I am an advocate of daily Bible reading. I am a big advocate for daily Bible reading. Spending time in Scripture daily is a key element to successful Christian living. How can we know God’s will for us if we do not spend regular time in His Word? How can our consciences be shaped if the Word of God is not there to offer input, leaving the voices of the world unfettered access to our thoughts, our hearts? How can we distinguish between right and wrong if the standard of right and wrong is not within us? No wonder the psalmist wrote, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). There are various ways to store God’s Word in your heart. You can read a specific book of the Bible. You can read it from a devotional point of view. You can read it, studying specific topics, such as salvation, love, mercy, sanctification, etc. These are all valid ways of committing God’s Word to one’s heart and mind, of it helping to impact one’s life. However, I am also an advocate of reading the Bible through each year, from Genesis to Revelation. Why? Because in doing so, we are reading all of God’s Word, which forces us to consider all of what God has said. You read the Old Testament, because it was written for our instruction, offering us hope (Romans 15:4). You read the Gospel accounts, which reveal Christ to us. You read …

Church growth must be measured in a couple of ways: (1) Physical Growth is the number of people, upward or downward trends. The physical is just what we see with our eyes. (2) Spiritual Growth is just as important and is the ability to see with the eye of faith. When God told Abraham, “You will have children as the sands of the sea,” could Abraham with the physical eye see such a sight (Genesis 22:17)? However, with the eye of faith, we see God is still blessing him. Paul wrote, “We [baptized believers] are Abraham’s [seed] children and heirs of the Promise” (Galatians 3:24-28). Shouldn’t we see with both sets of eyes?

Recently, a lady asked me a question about “the rapture.” I briefly tried to explain that the rapture (as some use the word today) is not a biblical doctrine, but a theory found in the premillennial teachings of men. We also spoke of other pertinent truths related thereto. Unfortunately, Christians often shy away from discussing the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ. This could be due to ignorance of the topic or fear of getting into an argument. Regardless, the subject needs to be taught from a scriptural viewpoint. Why teach on the subject? Teaching others the doctrine of the Second Coming might deter one from sin. When we read in Scripture that the Lord is coming again “taking vengeance on those… who do not obey the gospel…,” this should cause any right-minded individual to correct the error of his way (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). It can also comfort believers. This was the purpose of Paul’s explanation in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Should Christians look forward to Jesus’ coming again? Yes! The apostle Paul goes so far as to declare that because the grace of God has appeared, we should be looking for the glorious appearing of our Savior (Titus 2:11-13). The righteous who love His appearing (long for His coming) can anticipate the gift of a crown of righteousness on that day when Jesus comes again (2 Timothy 4:7-8). This should provoke us to prepare to meet our God (cf. Amos 4:12). What are the facts from Scripture regarding the doctrine of …

We say, “Nobody loves me.”God says, “I love you.” John 3:16 We say, “I can’t forgive myself.”God says, “I will forgive you.” 1 John 1:9 We say, “It’s not worth it.”God says, “It will be worth it.” Romans 8:28 We say, “I’m not smart enough.”God says, “I will give you wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 We say, “I can’t do it.”God says, “You can do all things.” Philippians 4:13 We say, “I can’t go on.”God says, “My grace is sufficient.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 We say, “I’m worried and frustrated.”God says, “Cast your cares on me.” 1 Peter 5:7 We say, “I’m too tired.”God says, “I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-38 We say, “I am afraid.”God says, “I have not given you a spirit of fear and timidity.” 2 Timothy 1:7 We say, “It’s impossible.”God says, “All things are possible.” Luke 18:27 We say, “I can’t figure it out.”God says, “I will direct your steps.” Proverbs 3:5-6 We say, “I can’t manage.”God says, “I will supply your needs.” Philippians 4:19 We say, “I feel all alone.”God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

The last time I was at home, I reached down and picked up the old family Bible. It was old and worn, and the myriad sensations of joy, sadness and wonder that it brought to my mind were quite moving. Looking at the family register, I relived, in my mind, some of the joyous moments of birth, marriage and happy occasions recorded there. I felt again, the heartrending memories of loved ones as I noted the dates of their passing from this life. In the twinkling of an eye, I recalled the joy of birth, the hope of life and the sadness of death on the pages of this old, treasured family Bible. Although these precious memories spanned many years in their passing, they were all still summed up in the briefest of notes on those few pages. I shivered as I recalled the finality of the prophet Job’s chilling summary of a man’s life. He said, “Man that is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not” (Job 14:2). The prophet Amos spoke serious words to the disobedient forces of Israel. He reminded them of Sodom and Gomorrah, and promised just the same sort of destruction upon them because they repented not nor turned from their wicked ways. Listen to his words from God the Father: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and …

Job was a man of great character and faith. The Scriptures reveal that he feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). Fear does not mean he was afraid of God, but rather reverenced Him. Eschewed evil means he removed it from his life. Verse 1 also says he was perfect and upright. Perfect does not mean without sin, but rather he was complete. Upright means straight, as we would say Job was straight as an arrow. God said to Satan of Job in verse 8, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth?” However, Satan came along and questioned God’s appraisal of Job. Satan claimed that Job was faithful because of the abundant blessings God had given him. God would allow Job to be tested by Satan to prove his faith was true. The following will prove that Job passed the test. His Prosperity Job was a man of great wealth. The Bible says he had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys and a great household of servants. Those items might not impress people today, but they demonstrated great wealth in Job’s time. Job was also blessed with a great family. He had seven sons and three daughters. So, how was Job’s prosperity a test? To answer this question we need not go further than today’s world. We have all been blessed with great material wealth in this country. Because of this, we realize how very difficult it …

The fire began to burn low, so he got another log and put it in the fireplace. Those who wish to remain warm normally do this. Flames burn their fuel and, without additional fuel, they will go out.  Timothy needed a boost; his zeal to use God’s spiritual gift had declined. We do not know the specifics of this miraculous gift, but it had come from the Holy Spirit through Paul for a purpose. Paul gently advised Timothy, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6 ESV). While miraculous gifts are no longer available, God’s grace still endows each of us with opportunities and abilities to serve, to evangelize saints, and to show our love for God. Our Father will always provide what is needed for those who are willing to give and to serve as seen in 2 Corinthians 9:8-10. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor; His righteousness remains forever. Now He that ministers seed to the sower both ministers bread for your food and multiplies your seed sown and increases the fruits of your righteousness).” “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet so that what …

The Great I Am is the topic in this article. Then Moses said to God, If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel, The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:13-15 ESV) God Is Holy in the Complete Sense of the Word. God is totally without sin. Sin is conflict with His very nature; He cannot tolerate sin. We are called to imitate that holiness. “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). God Is to be Honored and Glorified. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. And his mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear him. He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low …

It is imperative that we study the question of how men are made believers. Emphasis needs to be  given to the fact that men are brought to a saving obedient faith by believing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, and not by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:16-17; 1 Peter 1:22; Acts 2:37-38). Especially in this article, I want to call our attention to several passages of Scripture that call us to always walk in and remain faithful to the truth of God’s Word (3 John 4). There are three passages of Scripture, one located near the beginning of the Bible, another located about the middle of the Bible and the final one found at the end of the Bible that set forth various warnings about tampering with God’s Word. We will notice these first, and then, we will look at some of similar import. (1) Deuteronomy 4:2 reads, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 12:32 says, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (2) Proverbs 30:6 records, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (3) Revelation 22:18-19 warns, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man …

Recently my oldest son (who is four-years-old) came into the room and told my wife, “I want to die so that I can see Jesus and God.” My son does not have a debilitating illness, he is not in any pain, he is perfectly healthy and (God willing) has many years to grow to be the man God would have him to be. However, in many ways his childhood innocence should be a heartfelt lesson to us all. He does not fear death, nor is he worried about what death would bring. He sees it as another adventure, an opportunity to get to see the ones he hears and studies about every day of his life. To some, such an idea may be strange. Yet, to the Christian, such an attitude should be understood and appreciated. It is very much the attitude that the apostle Paul had when he wrote, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is needful for you. And having that confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith” (Philippians 1:23-25). Paul wanted to die so that he could be with Christ, at the same time he knew he still had work to do here before that could happen. There is a beautiful revelation in the statement, “I want to die,” when the reasons for …

Most of us who preach the Gospel have urged upon our hearers the necessity of repentance, quoting Luke 13:3 as proof of such necessity in obedience to that Gospel. Surely there is no question that repentance is a key point in conversion, for without it, baptism is useless, and if one is penitent, the desire to be baptized is a certainty for one properly taught. Probably most of us also have realized that a text out of context is but a pretext. We surely know that in teaching a person the way of salvation, we should also teach him to handle the Word of God with honesty and care. We teach a person to distinguish between the statements and commands of Christ that applied to the apostles or the Jews of His day and those that apply to us. If we do not, we should. There is no question that repentance is a vital part of the plan of salvation. The question is: Does the fact that Jesus commands or commends it in Luke 13:3 prove it to be part of God’s plan for us to be saved? This is a day in which many ridicule “proof texts.” It is my strong conviction that we should have a “proof text” (authority) for everything we teach or practice in religious matters. However, are the verses under consideration the proof texts we need in telling a man what to do to be saved today? Look at the context, subject matter and occasion on which …

Why would a man chooseblindness over sight?Why would a man choosedarkness over light?Why would a man choosehatred over love?Why would a man choosea thief like Satan, over God’sgift from above?Why would a man choosethe broad path that leads todestruction, over God’s greatguidance and patient instruction?Why would a man choosehis own opinion and speculation,over God’s Word made knownthrough the Spirit’s revelation?Why would a man choosefilth, separation and alienation,over God’s cleansing power andglorious sanctification?Why would a man choosehunger and starvation, over thebread of life provided freely to allwithin his holy nation?Why would a man chooseunquenched thirst, over drinkingfrom the fountain of life that he benot accursed?Why would a man choosedeath over life?Why would a man not choosepeace and unity, over religiousdivision, confusion and strife?

If one had a dollar for every time he had heard someone say, “I can’t trust the Bible because it is filled with contradictions,” he could do his part to stimulate the economy! Today, we wish to examine that charge, although we will not delve deeply into scientific or linguistic matters. At the outset, we wish to emphasize that if one does not care how he uses the Bible, he can make it say anything, including making it contradict itself. For example, we can prove, if we use Scripture out of context and dishonestly, that it teaches us to commit suicide by hanging. The Bible plainly says of Judas, “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5). In Luke 10:37, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise,”and in John 13:27, Jesus commanded, “What you do, do quickly.” So, if one cares not how he uses the Word of God, he can make it teach whatever he likes, including that we should all quickly commit suicide by hanging. Someone will object, “That is ridiculous!” Yes, it is! However, it is no more ridiculous than the way many “prove” things from the Bible in other instances. Furthermore, it is no more ridiculous than the “evidences” some assert for the Bible’s contradicting itself! The point is that we must be honest in the way we use the Bible, or any other book, or we can make it prove anything we want it …

Have you noticed the practice of spreading the guilt? When something happens in the business world, misdeeds, a leak of information, a scandal, etc., why is it necessary to place the blame on upper management and everyone up and down the ladder? Elected government officials love to spread the guilt, don’t they? Of course, sometimes there is blame throughout a system. We need to get to the point that we place blame on the guilty parties – not on the whole chain of management. It may be that our news media loves to spread the guilt, therefore, inventing a juicy piece of news. It could be and may not be. I must admit I am very censorious when it comes to our liberal news outlets. The military system of justice is not perfect. However, they do not try to spread guilt if they can prove who the guilty party is. An example may be the My Lai Massacre, during the Viet Nam War. Second Lt. William Calley was found guilty of this crime because he was in command of his platoon. Why spread the guilt to those that were innocent? Many questions came up during the Court Marshal of 2nd Lt. Calley. A few innocent soldiers were treated very badly by some US Congressmen. Unfortunately, many times the whole truth is muffled and unknowable. When an ethical/moral occasion arises, and we are faced with a decision we must make, always remember, “…We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts …

It started early. Our Lord had only been on the earth for twelve years when Joseph and Mary mistakenly left Him behind in Jerusalem as they made their way back to their home in Nazareth. When they returned to Jerusalem “…they found Him sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46 ESV emphasis added). It continued throughout a great portion of His earthly ministry. Repeatedly, our Lord taught by listening and asking. Space here does not permit even a mention of each of these instances, much less a discussion of them. Only two such examples will be briefly considered. On one occasion, Jesus and His work were being severely criticized. The scene is recorded in Matthew 12:22-32, Mark 3:22-30 and Luke 11:14-23. The religious leaders of His day were making the accusation that He was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Although these Scriptures do not say that He heard them, He did know their thoughts. (Since we are not deity, we cannot know each other’s thoughts unless those thoughts are expressed and heard.) As you read about how Jesus handled that accusation, you will find that He asked them a lot of questions. Based on the obvious answers to those questions, He was able to allow them to see that their position was untenable and that they had a much more serious problem than being wrong in their thinking. It is more than passing interest and importance that the “great confession” made by …

Holiness is an important factor in matters pertaining to church growth. Holiness is a way of life, that is, the character of all those people who are pure in heart (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14). How we think, talk and live before our fellowman is important. A light that flickers and salt that loses its preserving power contribute to the stagnation of a local congregation. Christians who are living godly and involving themselves in the care of others will influence sinners in the way of the Lord. Hypocrites who deceive, negligent members who are filled with apathy and brethren who stray, injure the cause of the Lord more than they realize. Preaching without practicing prevents many from obeying the Gospel. A congregation may possess the greatest orator for a preacher but no one will come to hear him if the church is not respected in the local community. The fact is, neighbors and friends visit mainly because of their respect for you, the life you live before them and the example you are. They may disagree doctrinally, but they will respect your convictions. A ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude turns people away; however, a true sense of concern and compassion for others will entice them to listen to what you say. It is not necessary to wear certain kinds of apparel or to carry a placard advertising that you are member of some religious group. Your friends and neighbors already know what you are. They notice your enthusiasm or your indifference. They observe your …

Sometimes, in business or any endeavor, it is advisable to assess matters to see how things are going. It may even be better to stop what one is doing and to go in another direction. The wise do this. The foolish never seem to learn. Spiritually, it is always thrilling when anyone in sin decides to obey the Gospel to be saved. We are equally thankful to God when an erring Christian makes up his mind that he is going to return to the Lord. In both cases, the individuals were headed in the wrong direction. They, therefore, were lost for all eternity. It was only when they changed directions to follow Christ that they were forgiven of their sins. The direction in which one is going makes all the difference. The Scriptures tell us that Christ is the one and only way. That way is clearly set forth in God’s Word. One does not make a mistake when he reads and studies the things that are revealed there. How do we know there is a Creator, that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world? How do we know about the Gospel and what one must do to be saved? How do we know about the Lord’s church, Who established it, who is its Head, who is the Savior, that there is but one, that it wears the Lord’s name, and that when the Lord saves us, He adds us to that church? How do …

How does God speak to you? Perhaps with greater frequency than any other this question is asked of me regularly. I have spent many hours encouraging folks to daily commune with God to hear His voice and take heart, not in some mystical, magical “crossed over” sort of way, but by the means that He details for us in His Word. Now, make no mistake about it; I am not saying that all you have to do is read the Bible or study it. If that were so, then why give all the commands and encouragement to “meditate” on His Word or encourage us to “pray for wisdom?” Think about it for a moment. How many ways do you communicate? Obviously, you speak words, but there is much more. As a matter of fact, researchers will tell you that well over half of what you communicate is not verbal, but through some other means. We will gesture, add various tones to our words and indicate attitude through posture or emotion. When we begin to break each of these down further, then we can truly see that what we communicate and how we communicate comes in many different forms. The young man who bursts through my office door, storms to the nearest chair, throws himself in it and wrings his hands incessantly, has pretty much told me that something is wrong, and he is in need of help without ever speaking a word. Now, the Bible is God’s verbal communication to …