Blog Archives - Bible Walking

if my people...

8/31/2018

  If My People…

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)

WE HAVE HEARD AND QUOTED THIS VERSE SO MANY TIMES that it may be altogether mechanical and meaningless. I hope not. Where shall we find a verse in all the Word of God that tells us what to do to be one with God? Anytime we want to exercise ourselves in these words from God, we can get the results God has promised. These words are so simple and powerful. Will you discover them, again, for the first time?

THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY TODAY. I hope you will go about your work the whole day, saying this verse many times and then this verse:

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 31, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. Psalms 145-147 P.M. 1Corinthians 11:1-15
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
Spirit of the Living God (2:24) (Mixed Choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK-O5nfL1Mo
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

prayer and ministry of the word

8/29/2018

Prayer and Ministry of the Word
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:2-4)

THE BOOK OF ACTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT as “The Acts of the Apostles.” But a good number of Bible students prefer to call it: “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” In 1895 A. T. Pierson wrote a book by that title. When I wrote my friend, Dr. Bill Compton, last year, about an issue in the Book of Acts, he immediately referred me to A.T. Pierson’s book as the best book on the Book of Acts.

IT WAS HIS LAST BOOK RECOMMENDATION TO ME before the Lord called him home. I found the book on Amazon Books and worked my way through it, marking it in many places. I commend the book to anyone interested in enriching your mind with the Book of Acts, alongside reading the book of Acts from your Bible.

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD FROM GENESIS 1:1 THROUGH REVELATION 22:21. But all of it is not equally enjoyable to read nor equally useful to us average folks. I have noticed that for some Christians there seems to be a “hands-off” stigma hanging over the book of Acts as though it is somehow a dangerous book or an impractical book. But, we need to remind ourselves that God put all the books into the Bible for His own reason: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Timothy 3:16)

I LIKE TO READ THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS ONCE A YEAR so that I’m reminded of the real framework of the first Christians. The Day of Pentecost occurred only one time, but the pattern of witnessing for Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit is timeless. If we would obey the Lord in service to Him, we must do it in His power and at His direction. We can do nothing for God in the weak power of human flesh. We get to help the Lord a bit, but salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). Salvation is not of God’s helper-servants.

OUR TEXT TODAY IS ABOUT THE APPOINTING OF DEACONS in the church at Jerusalem. This would give better service to those who needed food from sharing Christians and it would enable the twelve apostles to carry out their main ministry: prayer and the ministry of the Word.

ALL CHRISTIANS ARE APPOINTED TO ENGAGE IN PRAYER and the ministry of the Word, but not in the sense that the Apostles were commissioned, and not to the degree that the Apostles were involved. But this picture shows what is involved in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Before there can be effective communication of the Gospel, there must be time spent in the Word of God and in prayer.

DECIDING TO COMMIT ONESELF TO PRAYER AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD definite point in time and a definite act of one’s heart and mind. Otherwise, it probably is not going to happen. Oh, nobody in the church is against it. It’s just that we are not really for it unless someone else is going to do it. We need to provoke one another in this most important work of prayer and the ministry of the Word. It can be as simple as giving out good, well-written Gospel tracts. Or, it can be more involved as in opening the Bible and showing someone how to be saved. It can be listening to someone unburden their heart and praying with them.

IT CAN BE SOWING THE SEED, or watering the seed, or harvesting the seed when it has borne fruit. In this article, my point is to call attention to the fact that there is such a thing as one deciding to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. What would God have you to do? Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 30, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. Psalms 142-144 P.M. 1Corinthians 10:14-33
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
Showers of Blessing (2:27) (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrDwO0TQWjM
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

trust in god

8/29/2018

Trust in the Lord…

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

TRUST IS A WONDERFUL THING that we can observe taking place at almost every level of human and animal life on the earth. Recently we heard a thump noise on our back porch. It was almost time to feed the cat and lock him up for the night.

I LOOKED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR and there was a big coon that had stuck her hand into the lid on the churn and threw it aside onto the floor. She was after the cat food in the churn. I pushed the door open slightly and began telling her to move along. She slowly moved back against the wall and looked up at me but didn’t run. I told her several times to go on, careful to keep the door between me and her. If a coon is cornered they can make you a bloody mess in a pair of seconds. On the other hand, I have heard of coons and humans learning to trust each other like a dog or cat or horse. Some children have pet chickens, pet hens. Pet ducks; pet pigs, pet goats.

FINALLY, MAMA COON COMPLIED AND WEN OUT THE OPEN DOOR. At the bottom of the steps, she turned and looked up at me and then eased off back down into the woods. I put a brick on top of the churn lid. The next night there was a bigger noise and there lay the brick and the lid. Same coon, but this time she had brought her four nice-size cubs with her and they were all lined up on our back porch like they were ready for Sunday school. Beautiful! Cute!

I HAED TO SEND MAMA AND HER CUBS AWAY HUNGRY, but reluctantly they moved down the stairs and paused to look up at me. As they moved to the woods, the cat bounded up the stairs to take charge of his domain and have some supper.

THE TRUST WITHIN ANIMAL FAMILIES IS OUTSTANDING! The bonding and trust between domesticated animals and human beings is outstanding. The love and trust between children and animals is impressive. Our picture for today moves me to just stare at the picture and take it in. The dog is trusting that the little kid won’t hurt him and he little kid believes the dog is his closest friend.

IT REMINDS ME OF OLD TIGE, Grandpa’s old dog, that regularly killed rattlesnakes and copperheads and killed every dog that wandered onto his property. And yet, Old Tige was so gentle with children. In the late 40’s when I would take the truck and tools into the pasture field to replace a fence post, the cows would hear the commotion and come over to see what the noise was all about. They would stay until I left. Why can’t we be as curious and trusting in God as the cows can be curious and trusting of us?

THIS HAPPENED IN THE BIBLE.

IN MARK 7, A SYROPHENICIAN WOMAND SOUGHT JESUS to cast a devil out of her daughter. Jesus had walked a long way to the coast of Tyre and Sidon, maybe 150 miles. (This is where Elijah had stayed with a widow woman for a while, and they had a daily miracle of meal and oil being replenished daily until the drought ended. Elijah ended up raising the woman’s son from the dead.) Jesus toyed with the Syrophenician woman a bit to draw her out. She needed to say some things that were buried in her heart.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN if we are going to do business with God. It’s not enough to know a lot about the Bible. Some of it has to catch fire and burn. We have to be moved. God has to become a living reality to us.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. (Mark 7:27-29)

BUT NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS SAID HERE. In her house there were dogs in the house that got under the table at mealtime to lap up the fallen crumbs of food. These were not the wild dogs that roamed in packs and lived off dead animals. These were special, smaller dogs that were domesticated just like in thousands of homes today.

THIS ARTICLE IS NOT ABOUT CHILDREN AND THEIR DOGS. Have you noticed that if you spell dog backward, it spells: God! God made us and dogs to have the capacity to love each other. There are plenty of men that will shoot you if you mess with their dog. If you don’t know that, you should know it. It might save your life sometime. If we can trust our dog, why can’t we trust God?

THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT HAVING FAITH IN GOD. It’s about our text for today, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. God wants that from us. God wants that FOR us. We need to have that kind of trust in God. We have to exercise ourselves toward God in trusting Him if we want to have that kind of relationship with Him. Wouldn’t it be sad if we could trust our dog, but we can’t trust God? This is worth thinking about. God wants to be one with us. That’s the plan. And, if God is a stranger, His plan is not working.

AND IN THE MORNING, AS THEY PASSED BY, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mark 11:20-22)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 29, 2018 – WEDNESDAY
A.M. Psalms 139-141 P.M. 1Corinthians 10:1-13
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
Trust in the Lord (1:26) (Joseph Francis)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME_9aNBlEBI
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

LEAVING THIS LIFE

8/27/2018

Leaving this Life…
And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. (Genesis 49:33) …it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)

THE BIBLE, THE BOOK OF GOD, tells us where we came from, what we are doing here, and where we are going. Hollywood is not a good place to find out what you are doing here or your future beyond the grave. The Bible is the only book that speaks the future with authority. Each one of us is here for only a short time. A preacher asked a friend what the death rate was in his town. He replied: “One death per person.” When it’s your turn, are you ready?

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AMERICA'S FAREWELL TO SENATOR JOHN McCAIN. I’m including a link to Senator McCain’s farewell letter he wrote to America. The letter speaks of his love for America and his life that was well-lived. McCain was a true patriot but he was not always a conservative ally. I wish he and President Trump had buried the hatchet. The flag should fly at half-mast to honor this man. I must be faithful to the Word of God and remind us all that loving our country does not entitle us to a place in Heaven. Dying in battle to defend this wonderful country does not buy a ticket to Heaven.

JESUS SAID: Enter ye in at the strait(narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there-at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

HERE IS THE GOSPEL: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Corinthians 15:3-4) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

DO I HEAR SOMEONE SAYING, “Hey, I’m broadminded! I don’t like talk about a narrow gate?” Well, friend, I sure don’t want you working on my car or doing brain surgery on me. I want a narrow-minded surgeon working on me, a surgeon that understands precision. No thank you for a surgeon that does surgery just any old way. When we leave this life, we want a hope that is sure and not maybe-so.

MY FIRST WIFE, SHIRLEY, LEFT THIS LIFE IN HER SLEEP AT AGE 49. Our Great Granddaughter, Riley Clarke died at 15 months. You may think you have everything figured out, but you don’t. You may think you’re smart enough to live your life without God’s help, but you’re not. When you leave home, every morning, don’t leave mad at somebody in the family. The next time you see them might be in the funeral home. And another thing: when you leave home, make sure you’re ready to die, yourself.

PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS AND PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON were arch enemies for a while but by writing letters to each other after they retired, they became strong friends. They died the same day: July 4, 1826, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

I WAS SAVED IN OCTOBER 1943 AT AGE NINE IN A BEAN MARKET in Mountain City, Tennessee. Ever since that night, I have treasured the day I will be leaving this life for my home in Heaven. For that reason, one of my favorite songs is: “This World is Not My Home.” Family and friends are crossing over ahead of me. But my angel will come in his own good time.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO CROSS THE RIVER. EVERYBODY! It’s a matter of “when” and “where” you are going when you cross the river. Jesus said:… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

A STONE WATER CONDUIT WAS BEING BUILT OR REPAIRED THAT FED THE POOL of Siloam. Supporting towers were constructed to bear the weight of the stone waterway. They built scaffolds around the tower for the workmen to climb on. One day, one of those unfinished towers fell and killed eighteen workers. It was noised abroad that those men must have been bad sinners for God to allow them all to be killed like that. Jesus addressed that idea one day in His preaching:

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5)

…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2Corinthians 6:2) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 28, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. Psalms 136-138 P.M. 1Corinthians 9
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
This World Is Not My Home (2:11) (Calvary Male Trio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSVqU82Ge5M
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

how long has it been?

8/27/2018

How Long Has It Been Since You Talked with the Lord?
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6:10)

“THE BARRENNESS OF BUSYNESS! Nothing will make us as barren as busyness!” he declared to me as we passed in the hall of the Temple dormitory. I don’t remember his name, but I can see his face. He was not over nineteen, and the phrase: “the barrenness of busyness” had gotten hold of him. Did he think it was clever preaching or was he rebounding with a message from Heaven to his own heart? One thing was clear: he had found a diamond and he wanted everybody to look at it.

HE WAS ON THE SCHOOL WORK CREW, working his way through college. He was in the middle of a community of hundreds of people that were dedicated to walking with the Lord. But, looking back on it, I think his own soul was empty. In the middle of “God City,” he was barren!

HE HAD NO MESSAGE FOR A LOST MAN HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER on the sidewalk. He was busy and barren and bothered by it. He had found the cause. He had read something, or he had heard a sermon. He was telling everybody who would listen to his short sermon on “The Barrenness of Busyness.” Was it effective? Well, it’s been effective on me for over sixty years. I wish I could tell him how effective his little sermon has been.

HE MUST BE AN OLD MAN BY NOW. Many times, when I have been on empty, I have remembered what he said, and knew what to do. In that brief encounter of a few seconds, the Spirit of God used him to install a curtain rod and a curtain in my soul that would grace my window for years to come. His was one of the landmark statements I gleaned from students at Tennessee Temple. It would happen in seconds and last a lifetime. At the time, landmark statements don’t look special. It’s when they keep coming back for years; then you know it’s a landmark.

NOT FROM SOME OF THE MOST GIFTED BIBLE PREACHERS AND TEACHERS IN AMERICA who stood behind the chapel pulpit every day, but from other students who were there for the same reason I was there. They had gathered in from all over America and almost all of them were as poor as church mice but rich in zeal and energy. They were visionary! They wanted to serve God. It was also a place where we had to run in high gear all the time to keep up with work and study schedules. We ran low on sleep and sometimes low on time with the Lord. We were…busy.

“NOTHING WILL MAKE US AS BARREN AS BUSYNESS." If that’s too long, just say: “The Barrenness of Busyness!” What to do when our hearts have become cold? Simple: hold our hands out to the fire and get warm! A lot of Christians don’t know what to do when they have become empty, cold and grumpy inside. They are starving for the Word of God and fellowship with God. Jesus’ disciples had this problem when they were dismayed about Jesus being crucified and maybe they would be hunted down like wild dogs and killed. Two were walking along the road to Emmaus and Jesus came along but hid his identity from them.

●And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) These downcast disciples were transformed in an instant of time from their contact with Jesus. Jesus needed to have communion with the Father and we need to have communion with God. We are not complete within ourselves.

THE PROPHET DANIEL HAD SOME SMARTS. He was a teen-ager of royal blood from Jerusalem, now a captive in Babylon, in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. It was big, and it was busy. It was the capital of the world at that time. He and his fellows had all been castrated so they could keep their minds and energies on the King’s business.

DANIEL'S HEART BELONGED TO THE LORD. He had that settled to the bone, back there somewhere. Most likely His convictions were formed layer by layer from his mother’s knee. Knowledge can be programmed and mass-produced. Knowledge is something in the head. Convictions are something of a mystery, something you will die for. It is the heart that God looks upon and not our diplomas or our gift of gab.

BUT THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1Samuel 16:7)

DANIEL HAD PURPOSED IN HIS HEART that he would not defile himself with the king’s…anything. Somehow, he decided that he needed to meet with the Lord three times a day to keep himself in step with the Lord. Daniel’s resolve brings me to this question: How long has it been since you talked with the Lord? Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 27, 2018 – MONDAY
A.M. Psalms 132-135 P.M. 1Corinthians 8
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:31-32) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
How Long Has It Been? (2:30) (Jim Reeves)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe_kllNKXE0
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

pleasing god requires faith

8/23/2018

Pleasing God Requires Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAST GOD WILL ACCEPT FROM US in our reaching toward Him, this is the verse. There is only one other verse like it in the Bible, that I know of. For years, in my reading through the Bible, I paid little attention to this verse…until one day….it shook me! This is the starting place of relating to Almighty God! It’s like a statement made by Jeremiah:

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

JEREMIAH WAS A MAJOR PROPHET. Prophets in the Bible didn’t appear on the scene until the rebels had led the nation into ruin and the judgement of God was hanging over their heads. Jeremiah told them day after day that God was going to judge the nation of Judah severely. Mixed in with his message of doom Jeremiah told them that they would find God when they were willing to search for Him with all their heart. The message was specific to the Jews of that time, but it is a universal message that works for individuals in any nation in any century. It’s true today for you and me, my friend.

BUT, WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA to find God? “We are quite religious. We have over 300,000 churches in America. Drive our expressways and interstate highways and see buildings with steeples on them all over the place! We are not perfect, but we are civil, self-respecting Americans.” Yes, a thousand mothers a day in America sign a paper authorizing a doctor to kill the baby in her womb. That’s normal? Butchering a thousand babies a day is the mark of a civilized nation? We had better wake up! God notices every baby that enters Heaven. He sees every sparrow that falls, and He sees every baby that enters Heaven. There is much need for our nation to search for God with all our hearts. Killing our innocent children is only one of our problems. The Bible tells us why we don’t seek God:

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)

THE PROPHET EZEKIEL PREACHED: Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)

IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, only a small percentage of the world’s population has ever been inside a church building or held a Bible in their hands, even one time. If all the people of the world should decide to go to church next Sunday, where would they go? It is God’s will that everybody in the world hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection from the dead and His soon return to rule the world from the throne of His father David in Jerusalem. But the world could not get into a church building next Sunday to hear the Gospel of Christ.

BUT, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD COULD COME TO GOD NEXT SUNDAY and believe that He exists and seek His face. Thousands of people find Him in prison cells and hospital rooms. The promise of God is that He would reward each one that does that. It means that God would respond to those who diligently seek Him and show them how to be saved. God would see to that. Did you know that today’s text is in your Bible? God has not left Himself without a witness.

OUR PICTURE TODAY IS OF ABRAHAM OBEYING GOD who told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on an altar. When he bound his son and laid him on the altar and raised the knife to kill him, the angel of God called to Abraham to Stop! Abraham had proven that he loved God as much as Abraham’s idolatrous neighbors who were killing their children and offering them to heathen gods. God told Abraham to look and see the ram with its horns caught in a thicket. Abraham offered the ram instead of his son, Isaac. What was in the mind of Abraham?

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

THAT IS, IT CAN BE SAID THAT ABRAHAM RECEIVED HIS SON BACK FROM THE DEAD because in Abraham’s mind, Isaac was as good as dead.

Anyone on earth can begin a journey with God by saying/thinking: “God exists! I will diligently seek Him.” Anyone who does this will get a response from God and God will reveal Himself to that person. That’s what the Bible says.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)

THIS IS A TOUGH SAYING. God’s “preachers” go out every day, uttering speech and their voice can be heard throughout the world. There’s enough information about God to prompt every man, who wants to know God, to diligently seek Him. And when they seek Him with all their heart, they will find Him. God will show him all he needs to know to be saved. I’m not God’s manager. I’m just one of His messenger boys. He will save anyone who will give Him a chance.

THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS THE SAME THING: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)

GOD IS NOT HARD TO FIND. Men who want to know God are hard to find.
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 24, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. Psalms 120-123 P.M. 1Corinthians 6
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
My Faith Looks Up to Thee (2:43) (Calvary Mem. Church-S.P.N.C)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auONkEY7n0c
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.

he giveth more strength

8/22/2018

He Giveth More Strength
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

FOR EIGHT DAYS, WE HAVE DWELT ON “The Lord’s Prayer,” which should be called: “The Disciples’ Prayer.” It is probably the most-quoted prayer in the world. It is a well-worded means of approaching the God of Heaven.

TODAY WE FOCUS ON "HE GIVETH MORE STRENGTH." It could be physical strength, as God gave Samson, or it could be strength of the inner man that can be even more important. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Ephesians 3:16)

HOW DO WE GET EXTRA STRENGTH FROM THE LORD? There is only one way to get it and it is a sure way. Isaiah told us. He was born 700 years before the birth of Christ. It is in our text for today:

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

GOD'S STRENGTH IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD. Isaiah’s message is like Jesus’ message: And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49) That was tarrying for the power that came on the day of Pentecost. But the principle for us today is the same.

WE TARRY UNTIL WE ARE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM HIGH, whatever power the Lord deems to bestow upon us. It may be a series of prayer times or it may be prayer times plus being in a state of prayer throughout the day. It can be days. We tarry until we are endued with power. How do we know? It is self-evident. We will be stronger in our thinking and in our witness. How do we know when the sun has come up? We don’t need to ask someone if the sun has come up. We can sense a renewing of our strength.

WHY MUST WE TARRY BEFORE THE LORD if we want to be strengthened by Him? There is a principle in dealing with God that we would do well to get acquainted with: “In His time.” But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)

THE COMING OF THE PROMISED ONE INTO THE WORLD occurred in the fulness of time. He came when it was time. God has a time schedule for doing things. Another reason why we must tarry to be strengthened by the Lord is that our attitude must change before He can do some things for us or through us.

IN THE FULFILLING OF OUR TEXT TODAY, we are talking about hours or days. God wants to do things in our lives and He wants us to be one with Him and that takes a little time.

ARE YOU SPENDING TIME WITH THE LORD IN PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING? Be careful (anxious, worried) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phlippians 4:7)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 23, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. Psalms 119:105-176 P.M. 1Corinthians 5
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
He Giveth More Grace (3:07) (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9-Ri6qjZY

Jesus' Model Prayer-Part 8

8/21/2018

Jesus’ Model Prayer - Part 8

●And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:13)

DOES THIS VERSE MEAN THAT GOD might tempt us to do evil? I have mentioned that this prayer and the Sermon on the Mount are two of the greatest documents in the Christian faith by reason of their content. They are difficult to understand because they are so condensed. They are worthy of our time and effort to look at them carefully. In this study, we are only looking at “The Lord’s Prayer,” or “Jesus’ Model Prayer.”

IT HAS BEEN RIGHTLY SAID THAT YOU CAN PROVE ANYTHING BY THE BIBLE if you take statements out of context and apply them in a way they were never intended. The Bible is not a simple book and some of its treasures can only be known by diligent and determined people. Does God tempt His people to do bad things? Let’s investigate this question. We will take MacArthur’s six brief comments and open the Scripture references he gives as a framework for our study. MacArthur says:

●●DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION.
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. (Luke 22:40)

●●GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US,
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (James 1:13)

●●BUT HE WILL SUBJECT US TO TRIALS THAT MAY EXPOSE US TO Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Peter. (The case of Job is another study.)
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31-32)

●●THIS PRAYER EXPRESSES THE BELIEVER'S DESIRE to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what a person's need is before he asks: Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:8)

●●AND HE PROMISES THAT NO ONE WILL BE SUBJECTED TO TESTING BEYOND what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape—often through endurance.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13)

●●BUT STILL, THE PROPER ATTITUDE FOR THE BELIEVER is the one expressed in this petition. (MacArthur)

ONE OF THE REASONS WE YIELD TO TEMPTATION IS THT WE ARE LIKE THE LITTLE BOY in the pantry. His mother heard a noise because he had taken down the cookie jar. She said, "Willie, where are you?" He answered that he was in the pantry. "What are you doing there?" He said, "I'm fighting temptation." My friend, that is not the place to fight temptation! That is the place to start running. (McGee) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 21, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. Psalms 119:1-48 P.M. 1Corinthians 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2) (Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
My Hope Is Built (2:13)
(Calvary Mem. Church Choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk-wObUmSB0
Give plenty of time for connecting. You may need to adjust your volume.

Health Hints:
SKIN CARE: Skin blemishes may reflect deeper things in the body. Dehydration is a “skin killer.” So is lack of exercise. A balanced diet is the skin’s best friend. If there is a buildup of toxins in the body, getting rid of them may fall to the skin if the kidneys and liver are not doing their job. (That brings us back to drinking enough water.) The skin is the largest eliminative organ of the body. As we age, a deficiency of collagen and other essentials cause the skin to labor hard to do its job.

Eating a medium or large raw apple a day is a very good thing for your skin and your whole body. Should be on the tart side. Chew well. “An apple a day will keep the doctor away.” Old as the hills but not fiction. It has a detoxifying effect. If you are a dangerous nut, you may want to drink fresh, raw carrot/apple juice daily. (Not canned or frozen.) Ω

jesus' model prayer - pART 7

8/20/2018

Jesus’ Model Prayer - Part 7
And forgive us our debts, (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us).
●And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. ●For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Matthew 6:11-15)

IN TWO YEARS (1st AND 2nd GRADES) in the public school, I recited this prayer at least 300 times, including: “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Miss Hattie Brown and then Miss Vaughn did not go into the Greek or Hebrew to make sure we kiddies understood exactly what was meant by the prayer. The plain reading of the verses is what we needed. They did not need to be scholars to make it safe for us little sinners to recite this prayer.

SOME SINCERE BIBLE TEACHERS WANT TO SAY THAT THIS PRAYER is not for Christians under grace, but only for people under the law of Moses. However, the text is not implying that we are buying forgiveness from God by forgiving someone who has sinned against us. That’s not the point. Paul said: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32) This is not in conflict with what Jesus taught in the prayer He gave the disciples, but rather, complimentary. Two respected sources of comment are fitting here:

● “We must pray, having a forgiving spirit toward others (Matthew 6:14-15). In this “appendix” to the prayer, Jesus expanded the last phrase of Matthew 6:12, “as we forgive our debtors.” He later repeated this lesson to His disciples (Mark 11:19-26). He was not teaching that believers earned God’s forgiveness by forgiving others; for this would be contrary to God’s free grace and mercy. However, if we have truly experienced God’s forgiveness, then we will have a readiness to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Our Lord illustrated this principle in the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35). (Wiersbe)

● “Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14-15 explain His statement about forgiveness in Matthew 6:12. Though God’s forgiveness of sin is not based on one’s forgiving others, a Christian’s forgiveness is based on realizing he has been forgiven (cf. Ephesians 4:32). Personal fellowship with God is in view in these verses (not salvation from sin). One cannot walk in fellowship with God if he refuses to forgive others.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary – Dallas Seminary) The above commentary points out that “Personal fellowship with God is in view in these verses (not salvation from sin).”

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 21, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. Psalms 119:1-48 P.M. 1Corinthians 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
There Is a Fountain (2:37) (Calvary Mem. Church Choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs6N8s1gPuI
Give plenty of time for connecting. You may need to adjust your volume.

Health Hints:
I’m repeating this material to give everyone time to jot it down for future reference.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH 10 CANCER PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS:      1. Be a healthy weight.   2. Be physically active. 3. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. 4. Limit consumption of “fast foods” and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars.   5. Limit consumption of red and processed meat.    6. Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.   7. Limit alcohol consumption. 8. Do not use supplements for cancer prevention. 9. For mothers: breastfeed your baby, if you can.   10. After a cancer diagnosis: follow our Recommendations, if you can. (July 2018)

jesus' model prayer - part 6

8/20/2018

Jesus’ Model Prayer - Part 6
And forgive us our debts, (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us).

●And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. ●For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:11-15)

WHAT I HAVE BEEN CALLING, “Jesus’ Model Prayer” is called by most people: “The Lord’s Prayer.” The most accurate title for the prayer is: “The Disciples’ Prayer” for two reasons. First, the occasion of the prayer came in response to a request from Jesus’ disciples to teach them to pray. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1)

SECONDLY, THE PRAYER RELATES TO THE SIN OF THE ONE WHO OFFERS THE PRAYER. Jesus did no sin, had no trespasses and therefore could not pray that part of the prayer. Nevertheless, it has been called “The Lord’s Prayer” for centuries, is older than the English language, and it will remain so. This is somewhat like calling a building the church meets in: “the church.” The building is not the church. But, we “go to church.” i.e. we go to the church building. That is set in concrete and we are not going to change it. Neither are we going to rename: “The Lord’s Prayer.” Nevertheless, we should be acquainted with the alternate terms: “The Disciples’ Prayer” and with “Jesus’ Model Prayer.”

THIS PRAYER, AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ARE TWO OF THE GREATEST documents in the Christian faith because of the subject matter and because they are extremely condensed. They are also two of the greatest challenges to understanding what they mean. As much as I would like to park the Jeep for weeks and explore all the roots to “The Lord’s Prayer,” this is not the format or the vehicle for doing it. I will try to select a few summary statements that will put the prayer in context with the rest of Scripture. I read this truism many years ago: “He that would teach most simply, must know most thoroughly.” The dictionary is the most accurate of any book but is also probably the most boring. The problem comes in explaining the word “kingdom.”

SOME BIBLE STUDENTS THINK THEY SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN the “Kingdom of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God.” (Kingdom of Heaven is used only in the book of Matthew, about 32 times) After reading various writers who tried to distinguish the two kingdoms, I gave up on it many years ago. The Scofield Bible is the main promoter of making a difference. Walvoord and some other respected names got on board. I assume that the two terms are the same and hold open the right to be wrong about it. I applaud the efforts of the writers, Walvoord in particular.

THE MAIN THING WE WANT TO AVOID TODAY is the assumption that “Thy Kingdom come” is a prayer for the church to dominate the world. The church and Israel are not the same thing. The church and “the kingdom” are not the same thing. The church is not going to save the world and is not going to dominate the world. The church is commissioned to preach the gospel of Christ to every creature. Our mission is to “persuade” people if we can. A kingdom is headed by a king and by its nature: “commands” and “rules.”

THE CHURCH IS A TEMPORARY FUNCTION IN THE PLAN OF GOD to preach the Gospel of Christ, the message of eternal salvation. The church cannot command. The church cannot rule. The Kingdom of God will command and will rule. The church will be merged into the Kingdom of God. It is hard for some to distinguish between God’s dealing with the individual and God’s dealing with the nation of Israel. They are not the same. The best commentary I see on this distinction is by Warren Wiersbe and his explanation of Romans 11:16-24. If we do not understand the permanence of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then we are going to be struggling and floundering to find our way through many parts of the Bible.

THE OLIVE TREE (ROMANS 11:16-24). (BY WARREN WIERSBE) (Please turn in your Bible and read.) “This is a symbol of the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 11:16-17; Hosea 14:4-6). Please keep in mind that Paul was not discussing the relationship of individual believers to God, but the place of Israel in the plan of God. The roots of the tree support the tree; again, this was a symbol of the patriarchs who founded the nation. God made His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He cannot deny them or change them. Thus, it is God’s promise to Abraham that sustains Israel even today.

“MANY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE. Paul pictured them as branches broken off the tree. But he saw an amazing thing taking place: other branches were grafted into the tree to share in the life of the tree. These branches were the Gentiles. In Romans 11:24, Paul described this “grafting in” as “contrary to nature.” Usually a cultivated branch is grafted into a wild tree and shares its life without producing its poor fruit. But in this case, it was the “wild branch” (the Gentiles) that was grafted into the good tree! “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

To say that the olive tree, with its natural and grafted branches, is a picture of the church would be a great mistake. In the church, “there is no difference”; believers are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Emphasis added.)

(Galatians 3:28). God does not look on the members of Christ’s body and see them as Jews or Gentiles. The olive tree illustrates the relationship between Jew and Gentile in the program of God. The “breaking off of the branches” is the equivalent of “the fall” (Romans 11:11), “the diminishing” (Romans 11:12), and “the casting away” (Romans 11:15). To read into this illustration the matter of the eternal destiny of the individual believer is to abuse the truth Paul was seeking to communicate.

PAUL WARNED THE GENTILES that they were obligated to Israel, and therefore they dared not boast of their new spiritual position (Romans 11:18-21). The Gentiles entered into God’s plan because of faith, and not because of anything good they had done. Paul was discussing the Gentiles collectively, and not the individual experience of one believer or another.

IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT, ACCORDING TO BIBLE PROPHECY, the professing Gentile church will be “cut off” because of apostasy. 1Timothy 4:1-16 and 2Timothy 3:1-17, along with 2Thesslonians 2:1-17, all indicate that the professing church in the last days will depart from the faith. There is no hope for the apostate church, but there is hope for apostate Israel! Why? Because of the roots of the olive tree. God will keep His promises to the patriarchs, but God will break off the Gentiles because of their unbelief.

NO MATTER HOW FAR ISRAEL MAY STRAY FROM THE TRUTH of God, the roots are still good. God is still the “God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:23). He will keep His promises to these patriarchs. This means that the olive tree will flourish again! God Himself (Romans 11:25-36)

PAUL SAVED HIS BEST WITNESS FOR THE LAST. He proved that the very character and work of God were involved in the future of Israel. Men may dispute about prophecy and differ in their interpretations, but let every man realize that he is dealing with God’s people, Israel. (End of quote: Warren Wiersbe)

THE CHURCH IS A PART OF THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD and the coming Kingdom of God is going to dominate the world. This principle is illustrated in the function of the temporary Mosaic Law. Jesus said Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18)

HE WAS SPEAKING OF THE CEREMONIAL PART OF THE LAW and not the moral part of the law. His death, burial and resurrection fulfilled all the ceremonial part of the Law of Moses. The moral part of he law is: “love God,” and “love thy neighbor.” That part of the law did not pass away and will never pass away.

WHEN WE LOOK AT A ROSE BUD, it is beautiful to behold. But it's destiny is to grow into a beautiful rose flower. When it performs its mission, it will no longer be a rosebud, but something even more beautiful and endowed with an enticing fragrance. In the same way, the church will perform its purpose of calling sinners to repentance. One day it will be incorporated into the long-awaited kingdom of God on an eternal basis. The wording of this Biblical truth may not be done well-enough in this article to gather agreement from everyone who reads it. But, that is what I believe the Bible teaches.

THERE IS MORE THAN ONE JUDGMENT AND THERE IS MORE THAN ONE RESURRECTION. The finished form of all that God is doing will result in the finished “Kingdom of God.” Eventually there will also be a new heaven and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousness. (2Peter 3:13)

Next: We will take up “forgive us our debts.” Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
AUGUST 20, 2018 – MONDAY
A.M. Psalms 116-118 P.M. 1Corinthians 2
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Verse to Memorize:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)

Song for Today:
The Lord’s Prayer (4:26) (Andrea Boelli w/orchestra and choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEplqV0scyo&list=RDaEplqV0scyo
Give plenty of time for connecting. You may need to adjust your volume.

Health Hints:
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH 10 CANCER PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Be a healthy weight. 2. Be physically active. 3. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. 4. Limit consumption of “fast foods” and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars. 5. Limit consumption of red and processed meat. 6. Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks. 7. Limit alcohol consumption. 8. Do not use supplements for cancer prevention. 9. For mothers: breastfeed your baby, if you can. 10. After a cancer diagnosis: follow our Recommendations, if you can. (July 2018)