Christian, Inspirational

First Preventer

I have noticed not only a trend at our local Church, but one that seems to be popular nation wide. The trend is praying for and honoring first responders. Although fire fighters, EMTs, doctors, and police are honorable professions, I don’t care to pray for them all, especially ones I don’t know. In my opinion prayers and blessings should be first for those close to you. Remember when Esau sought a blessing he found nothing left, for it had already gone to Jacob.

As we pray, there is no better way than Matthew 6:9-13.  Let us not forget to honor and trust the First Preventer.  He caused David to sleep peacefully at night. He built hedges around Job. He causes the tumor to be benign or never to form. He causes the thief and the murderer to pass by your house. These among thousands of other ways He keeps us safe. He is the Lord God Almighty. He is Jehovah. And in God do we trust.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Cruel Trick

I’ve heard people say there are no stupid questions. I disagree. The number one stupid biblical question I’ve ever heard is will we recognize each other in Heaven.

What this question reveals is that the asker doesn’t know God. Do they think the Lord God Almighty is a joker or a prankster?

Everybody that is blessed to make it to Heaven will recognize their relatives and friends that are likewise blessed to make it to Heaven. It’s Heaven. It’s not a place for cruel tricks or undue punishment.

Trust the Lord. Read your Bible and get to know him better!

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Christian, Inspirational

Examining Pulpit Credibilty

There are several public speaking tricks that preachers use to establish credibility. I am hesitant to use the word tricks because the message they are conveying may be otherwise truthful or helpful, but let me present my opinion and then you may form your own conclusions.

Knowledge of original scripture – “The original Greek says… .” The preacher is using a Greek translation Bible. All such translations were done by men of the modern age. If you trust in your KJV this is totally unnecessary and a hit at faith in the complete accuracy of the Holy Spirit’s work in the King James Version Holy Bible.

Knowledge of Multiple Translations – “Other translations put it… .” The preacher is trying to establish mastery over the subject greater than your own. It is very similar to a preacher exhibiting special knowledge of the Greek or Hebrew supposedly acquired through years of study.

Comparison of one’s life to a Holy figure in the Bible. – “As Noah preached righteousness so do I.” As Moses came through all his tribulations, so did I.” Most preachers don’t compare themselves directly to Jesus, perhaps that is God’s work. This may seem innocent enough, but when you hear these comparisons the speaker is hoping to borrow some Holiness. Something I find even more disturbing is criticism of the Holy men of the Bible. The implication may be the speaker is better, smarter, or more faithful.

Direct communications from God – “God said…”, “God told me…”, “God put it on my heart…”. I am leary and extremely doubtful of preachers who make this claim. God can of course talk to people today, but many of television preachers make such claims. I think I myself would need to be 100% sure. We often answer our own questions and put the answer we want to hear on our own hearts.

Closeness to the Lord – Preacher’s that use the phrase My God or Oh my God. I’m guessing this is done to show closeness to the Lord. We’re close so I can say it. To me it sounds like taking the name of the Lord God in vain, as it is in most cases when the layman says it.

Better are the preachers that stick to the word and demonstrate knowledge of it.

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Christian, Inspirational

Repentance 

I have heard preachers over the years give various definitions for repentance. I think it’s a little like love, you’ll know it when you feel it.

But I don’t mean to wax too philosophical. Here is repentance according to God: 

Proverbs 28:13 KJV He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

True repentance is not only feeling sorry for your sins or actions, it is also not repeating them. 

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Christian, Inspirational

It’s All English to Me

Which translators should we trust?

The King James Version Holy Bible was translated under the authority of King James of England. If you read the Bible you likely know Kings are appointed by God.

Daniel 2:20-22 KJV

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: [21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: [22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

The work of translation is complete in the KJV.

Why do I glorify the KJV? Two reasons. First, I want you to use the KJV as I do. Secondly, many preachers today use statements such as the Greek originally says or other translations say… .

What are they really saying. When preachers say the Greek originally says they are quoting from a supposedly direct translation Greek Bible. Keep in mind this Bible was written by modern translators. Do you want to put your faith in authorized translators or in unauthorized ones?

Some preachers say another translation puts it thusly. What are they saying? They are saying the KJV is insufficient or wrong. It is nothing more than an attempt to sound learned and express mastery of the subject.

Understanding the KJV can be difficult enough without trying to re-translate the Greek and Hebrew, but it is the translation I trust. As a follower of Christ I urge you to do the same.

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Christian, Inspirational

Discernment

Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Which laws do you allow God to write on your heart?

The Church of Christ denomination says it is a command to sing and to sing a capella. As God loveth a cheerful giver, He surely appreciates the cheerful singer. Musical instruments? Psalm 150. Maybe God enjoys a capella, but I don’t think it’s a matter of righteousness, it’s more a matter of your lack of understanding. It is in my opinion a tradition of man, an idea of early Church of Christ preachers.

The Church of Christ spends hours out of every year claiming holiness in a capella, yet the COC denomination cannot read and understand 1 Corinthians 14:34-38. It is clearly a New Testament command and one that no churches keep. If you are ignorant of these verses, skip them, but read on.

Neither can the Church of Christ denomination comprehend all of the Ten Commandments. They do not keep the Sabbath, nor believe it should be kept. 9 out of 10? Maybe. I would argue it’s a slippery slope. All ten are incorporated into the New Testament.

So what part of the Law of Jesus is in your heart and on your mind?

I believe what you let the Lord write there, he will also help you to keep. Discernment is a gift of God.

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Christian, Inspirational

Forgiveness

1 John 1:9 KJV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 KJV Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

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Christian, Inspirational

Fact vs. Fantasy

How can you believe in the power of the Devil if you barely believe in the power of God.

Fact: Magic is Real. Satan and demons have power. Familiar spirits exist.

Fantasy: It’s all sleight of hand or simple explainable tricks of the eye.

Many people including the preacher at the Church I attend don’t believe magic exists today. My response, they put it on primetime. How can you say it doesn’t exist?

I think the fable that it doesn’t exist is perpetuated by churches that don’t believe miracles exist today. That is why I said if you don’t believe in the power of God, how can you believe in the power of the Devil. There is a verse that says pray for wisdom and the Lord will give liberally to those that ask. A discussion was made of this. They argued not miraculously, but through study. I say God is true to his word and he can miraculously give wisdom and knowledge. Paul said once his doctrine was given to him by God, not by men.

I stay away from much of the primetime magic shows, but what is truly scary is what work are magicians and sorcerers doing behind the scenes. What are they doing in governments and government agencies. Remember Rasputin in Russia? It was said Mrs. Reagan, Ronald Reagan’s wife, consulted astrologers.

Fact: Keep God’s word and stay away from magicians, sorcerers, and witchcraft. They are real and they are in the world today.

My opinion of spells: perhaps they do nothing, perhaps they work. Satan may respond to one person’s abracadabra and ignore another’s. The good news is Satan’s ability is limited by what God allows. The bad news is sometimes that’s substantial. Read Job in the Old Testament or about Elymas in the New.

James 4:7-8 KJV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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Christian, Inspirational

Faith

Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I rented The Case for Christ today. I had hoped for some inspiration in my own Christian path. What I got instead was an hour and fifty minute book promo.

The case for Christ as presented in the movie was the number of surviving copies of the New Testament, the fact that women discovered the empty tomb, and a doctor’s interview establishing that Jesus indeed died on the cross because blood and water came out when he was stabbed in the side. Additionally, one expert states 500 witnesses couldn’t have the same hallucination. She said that 500 witnesses having the same hallucination of seeing Jesus after his death would be a bigger miracle than the resurrection.

Are you convinced? I am a believer, here’s why and it has very little to do with the movie.

I believe the KJV is the authorized inerrant Word of God. If you are a believer, you either believe that or you believe your version is substantially accurate.

Don’t go to outside sources looking for corroboration. Anything that is not the Holy Bible is suspect. The Bible is called Holy for a reason. My faith tells me the Bible is truth. I am not resigned to it, but with Hope I accept it. It is why I was baptized not as a public declaration of faith, but for the remission of sins and to be under the atoning blood of Jesus.

Romans 9:18 KJV Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy , and whom he will he hardeneth.

The inspiration of The Case for Christ if any is the wife. She read, she studied, she prayed, and she let her own heart be open to accepting the Truth. May you and I do likewise.

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Christian, Inspirational

Rightly Dividing the Word of God

Unfortunately when it comes to this verse the focus seems to be on divide rather than rightly.

Biblical scholars divide the Holy Bible in many ways, making one wonder sometimes what is left?

One bothersome division in the Old Testament is the Minor Prophets. They are all major in my opinion. They spoke for God, there are only 66 books in the Holy Bible, and they made the editorial cut.

In the New Testament some say the Church didn’t start until Acts. Thus they argue we don’t need to follow the example of Sabbath keeping as seen in the Gospels.

I have pointed out New Testament Commandments written in Corinthians. They say they were written to the Church of Corinth at that time and thus we need not follow them.

And of course the biggest error. We don’t follow the Old Testament because we are under the New. Throwing out valid law which is incorporated into the New and immeasurable wisdom.

By the end – of some people dividing the Word of God we are left with a very, very thin Bible.

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