READ IT

Sin will keep you from this Book. This Book will keep you from sin. --Dwight L. Moody

Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Several years ago, I gave my two sisters a Bible. In the front of each, I wrote the above quote by Moody. Why that quote? Well, it has a simple but foundational truth in it. You see, the more we read God’s Word, the more it will direct where we go, who we hang with, what we do, and even when we do them.

Are you a believer? Do you read your Bible every day? It can be just a few verses, a chapter, or chapters. If not, why not? If you’re reading it, then you’re getting some help to keep you from sin!

THE WORD THAT HOLDS

The Bible is a harbor where I can drop down my anchor, feeling certain that it will hold.  Here is a place where I can find sure footing; and, by the grace of God, from this confidence I shall never be moved. -Spurgeon

Acts 19:20, So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The Word of God is a gift to this world. For the lost, dying, hurting sinner in need of salvation, it is the light to the Truth of salvation. For the sinner that is saved and on their way to Heaven, it is the source of strength. The Word of God is what gives hope and help in this world! Without it, we would spend eternity in Hell and a life void of hope.

I am glad that God gives each and every individual the Word that holds. Has the Word of God found a lodging place in your heart? If not, it can today!

STUDYING FOR PURPOSE

It is always in season for old men to learn. -Aeschylus

2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

You know, the day and age we live in, there are a lot of parents that don’t care enough about their children to push them to do better in school. Some teachers are behind the lectern just for a pay check. A perfect attendance trophy may look good at the end of the year but if you’re not studying what the teacher is teaching, you may as well stay at home.

Child of God, we are not getting up this morning, getting ready, and going to church to check a blank off of our TO DO list. We are getting up to go worship our Saviour! We are getting ready so we might study to show ourselves approved unto God! We are going to honor and glorify Him! Are you studying for a purpose?

WISE COUNSEL

No man is wise enough by himself. -Plautus

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

I don’t care where you went to college. I don’t care who your daddy is. I don’t care where you grew up. Sooner or later, you are going to find yourself in a jam, needing some wise counsel. Whether that is a problem with your car, weed whacker, washing machine, or working the remote on your TV; some wise counsel in our time of need is much appreciated!

The wisest counsel we can get today is our need of the Saviour! It’s a maze out there to find the Truth but if you grab a Bible, the Holy Spirit will guide you in Truth to the knowledge of how to be saved!

Hey friend, you’re not all that and you don’t have all the answers. Sooner or later, you will stand before God and I hope you have received and believed the wise counsel from God’s Word before it’s too late!

EXERCISE

The pain you feel today will be the success you feel tomorrow.

1 Timothy 4:7-8, But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

I have never been one to work out at the gym. I use to visit a gym but I never got into the pumping iron and all. I never saw it as being something that I could be “good” at so I didn’t continue to do it. That is probably one of the reasons why I’m out of shape and overweight. But you know what, I’d rather be overweight and out of shape physically than spiritually anemic. I would hate to know, when it comes to the things of God, I had left the foundations of our faith becoming anemic to God’s Word, work, and way.

To overcome becoming anemic, one must exercise their minds in the thing that matters most- The Word of God.   

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. -Bryce

Hebrews 10:7, Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

There are many references in the New Testament referencing the Old. They are there to give clarity on what was once a mystery. They are there to reinforce what God has already said. They are there to give you and I something we can chew on as we read, study, and meditate.

Do you have a heart to learn the Bible? The things we take away from it are unmeasurable and there’s nothing like it!

MISINFORMED

To hear truth and not accept it does not nullify truth. -Brotherhood Journal

John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Over the past few years there has come a new cliché about information given to us; “Fake News.” I don’t know where it originated but our previous president picked it up and it became a national saying for anything anyone didn’t agree with/ It didn’t matter if it was true or not.

When talking about the Word of God, many would say it’s outdated or irrelevant. Some would even claim it is fake news. Yet, our belief in the Word does not change what it is though. Giving its Truth, remaining the same, with the potential power to change men and women for the good every day.

Have you picked up a copy of the Bible lately and read a few verses? Have you sought to see what God’s Word can do for you? Have you asked the Lord to use His Word to give you light to the way to Heaven? Don’t be misinformed by this world, your flesh, or the devil friend! God’s Word is Truth and it will set you free!

CHRIST WORD

The devil is not afraid of the Bible that has dust on it. -Anonymous

John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

We will end this week celebrating the birth of our Saviour. No, we don’t know for sure what day of the week He was born on but we set this day aside to celebrate His life. What’s so important about that? Well, God didn’t set Himself up as a king or military leader; He came as a lowly babe, wrapped in a manger. He came as a weak helpless babe that needed someone to take care of His needs.  

Since we are celebrating the birth of our Saviour, why not take an extra effort this week to read the Gospels through from beginning to end this week. Open up Christ’s Word beginning in Matthew and read through John reflecting one not just His birth, but His death, burial, and resurrection as well.

IT’S THE BOOK ABOVE ALL BOOKS

           A young Christian packing his bag for a journey said to a friend, "I have nearly finished packing.  All I have to put in are a guidebook, a lamp, a mirror, a microscope, a telescope, a volume of fine poetry, a few biographies, a package of old letters, a book of songs, a sword, a hammer, and a set of tools."  "But you cannot put all that into your bag," objected the friend. "Oh, yes," said the Christian.  "Here it is." And he placed his Bible in the corner of the suitcase and closed the lid. -Anonymous

2 Timothy 3:14, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

            Can you imagine learning from the people Timothy learned from? 1st century Christians? The very people that walked in the days before and the days with Jesus?

            Well, we still have it. It’s called the Word of God. We have the stories of Isaiah, Elijah, Peter, Paul, and the Message of Jesus Christ Himself.

            Don’t neglect your Bible reading! For it is the Book of all books….  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17.

        The Bible isn’t a science book, but when it speaks on science, it is always right.

Psalm 8:8, The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

            In John Morris’ article, “Does Science Conflict with the Bible?”, He says, “We must all ask this question, for if science has disproved Genesis, we have no confidence that John 3:16 is correct.” This is why many attack the truth found in the Infallible, Inerrant, Immutable, Inspired Word of God! They want to destroy the foundations laid out in the Bible. It brings about the collapse of the family, the school, the government, and each and every individual that strays from the truths found in it.

            If someone were to ask, “What truth do you hold to?” What would you say? Why would you say that? Does your truth change like science does; ever evolving with the view of the next petri dish? Stand on something firm such as the Word of God! It will not collapse and crumble underneath the weight of life!

WHATCHA READING

Look up and not down; look forward and not back; look out and not in; and lend a hand.-Hale

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Attempting to turn over a new leaf today? Start off by picking up a Bible and start reading. It will give you schooling in how to be delivered from sin. It will give you strength for daily living. It will give you salvation for your eternal destination!

BE AN OPEN BIBLE

Our example is the only bible which millions of people read today. -James E. Murray

1 Corinthians 3:6, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

            What kind of seed are we planting? How are we tending to the seeds in the ground? What example will we set at work today?  Students, how about the example at school? Parents, how about the example before our kids? Let me remind you of a simple but true statement, “We are the only Bible some people read.” What are they reading about the Saviour of the World?

            Father, help us today to be what and who we are in You to everyone we come in contact with. Lord helps us to be just as real as Christ; to care for the lost, hurting, and dying soul. To care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Father, help us invest our lives in someone today!

THE BIBLE BRINGS HELP

            The study of God's Word, for the purpose of discovering God's will, is the secret discipline which has formed the greatest characters. --J.W. Alexander

Romans 15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

            I am amazed at how many people follow man and not the Bible. In the early church, there was only the doctrine of the apostles. There were not any denominations because there was only the true Word of God and it prevailed. However, when man’s ideas were imposed on the bible, man started following men instead of the Word.

            God is not the author of confusion friend. Anytime there is confusion, Satan is the author of it! If you and I were to get in the Bible more, reading it instead of what some man thinks of the Word, there would be less confusion and more repentance, confession, holiness, and Godly living! The Bible will bring help to a lost, dying, and hurting world when that world reads it!

READ THE BIBLE!

            The Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible!

Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

             I read the testimony of a former Mormon minister one time. He said; “I grew up in a Mormon house, I got baptized in the Mormon church, I went to the Mormon seminary, and then I started reading my Bible.” That old boy got saved that morning. If you haven’t, why not be today! Have you read John 3:16 lately? Read it again and think what God gave for you to be saved- His only begotten Son!

BE STRONG

The source of our strength is in the Word of God.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 19:7-10

There is no other place for a Christian to go than the Word of God to obtain strength. Every time the binder of a Bible is bent, on the pages before the one reading it is power like none other. There is power to restore marriages, to heal the broken hearts, and to save souls from hell. The catch is we have to open the Bible, read the powerful Words written on the pages, and then apply them to our life!

Will you invest time in the Word today? If you do, you will become strong for the Lord!

A FEW ANSWERS FOR PROFESSING CHRISTIANS SUPPORTING THE PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT

            The Bible has the answers.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3

            Many professing Christians think abortion is okay. Their reasoning is based in the fallacy that it’s the woman’s body and she should be able to do with it what she wants. But what they don’t understand is our bodies are not ours. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 clears it up, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

             They also don’t understand that the “unwanted” pregnancy could have been prevented if they would have followed God’s Word in the first place—abstain from sexual sin. Abstaining from all sexual sin, including premarital sex is God’s way of preventing “unwanted” babies. (By the way, there has never been a baby conceived in the womb that God didn’t want to be born.)

            Lastly, the question arises, “What do we do with all of the children in the world that’s already here?” Maybe, follow scripture on that one too? James 1:27 says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” The Christian way to support children is to give them a hand up, not a hand out. It is not to give them a fish so they can eat for a day but it is to teach them to fish so they can eat for a lifetime!

            One last thought; Why not find answers in God’s Word? For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Proverbs 6:23 Unless, that’s the real issue of the problem; you don’t want to follow what His Word says to start off with?

BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY- BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH- NOTHING MORE- NOTHING LESS!

The egg's no chick by falling from the hen, Nor man a Christian till he's born again. –Bunyan

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2:1-3

Has what you claim to be salvation changed you? Did your prayer on the altar give you the new nature proclaimed in the Word of God? What difference has Jesus made in your life? Yes, He came to save you from Hell but He also came to save you from yourself! He came to set you free from sin and self! Have you been born again? Have you trusted Jesus as your Saviour? If you were to die today—where would you spend eternity and how do you know?

Don’t know where you would spend eternity? Send me a message and I would love to show you how you can!

SHEW THYSELF A MAN

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 1 Kings 2:2-4

            At David’s passing he gave his son Solomon a charge to show himself a man. He in no uncertain terms told him how to do this, He said, “…keep the charge of the LORD of the God, to walk in His ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies.”

            Do you want to be the man God wants you to be? Keep His Word, remain faithful to what He has called you to do, and you will shew thyself a man!  

LET THE WATER IN!

The Water of the Word is what it takes to wash us from the inside out!

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

We are dealing with a lot of water here in Eastern North Carolina. To start off with it was the rain saturating the ground. Then with all of the rain accumulating so fast it has caused flash flooding. The wet ground has been washed away by the rapid water flowing. Over the next few days the water from counties west of us will be rushing into town. The river and streams will begin to over flow their banks causing major flooding in several neighborhoods. The flood damage will be astronomical because it came into town!

Much like when flood waters come into town changing homes, streets, and subdivisions, when the Water of the Word comes flooding into a lost person’s soul, it will change entire generations for good! Saturating the mind with God’s Word, letting it soak in over a lifetime, will transform that person’s life and those they raise for generations to come! We just need to let it in so it can do it’s work!

WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16                  

      According to Barna Research group, only 56% of Practicing Christians read scripture regularly. Wow, 56%! Now, think about that for a moment… a little more than half of the people reading this post will make an effort to pick up their Bibles and read it today. I wonder if we took a pole who would make up that 44%? Would it be a Sunday School teacher? Would it be a Junior Church worker? Would it be a Pastor, preacher, evangelist, or missionary?

Reading the Bible is essential for our edification!

Once again, my list isn’t exhaustive…

A.         It powers our Faith-

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

B.         It direct our Footsteps-

”Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

C.         It delivers us from Failing in our temptations- ”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

       How faithful are you to your Bible reading? I recently heard this quote, “Those who spend more time reading books about the Bible than they do reading the Bible are likely to be influenced more by what men said about the Bible than by what God said in the Bible.” R. B. Ouellette.