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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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How to Pray
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Mar 22, 2009 2:03 pm
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"And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed."-Matthew 26:39
There are several instructive features in our Saviour's prayer in His hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from His three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's.
It was humble prayer. Luke says He knelt, but another evangelist says He "fell on His face." Where, then, must be THY place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that He may exalt us in due time.
It was filial prayer. "Abba, Father." You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child's right to a father's protection. Be not afraid to say, "My Father, hear my cry."
Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.
CH Spergeon
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Water Springing Forth
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Mar 21, 2009 1:30 pm
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Exodus 17:6
"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." KJB
This, the bringing forth of water out of a rock in the midst of the desert is one of the most amazing miracles God ever did for the nation of Israel because it literally spoke about the God of Creation who cared for those very same people. This time was not a one time event but the implication that water was provided them with water the whole forty years of their trek because you never here their complaining about water again. Paul tells us about this water which came from the rock when he said: "Our fathers....did all eat the same spiritual meat: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1, 3-5)
Now, I want you to understand something about this water which was provided by God Himself. That is the provision of that water was nothing more than pure unadulterated "grace", and that "grace" came from God Himself. These people of God, the Israelites received this water from God but only after they were about to stone Moses because he had lead them into the desert, a desert without water. (Exodus 17:4) KJB. Notice this in the verse just before the stoning threat, it says: "And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" (Exodus 17:3) KJB. Then notice what God tells Moses: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Exodus 17:5-6) KJB. God would stand before him as he, Moses, struck the rock. In other words, as we do the Lord's bidding or His commandments, He would stand before us and be with us. What a great comfort that is to me and I pray that it is also with you.
The Israelites complaint was not actually with Moses, even though Moses was the one who was being threatened, but it was against God. Moses struck the rock one time and water came forth as God said it would.. When God says something will happen, it will happen, no matter what we have to say about it or even try to do that is against what our Lord says will happen. He said, He would come back and receive us unto Himself, and that where He is, we will be also, AMEN. He said, and it does not matter whether I believe it, it still will happen.
I want you to understand something also: this is the very first time the word "rock" is mentioned in the Bible. And it is Messianic in that He is the Rock of Salvation, and it is great that Paul calls this Rock a type of Christ, for He is the Messiah. That is why I love to read the Old Testament just as much as I love to read the New Testament, because as Christ is in the New, He is also in the Old. His ways have never changed, we are still saved by grace and not by works. I want you to understand something, just as the rock of Moses was struck as a type of judgment as Moses struck the Nile river, Jesus had to be "smitten of God" (Isaiah 53:4) KJB, before our sins could be removed and we could receive the living water which comes forth from the throne of God. This had to happen before God could fulfill His promise to all peoples and Jesus gives everyone the same invitation: "And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelations 22:17) KJB. And then: "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) KJB. Just as the rock sprung forth as a well of springing water, which gave life to those who drank of it in the desert, we can drink of the living water which Jesus can only give. AMEN.
Are you the "whosoever" which Scriptures speak of? Anyone, I mean anyone is the "whosoever" in the Word of God.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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Creation Designing
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Mar 20, 2009 8:00 pm
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Psalm 94:8-9
"Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?" KJB
When we read our text for today we can not help to find that it tells us evolution is like brutish foolishness. If anything that we have in this world would suppose that an automobile has an automaker or even a clock tells not only time but that it took a clockmaker to build it, so is it that everything that you see on this earth, which man did not make, had to have some sort of builder or designer, because of it's complexity. If one were honest with themselves just once concerning the things that are seen in the earth did not get there by random chance but that a designer had to make it, then we can not help but say the evolution makes no sense and creationism makes all the sense. Now, the word which is translated as "brutish" is the Hebrew word "ba-ar" which if it was literally translated means to kindle (to excite or arouse). Therefore, we could read our text as saying excited or aroused fools. With all the pushing of evolution today, and even the birthday of the father of evolution was celebrated, we need to hold to our faith in that the Word of God says, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and earth." (Genesis 1:1) KJB.
Our text tells us that our Creator is the maker of the eye and of the ear. We read again in Proverbs this: "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them" (Proverbs 20:12) KJB. We have ears and we have eyes, then why is it that we can see and hear about something in evolution when there is actually no evidence to support the theory, and yet reject Creationism when all the evidence points to God as Creator? Because, we are, as a whole people, blinded and deafened and cannot see or even hear this evidence each and every day we are alive.
WE have the answer to this in Psalms: "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God." (Psalm 14:1) KJB, or this "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 53:1) KJB. These people are "Corrupt...and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."
Everything, from the one celled amoeba to our amazing human bodies points to this intricate planning and construction. The very idea that all this comes about by random mutations and by natural selection is simply humans in rebellion against their Creator and nothing more. Sad thing is, they do not understand this and most do not care to listen to the truth because their hearts are darkened by the evil one which comes to nothing more than faulty humanistic reasoning. I was raised in a family which not only leaned on evolution but taught it to anyone who would listen. However, my family did not want to know the truth about God's Word but have done everything they can to promote it, unwilling to even look at God's Word for the actual answer. I thank God for the Baptist Preacher who was able to finally get through to me and showed me the truth of God's Word. The very day I received Christ was the day that my eyes were opened, even though I could see, and that my ears were finally attuned to hearing the truth of Jesus and who He is, the Creator of all that you see, hear, or even feel.
The only evidence in regards to evolution is that the leaders of "intellectualism" believe in it and the only reason that they believe it is because they are trying to escape or reject God their Creator. Paul tells it like it is, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22) KJB. They have given and received doctorates in this foolishness and yet they are fools according to God's Word.. Our ears did not evolve, nor did our eyes happen by chance mutations. If you believe in this foolishness, then your eyes need to be opened and your ears attuned to the truth of God's Word. Our eyes and ears did not evolve but were rather "formed" by the hands of our maker, God. The car did not come together by junk suddenly coming together randomly nor did the clock evolve in time. Each had to have some one who MADE them, so is it with us, God's created beings for "In the beginning God created...".
Every "wise" man or woman can say with the Psalmist this: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well" (Psalm 139:14) KJB. Are you wise in the eyes of God or are you still in your foolish state?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Word
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The Second Coming
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Mar 20, 2009 7:58 pm
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1 Thessalonians 5:23
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." KJB
One cannot help but notice that this one book written by Paul to the church at Thessolonica contains more references to our Lord's second coming than any other book in the New Testament, except Revelations. It can also be observed that each of it's chapters comes to an end with some sort of reference to that Second Coming.
In the very first chapter we read: "...how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven." (1:9-10). Notice that this reference speaks of our [service] to "...the living and true God." There is not one thing more blessed than to be serving the very God who saved our wretched souls from hell and because of His love for us.
The second chapter Paul speaks about our service to Him by what Christ commanded us to do and that is to go soul winning. "For what is our hope, or joy, of crown of rejoicing? Are not evn ye in the prsence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" (2:19). The first time I was able to lead someone to Christ was the greatest moment in my life and up to that time I had done many things just searching to fill that void in my life. When Christ came in, after I asked Him to, that void was filled and has never been empty since. Has doubts came about my salvation, yes, many times but then I am reminded by His word that I am saved and that for all eternity. Salvation is the greatest thing we can tell anyone about.
The third reference we find something about our "stability" which can only be found in Christ. We read: "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (3:13). I do not know about you but I cannot wait to come back to earth, after the rapture of the people of God, to watch the Lord destroy all those who rejected Him before the rapture. We are "established, stablished" to do that with Him. Now some have confused the rapture with the second coming but He will not come again until after the seven year tribulation which all who rejected Him before the rapture will have to endure.
Now, the fourth reference concludes with one of the best references to His coming again than in any other book of the New Testament. The rapture of the church or the people of God, in verses 13-17. "Wherefore comfort [literally 'strengthen'] on another with these words" (4:1 . What greater comfort can there be than our Lord coming to take us home to be with Him and I truly believe that we are watching the last things to happen just before that happens.
Finally, the very last chapter contains the very words of our text for today. Words that confirm to us that we are eternally sanctified as a result of this, the blessed hope of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Sanctification literally means totally cleaned or purified completely. What a great thing we have in Christ.
This, the second coming, is very important. Why? Because it gives us a sense of or an incentive of and enables us to reach others for Him as we patiently wait for His Coming because before that happens we will be raptured out, AMEN. What greater thing to wait for? I do not think there is one that can be more blessed than this! What about you, do you patiently wait for Him to come and take you home? Sometimes I would love nothing more but then I remember all of my family members that have not accepted Him and then I cannot help but praise God for His timing and love for all people, for He desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) KJB. Before He comes we need to be about reaching others for His names sake, telling them that for the Christian we are encouraged, we are served as we should also serve others, soul winning, we are stable, we have strength in Christ, we are finally sanctified for all eternity and there is no other belief which can say these things and actually mean them. Then the final thing is our eternal salvation. AMEN.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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Happy is He
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Mar 19, 2009 6:51 am
221 Views
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Proverbs 16:20
"He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." KJB
What a marvelous, wonderful think it is to be happy, not the happiness of the world because it lasts but a short time and then dies the second death. The Hebrew word 'esher literally means happiness but it can also mean blessed. One should never be happy only because they won a million dollars but rather they won the gift which lasts for all eternity. Money, oft times, brings nothing but misery and our wanting more. But the gift of salvation through Christ will never run out, nor will His love for us. When I read our text for today, I cannot help but praise Him for what He has done for me when He says, "...whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." This phrase, "...happy is he..." is found in the Old Testament 5 times and in the New Testament, once but it does not matter how many times the phrase is used but rather the power it contains. Now, this happiness is not plastering a smile on our faces and nothing else but rather this happiness is felt all the way to the bones and even the marrow contained within those bones.
The first time our phrase is used, the Psalmist writes: "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:" (Psalm 146:5) KJB. We all need help from time to time. There are some who will not accept help in any shape or form and then there are those who seem not to be able to do anything by themselves, they always need help. The one who will not accept help, as far as I am concerned is very miserable because they continue to fail in doing some things because they refuse to accept help when it is offered. And when we offer help to this type of person: it seems as though we insulted them. Face it, we all need help from time to time. Now, the one who seems not able to do anything without help, they are also miserable because sooner or later they will not receive help because those who help them will begin to feel being taken advantage of.. The greatest help that anyone can ever receive is the help that the LORD can give. He desires to help all those who ask, and when they ask the Word of God says, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help...".
We oft times only ask for help when we are in trouble or something has happened. Our God knows our hearts, so why can't we ask for help each and everyday, even though things are going well in our lives? It only takes a simple, small prayer to ask for help so why can't we seem to be able to do it, PRIDE. Pride is the worst sickness known to man, because pride will keep us from asking our God for help, pride will cause us to become self centered. Simply pray: "Lord, help me I pray to get through this day." We need help to remain on the narrow path for the way sometimes is rocky and full of ruts, but He can take the rocks out of our paths and smooth the way as glass. We need help to hide the Word in our hearts that we might not sin against the Lord. I do not know about you but I am finding it harder and harder each and everyday to remember things, and if it was not for the Holy Spirit in Me, I would soon forget His word but when I need the Word, He reminds me and brings to mind that which I need. He helps me when I need a verse to exhort another brother in Christ, or for witnessing to a lost soul. If it was not for His HELP in these things I would be in a state depression big time.
Are you so prideful that you will not ask for help and when it is offered you become offended? Face it, we like to be dependent on no one, only ourselves. But, until you can become dependent not only on the Lord but also towards others of like faith, you will constantly fall by the wayside. We are told to exhort and lift each other in Christ over and over again. There is no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity because we all need someone at some time.
Let us HELP each other and exhort each other each and everyday, while it is still day, for the night is coming for this world, it is getting dimmer and dimmer each and every day. Ask for help and accept it with a heart of praise and thanksgiving.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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Philosophy and Vain Deceit
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Mar 16, 2009 8:04 pm
213 Views
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Colossians 2:8
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." KJB
I find it amazing that the only mention to "philosophy" in the Scriptures is mentioned by Paul in the Epistle to Colossi and at that we are warned to beware of it. Also, when the Bible talks about "philosophers" in Scriptures are evolutionary humanists and they called Paul a "...babbler...because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection..." (Acts 17:1 KJB. I want you to understand that the very Greek word which is translated as "philosophers" means "lovers of wisdom". The thing about any philosophers, whether ancient or modern, is essentially anyone who uses humanistic wisdom for it's own sake.
But the type of wisdom that Paul is speaking about is false wisdom in that it relies on what man can do rather than what God has already done for us. Now, this type of wisdom actually comes from "the tree of knowledge" using vain deceit which was introduced to Eve by Satan himself. Now, Satan tried to tell Eve that by partaking of that fruit would "make one wise" and that when she did Satan told her that "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods". (Genesis 2:17-3:5-6) KJB. In other words by eating of that fruit, which God forbade them not to eat, they would become gods themselves. Now, that lie has been passed down from generation to generation and there are several religions, false religions, out there that teach this as a very major doctrine. Now, this false wisdom did "indeed a shew of wisdom" (Colossians 2:23), but our Scriptures warns us that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God". (1 Corinthians 3:19) KJB. When we read more on the subject of this type of wisdom we learn that eventually all "the wisdom of this world...[and]of the princes of this world...[will] come to nought" (1 Corinthians 2:6) KJB.
Now, Scriptures does call man "wise" under one specific condition and that is having accepted the truth of Scriptures and have accepted the Lord, as solid rock, to build their life upon. True, authentic "wisdom" is as our text for today tells us is after Christ. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:8-10) KJB. Because in Him "are hid (literally-stored up) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) KJB. Our Lord Jesus Christ is "the truth" (John 14:6) KJB, and He is both "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24) KJB. There is nothing better than this type of wisdom which can only be found in Jesus Christ and He is the only true wisdom which is freely available to all who seek after Him. Scriptures continues to tell us that "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God...and it shall be given him" (James 1:5) KJB. We should never waste our abilities, which God has given to us anyway, to seek out false wisdom or false philosophies is definitely detrimental to our life and to our living here.
Because if we seek out anything but God it is vain and means nothing. Sure God does direct us sometimes to learn about what is happening in this world of knowledge in order to learn more about Him. We seek out the heavens looking for Him, whether we want to believe it or not, and we look at the smallest things of His creation and cannot help but to marvel at its complexity. Now, how can any of that be made randomly or chance? If one believes in evolution they are seeking out vain wisdom and knowledge which can lead to vain knowledge because it gains one nothing, except separation from God, our Creator.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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The Heart is Deceitful
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Mar 16, 2009 8:00 pm
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Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" KJB
Throughout the history of man, language, as in ancient Hebrew in our text, uses the "heart" to mean our inward motivations which ultimately controls our words or actions. Jeremiah tells us here that our inward "heart" or motivations reflect what we do outwardly in our wickedness or deceptiveness and no man can truly understand there own heart or motivations but God can because the very next verse says: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:10) KJB. Notice, the entire verse explains that God knows everything we do from the very inward motivations contained within the heart. He searches our hearts and He knows all about us, even before we do.
What all mankind needs is a new heart, a new inward motivation. And our God promises just that for we read: "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I pit within you: and I will take away the stony heart our of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26) KJB. As if the Old Testament was not enough, the writer of Hebrews, tells us this: "This is the covenant that I will make with them...saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts" (Hebrews 10:16) KJB. So, does God change His mind from the Old Testament to the New Testament? NO! "Jesus Christ the same yesterday , and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: KJB.
Now, the problem with "all" men is a heart attitude. We read in the third chapter of Hebrews about the hearts of the People of God in the wilderness. The very first thing we read is that their hearts were hard because of their lack of gratitude. They were given everything, yet they not once thanked God for what He provided them, they hardened their hearts, that is why the writer of Hebrews warns us to "harden not your hearts" (3:8, 15; 4 ). However, it was very soon that "They do alway err in their heart; amd they have not known my ways" (Hebrews 3:10) KJB. That word "alway" is an interesting word, in that it means much more than just time whereas "always" means time, "alway" means in all things which happens in our lives. The Israelite people in the wilderness had hearts that were "erring hearts". In other words, they were making mistake after mistake and God warns us through their actions this: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12) KJB. It is funny, well not funny in an amusing way, but in a pathetic way, that we often do the very same things that the children of God in the wilderness did, we make excuses for what we do, which is actually against the Word of God, but we use others as the reason for our faulty hearts and the actions which they cause. We say that it the reason of someone else, or the church, when we are the ones who are guilty for not doing what we know to be right, because has placed within us a new heart but we tend to slip into the old ways of the old man, more often than we think.
Now, the heart here in Hebrews is an evil heart because it is an unbelieving heart. (3:12). A heart which refuses to believe the Word of God in all things, is what is called a wicked heart, which inevitably generates our wicked ways and the things that we do which are wicked. A wicked man, woman or child, will do what they do because of a wicked heart. But, when Christ comes into our hearts, He generates, or remakes this wicked heart into a clean, new heart, a heart of God. For those who believe on Him and receive Him, they will receive a new heart, a heart of flesh. Paul tells us this: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:9-11) KJB. Will you be ashamed of the things that you are doing when you stand before Him in judgment? If you think so, then are you doing them from a heart of God or from a heart of the world? Go ahead continue to do wrong things, which God would have you not to do, and feel ashamed when you stand before Him.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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Know and Walk in Truth
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Mar 14, 2009 9:22 am
189 Views
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1 Timothy 1:5
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:" KJB
I hesitate sometimes to say something negative about the "so-called" self-orientated Christian of today. Where they preach and write in such a manner that they downgrade true Biblical doctrine and focus almost entirely on "love" or "complete fulfillment". They even focus on "happiness instead of joy" or "sharing and caring" and many other such incomplete sentiments. There are even some "religious" leaders whose focus is solely on "self-improvement" or "personal success" and many other things which seem to lift up money rather than Jesus Christ and Him alone. These are the false teachers and preachers that Jesus tells us about in all four of the gospels.
They seem to uplift a works orientated gospel rather than the true gospel which is stressed in the Word of God. However, these types of things usually put the cart before the horse. We receive life sustaining doctrine through the clear teachings and preaching of the inerrant and infallible Word of God. These doctrines vary in the true divine Word of God, ranging from creation, the atonement, or sanctification, or even to the daily Christian walk. Now, the Apostle Paul reminds us that "...evil communications corrupt good manners..." (1 Corinthians 15:33) KJB. And he also says this: "Profane and vain babblings...increase unto more ungodliness..." (2 Timothy 2:16) KJB.
For the true Bible believer there is no escaping of being taught true doctrine at some time or another. Now, the question is, if we do not receive true Bible teachings what will replace these doctrines? It usually is nothing more than secular humanism and it's trappings, for they are a trap. They will trap us into believing that "WE" are more important than the doctrines within the Bible. This is true about a religion which has more teachings than just the Bible. These other teachings generally contain these secular humanistic doctrines which focus in on self and how can it be pleased. Or they might lean towards a works orientated belief. These teachings will often replace the true gospel found in 1 Corinthian 15:1-4. Whereas, the true gospel centers in on Jesus, His birth, His death and burial, and His resurrection, but the false gospel centers in on works.
Now, if we read the Bible to solely seek out verses which give us this sense of happiness or even love, we are receiving the "whole" picture of what the Bible is teaching. The Bible teaches us all about Jesus, from the first verse to the last verse contained therein. Sure, it is great to have true happiness or Biblical Joy, but not at the expense of true doctrine. We have to take the good with the not so good. Even though, to my way of thinking, there is no such thing as "not so good" in our Bible for it all points to one thing, Jesus, the Messiah, the Lamb of God. If we want these things, then we need to learn about the whole picture, then we will receive what the Bible wants us to receive, Biblical Joy: knowing Jesus. By knowing and keeping His commandments shows us what LOVE is truly about. Without keeping His commandments how can we say that we love Him? He said, "If ye love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15) KJB. We cannot know His commandments without studying His words now can we? NO! If your church has a program which stresses the reading of God's word, like the "reading the Bible in a year", this is good, but do not forsake the studying of it. To study it we need to put together line upon line, precept upon precept, therein is true doctrine and not from a single word or verse, such as false teachers and preachers use.
When, and only when, we "know the truth", can we ever learn to "walk in the truth." Without knowing the truth we cannot walk in it, it is as simple as that. People tend to make the Bible too hard to understand because they do not see the simplicity of true doctrine. Are you walking in the truth by knowing His truth? Examine yourself to see that you are.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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The Bible: The Only Sound Doctrine
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Mar 13, 2009 9:54 am
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"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared, having a form of godliness, denying its power." (~1Tim 4:1-2, 2Tim 3:5)
For many years people have jumped on the band wagons of "new ideas" as they follow various pied pipers. "For the time will come [is NOW HERE, ed.] when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers and turn their ears away from the truth."(2Tim4:3-4)
We live in a generation of "acceptance, positiveness, non-judg- mentalism, self-esteem;" that requests "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits." (Is 30:10)
And furthermore, the "positive theology" has turned into overt rejection of God and His Word as "They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. They do not speak aright, no man repented of his wick- edness...a horrible thing has been committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so" (~Jer 8:5-6,5:30-31) "Professing to be wise, they became fools." (Rom1:22)
"How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us?' Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. Behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; So what wisdom do they have?" (Jer 8:8-9) Last month we observed how Bible translations were developed to accommodate man's rebellion.
HOWEVER Titus is instructed, "Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine...holding fast the faithful word...by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict." (~Tit2:1,1:9)
Timothy is encouraged "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus...give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." (~2Tim 1:13,1Tim 4:13-16)
Timothy is further warned against relying on worldly wisdom. "Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and vain babbling and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge-by pro- fessing it, some have strayed concerning the faith." (1Tim 6:20)
WHAT exactly IS "DOCTRINE?" Is it some metaphysically difficult thing that only a seminary graduate can understand? Simply stated "Doc- trine" means "That which is taught, teaching, precepts." Expanded slightly, it also incorporates the concept of a "body of understanding which forms a belief system."
WHERE DOES THE CHRISTIAN's DOCTRINE COME FROM? "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Ps 119:105,9,11)
But the rebellious ones pout, "The Bible is antiquated. We need new revelation. We need 'special insights' for TODAY's GENERATION. The kinds of problems we have in today's society just didn't exist back when the Bible was written. We need updated information. We need to incorpo- rate psychology to help us understand the Bible. What they REALLY MEAN is, "We want someone to tell us that we are not really as sinful as the Bible says we are."
Thus, one can see the proliferation of books in the local "Bible" book store. They cover all subjects: Self-esteem, Self-hypnosis, How to "deal with" homosexual tendencies, Power of prayer, How to counsel all the 1001 variations of what the Bible calls "sin." Bibles, even, are of- fered for "special categories" of people. The teenager's Bible. The working woman's Bible. And the list goes on. So, how does a person know what books to read?
In one of the [good] books available, Beyond Seduction, Dave Hunt writes, "Implicit in the call for a return to biblical Christianity is the belief that the Bible itself is our only and final authority in all spiritual matters." (p.241)
"Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven." (Ps119:89) The word "settled" carries the weight: "to stand, take one's stand, be stationed, be appointed, deputized." It is firm! Jesus said, "One jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Mt 5:1 The Jesus Who made this claim is "the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb 13:
Paul urges Timothy to "charge some that they teach no other doc- trine." (1Tim 1:3) The word "doctrine" in this verse means "deviation from the truth." Revelation 22 gives the curse about adding to or sub- tracting from God's word.
"BUT I NEED A COMMENTARY and footnotes to help me understand," some will say. Or, "That's what we have the pastor for." And how many pastors have I heard with the attitude of "Bringing it (the Bible) down to their (laity) level." As if they occupy a superior position.
JESUS PROMISED "He, the Spirit of truth, will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."(Jn 16:13-14)
Paul writes "I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2Cor 11:3)
Here we see the declarations: 1) The Holy Spirit is our teacher, and 2) the Bible is simple to understand.
If a person finds the Bible difficult to understand, it is most likely because THAT PERSON IS NOT IN CHRIST. "The natural man does not receive (or 'understand') the things of the Spirit of God." (1Cor 2:14) "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." (Rom 8:16)
What about "interpretations" of Scripture? One Bible School professor was known for his quote, "There is only ONE TRUE INTERPRETATION to any given passage of Scripture." Gullibly I accepted that, along with my peers. What does Scripture say to that notion? "Knowing this first, that NO prophecy of Scripture is of any PRIVATE INTERPRETATION." (2Pet 1:20)
"Thus saith the Lord" must be our submission to God's Word. WHAT DOES IT SAY? Yes, there are "mysteries" that we do not yet fully under- stand. But when we are with Christ we "shall know just as we are known." (1Cor 13:12) But things dealing with Sin; God's holiness; Jesus' substitutionary death, burial resurrection; our need to humble ourselves and repent; how to live a holy life before God; is all VERY CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND.
What does the Bible SAY? Read it. Meditate on it. It has ALL THE ANSWERS YOU NEED!
"Run to and fro through the streets..seek..if you can find a man..who seeks truth..though they say 'As the Lord lives,' surely they swear falsely. O LORD, are not your eyes on the truth?" (~Jer 5:1-3)
(Taken from A Voice in the Wilderness)
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The Greater Damnation
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Mar 11, 2009 5:05 pm
194 Views
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Matthew 23:14
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." KJB
Our text for today is one of the eight "woes" of Matthew 23 and this awful condemnation of the religious leaders of our Lord's time, He is condemning them about abusing their position as Israel's religious. What these leaders did is bad enough but in our text Jesus is giving them a greater damnation but I can not think of anything worse than what the Bible talks about when it comes to being condemned to hell. It is because of their "greater" impact on the people in which they were suppose to lead in Godly things. James speaks of this in his epistle, he said: "My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (James 3:1) KJB. I do believe that James had our texts incident in mind. People, when we lead those underneath us in the wrong path, we to will receive the "...greater damnation".
How many of you listened and watched ouR religious leaders of today and thought about this, our text? Paul gives us a list of what religious leaders will be like during the time just before the Lord comes back. He is giving to us what to look out for in religious leaders so that we can avoid these type of people. These type of people will have a "...form of godliness..." but deny "...the power thereof." Now, Paul tells us, those who love the Lord, to "...turn away..." from them. He continues to tell us this: "...for of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:5-7) KJB.
Now, when we think about it, the principle which sticks out far above any other principle is this: " For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:4 KJB. As religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees of our Lord's time, were very versed on Scriptures, yet they refused to follow them and yet when the general public did not follow them they were all over them. That is why our Lord called them hypocrites. Their very behavior was not only hypocritical but dangerous and destructive and the judgment which our Lord heaped on them was well deserved. Is it an less valid today, in this "modern" church, that our leaders would be just as guilty as the Pharisees and Sadducees were when they do the very same things? OK, you think I am being too critical? Wait until the Lord gets a hold of them when they have to make an account of the things they did while in the position they were in! "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31) KJB.
Just as these religious leaders were guilty of being hypocritical and destructive to the lay people of our Lord's day, if we are not careful we can also become guilty of the same things. That is why we are told by Paul to, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates." (2 Corinthians 13:5-6) KJB. If we examine ourselves, then we will not examine others but rather love them in despite of what they do. We need to love the praise of God rather than the praise of man, and that is what generally causes us to be as the Pharisees and Sadducees of our Lord's time. We can be the greatest "academia" of our time but let us not allow it to go to our heads. Let us humble ourselves before all mighty God so that we do not receive "...the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:5) KJB.
Paul speaks about these type of people in His epistle to the church at Rome, for He said: "...I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-1 KJB. REMEMBER THESE WORDS OF PAUL AND DAILY EXAMINE YOURSELF TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE FAITH AS IS WRITTEN.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word
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