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I noticed while going through all the discussion groups listed, that BC does not have a library of recommended reading material which, along with God's word "the Bible" might be of benefit to other believers. If I have missed something, please let me know.
If you have suggestions of Christian materials which might benefit another person on this site, please let us know the name of the book/publication, the author/publisher, and where this might be obtained.
Bibles come in numerous translations but are all the Word of God. What Bible do you use, and why is it meaningful to you?
In setting up this site, I would like to let everyone know that they would please stay to the topic intended for the use of others who may be in need of information.
God Bless all who respond, and thank you.
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Blinded Minds
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Jul 19, 2009 5:39 am
187 Views
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2 Corinthians 4:3-4
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." KJB
I have covered this subject before but it needs to be brought out over and over again until those who call themselves saved get the message and realize that standing on the sidelines cannot be tolerated anymore because the time has come for all Christians to pull together and resist those who would trash the Word of God. The Word of God does more than simply comfort the saved it is the instrumental thing in the life of the Christian. Now, being Christian is more than just a simple word to be used for identifying those who are saved but rather it is the very thing which God used to create all things we can see, feel, taste or hear, for He spoke the whole cosmos into existence by simply speaking it into existence. It is the Word which divides the saved from the lost. It is the Word of God that holds the world together.
Jesus said: "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 5:1 KJB. Notice, that Jesus "said" that "...one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass..."(the smallest portions of the physical Hebrew language), until all that is said within His word comes to pass, "...till all be fulfilled...”: within the very word of God, our Bible. The very first thing we learn in the Bible is from the very first verse, and it says: "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) KJB. Remember Jesus said again: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) KJB.
Now, some seem to think that "evolution" was started by Charles Darwin, but that is not true, however, it was Darwin who tried to make sense of what was being taught by those whose "minds" were "blinded" by the "...god of this world..." so that they would not come to the saving grace of God, through His Word. Evolution is used by Satan to separate man from his Creator and it is being used more and more each day. We cannot turn on the TV without hearing some form of evolution coming from it. Our children, in the public schools are getting this trash shoved down their throats and we cannot get away from it. That is why it is important for the Christian man and woman to not place their children in the public schools but rather place them in God fearing Christian schools where they can get the Word of God which will help them get through the world, not without trials and tribulations but rather will teach them about salvation through His word and give them comfort while still in these trials and tribulations.
It was at a time in my life when I thought all was falling apart when the Lord directed me to a good Bible believing, Bible preaching man of God, where I ended up getting down on my knees and asking the Lord to come into my life and save me. It was His word which told me that I was a sinner and that everyone in the world are sinners and in need of a Savior. It was the Word of God which taught me that we cannot trust what the world teaches us. We cannot, as Bible Believing men and women of God, not teach His word to this dying world we live in.
Jesus said this: "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Luke 10:23-24) KJB. You see, those in the Old Testament did not have the Word of God as we do today, because it is our Bible, the very Word of God, that helps us to see what the Old Testament saints did not see. We are blessed beyond measure but some seem to think that they can live outside the Word of God and still make it to heaven through things that are not so, according to that very word which separates the lost from the saved. Some seem to think that there are many paths to God but the Word says that there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus. (John 14:6) KJB. You cannot get to heaven through Mohamed, through Buddha, or even through Joseph Smith. Jesus is the only way. Why do I say that? Because that is what the Word of God says, period.
The very Word of God will destroy what we see now, even in the complete cosmos, and will make it new again. (Revelation 21:1) It is through the Word of God that we learn that we will "forever" be with the Lord of Creation. It is the Word of God which comforts us as we struggle today. It is the Word of God that will see us through it all. It is the Word of God which tells us that God loves us beyond measure. (John 3:16) KJB.
Even though Satan "blinded" the minds of man, the Light of God, will show them the path they need to take. Unfortunately, more will reject the way to heaven, Jesus, than will receive Him and be saved. We, who are saved, have the answer to those who are seeking a better way to live. All we need to do is to open our mouths and profess Him to the lost. We have the answer to life's questions, just open our mouths so that more will find the way and fill the void in their lives. Everyone, no matter who they are, have this void. We try to fill it with the things of this world but it will always be there till the Creator fills it with His love. As the Savior did, let's preach the Gospel unto this lost and dying world, so that they to might be able to come to the saving grace of His word.
Has your mind been blinded? Then let His word come in and take the blinds off so that you can be saved. No religion will fill the void. Only Jesus can fill it to the uttermost. Will we have doubts? Yes, that is the nature of man. But it is His word which can give us comfort and it is His word which will see us through it all. So let His word change your heart of stone to a heart of flesh, loving all others.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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And Get Gain
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Jul 4, 2009 2:08 pm
241 Views
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James 4:13
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:" KJB
In out society today in the great USA, there is a belief out there that says if you do not have great finances through the stock market, or rather many properties, you are not successful, or if you are not a fantastic star in music or in sports, you are not successful. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, that is not God's definition of getting gain. In accordance with God's plan of things, these things of man are foolish at best. Jesus said this: "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26) KJB. You see, the soul is the most important thing that we, God's creation, can have. Before salvation that soul is dead to God, but after we become saved, we are alive unto Christ and will stand in His presence at judgment, receiving the crowns according to what we did while here.
The soul is of greater value than any amount of gold, silver, diamonds or any other thing that man calls valuable. These earthly riches are only temporary, but the soul is eternal. Paul's goal for himself was this: "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1 Corinthians 9:19-22) KJB.
Remember what Jesus said about riches, He said: "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:20-21) KJB. Now, earthly riches can be lost or even stolen, or in some fashion gone from our sight, but heavenly riches will last for all eternity. Jesus told us to "...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...." but how does one go about laying up these treasures in heaven? It is true that when you die you cannot take your earthly riches with you. But the heavenly treasures are already there waiting for you to get there. So, as I asked earlier, what are these heavenly riches?
The greatest treasure that you can lay up is that of another soul. For it is the soul of man that God requires and not our things. He owns it all in the first place, regardless of what man might think. But because the soul is dead until it is "born again", that is what He wants. That is why Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) KJB. Our Father desires that each and every man, woman or child, tell someone else about His salvation through Christ, His son. Regardless of what many might think it is not just the job of the Pastors, the deacons or evangelists to lead others to Christ: it is the job of each and every believer to tell others of God's love for them. If you want earthly gain, then continue to tell others about Christ and the heavenly treasures will abound to your account in heaven. Let the Lord tells you in that day, "Well done , thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21) KJB. The "few things" are the lost souls and the obedience to Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "If ye love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15) KJB.
Each and every believer is a soldier for God and each one of us has the very same commandments, there are no exceptions. We all have been given specific talents and if we do not do them for the cause of Christ, then are we doing what the Lord wants us to do? NO! It is as simple as that.
Finally, Paul tells us this: "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) KJB. So, when it is all said and done, and we die, will it be gain or loss? If you are not in Christ, it is loss, and when you are in Christ, it is a definite gain. So I say with Paul, "For me to live is Christ and when I die it is gain." I look forward to that day when He says to me, "Welcome my son, into my glory." Is this being presumptuous? No not in the least.. Because I know the Lord as my Savior and my Father so I look forward to that day. What about you, are you looking forward to that day?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.Used with permission
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A PASTOR WITH GUTS
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Jul 3, 2009 9:40 pm
306 Views
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There might be hope yet!
A Pastor with GUTS!
Thought you might enjoy this interesting
prayer given in Kansas at
the opening session of their Senate. It seems
prayer still upsets some
people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the
Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is
what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self esteem..
We have abused power and called it
politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition .
We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!
The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Churc h, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls
with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests
for copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea .
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and
received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever
aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called 'one nation under God.'
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The People Say AMEN
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Jul 3, 2009 12:19 pm
283 Views
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Psalm 106:48
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD." KJB
Have you noticed that in some of our churches that the "people" do not "....say, amen" any more? This word, "Amen" actually says, "so be it" or "that's right", so, if a preacher is preaching the word as He ought, should we not say "AMEN"? What is wrong with saying that one simple little word while a person speaks the Word of God? It is Biblical, after-all! There are many accounts of the "people" saying "amen" contained within it.
It is interesting to see these accounts, so let us go to a few of them and see for ourselves. There is sixteen of these accounts within the Bible, and all of them are in the Old Testament. Twelve of these are found in the book of Deuteronomy and these are all in the twenty seventh chapter, verses fourteen to twenty six and these are used by the people when a certain "curse" is pronounced on those who commit certain sins. The very last curse reads like this: "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people said, Amen" (vs. 26), in agreement with the judgment. And yet, later on these very same people were found to be doing this very thing, because they failed to keep all the law.
King David gave thanks for the return of the Ark of the Covenant, and he said: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD" (1 Chronicles 16:36) KJB. Then we have the account of Nehemiah rebuking the people of God for their covetousness threatening the judgment of God upon them, and "...all the congregation said, Amen" (Nehemiah 5:13) KJB. Then after that very wall was finished we find Ezra reading the Scriptures to the people, "Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen" (Nehemiah 8:6) KJB.
And the final reference is in our text for today. Therefore, should we not follow this precedent of the "people, saying Amen"? Whenever the Word of God is read to the congregation, either in denunciation of sin or in thanksgiving, let us say "AMEN" to the Word. Whether it is a simple service, a revival or in simply praising the Lord, let us praise Him for His great goodness by saying "AMEN". It is very appropriate for the people to say AMEN when the Word of God is read to them. So let us be about letting God know our hearts by confirming with vocal speech by saying one little simple word, AMEN, (so be it, or that's right).
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
Used with permission
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Works of Darkness
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Jul 2, 2009 1:50 pm
292 Views
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Ephesians 5:11
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." KJB
Paul, in this epistle to the church at Ephesus, speaks of something called "...the unfruitful works of darkness...", so, what are they? In another of Pauls epistles, he gives us a definition and he enumerates them for us, and that is in the epistle to the church at Rome. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (Romans 13:12-13) KJB. It is important that we know what these "works of darkness" are because when we learn of them, we are "cast off" these "works of darkness" and have "no fellowship" with them. So in order to be able to cast them off, or rather, get rid of them.
Paul tells us the first thing is "honesty" because he tells us to "walk honestly". We do not learn how to lie, that is natural thing we do because we do not want to be punished for our wrong doing. A human child, when they are first born, is the most selfish thing in the world. To be honest in all your doings is the best witness that you can have for Christ, because people are so bombarded by dishonesty, that when an honest person comes along it is like a fresh breath of mountain air. When a cashier gives you more change than what you deserve, give back to them the over payment and they will be taken with great gratitude.
Paul tells us further, in the epistle to the church at Ephesus, this: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesus 4:17-19) KJB.
The next thing that Paul lists in the epistle to Rome he tells us about "rioting and drunkenness". The Greek word for "rioting" is the word "komos" and it means to not let loose or rather in modern terms, to let it all hang out, holding nothing back. In other words, we are to keep a good demeanor or attitude in humbleness and humility. And the word which is translated as "drunkenness" is the word "methe" or rather intoxicated.
Now, it does not necessarily mean alcohol but can mean anything which makes us intoxicated. Drugs, even prescription Drugs, can make us intoxicated. If a person abuses the Drugs which a doctor gives to us, they can become intoxicated. Having the problems in my physical body that I do, in pain twenty-four/seven, I can attest to how easy it is to become intoxicated, so I follow the doctors orders in the use of my prescription Drugs and I do not abuse them..
The next thing that Paul lists is: "...chambering and wantonness..." and "chambering" is the Greek word "koite" which literally means "a couch" but it can also mean "cohabitation" or living with someone who is not your spouse, or living with another outside of marriage, and this is for a man and woman, and not in any other means. Now, "wantonness" is the Greek compounds word, "aselgeia" and is "lasciviousness" which means to have lusts or lewdness or a filthy mind.
The next two is "...not in strife and envying." "Strife" means to cause arguments and to "envy" one needs to only desire what another has in something they are able to do or for something they have. Envying is the easiest thing that we can have. When we desire to have something that another has to the point of causing a division between us and them, then that envy is wrong.
Our Bible tells us that we need to walk in the light so that the things of darkness can not take a hold and ruin our testimony. Paul speaks of another type of darkness in the first chapter of the Epistle to the church at Rome. We read this: "When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God...and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 12:1) KJB. Now, this darkness is that of "homosexuality" if we keep Romans 12 in context. We do not hate the person but rather the sin that they do. We are commanded to love them, no matter what they do, but we are also told to hate that which is of darkness and the sin of homosexuality is a sin against God that got two whole cities destroyed in the Old Testament, Sodom and Gomorrah. "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness....Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:24-2 KJB.
I am afraid that in these days of "enlightenment", which are with attitudes or actions that were once recognized as wrong and against God, these are being defended in the "hate crime bill" being shoved onto God fearing people and it will be against the law to even say out loud what the Bible tells us to do. I would rather follow God than bow down to a society that is against God and we are at that juncture right now in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. The question is, are we free? Not hardly because it is harder and harder to speak ones mind without retribution. Let us not do the "works of darkness" and let us be points of light in a dark world.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word,Grand Junction, Co. Used with permission
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SATAN NEVER RESTS
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Jul 1, 2009 11:44 am
266 Views
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Job 1
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." KJB
Regardless of what some seem to think Satan is not omnipresent (every where present) like God. This picture in Job gives us a pretty good idea of Satan's activity. Some read this as Satan having access to heaven and goes back and forth from heaven and earth but when I read this and actually saw what it is saying I, for one, do not see that? Satan was kicked out of heaven by God Himself and I have always had a problem with the doctrine being taught that Satan has access to heaven. But, when we carefully read this we see that Satan is moving back and forth in the "earth" because it says, literally, after God asked him where was he coming from. We read Satan's answer to God: "...From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Notice in that whole discourse that heaven was not mentioned, only the earth.. The key words are "...in the earth..." and the last two words, "...in it." He was moving back and forth within the earth, and going up and down in it, the earth. However, that does not stop Satan from doing his utmost to get back at God for what God did to him, kicking him out of His abode or heaven. Satan is not infinite but rather finite but he is very powerful and brilliant.
He attacks us, because he cannot do anything to God. He attacks us in the same manner as he did Eve in the garden. Therefore, we are warned to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5: KJB.
It is not only Satan who attacks us but those third part of the angels who rebelled with him. These true demonic spirits, never rest either.. They wait until a person is vulnerable and often take over the body and the mind, to use for their own agenda. We read this: "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out" (Matthew 12:43-44) KJB.
Over the centuries, a picture of Satan has come out as being red in color, having horns and a pitchfork but that is not entirely correct. For we read: "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) KJB.. What Satan can do, as coming to us as a righteous person, or an angel of light, so can those who rebelled with him. So it is no surprise to me that we have so many different beliefs because of this very ability of Satan to cover his true nature.
We also read in our verse for today about the restlessness and character of Satan and those demonic ones who work with him. This restlessness is also in the unsaved, I know that I was restless and did not know what was wrong. I always desired to have something but that something I did not know what it was. I know that you can attest to the restlessness as well. Because that restlessness goes deep within our souls. We read about this restlessness when we read: "They have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name" (Revelation 14:11) KJB. There is a great unrest in this world right now, much more than at any time in the history of man.
There is a rest that a person can have and this comes only through and in Christ. When we are forgiven and cleansed by Him, we find a comfort in the soul that takes away this restlessness. Sure, we can still have a restlessness while we strive to serve the Lord but it is a different type of restlessness. It does not come from deep within us but rather is a restlessness of the mind. We are still people who desire to have things now and when we have to wait for them we become restless. But, when we give this desire to have things now to the Lord, we can rest in His comfort. But, being still in the body, we want to keep things to ourselves rather then to give them to the Lord. We read what Matthew wrote about this: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," Jesus says, "and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).
What about you, are you heavy laden, are you weary with well doing? Then give them to the Lord and rest in His love. We read in Paul's Epistle to the church at Rome: "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:6-11) KJB. What about you? Satan never rests, so keep vigilant and always keep the Lord in mind and He will give you that rest you so desire.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.Used with permission
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The Ant and the Contact lens
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Jun 30, 2009 7:32 pm
278 Views
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A TRUE STORY
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens.
'Great', she thought. 'Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry.' She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there.
She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.'
She thought, 'Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.'
Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, 'Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?'
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!
The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, 'Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing.. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You.'
I think it would do all of us some good to say, 'God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.'
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
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I Am Christ's Friend
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Jun 29, 2009 7:52 pm
303 Views
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John 15:15
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." KJB
Do you have a problem understanding how the God of Creation, the eternal judge over all things, the One who died for all the sins of the world and to redeem us from that sin, how can we be called the friend of Christ?
I do not know about you but I love to consider Him my Friend, my Savior, my Advocate before the Father. I do not know about you but I still question how could He be my friend? If Christ was telling others about His friends, would all believers be mentioned? I know, you are probably thinking, this is too good to be true! But our Lord and Savior said it is, isn't that enough for us in order to believe?
But Christ said at one time this: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" (John 15:16) KJB. We are His friends by consciously accepting the free gift that he extends to all who are alive, some accept it, but most reject this free gift of salvation. He knows more about us that we will ever know, at least not until we are standing in front of Him and we know as we are known. He knows, not only our past, but also our present, and our future.
Jesus has shown to us His friendship by the greatest act of love that the world has ever seen, that of going to the cross of Calvary and dying for us. We read this: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (vs.13). And continuing on we read this: "Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (vs.16). I want you to understand this and believe it in your heart because it is true: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love" (vs.9). why? "...that your joy might be full" (vs.11). Our Lord has "ordained" (set aside) us as His friends so that we "...should go and bring forth fruit" (tell others about His love for the, so that they can become His friend).
Now, this should be the response on our part as He states: "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you" (vs.14). And then he says: "If ye love me keep my commandments." (vs.15). If He loved us even unto the cross, then should we not obey Him? He commands us to do this: "...that ye love one another..." (vs.17).
Now I ask you, can we do any less? If you are bickering with a brother or sister in Christ, ask them for forgiveness and love them no matter what they do. We love Him because He first loved us. He showed us His love by extending His arms out on the cross and was lifted from the earth to die a cruel death, shall we not do the same thing, die for His names sake?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired, Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co. Used with permission
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The Best Wine
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Jun 28, 2009 2:30 pm
297 Views
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John 2:9-10
"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." KJV
The Lord Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry but none of them have caused such a fervor than the miracle of His turning the water into wine. This is the very first miracle that He performed for mankind and to think that He would change water into an intoxicating liquid when Scriptures clearly tell us that the taking of intoxicating liquor is totally against His word. He not only changed the water into wine but He changed a very large amount of it. He changed six-large waterpots which were filled with water and we read that each of these waterpots "...containing two or three firkins apiece..." (John 2:6) KJB. Now, the firkin is about 10 gallons, so if He changed three waterpots containing two or three firkins, that would mean He changed 20 to 40 gallons per waterpot of wine: that would mean that He changed 120 to 240 gallons of water into wine. This is a very large amount. But we also read that each other person who gives a wedding would give the best wine at the beginning, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine...", and when each person "...well drunk..." of this "good wine" the host would put forth "worse" wine at the end. (vs.10).
But Jesus gave of them the "...good wine until..." the end of the wedding. This confused the "...governor of the feast.." (vs 9).
But there is a problem when one thinks that Jesus gave to them the "fermented" fruit of the grape. Because we read this about the use of alcoholic beverage by God's People: "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink...and makest him drunken also...." (Habakkuk 2:15) KJB. And then we read in the New Testament this, Jesus himself had rebuked drunkenness ( for example: Luke 21:34) so this would definitely go against what Habakkuk said at the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Grape juice, the fruit of the vine, does not become alcoholic until decay sets in and this is called fermentation. The "wine" that He made was not in the least fermented because it was called, "New wine" or rather simply, the juice of "...the fruit of the vine..." that we shall drink "new" with Him in the presence of the Father in His glory or rather His "Fathers Kingdom". (Matthew 26:29) KJB. The Greek word, which is translated as "wine" in our text for today is not the Greek word for that wine which is fermented but rather is another word which is literally "new wine" or rather grape juice. It is amazing to me when people try to tell us that this wine that Jesus served them was fermented fruit of the vine or an alcoholic beverage when it is plain in Scriptures that this is sin to do so. Now, would Jesus break His own word, therefore, becoming a sinner? NO! Jesus made that water into a juice that was as though it was just brought forth from the grape and did not have time to ferment. Because they did not have the refrigeration that we have today. If one was to leave simple grape juice out of the cold for any length of time it would ferment. So Jesus made this "water" into "new wine" or grape juice and to think any differently would make Jesus a sinner and we all know that is not true for He never sinned. Is not the Greek language very particular as to what the word can be translated into? Yes! We seem to think that this one Greek word "oinos" can be translated as either literal wine or grape juice. Not having a degree in the Greek language I cannot tell you for sure whether this is so. So then, why would they use another word to mean "fermented juice", which is the word "yayin" meaning an intoxicating liquid. Now, to let you know about another Greek word, which is translated as "good" and that word is "kalos" which literally means "beautiful or better" wine. And we all know that there is nothing beautiful about an intoxicating beverage. Jesus gave to them the "kalos oinos" or rather "beautiful wine" or "better wine".
This wine that He made that day at that wedding was not an intoxicating liquid but rather the better wine or grape juice. So do not let anyone tell you that it is OK to drink of an alcoholic beverage. There is another Scripture which tells us that we seemingly can drink but not to the excess where we become drunk, but that is contrary to what Habakkuk had to say, is that not so? Paul said "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23) KJB. This is another Scripture which those who say it is OK to drink wine. But it is once again using the Greek word "oinos" or new wine and that is grape juice. In the 50 years or so we have learned something about grape juice, that is has a property which settles the stomach but when that grape juice is turned into "wine" (alcoholic beverage) that property is not there anymore because it has been changed by the act of fermenting.
Jesus had created the "good wine" (best juice of the grape) and it reflects back to what was said in the very beginning of our Bible, that He created that which was "very good" (Genesis 1:31) KJB. Now, this is reflected onto His very first miracle of the New Testament, the creating of "good wine". What about you, do you partake of the "good wine" or grape juice for thy stomach's sake?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co. Used with permission
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Willful Sin and Danger
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Jun 27, 2009 5:27 pm
322 Views
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Numbers 15:31
"Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him." KJB
When the world of the Israelites were under the Mosaic law, there was still ample provision for forgiveness for the sins which they committed unintentionally. We read this: "If any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly,...and it shall be forgiven him" (Numbers 15:27-2 KJB. But according to our text for today, we read something differently when it comes to the sins which we commit wilfully or we disobeyed God's law deliberately. That is another can of worms.
However, in this time of Grace, many would tell you that the harshness of God's law has been replaced by God's love. But I want you to understand something. Was not our Lord and Savior in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament? Yes! Therefore, if that be the case, would He do anything anything differently in the New than He did in the Old? NO! We read something very significantly in the New Testament in regards to our Lord's being, for we read: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday , and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: KJB. Now, remember what He did as God in the Old Testament. Did He not destroy the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for their willful disobedience to the law of God? Yes! Did they not know the law of God? Yes! So, Jesus, being the same yesterday, today and for ever, He would not change when it come to His law or commandments to those who disobey.
However, there is a difference between the people of the Old Testament and the people of the New. That difference is the type of blood which was applied to the altar for our sins. The people of the Old had a picture or mekrah of what was to come: they had the blood of all types of animals, for we read: "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:" (Hebrews 9:13) KJB. We also read this: "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:4-6) KJB.
Now, the blood of these bulls, goats, and even the lamb was nothing more than a temporary fix for the sins of man. But we read this about the blood of Jesus: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us...How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:12, 14) KJB. Therefore, when we are talking about the difference in the sins being forgiven, we are talking temporary, for the Old, and permanent for the New Testament. I do not know about you but I still sin even after salvation by my Lord's blood on the cross of Calvary. I try desperately not to sin wilfully now but there are times when I do and the Holy Spirit within me lets me know about it. In that case, I simply lay it at the foot of the cross, and ask the Lord to forgive me and He does, I know, because that is what my Bible tells me. (1 John 1:9). But, "...if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins...He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God?" (Hebrews 10:26, 28-29). KJB.
Now, even assuming this warning is to those who wilfully rejects Christ. the question still remains, will someone who has this saving grace, wilfully sin against the Lord? That is a question only the person who sins can answer. I know that I go out of my way not to sin against the Lord, but because I am still in the flesh and the flesh is weak, I still sin and have that forgiveness because I am saved by that grace. However, there are those who say they are saved and yet they still do the same things they did before they received Christ. Now, are they saved? or are they not saved? I cannot answer that but our Bible does say that we shall know them by their fruits, what they do for Christ. Jesus said about these fruits this: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16, 20) KJB. Therefore, if they are not changed, then I for one doubt their salvation in the first place. I know that if I sin I have forgiveness. I know, you might say that gives me the license to sin, but the problem is, I do not want to sin anymore. That means I am changed from the old man to that of the new man, who is in Christ. Even in the Old Testament, if they came to God for salvation He gave them mercy and saved them because they came with a wanting heart.
Only God knows the heart, but you and I can judge them by their fruits, or what they do for Christ. But those who are in Christ and who deliberately reject and disobey His commandments, they should, at least, "...examine [them]selves, whether they are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5) KJB. Do you sin wilfully, then you need to examine what you believe and turn from that sin and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Before my salvation I was identified as in Adam, but after my salvation I am identified as in Christ, that is the difference between the Old and New Testament. JESUS!
No matter what you have done He will forgive you of that. We are all sinners and we need to be perfect to make it into the presence of the Father. Sin set us apart from the Father and Jesus brought us nigh unto the Father by His blood sacrifice on the cross. Accept Him and live, reject Him and die, it is as simple as that.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.Used with permission
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