This article is appearing on the last day of the month of November. November is a wonderful month! Seeing the beautiful leaf color is fascinating. Also, the holiday “Thanksgiving” is a highlight of the month. God has blessed us all with so much. Thanks should be given to God every day for His many blessings. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)...

I am a parent and have raised children, and I have never known any perfect parents. But, I have listened to the common sense methods of my parents and grandparents in raising children and believe them to be proven best! Sadly, many parents have never been taught those common sense methods. I ask parents this question, “Do you love your children enough to …...

The Hebrew writer spoke about the great salvation that Christ has brought to the world. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3) I heard a sermon recently where the preacher spoke about three great wonders with regard to Christ’s great salvation...

In our study of Divine authority, we have learned that we must have authority from heaven for all we do. (Matthew 21:23-27) Authority is established from the scriptures by means of commands, apostolic examples and necessary conclusions. We further discussed specific and generic authority. Now let’s make some applications...

We continue our study on how to establish Bible authority for religious practices in three ways with the Bible topic of the Lord’s Supper. To review, the direct statement or command of Christ, which Paul repeated in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, authorizes us to partake of the Lord’s Supper since Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me.” The second way to establish authority from the scriptures is by an apostolic example, like the one Paul exhibited in Acts 20:7. ...

Last week, we started a study of the importance and need to have God’s divine authority for all we do in religion. (Colossians 3:17) From the New Testament scriptures given to us by Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2), we must prove our religious practices by showing either a command, an approved example, or drawing a necessary conclusion from what has been said. Let us illustrate these three ways of establishing authority by discussing the Lord’s Supper...

There is an attitude in religion today that is pervasive in the younger generation. However, it was fostered and promoted by the older generation. This attitude is shown by those looking for a congregation in which to attend that inquires, “What do you offer me and my family, especially my kids?” This attitude causes people to be more interested in what material satisfactions they can get like entertainment, food, gym privileges, and recreation, with low doses of spirituality which the shorter they are, the better.. ...

Many today trust feelings and mysterious happenings as being a sign of the Spirit directing their lives. Such a belief is mistaken, and is a faulty guide in spiritual matters. My brother in Christ, Jackie Turnbow, once said sadly to me that people don’t believe in the authority of the word of God like they once did. ...

“Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced; if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.” (Joshua 14:12)...

God is a God of righteousness and does what is right. Abraham said of God, “… Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) John declared unto us, “… That God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) God has given the world His word, and His word is right. ...

King David had promised his friend Jonathan, the son of King Saul, that he would be merciful to his descendants when he became king. Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, continued to fight to retain the kingdom, but eventually David became king over all of Israel...

Jehovah God should be praised for who He is! God, throughout history, has proven to mankind that He is Jehovah, and there is no one or nothing which compares to Him. (Isaiah 40:25; 46:5) Jehovah proved to Israel that He was Jehovah by delivering them from Egyptian slavery. ...

God has always required that man work with Him in order for His will to be accomplished. God does His part and requires man to do his part. This is also true in regard to man being saved. Consider the following examples from the scriptures. By God’s power, He graciously gave Israel the land of Canaan after they came out of Egypt. ...

God’s grace is abundant, and it is for all who will accept it! “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:14) Grace is defined as “unmerited favor”. God loves us. He wants to be friends with us. God is willing to save us, help us, and let us live with Him forever in heaven...

God loves us! But, man’s sins will cause him to be lost in eternity. God is hurt over man’s lost condition and his blindness which contributes to his being lost. God has given His Son as a sacrifice to remove sin. God has given His Word to enlighten man’s blind eyes. (Psalms 119:105) Sadly, throughout man’s history, he prefers to be blind...

The whole nation was shocked on July 13th when there was an assassination attempt on former President Trump’s life. Let’s think together about God’s providence. After the attempted assassination, I heard many news commentators say that divine intervention was involved in sparing Donald Trump. Religious and non-religious people stated the same. But, no one really knows for sure what God did or did not do. We may suspect God was involved, but no one knows for sure...

Isaiah made the following prediction. “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing …” (Isaiah 35:1-2) Due to Judah’s sins, God had made their land a wilderness and desert. ...

Consider with me a wise saying that a friend of mine and member of the church stated a few years ago. He said, “When you quit being an enemy to yourself, then you can become the friend of God.” It is a fact that those who are friendly with the ungodliness of the world make themselves the enemy of God. ...

It is impossible to estimate the benefit of having God be with you versus not having God with you! There is a song we sing entitled, “God Be With You”, and the first line states, “God be with you till we meet again …”. However, God is not with everyone, since many people choose to refuse to accept His existence, guidance and help. Let’s look at a few men whom God was with...

Earlier this year, I was reading about Joseph accusing his eleven brothers of stealing his “divining” cup. I found this incident funny and ironic since Joseph had the ability, with God’s help, to predict future events through dreams and didn’t need an Egyptian divining cup to do so...

Many animals are curious creatures. But, cats are especially curious. They will investigate what is in a box or sack. Sometimes, they get themselves into predicaments from which they cannot extricate themselves. You probably have heard the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” This saying warns of the danger of being too curious and causing harm by becoming involved in things that should have been left alone. Human beings are also curious creatures and such curiosity can be detrimental...

If one claims to be a Christian, they should be walking in the same direction as God. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), and those who claim to follow God must walk in truth. (2 John 4) Many follow their own path in life and in their religion. Few today are walking in the same direction as God...

There is something fascinating to me about the Biblical phrase, “the sheep of his pasture.” God in His word often refers to His people as His sheep. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalms 100:3) The figure of sheep as God’s people has many rich thoughts for us to contemplate...

“Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.” (Psalms 119:159) Do you love the Bible, God’s Word? The 119th Psalm is unique in two ways: first, it is the longest chapter in the whole Bible; and second, with the exception of a couple of verses, every verse in Psalms 119 mentions God’s word, commands, statutes, testimonies, etc… The writer’s admiration for God’s Word is evident. ...

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7) After reading this proverb, I at first thought the word “he” referred to the man whose ways pleased Jehovah. The man whose ways pleases Jehovah will be living in such a way that other men could live alongside him peacefully. This kind of man must fear Jehovah. (See Proverbs 16:6) This reverence for God causes a man to depart from evil toward even his enemies...

At a young age, we were probably all introduced to the idea of “wishing”. No candles could be blown out on the birthday cake without first making a wish. Who hasn’t seen the movie where children are taught “to wish upon a star”? Even the apostle Paul wished for some things. ...

In the last column, we learned the necessity of hearing the gospel to produce faith in Jesus as the Son of God. (John 3:16; 20:30-31) The heart is further changed when the “will” is changed by repentance. Repentance is a change of our mind that causes us to determine to cease from following sin and Satan, and instead determine to serve God and righteousness! (Acts 11:18; Luke 13:3)...

Previously, we studied what and who is a Christian. Now, let’s examine what Christ’s word teaches an unsaved sinner to do in order to become a Christian. First, one must hear the gospel of Christ. One can’t be saved unless they are willing to hear the gospel preached. “.. Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15:7)...

Are you a Christian? Are you “Imprint Sure” that you are a Christian? The commercials emphasize the importance of employing a good company to ensure that your various imprinted products are done correctly, like mugs, shirts, etc. But, more important than anything else is making sure you have been saved from your sins and become a Christian! One can be assured they are a Christian if they know the truth. ...

King David exhibited a closeness with God which every Christian should desire to possess today. Jehovah God was David’s everything. Two verses particularly portray David’s dependence upon Jehovah for everything. “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalms 18:2) “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1). ...

The word “Christian” is often misunderstood and misused. The New Testament always uses the word “Christian” as a noun, and it is never used as an adjective. Have you ever heard someone refer to America as a “Christian nation”? They are using the word “Christian” as an adjective to describe a nation, and this would make being a Christian a matter of citizenship or geography. ...

I have always loved old people. I loved my grandparents when a child. In preaching the gospel, I have known some wonderful old people. A congregation would not be complete without older people who are so good about taking the time to make you feel special, and who share their wisdom and experience with those who have not lived as long as they have...

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18) God had a wondrous plan even before the world began which only He knew. His plan was a mystery to man until God revealed it completely in the gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10) “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:11) We will examine a couple of things in His great plan...

How would you feel if you received a letter in the mail from “Elijah, the Tishbite”? I would have to say I would feel a little nervous. How about you? Elijah challenged four hundred priests of the idol god Baal to a contest in 1 Kings 18:21-39. When the god Baal failed to send fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice, Elijah’s God immediately sent fire from heaven when Elijah prayed to Him. ...

We want to examine how Romans 8:36 ties in with Psalms chapter 44. Paul, in discussing how Jesus loves us (8:35) says, “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” If Jesus loves us, why does He allow us to suffer persecution and be slaughtered as sheep? To answer this question, we need to understand the context of Psalms chapter 44 and Romans chapter 8...

There are many scriptures that tell us that Jehovah is the most High. “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” (Psalms 7:17) Let’s notice some of God’s attributes. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit….” (Isaiah 57:15) God is eternal, and has always been, and always will be...

It is true that God will hold each individual accountable for their misdeeds in the final judgment at the end of the world. (Romans 14:12) But, Jehovah will also hold nations accountable for their sinful wickedness in this present world and time. Many sinners’ hearts today are set to do evil. ...

From many quarters of the country, people express dissatisfaction with men being men. God created man and He created woman and they have differences. God in his wisdom knew that a man and his wife together make a perfect pair. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:21-25) When did being a man become a problem?...

The gospel of Christ offers hope to the lost world, and this hope is laid up in heaven. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:5) Another passage of scripture that connects our hope with heaven is 1 Peter 1:3-4. ...

The title of this article is the opening words of the first Psalm. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalms 1:1) The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-11 each begin with the word “Blessed” which means “happy”. The man who would be happy is the one who is godly, religious and spiritual...

Yes, God can eradicate your life of selfishness if you will allow God to do so. How can He do it? His Word instructs us as to what is right and wrong. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Selfishness is a sin, and we should strive to overcome it. A selfish person is one who thinks only of themselves and is unconcerned about anybody else. The selfish person wants what pleases him without any concern for the wishes of others...

The early disciples who followed Jesus Christ were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. (Acts 11:26) Let me explain why it is that I am a Christian. (1 Peter 3:15) I am a Christian because of my belief. I believe in God and that the Bible is His word. The Bible teaches that Jesus was the Son of God. Christ is different from other religious teachers and leaders since He was God’s Son. Why do I believe this? There is evidence that proves that Jesus is God’s Son...

What would Christianity mean to you if the hope of heaven wasn’t a part of the religion of Christ? A little thought, and you would realize how important heaven is to the entire picture of Christianity! Salvation from past sins by Christ, and living the Christian life would remain, but what about the future? Would there be life after death?...

If you once became a Christian but now are no longer faithful in your service to Jesus Christ, I will ask you, why are you no longer faithful? Why are you out of duty? The reasons unfaithful Christians might give in answer to this question are varied. ...

I have been thinking about how the law breakers in our society are limiting the freedoms of moral law abiding citizens. When I was in elementary school, someone in our class stole one girl’s money, and the principal punished the whole class. When no one came forward to confess their misdeed, the principal punished the whole class by missing recess. The innocent had to pay for the crime of one thief! Listening to the news today, the innocent are still paying for the misdeeds of the guilty...

The New Year 2024 is almost here as the old year is nearly gone. What to write about is always on my mind. I maintain a list of possible things to write about. What should I write about to end the year? Should I save “that subject” for next year? I have decided to deal with several ideas that I haven’t been able to develop into an entire article as of yet...

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) This is a splendid passage of scripture about the grace of God...

Jesus used “trees” to illustrate spiritual lessons. “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” (Matthew 7:17) Jesus taught a very important lesson that men who do evil things are evil people. Some in our society today deny that there are evil men and are refusing to punish these evil doers. Such a refusal will only produce more wicked men! (Ecclesiastes 8:11)...

When on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Paul saw the resurrected Jesus, who asked him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Paul answered, “Who art thou, Lord?” “And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:4-5)...

A buoy is a flotation device that in used for various purposes like indicating underwater hazards or important discoveries below the water’s surface. Buoys are dependable to float to the surface of bodies of water. It is possible to pull a buoy under water, but when set free, it will rise to the surface again...

God is like a life-giving fountain of fresh spring water to those who trust in Him. Israel abandoned Jehovah and put their trust in idols and foreign nations. “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) Trusting in the wrong things in life is like seeking to store water in broken cisterns. ...

We all have experienced the feeling of missing out on something we really wanted to do. You can’t have this feeling unless the thing or event that you are missing out on is something you really, really wanted to experience like your child’s wedding. There is even a particular term today to express this feeling: FOMO. This stands for “Fear Of Missing Out”...

For some time, I have been thinking about writing about hatred. Then, the Israeli and Palestinian war broke out, and we have all come face to face with such deep seated hate in people’s hearts in the Middle East. Soon, we began to see the same hatred here in America between the same peoples...

There are many who believe that miraculous spiritual gifts are for the church today. Does the Bible teach this? I deny that it does! The claim by some of receiving Holy Spirit baptism directly from heaven contradicts Paul’s statement in Ephesians 4:5 that there was ONE baptism at the time he wrote which he identified as “water baptism”. (Ephesians 5:26; Matthew 28:19-20)...

Premillenialism is a very popular doctrine today. Let me explain what the word means. “Millenial” means a thousand, and “pre” means before. Thus, it is the teaching that Christ’s second coming will occur before the establishment of an earthly kingdom which will last a thousand years. ...

Does it make any difference if you believe and practice false doctrine? The word “doctrine” simply means “teaching”. We should allow Psalms 119:104 to determine our attitude toward false teaching. “Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” Do you hate every false way or would you accept some false ways? Your answer can affect your eternal destiny...

There are many false teachers today who teach people error, and then soothe men’s consciences by saying, “It really makes no difference what you believe in religion as long as you are sincere.” Beware! It makes an eternal difference what you believe and practice...

People oftentimes struggle in religion with the concept of “all”. King Saul is a good example of this struggle. King Saul was commanded by God to destroy “all” the Amalekites including men, women, children and animals. (1 Samuel 15:1-6) Saul spared the king of the Amakekites, as well as the best of the livestock. ...

We continue to answer the question, “Is a divided religious world from God?” Religious division is not from the hand of God! God is mocked by the world because of a divided religious world. God is not to be mocked according to Galatians 6:7. Who is responsible for the religious division? Is it God or men? If God is responsible, then He is also responsible for all the confusion and contradictions in religion, which cause many to mock God. ...

Think for a couple of minutes about a united religious world, before you read on. What would that be like? How wonderful that would be! I don’t know if I have the words to describe the beauty of such. But, I believe today we are seeing the fruits denominationalism produces. By denominationalism, I mean, the dividing up into smaller parts of the religious world by their various sects, doctrines, organizations, worship, etc…...

Why are you not yet a Christian? I have known many through my years of preaching who said they wanted to be Christians and go to heaven, but who kept putting off becoming one. Some eventually did so, but others died never having obeyed the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) If you are not a Christian, why are you not a Christian? Let’s consider one possible hindrance...

We are to serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart. Some try to serve the Lord without joy. Many do what the Lord requires, but do so without deep thought, affection or devotion toward God. They go to worship on Sundays and offer lip service, but lack true desire and affection for God...

How do you feel about life right now? Is it pretty good or pretty bad? Those who are older have lived long enough to experience many of life’s sad experiences like losing a child, health deterioration, or possibly the loss of all their worldly possessions. Youth should be a happy time in life. Sadly, many young people today don’t feel like life is very good. Suicide is on the rise among them...

Why is bad behavior becoming the norm in our society today? In a civilized society, bad behavior is not normal. Somehow, it has become “cool” to be “bad”. More and more people’s attitude is, “I’m bad!” We are encouraged to be bad boys. “I’m tough and will smash your face if you offend me.” Even our young ladies, are encouraged to be “bad girls” and talk nasty and be promiscuous...

We are encouraged in the scriptures to seek God! When you seek God, you will find life. God is the source of life. “For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live.” (Amos 5:4) “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live …” (Amos 5:6) “Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion …” (Amos 5:8)...

“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7) Before we look at the Lord, who is our stronghold, we want to consider the fact that all people have troubles in life. We cannot escape or avoid trouble. Even the Christian is not exempt from troubles. The Psalmist said, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous …” (Psalms 34:19)...

This week we will study from the book of John. In his book, John emphasized many descriptions of Jesus. Jesus is the Light (1:4, 7, 9, 3:21, 8:12; 9:5; 12:36, 46); the Truth (1:17, 3:21; 14:6, 18:37); the Christ (1:20, 41, 45; 4:25-26, 29; 6:69; 7:41; 11:27, 20:31); the Lamb of God (1:29, 36); King of Israel (1:49; 12:13; 18:33-37; 19:19-21); and the Prophet (4:19, 44; 6:14; 7:40)...

Luke, in his gospel, gives emphasis to several themes in the book about who Jesus is. He speaks about Jesus being deity, the Christ, king and prophet. Luke also gives emphasis to the fact that Jesus is mankind’s Saviour. We want to look at a few passages in Luke that speak of Jesus as Saviour, and then look at the book of Acts, which Luke also wrote (Luke 1:3), and see how someone accepts Jesus as Saviour from the cases of conversion in the book of Acts...

“And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) Since the writer Mark records only the part of Peter’s statement about Jesus being “the Christ”, I have chosen in this article to only discuss Jesus as being the Christ. When comparing Matthew 16:16, Peter also confessed Jesus as the Son of the living God, which we discussed earlier from the book of Matthew...

The book of Matthew tells about who Jesus is! Matthew reaches a climax with Peter’s statement in Matthew 16:16, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s answer was in response to Jesus’ question, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (16:13) We want to examine in particular the part of Peter’s confession which says, “Thou art … the Son of the living God.”...

With this article, we will finish our study of the Old and New Testaments. The book of First Peter had to be written by Peter after Paul wrote the book of Ephesians in 63 A.D., since Peter refers to Paul’s writings as being hard to understand. (2 Peter 3:15-16)...

The history of Acts has guided us through our study of the early church’s history. But, Acts ends with Paul in a Roman prison in 63 A.D. Paul was expecting to be released soon. (Philippians 2:24; Philemon 22) It is evident from the books of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus that Paul was released and did more preaching...

Paul’s fourth preaching journey was unique, since he began it as a prisoner of the Roman Empire. When Paul arrived in Jerusalem after his third journey, the Jews tried to kill him but he was rescued by the Roman soldiers. The Jews falsely accused him of bringing a Gentile into the temple. (Acts 21:23-40) Paul defends His preaching to the Gentiles. (Acts 22:1-22)...

The apostle Paul on his third journey is in Ephesus waiting to hear how his first letter to the Corinthian church was received. Paul’s plans were to go to Macedonia and Achaia after Pentecost. (Acts 19:21; 1 Corinthians 16:8) Paul might have left earlier due to an uproar in the city of Ephesus stirred up by a silversmith named Demetrius. (Acts 19:23-41)...

Paul starts his third preaching journey from Antioch of Syria. Luke records the whole journey beginning in Acts 18:23 through Acts 21:17. Paul began his trip by returning to see the Christians from his first and second trips (Acts 13:14-14:25/ 15:41-16:6) in the regions of Phrygia, Lycaonia and Galatia. (Acts 16:1, 6) See Acts 18:23. While in Galatia in 54 A.D, he told the saints about making a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. (1 Corinthians 16:1)...

We pick up Paul’s second preaching journey in Acts chapter 18. The church at Thessalonica was established early in 51 A.D. (Acts 17:1-9) Short stays in Berea and Athens would put Paul’s arrival in Corinth in the middle of the year 51 A.D. In Corinth, Paul joins with a couple named Aquila and Priscilla. ...

We are studying the history of the Lord’s church in the book of Acts. In Acts 15, we learn of two controversies. One controversy affected the whole church, and the other was a controversy between two close brothers in Christ. After Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch from their first journey (Acts 14:26-28), there arose a dispute about whether the Gentile Christians had to be circumcised to be saved. ...

The Old Testament has twelve books of history. The New Testament has only one book of history, which is the book of Acts. Last week, we saw the gospel preached to the Jews for the first time in Acts 2, and the Gentiles in Acts 10 & 11. Also, we saw how the gospel spread to Judea, Samaria, Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. ...

As the book of Matthew ends, Jesus is on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16) when He gives His apostles the Great Commission for the first time. (Matthew 28:17-20) Later, He repeats the Commission to His apostles from Bethany, outside of Jerusalem, (Luke 24:50) just before He ascends back to heaven. (Luke 24:44-52; Mark 16:15-20)...

We have finished our study of the 39 books of the Old Testament. We start a study of the 27 books of the New Testament by looking at the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which tell about Christ’s life. Matthew and Luke both tell about the birth of Jesus Christ. ...

We continue our study of the Minor Prophets by looking briefly at the last six books of the Old Testament. The book of “Nahum” is a prophecy about the destruction of the Assyrian city of Nineveh. This would be welcomed news to Judah to whom the letter was written. “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” (Nahum 1:15)...

The next section of Old Testament scripture is the Minor Prophets. There are twelve Minor Prophets. Three were prophets to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Jonah, Amos, Hosea), six were prophets to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Obadiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk), and three were post-exile prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi). Our study now will cover the first six books...

We finish the Major Prophets with a study of “Daniel”. Daniel was taken prisoner in the first deportation of Judah to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. (Daniel 1:1-2) Daniel spent  the whole 70 years as predicted by Jeremiah in captivity. (Jeremiah 25:11) In 539 B.C., Babylon was defeated by the Persians. As an old man, Daniel is promoted to the top position under Darius. (Daniel 6:1-3)   ...

We are continuing our study of the Major Prophets. Last week, we examined Isaiah who prophesied about 100 years before Judah went into Babylonian captivity. Next, the book of “Jeremiah” tells how the prophet Jeremiah worked among the Israelites until the time they went into captivity...

The last book of poetry in the Old Testament is the “Song of Solomon”. There are two views as to the purpose of this book. Some believe that it describes the love between Jesus Christ and His church much like Ephesians 5:22-33. For this reason, some describe Jesus as the “Rose of Sharon” and the “Lily of the Valley”. (2:1)...

We begin our study with another book of poetry called “Psalms” which is loved by many people. There are 150 psalms in the book which are divided into five smaller sections: Psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106 and 107-150. These psalms were written by various writers. ...

Let’s look at the last book of history called “Esther”, named after its principal character, Esther. Esther’s parents had died and she was raised by Mordecai, her older cousin, who raised her as his daughter. (Esther 2:5-7, 15) After Queen Vashti was deposed, Esther was chosen by King Ahasuerus, the King of Persia, better known in secular history as Xerxes, to be his new queen. In this way, Esther was in the right place at the right time to help save her people from annihilation. (Esther 4:14)...

We are presenting a thumbnail sketch of the books of history in the Old Testament. This material should be used as a reference tool when reading your Bible. The book of “First Chronicles” starts with 9 chapters of genealogies. Then, in 1 Chronicles chapters 11-29, a fuller history of David’s reign is repeated which was covered earlier by the entire book of Second Samuel. However, the incident with Bathsheba is not repeated. (1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11:1)...

We start the study today in the middle of the book of 1 Kings. As punishment for Solomon leading God’s people into idolatry, God divided the kingdom between Solomon’s son Rehoboam, and another man, named Jeroboam. (1 Kings 11-12) Sadly, Jeroboam built two golden calves for the Northern Kingdom to worship in Dan and Bethel. All the kings of the Northern Kingdom were evil and idolatrous. The Southern Kingdom had good and bad kings...

We are in the midst of studying the Old Testament books of history. There are 12 books of history which follow the 5 books of law. We have already studied Joshua, Judges, Ruth and 1 Samuel. The other books of history are: 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. These books cover the entire history of Israel to about 300 B.C...

The book of Ruth was written during the period of the judges. Since there was no king, sin abounded as men did what was right in their own eyes. (Judges 21:25) The book of Ruth shines as a ray of hope that God was at work behind the scenes to bring a Savior into the world...

Since Exodus, we have followed the Israelites from their departure from Egypt. Now, 40 years later, they are ready to enter Canaan from the eastern side of the Jordan River. After Moses’ death, Joshua became the leader. (Joshua 1:1-5) The book of Joshua deals with his faithful leadership. ...

We will examine the last three books of the Law of Moses. The book of Leviticus has many instructions for the work of the priests. In chapters 1-7, instructions are given about the different kinds of sacrifices. (Leviticus 7:37) Moses dedicates the priests for their work in chapter 8. In chapter 9, Aaron and his sons start their work, and fire from the LORD consumes the burnt offering. (9:24)...

The next book in the Bible is Exodus. Altogether, there are 66 books that make up the Bible. Exodus records how Jacob’s 12 sons grew into a great nation. (Exodus 1:1-7) A new Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and also killed their male babies in order to prevent them from becoming a military threat in the future. ...

We continue our study of what is contained in the Bible by looking at the life of Jacob in Genesis 29. Jacob goes to his mother’s brother, Laban, in Haran or Padanaram. (Genesis 28:1-5; 29:4) Jacob meets Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter, and works 7 years for her hand in marriage. ...

We are seeking to learn what is contained between the covers of your Bible. What further information is in the book of Genesis? After the flood, Noah’s descendants repopulated the earth (Genesis 10). Have you ever wondered why there are so many languages in the world today? The answer is given in Genesis 11. ...

This New Year, we begin a series of articles to learn more about your Bible. The Bible is divided into two sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament. Although some are familiar with the Bible, there are many who are unfamiliar, and therefore the reason for this study...

Do you have a hard heart toward people in general? Would the Lord Jesus be grieved about you having a hard heart toward your fellowman? Jesus was grieved at the Pharisees’ hardness of heart. (Mark 3:5) The Pharisees had no compassion for a man with a withered hand, but Jesus healed him even though it was the Sabbath day. ...

The apostle Peter wrote two epistles in the New Testament. In the first epistle, Peter emphasized to the Christians the importance of righteousness. In the second epistle, Peter reminds Christians of the dangers of unrighteousness. Let’s examine this contrast in the two epistles of Peter...

The Jewish leaders often accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan. “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” (Matthew 12:24) If this lie was believed by the people, it would have done irreparable damage to Christ’s credibility. Jesus gave several good proofs that He did not cast out demons by Satan’s power, but by God’s...

The book of James illustrates time and time again that God requires action on our part. To genuinely possess the characteristics God requires of us, we must perform the necessary actions as well. Hearing the word of God is very important if one is to be saved. ...

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) By the word “expression”, I am not referring to one’s facial expression. This word is also defined, “the act of expressing something, especially in words.” Using words to express and convey uplifting messages to others is very important! Such expression is not only helpful to others, but also to one’s self...

The God of heaven is a good God. He teaches mankind to be good also. God’s attitude toward wickedness is revealed in Psalms 45:7. “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness…” Those who would be the children of God must be like the heavenly Father, and love that which He considers good. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)...

Let’s discuss pollution. No, I’m not referring to air and water pollution. Instead, I’m talking about the worst kind of pollution. I refer to the many pollutions of this sinful and ungodly world which pollute the minds, hearts and lives of men. This type of pollution ruins the souls of men and destroys their hope to obtain heaven...

In Matthew 12:14, the enemies of Jesus held a council how they might destroy Him. Jesus was aware of their plans and He withdrew from that place. Jesus told those following Him not to make Him known, since the more Jesus’ enemies heard about His feats, the more animosity was stirred up. (12:15-16). It is at this point that Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 as being fulfilled by Christ (Matthew 12:17-21)...

We can’t help but be impressed by the noble acts of men. The noble and courageous acts of our soldiers in defending our country and saving their comrades’ lives, fill our hearts with emotion and our eyes with tears. The same is true of our policemen, firefighters and first responders. There are those in our communities who will donate organs to help save other people’s lives. There are people who will open their hearts and homes to foster children. These actions stir our hearts!...

Another term for the above title is “independence”. Individual independence is a wonderful thing. Many young Americans are less independent today than past generations. The loss of independence always comes at the price of more control of our lives from outside sources...

Are you faithful to God? To be faithful to God necessarily implies that you first have been spiritually born again of the water and the Spirit. Obviously, one yet in a lost condition cannot be faithful. This new birth occurs when we are baptized as the Spirit’s Word directs us to do. (John 3:3, 5; 1 Peter 1:23)...

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not forever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” (Proverbs 27:23-27)...

The first question was asked by Korah to Moses and Aaron. The question was, “… Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3) Korah thought that all the congregation was holy, and therefore, why had Moses elevated himself above them? The truth is that God had elevated Moses to his place of leadership. (Numbers 16:28-29)...

Be assured that Jehovah God hears every reproach uttered against Him by men. I wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of anyone who would defiantly reproach God publicly or privately! Let’s consider a few examples. When the armies of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had surrounded Jerusalem, Hezekiah, king of Judea, sent these words to the prophet Isaiah. ...

While reading in the book of Proverbs, I noticed in chapters 25 and 26 a few proverbs that are quoted in the New Testament. Jesus, Paul and Peter used some proverbs to teach needed lessons to their fellowmen. The first occurs in Proverbs 25:6-7. “Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.” So many people arrogantly seek to elevate themselves into the presence of important people so as to feel important themselves.. ...

Bees are everywhere in the world pollinating flowers and crops. Therefore, everyone is familiar with honey which is made by bees and how sweet it is! The book of Proverbs mentions the word “honey” several times, and also gives us some needed admonitions...

Marriage is God’s idea. God is the originator of marriage. “… Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:4-5) First, we are told that God made the first couple, male and female. ...

The Bible speaks about the “milk” and the “meat” of the Word of God. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ...

Last week, we studied portions of Galatians 3:6-29, as relating to the “seed” promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and 22:18. We will now study portions of Romans 4:9-25. God’s promise to Abraham, that through his seed all nations would be blessed, is connected to Romans chapter four by verse seventeen which says, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) …” This portion of scripture is quoted in Genesis 17:4-5. ...

God made three promises to Abraham. God promised to give his descendants the land of Canaan and make them a great nation. He fulfilled both of these promises more than a thousand years before Christ came into the world. A third promise to Abraham is the “seed” promise and was fulfilled by Christ at His first coming...

Peter, in Acts chapter two, spoke about the promise of salvation. Likewise, Paul spoke about the forgiveness of sins in Acts chapter thirteen. Now, from Acts chapter three, Peter shows that the promised blessing to Abraham was fulfilled by Christ blotting out sins...

Earlier, we studied Peter’s promised blessing of salvation in Acts chapter two. Peter used Psalms 16:10 and 110:1 to prove that Jesus was the promised seed of David who was raised from the dead and exalted to God’s right hand. Now, we want to examine Paul’s sermon in Acts chapter 13 and see that he taught the same thing that Peter did in Acts chapter two. Paul uses three Old Testament Scriptures to prove that Jesus is now King...

The “seed” promises made to Abraham and David find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The furthest extent of the promises to these two men find fulfillment in Christ, and are of a spiritual nature! We will spend a couple of weeks looking at these promises from the book of Acts...

In the days of Hezekiah, King of Judah, the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, came against the city of Jerusalem to overthrow it. (2 Kings 18:13) The representatives for King Sennacherib discouraged the people of Israel from putting their trust in God by saying, “Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. ...

Religion

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

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THE TRUTH WORKS

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THE TRUTH WORKS - Religion

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

THE TRUTH WORKS

One can learn a lot about God by analyzing some things the Bible says that “God is not”. First, God is not a man. The first few words of Numbers 23:19 say, “God is not a man …” One should not refer to God as “the man upstairs.” God never has, nor ever will be, a man. God is a Spirit. (John 4:24) Men often make the mistake of thinking that God looks at things the way we do. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)...

“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:14) It is possible for young men and women to be strong in the Lord even though they may not have been Christians for very long. ...

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalms 118:1-4) The phrase “his mercy endureth for ever” blazes forth before our eyes four times in this reading. Consider God’s enduring mercy...

The word “convert” refers to a person who has made the necessary changes to become a Christian. “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as a little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) The word “converted” is defined by Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, “to turn one’s self… from one’s course of conduct, i.e. to change one’s mind.” For the unsaved to be saved, one must change one’s beliefs about Christ, one’s mind about sin, and one’s spiritual state...

Are you satisfied with the direction your life is heading? Be assured, you can change the direction of your life and thereby change your future. If your life is filled with sin, unrest and hopelessness, you can decide to turn to God and begin serving the living and true God. ...

I am so thankful that God in His wisdom has given so many of David’s Psalms to uplift us. We tend to put David on a pedestal since he was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) However, when you read his Psalms, you realize how often he got down in spirit, and felt discouraged due to his many detractors who sought his destruction. We may not get down about the same problems that David had, but all of us have our own problems which can cause us to be disheartened...

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) Daniel tells us that when Christ returned to heaven from earth, God gave Him a dominion and a kingdom! Consider the following scriptures which confirm this affirmation.. ...

“Mama” was wise in the past, and I pray that she still will be in the future. Mama had many wise sayings which she quoted. What Mama says is “law”. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Proverbs 1:8) Mothers have laws because they know that God has laws of his own for which He will hold men accountable. ...

Let’s consider together a beautiful passage from Proverbs. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18) We will start with “the path of the just”. A path is a way that you have followed often and is familiar to you. A “just” or “righteous” person has traveled God’s path of light for a long time, and does not stray from it...

The nation of Israel was described by God as a “perverse and crooked generation.” He says, “They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” (Deuteronomy 32:5) The gracious God who had done so much for Israel should not have been treated this way. ...

When we are gone, what will we be remembered for? Many dream of things they would like to do someday, but actually never do anything. There are many who chase fame, but who will never be known, because they are too busy trying to be famous and never do anything memorable. Some people will be remembered for the evil things they have done so their memory is permanently stained. Will you be favorably remembered for your good deeds? What will you be known for?...

Jesus will definitely return from heaven someday. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28) I was recently singing the song “Watch and Pray” with the saints, and I began thinking about Christ’s second coming. ...

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16) The gospel, which Paul was authorized to preach by Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12), included the prospect of judgment. Earlier in Romans chapter two, Paul speaks about the judgment of God. ...

We are going to look at a Bible riddle and allegory. How familiar are you with the background surrounding each one? We will start with the riddle. “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” The above riddle is from Judges 14:14, and was spoken by Samson, a Nazarite and judge, who was blessed by God with super strength. ...

Paul instructed Titus and Timothy about the qualifications for elders or bishops. “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.” (Titus 1:7) (See 1 Timothy 3:3)...

Jude, in writing to Christians, calls them “beloved” three times. (Jude 3, 17, 20) The term “beloved” speaks of deep love and concern for those who were sanctified by God and preserved in Christ. (Jude 1) Jude loved his brethren since they shared a common salvation (Jude 3), and had a like precious faith. (2 Peter 1:1)...

All people will have trouble in life. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1) But, there is a way of living that can save or spare a person from having a lot of extra troubles in life. Godly parents try to impart this way of living to their children. ...

Recently, we discussed how some in Moses’ day, cast God’s Word over their backs as though it was nothing of importance. Similarly, many are treating God’s Word this way today. There needs to be a greater respect among the American populace toward God and His Word...

Ezra, the priest, recounted some of Israel’s history in the ninth chapter of Ezra. Ezra said, “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.” (Nehemiah 9:26)...

“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” (Acts 10:42) We want to look at some things God has ordained regarding His Son, Jesus. Peter, in preaching to the household of Cornelius, said that the apostles were chosen to be witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. (Acts 10:40-41) Christ had commanded all the apostles to preach the gospel to the world. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15)...

Possibly, you heard about the recent incident on a Southwest Airlines flight, when a woman passenger attacked a woman flight attendant and knocked out two of her teeth. Where has civility gone in our society today? I can think of a couple of reasons...

“And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. ...

Can you picture a person sitting in their house in filth and squalor? How would you feel about that able bodied person if they will not raise a finger to improve their circumstances? The Bible speaks of some men’s laziness. “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” (Proverbs 21:25) “The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.” (Proverbs 26:13) Now that’s lazy!...

I am concerned, as are many other preachers, that people who once attended the “worship assembly” have become comfortable staying at home on Sundays and are making little effort to assemble again as things improve with regard to Covid-19. I would like to add a few thoughts for everyone’s consideration...

Our text for study is Daniel 6:14: “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” The king mentioned in this verse is Darius of the Persian Empire. ...

Let us continue examining things God has established for which He is jealous and doesn’t permit tampering. Consider another passage, “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24) God is zealous and jealous for His New Testament Covenant. ...

Last week, we saw that God’s plans are not to be “messed” with or hindered. Now, we want to look at some things which God has created or established about which He is very jealous, and will not permit people to recreate them after their own imaginations...

God means business! God especially means business when anyone interferes or hinders His eternal plans for man’s redemption. (Ephesians 1:11) A quick summary of God’s plan follows. God chose Abraham whose descendants would become a great nation and settle in Canaan. Through one of His descendants, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:8, 16), God would bless all nations with salvation and citizenship in His kingdom which began on the day of Pentecost...

God means business! God especially means business when anyone interferes or hinders His eternal plans for man’s redemption. (Ephesians 1:11) A quick summary of God’s plan follows. God chose Abraham whose descendants would become a great nation and settle in Canaan. Through one of His descendants, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:8, 16), God would bless all nations with salvation and citizenship in His kingdom which began on the day of Pentecost...

The apostle John said that Jesus “was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus’ coming has brought some wonderful things to earth’s inhabitants. His coming changed the world, and still does!...

“But of the Son He says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy companions.” (Hebrews 1:8-9 NASV) The context of these verses shows Jesus’ superiority. These two verses are quotations from Psalms 45:6-7...

Our passage for examination is 1 Samuel 2:3 which says, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” God weighs actions! The idea of God weighing our actions conjures up a scale or balances where God can correctly and justly determine if our actions are right or wrong. ...

Zacharias prophesied (Luke 1:67) concerning his newborn son, John, by saying, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways …” (Luke 1:76) John the Baptist was a prophet. ...

We will examine the second statement by which the people in Jesus’ day glorified God. It is “that God hath visited his people”. This statement comes from Luke 7:16. “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.”...

“And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.” (Luke 7:16) The above verse tells us that the people of Israel glorified God because of what Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth (Matthew 21:11), had done. ...

“Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39) The Pharisee mentioned in the scripture above is Simon. ...

“O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.” (Psalms 115:9-11, ASV) From the above scripture, we see the following phrase repeated three times, “He is their help and their shield”. Israel, the Aaronic priesthood and those who fear God are commanded to trust in Jehovah...

Honesty is indeed the best policy. Honesty is best because God demands it from us as we live our daily lives, and deal with others. Jacob, the son of Isaac in order to escape his brother Esau’s wrath, went to Haran to live with his mother’s brother, Laban. ...

God himself spoke the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. The Israelites were afraid, and asked Moses to speak God’s words to them. (Exodus 20:1-17, 19-22) We are told in Exodus 24:3-4, “And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD … and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD …” (Exodus 24:3-4)...

Let’s continue to look at “sayings” which some attribute to the Bible. Do you know your Bible well enough to know which of the following sayings are from the Bible and which are not? “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Is this a statement from the Bible? The above saying was used by Abraham Lincoln in his “House Divided Speech” on June 16, 1858, in Springfield, Ill. ...

Are you familiar with your Bible? How well do you know what’s in it? Occasionally, you will talk to someone who will “quote” a religious saying from the Bible. The only problem is that it cannot be found in the scriptures! Politicians are known to do this, thinking that a quote from the Bible will give their ideas more credibility. Which of the following sayings are from the Bible and which are not?...

The Old Testament books of the Bible were in existence in Jesus’ day. He quoted from them. The inspired apostles and prophets wrote the New Testament books which were completed before 100 A.D. (Ephesians 2:20) The twenty-seven New Testament books are the final revelation from the mind of God to men. ...

I do not know how people come up with some of the ideas that stick in their minds! One such idea is that you should only pay attention to the parts of the New Testament written in red since they were spoken by Jesus, but that the rest of the New Testament written in black can basically be ignored, and doesn’t have to be obeyed. ...

In columns earlier in the year, I discussed what Peter had to say about God and Christ in his two epistles. We will examine what Peter says about the Holy Spirit. Admittedly, several of these passages are very difficult and are interpreted differently...

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16) Ancient Israel did not want to walk in God’s way during Old Testament times. ...

The book of Proverbs contains wisdom by which we should live our lives. Wisdom is simply applied knowledge. Knowledge is only useful when you act in accordance with what you learn. Apply these four important Proverbs. 1. Let your words be few. The more you say, the more likely it is that you will misuse your tongue. ...

The focus of this article is to examine how God brings down a nation! We will begin by looking at old Israel and then move to nations in general. Please read in your Bible all unquoted passages. In the Old Testament, we can read of God’s plan to correct Israel’s wayward path. This correction was necessary in order to purify His people long enough to bring the Messiah into the world. God used at least three plagues to pull down the nation of Israel and diminish her because of her sins...

First, we need to define the word “cherish”. The word properly means “to warm, keep warm” as of birds covering their young with their feathers. W. E. Vines in his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words”, says this word is used metaphorically, “to cherish with tender love, to foster with tender care.” What are some things we are to cherish or have a tender care toward?...

God seeks to teach us needed lessons in life. One such lesson is for us to realize how helpless we are, and that we need to be totally dependent on God. If you have lived any length of time, you know men are helpless against many things in life. Helplessness, by definition, means a person is unable to help himself...

From the same book which tells husbands to love their wives, wives are told to submit themselves to their husbands. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18) In a previous article, we learned a wife’s most basic need from her husband is to be loved. ...

God commands husbands to love their wives. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25) Paul again commanded this in Colossians 3:19. “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”...

There are three questions that every person needs to answer. The first one is, “Where did we come from?” To answer this question we need to look to God’s word for the answers. We came from God. God is the one who created us. Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them.”...

“Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!” (Hosea 9:12) God was speaking to Israel, also called Ephraim, (9:1, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16). The kingdom of Israel consisted of the ten northern tribes, which had split from Judah during the reign of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. God warned them about the woes and hardships that would come upon their nation when God departed from them...

If you are a person who does not accept the full truth about who Jesus is, then you do not have true faith in Christ. Just saying you believe in Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean you believe the full truth about Jesus. Do you believe in the Jesus of the New Testament? “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached…” (2 Corinthians 11:4) “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God …” (1 John 4:3)...

“Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” (Joshua 14:8) This statement was made by Caleb to Joshua, the leader of the Israelites. They had finished conquering the land of Canaan, and it was time to divide the land among the twelve tribes. Caleb was asking Joshua to give him the portion of land that Moses had promised him. (Joshua 14:6-13)...

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of hearing about vampires! The last twenty years have brought many movies and television shows about vampires like “The Vampire Diaries”. I confess, that as a kid, I did watch “Dark Shadows” after school. The following scripture, from the book of Job, made me think of some modern day vampires who come out at night...