:19). And God, through Ezekiel, tells us why he would do such a thing. “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 12:2).
And God explains more about this rebellious people, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD” (Isaiah 30:9). God said, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:2). God further says, “But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone” (Jeremiah 5:23). And God says to Ezekiel “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day” (Ezekiel 2:3).
Brethren, we are spiritual Israel (Romans 9:6-13; Galatians 6:16). Is it a wonder that the Holy Spirit through Paul would charge Timothy and all other gospel preachers until the end to “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Brethren, that time has come. “Preach the word.”
Ref. http://preachersfiles.com/a-word-to-the-house-of-israel/
I started a video series on some bible stories here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMXm_8oGP6E
A Merry Heart
by Jody L. Apple---thebible.net
Excerpt:"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Pr 12:25); "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast." (Pr 15:13,15); "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones." (Pr 14:10, 30); "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." (Pr 17:22)
"What does it mean to have a merry heart? Whatever it is, the verses cited above make it sound like it is something desirable, something that can even benefit us physically.
Read the rest of the lesson at: http://www.thebible.net/study/articles/AMerryHeart-jla.html
Today's devonational comes from thebiblestudy.net webpage:
Are We Saved By Faith Only?
By Ron Boatwright
Today the vast majority of the religious world says that they are saved by "faith only". Many good people erroneously think they are saved when they "accept Jesus as their personal saviour" and say the "sinner’s prayer". But where in the Bible are we told this? It is not there. This may sound good and impressive, but this is false. This is a lie of Satan. This is something man has dreamed up. Then two or three weeks later many churches encourage people to be baptized to join that denomination. They say that one does not have to be baptized to be saved because they say you are saved before you are baptized. I cannot think of a more flagrant crime against both God and Man than to teach lost sinners, who want to be saved something different than what God says in the Bible.
In this case if they are eventually baptized, their sins are not forgiven and they are not saved because their baptism was not for this purpose. They still have every sin they have ever committed and are still lost because they have believed a lie. As we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth."
"Faith only" will not save anyone. In James 2:19 & 24 we read, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the devils believe and tremble….You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." If all we do is believe, then we are no better than the devils. We must obey what God says to do, when God says to do it, how God says to do it, and for the reason God says to do it.
Jesus says in Mark 16:16, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". There is nothing hard to understand about this. A person has to have help to misunderstand what the Lord says here. Until people do what Jesus says that one must do to be saved then they are still hopelessly lost.
Ref: http://www.netbiblestudy.net/bulletin/index.htm
Today's devonational comes from the gospelway.com webpage, with permission to use as stated on the webpage.
Number Discrepancies in Old Testament History
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The Bible is often attacked by critics, especially regarding books of Old Testament history, because of obvious discrepancies between numbers given in some Bible accounts as compared to parallel passages in other accounts. Several such instances could be considered, but we will focus on four that are representative of the group: (1) the number of arms-bearing men in Judah and Israel (cf. 2 Samuel 24:9 to 1 Chronicles 21:5); (2) the number of Syrian charioteers slain by David (cf. 2 Samuel 10:18 to 1 Chronicles 19:18); (3) the number of stalls in Solomon’s stables (cf. 1 Kings 4:26 to 2 Chronicles 9:25); (4) the number of baths in the "molten sea" (cf. 1 Kings 7:23,26 to 2 Chronicles 4:5).
Note to begin with that these discrepancies are unconvincing as evidence against Bible inspiration simply by virtue of the fact that they are so obvious and glaring! Had these variations existed at the time the Old Testament books were written, surely the writers themselves would have noticed them. Even if they were uninspired, they would have corrected such glaring differences. This of itself argues that the differences did not exist when the Bible was written but must have been introduced into the text in later years.
Each of these controversies can be resolved by understanding one fundamental fact about the Hebrew numbering system. The Jews, instead of writing numbers out in word form, often simply used a numeral to indicate a quantity. Many of their symbols resembled one another very closely, the distinctions sometimes being based on such minor details as a dot or a variation in the width or length of a certain part of the figure.
Since the Holy Spirit guided the writers, the numbers in the original manuscripts of the Old Testament would have been written identically in each of the parallel verses. However, with the passing of time these manuscripts no doubt faded or became smudged so that, when later copies were made, certain symbols might easily have been mistaken for others. Combine this with the fact that the copyists and translators of the scriptures were themselves fallible and uninspired, and it becomes quite plausible for errors to have entered the text which we today would have no way of correcting.
Adam Clarke makes this point as follows:
To attempt to reconcile them [the number discrepancies] in every part is lost labour; better at once acknowledge what cannot be successfully denied, that although the original writers of the Old Testament wrote under the influence of the Divine Spirit, yet we are not told that the same influence descended on all copiers of their words…(Vol. II, page 378) [emphasis Clarke’s] ,
Although other solutions have been offered for most of these controversies, this one basic argument seems to be the most reasonable explanation in almost every case.
In closing, we emphasize that no issue can be proved to be a contradiction until there is no possible, logical answer for it. In this case, when the facts are understood, the amazing thing is that we have so few such difficulties in the Bible as compared to other ancient literature. Finally, and most important, we note that not one of these disputed passages deals with points of doctrine or with commands that are essential to human redemption.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. Holy Bible with Commentary and Critical Notes. Old Testament, Vol. II. Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1826.
Haley, John W. An Examination of the Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible. Nashville: B. C. Goodpasture, 1958.
Keil, C. F. and F. Delitzsch. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. translated by James Martin. Vol. VI. Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1950
For more information on this subject, please visit our Bible Instruction web site at www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our in-depth articles there about Bible claims to inspiration and the evidence for God, Jesus, and the Bible.
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© Copyright Feb., 1964, 2009, David E. Pratte
Today's devonational is the second part of the Truth for the World's lesson on "second coming"
An excerpt: THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST - 2
What does the Bible teach about the second coming of Christ? Is He coming again? When is He coming? What will He do when He returns? These are all questions which will be answered from the Scriptures in our study today.
Today's lesson is part two of a study of the second coming of Christ. Last time we dealt with some false ideas about the second coming of Christ, particularly examining the premillennial theory which is so prevalent in the religious world today. However, we noticed that the idea of a literal thousand year reign of Christ, along with the concept of a Rapture, are simply not taught in the Bible. These theories have arisen through the misapplication of figurative passages of Scripture. Revelation 20 has been misused by many to teach the idea of a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth.
Click on link for full story: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/secondcoming2.htm
Today's devonational is part 1 of a two part lesson, from the truth for the world webpage: "Second coming"
An excerpt:THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST - 1
There is much speculation and many false ideas about the return of Christ. Some say He will return to reign here on earth for a literal 1000 years. They speak of the rapture that will take place, as the saints are taken suddenly from the earth. But what does the Bible teach about the second coming of Christ? "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). These words of the angels to the apostles were spoken as the Lord ascended to the Father after His redemptive work on earth was complete. He had been raised from the dead by the power of God, and proved Himself to be the Son of God. Just as those who stood there on that day saw Him ascend, every eye shall also behold His second coming. However, there is a great deal of confusion and false teaching concerning Christ's second coming. Today we are going to see what the Bible teaches about the second coming of Christ
Click on link for full story: http://www.tftw2.org/Articles/secondcoming1.htm
Today's devonational comes from the Gospel Minutes :" Power and Consequences of Sin"
An excerpt: 'No one goes into a life of sin without hurting
those who love him. When a child goes wrong, the
parents suffer. When parents go wrong, the
children suffer. After the rebellion and defeat of
Absalom, David is brought the news that his son
is dead. Read David's words in 2 Sam. 18:33 and
see if Absalom's sins hurt David: "0 my son
Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had
died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, my son!" A
drunken man breaks the hearts of his wife and
his children, the ungodly woman hurts her
children and her husband. And quite often the
children walk in the same sins as their parents."
Read the rest of this artice here: http://www.wfcoc.org/WFCoC/Minutes_2009_files/gm090409.pdf
(this is in pdf format)
