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King David: We all share some of his qualities

2012-03-12T12:38:00.000-04:00

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." ( 1 Samuel 16:13 )

My friends , just who was king David , and what was he all about? Beyond him defeating Goliath , not many people know too much about him.

Well , allow me to tell you a little about him. David was anointed king , but it was done in secret ; he was not publicly anointed until much later ( 2 Sam. 2:4 ; 5:3 ). Saul was still legally the king , but God was preparing David for his future responsibilities. The anointing oil poured over David's head stood for holiness. It was used to set people or objects apart for God's service. Each king and High Priest of Israel was anointed with oil. This commissioned him as God's representative to the nation. Although God rejected Saul's kingship by not allowing any of his descendants to sit on Israel's throne , Saul himself remained in his position until his death.

When we think of David , we may also think ; shepherd , poet , giant-killer , ancestor of Jesus - in short , one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. But alongside that list stands another ; betrayer , liar , adulterer , murderer. The first list gives qualities we all might like to have ; the second , qualities that might be true of any one of us. The Bible makes no effort to hide David's failures. Yet he is remembered and respected for his heart for God. Knowing how much more we share in David's failures than in his greatness , we should be curious to find out what made God refer to David as "a man after his own heart."

David , more than anything else , had an unchangeable belief in the faithful and forgiving nature of God. He was a man who lived with great zest. He sinned many times , but he was quick to confess his sins. His confessions were from the heart , and his repentance was genuine. David never took God's forgiveness lightly or His blessing for granted. In return , God never held back from David either His forgiveness or the consequences of his actions. David experienced the joy of forgiveness even when he had to suffer the consequences of his sins.

We tend to get these two reversed. Too often we would rather avoid the consequences than experience forgiveness. Another big difference between us and David is that while he sinned greatly , he did not sin repeatedly. He learned from his mistakes because he accepted the suffering they brought. Often we don't seem to learn from our mistakes or the consequences that result from those mistakes. What changes would it take for God to find this kind of obedience in you?

Lastly , let's look at some of David's strengths and accomplishments: He was the greatest king of Israel ; he was an ancestor of Jesus Christ ; he is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 ; he was a man described by God Himself as a man after His own heart ( 1 Sam. 13:14 ).

Now , what were David's weaknesses and mistakes? Well , he committed adultery with Bath-sheba ; he arranged the murder of Uriah , Bath-sheba's husband ; he directly disobeyed God in taking a census of the people ; he did not deal decisively with the sins of his children.

Some lessons we can learn from his life are ; willingness to honestly admit our mistakes is the first step in dealing with them ; forgiveness does not remove the consequences of sin ; and , God greatly desires our complete trust and worship.

You can also read more about king David and his story in 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2. He is also mentioned in Amos 6:5 ; Matthew 1:1 , 6 ; 22:43-45 ; Luke 1:32 ; Acts 13:22 ; Romans 1:3 ; and Hebrews 11:32.

Until next time , may God bless and keep you all -

In His Service ; Pastor Mike

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-12T06:58:00.000-04:00

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." ( 1 Kings 18:21 )

My friends , Elijah challenged the people to take a stand - to follow whoever was the true God. Why did so many people waver between the two choices? Perhaps some were not sure. Many, however, knew that the LORD was God , but they enjoyed the sinful pleasures and other benefits that came with following Ahab in his idolatrous worship. It is important to take a stand for the LORD. If we just drift along with whatever is pleasant and easy , we will someday discover that we have been worshipping a false god - ourselves!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-11T07:41:00.000-04:00

"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." ( 2 John 1:10-11 )

My friends , John instructed the believers NOT to give hospitality to false teachers! They were to do nothing that would encourage the heretics in their propaganda of falsehood. In addition , if believers invited them in , it would show they were approving of what the false teachers said and did. John is condemning NOT hospitality to unbelievers , but rather the supporting of those who are dedicated to opposing the TRUE teachings of God. Note that John adds that a person who supports a false teacher in any way , shares that teacher's evil work!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-10T07:32:00.000-05:00

"Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye." ( Luke 6:42 )

My friends , we should not be so afraid of the label hypocrite that we stand still in our Christian life , hiding our faith and making no attempts to grow. A person who tries to do right but often fails is not a hypocrite. Neither are those who fulfil their duty even when they don't feel like doing it. Often it is necessary and good to set aside our desires and do what needs to be done. It is not hypocrisy to be weak in faith. What then is a hypocrite? Well , a hypocrite is a person who only puts on religious behavior in order to gain attention , approval , acceptance , or admiration from others!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-09T07:48:00.000-05:00

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." ( Rom. 7:6 )

My friends , keeping the rules , laws , and customs of Christianity doesn't save us! Even if we could keep our actions pure , we would still be doomed because our hearts and minds are perverse and rebellious. Like Paul , we can find no relief in the synagogue or church until we look to JESUS CHRIST Himself for our salvation - which He gives us freely. When we do come to Jesus , we are flooded with relief and gratitude. Will we keep the rules any better? Most likely , but we will be motivated by love and gratitude , not by the desire to get God's approval! We will not be merely submitting to an external code , but we will willingly and lovingly seek to do God's will!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." ( John 16:20 )

My friends , what a contrast between the disciples and the world. The world rejoiced as the disciples wept , but they would see Him again ( in three days ) and rejoice. The world's values are often the opposite of God's values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits. But even if life is difficult now , one day we will rejoice. Keep your eye on the future and on God's promises!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD." ( Jeremiah 23:1-2 )

My friends , after his indictment of Israel's civil leaders , Jeremiah lashed out at the religious leaders! Those responsible to lead Israel in God's path were the very ones responsible for Israel's present plight , and so God had decreed harsh judgment against them. Leaders are held responsible for those entrusted to their care. Whom has God placed in your care? Remember that YOU are accountable to God for those you influence and lead!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-06T08:18:00.000-05:00

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." ( Psalm 37:1 )

My friends , we should never envy the wicked , even though some may be extremely popular or excessively rich. No matter how much they have , it will fade and vanish like grass that withers and dies. Those who follow God live differently from the wicked and , in the end , will have greater treasures in heaven. What the unbeliever gets may last a lifetime , if he is lucky. What we get from following God lasts forever!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-05T05:46:00.000-05:00

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." ( 1 John 2:22-23 )

My friends , apparently the "antichrists" in John's day were claiming faith in God while denying and opposing Christ. This , John firmly said , is impossible! Since Jesus is God's Son and His Messiah , to deny Him is to reject God's way of revealing HIMSELF to the world! A person who accepts Christ as God's Son , however , accepts God the Father at the same time. The two are ONE and cannot be separated! Many religious cultists today call themselves "Christians" but deny that Jesus is Divine. We , as TRUE Christians , must expose these heresies and oppose such teachings so that the weak believers among us do not succumb to their FALSE TEACHINGS!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-04T07:40:00.000-05:00

"And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil." ( Luke 11:4 )

My friends , when Jesus taught His disciples to pray , He made forgiveness the cornerstone of their relationship with God. God has forgiven OUR sins , we must now forgive those who have wronged us. To remain unforgiving shows we have not understood the we ourselves deeply need to be forgiven! Think of some people who have wronged you. Have you truly forgiven them? How will God deal with YOU if He treats you as YOU treat others?

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-03T07:46:00.000-05:00

"I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him." ( John 10:30-31 )

My friends , this is the clearest statement of Jesus' Divinity He ever made! Jesus and His Father are not the same person , but they are one in essence and nature. Thus Jesus is not merely a good teacher - HE IS GOD! His claim to be God was unmistakable. The religious leaders wanted to kill Him for it , because their laws said that anyone claiming to be God should die. Nothing could persuade them that Jesus' claim was TRUE!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-02T07:40:00.000-05:00

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." ( Matt. 14:28-29 )

My friends , here , Peter was not testing Jesus , something we are told not to do ( 4:7 ). Instead , he was the only one in the boat to react in faith! His impulsive request led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God's power. Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. His faith wavered when he realized what he was doing. We may not walk on water , but we do walk through tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without looking to Christ for help , we , too , may despair and sink. To maintain your faith when situations are difficult , keep your eyes on Christ's power rather than on your inadequacies.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-03-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" ( Proverbs 20:9 )

My friends , NO ONE is without sin! As soon as we confess our sin and repent , sinful thoughts and actions begin to creep back into our lives. We all need ongoing cleansing , moment by moment. Thank God He provides forgiveness by His mercy when we ask for it. Make confession and repentance a regular part of your talks with God. Rely on Him moment by moment for the cleansing you need.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-29T08:24:00.000-05:00

HAMAN

"And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai." ( Esther 3:5-6 )

My friends , Haman enjoyed the power and prestige of his position , and he was enraged when Mordecai did not respond with the expected reverential bow. Haman's anger was not directed just toward Mordecai , but toward what Mordecai stood for - the Jews' dedication to God as the ONLY authority worthy of reverence! In the end , Haman was punished for his arrogant attitude ( 7:9-10 ). God will harshly judge those who are prejudiced or whose pride causes them to look down on others.

So why did Haman want to destroy all Jews just because of one man's action? Well , as second in command in the Persian Empire ( 3:1 ) , Haman loved his power and authority and the reverence shown him. The Jews , however , looked to God as their final authority , NOT to any man! Haman realized that the only way to fulfill his self-centered desires was to kill all those who disgraced his authority. His quest for personal power led him to an all consuming racial hatred.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-28T07:09:00.000-05:00

"Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well." ( 3 John 1:5-6 )

My friends , in the church's early days , traveling prophets , evangelists , and teachers were helped on their way by people like Gaius who housed and fed them. Hospitality is a lost art in many churches today. We would do well to invite more people for meals - fellow church members , young people ,traveling missionaries , those in need , visitors. This is an active and much-appreciated way to show your love. In fact it is probably more important today. Because of our individualistic self-centered society , many lonely people wonder if anyone cares whether they live or die. If you find such a lonely person , show him or her that YOU care!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-27T04:32:00.000-05:00

"The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick." ( Lamentations 5:14 )

My friends , during peace and prosperity , the leaders and elders of the city would sit at the city gate and talk over politics , theology , and philosophy , and conduct business. As Jeremiah prayed , he saw fewer and fewer evidences of either the healthy interaction or the lighthearted dancing of their former lives under God's blessing. They had lost even the everyday events they had assumed would always be there. A lack of continued gratefulness to God often indicates that we are taking the goodness of life for granted.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-26T07:44:00.000-05:00

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." ( 1 John 5:18-19 )

My friends , we Christians do commit sins , of course , but we ask God to forgive them and then we continue serving Him. God has freed us from our slavery to Satan , and He keeps us safe from Satan's continued attacks. The rest of the world does not have the Christian's freedom to obey God. Unless they come to Christ in FAITH , they have no choice but to obey Satan! There is no middle ground my friends ; people either belong to God and obey Him , or they live under Satan's control!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-25T07:32:00.000-05:00

"But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils." ( Matt. 9:34 )

My friends , In chapter 9 , the Pharisees accused Jesus of four different sins: blasphemy , immorality , impiety , and demon possession. Matthew shows how Jesus was maligned by those who should have received Him most gladly. Why did the Pharisees do this? ( 1 ) Jesus bypassed their religious authority. ( 2 ) He weakened their control over the people. ( 3 ) He challenged their cherished beliefs. ( 4 ) He exposed their insincere motives.

While the Pharisees questioned , debated , and dissected Jesus , people were being healed and lives changed right in front of them! Their skepticism was based not on insufficient evidence but on jealousy of Jesus' popularity!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-23T07:29:00.000-05:00

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." ( Proverbs 11:24-25 )

My friends , these two verses present a paradox: We become richer by being generous. The world says to hold on to as much as possible , but this verse says that God blesses those who give freely of their possessions , time , and energy. When we give , God supplies us with more so that we can give more. In addition , giving helps us gain a right perspective on our possessions. We realize that they were never really ours to begin with , but were given to us by God to be used to help others. What then do we gain by giving? Well , we gain freedom from enslavement to our possessions , the joy of helping others , and God's approval!

A MUST SEE MOVIE!

2012-02-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-22T07:33:00.000-05:00

"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." ( Psalm 65:4 )

My friends , access to God , the joy of living in the Tabernacle courts , was a great honor. God had chosen a special group of Israelites , the tribe of Levi , to serve as ministers in the Tabernacle ( Numbers 3:5-51 ). They were the only ones who could enter the sacred rooms where God's presence resided. Because of Jesus' death on the cross , all believers today have personal access to God's presence everywhere and anytime! We gain this access into God's presence by believing in the death and resurrection of Christ , and turning from our sins to God's way of living!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-21T06:37:00.000-05:00

"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." ( Matt. 7:26-27 )

My friends , like a house of cards , the fool's life crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build upon a false or inferior foundation ; instead , they just don't think about their life's purpose. Many people are headed for destruction , not out of stubbornness , but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ's message.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-20T07:18:00.000-05:00

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." ( Matt. 10:34 )

My friends , Jesus did not come to bring the kind of peace that glosses over deep differences just for the sake of superficial harmony. Conflict and disagreement will arise between those who chose to follow Christ and those who don't. Yet we can look forward to the day when all conflict will be resolved. For more on Jesus as peacemaker , see Isaiah 9:6 ; Matthew 5:9 ; and John 4:27.

You see , because some will follow Christ and some won't , conflict will inevitably arise. As we take up our cross and follow Him , our different values , morals , goals , and purposes will set us apart from others. Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. Love of family is a law of God , but even this love can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do His work. We shouldn't neglect our family , but we must remember that our commitment to God is even more important. God should be our FIRST priority!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-19T08:03:00.000-05:00

"LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." ( Psalm 144:3-4 )

My friends , Life is short! David reminded us that it "is like to vanity" and that our "days are as a shadow that passeth away." James said that our lives are "a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" ( James 4;14 ). Because life is short , we should live for God while we have the time. Don't waste your life by selecting an inferior purpose that has no lasting value. Live for God , who alone can make your life worthwhile , purposeful , and meaningful!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-18T08:31:00.000-05:00

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." ( Psalm 18:30 )

My friends , some people think that belief in God is a crutch for weak people who cannot make it on their own. God is indeed a buckler ( shield ) to protect us when we are too weak to face certain trials by ourselves , but He does not want us to remain weak. He strengthens , protects , and guides us in order to send us back into an evil world to fight for Him. Then He continues to work with us , because the strongest person on earth is infinitely weaker than God and needs His help. David was not a coward ; he was a mighty warrior who , with all his armies and weapons , knew that only God could ultimately protect and save him.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-17T07:45:00.000-05:00

"Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." ( Luke 11:52 )

My friends , how did the lawyers take away the "key of knowledge"? Through their erroneous interpretation of Scripture and their added man-made rules , they made God's truth hard to understand and practice. On top of that , they were bad examples , arguing their way out of demanding rules they placed on others. Caught up in a religion of their own making , they could no longer lead the people to God. They had closed the door of God's love to the people and thrown away the key!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-16T08:12:00.000-05:00

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ( John 3:18 )

My friends , people often try to protect themselves from their fears by putting their trust in something they do or have ; their good works , their skill or intelligence , their money or possessions. But only God can save us from the one thing we really need to fear - ETERNAL CONDEMNATION! We believe in God by recognizing the insufficiency of our own efforts to find salvation and by asking Him to do His work in us. When Jesus talks about unbelievers , He means those who reject or ignore Him completely , not those who have momentary doubts.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-15T07:39:00.000-05:00

"And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself." ( Mark 3:21 )

My friends , with the crowds pressing in on Him , Jesus didn't even take time to eat. Because of this , His friends and family came to take Him home ( 3:31-32 ) , thinking He had gone "over the edge" as a religious fanatic. They were concerned for Him , but they missed the point of His ministry. Even those who were closest to Jesus were slow to understand who He was and what He came to do.

You see , the family may be the most difficult place to be a witness for Jesus. To be the first or only Christian may go against the grain. Your faith may be misinterpreted as criticism. Your zeal may be misunderstood. You may be accused of being a hypocrite because other areas of your life still fall short of Christ's ideals. Uncommitted people may view your new commitment to the Bible as unreasonable bigotry.

Family members require the most patience. They see you at your worst when your guard is down. Remember though , that Christ's family also rejected and ridiculed Him! Jesus knows what you face by trying to be a witness for Him in your own family. Stay true to your faith. Over time , the true - biblical love , you have for your family may just have a positive effect on them.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ( Psalm 139:23-24 )

My friends , David asked God to search for sin and point it out , even to the level of testing his thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are we to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then when God shows us , we can repent and be forgiven! Make this verse YOUR prayer , if you ask the LORD to search your heart and your thoughts to reveal sin in your life , you will be continuing in God's everlasting way!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-13T06:59:00.000-05:00

"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews." ( Acts 17:1 )

My friends , Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. This is the first city Paul visited where his teachings attracted a large group of socially prominent citizens. The church he planted grew quickly , but in A.D. 50-51 , Paul was forced out of the city by a mob ( 17:5-6 , 10 ). He later sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the Christians were doing. Soon afterward , Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonian believers ( 1 and 2 Thessalonians ) , encouraging them to remain faithful and to refuse to listen to false teachers who tried to refute their beliefs.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-12T07:15:00.000-05:00

"Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard." ( Nahum 2:13 )

My friends , God had given the people of Nineveh a chance to repent , which they did after hearing Jonah. But now they had returned to their sin , and its consequences were destroying them. There is a point for people , cities , and nations , for which there is no turning back! Assyria had crossed that point. We must warn others to repent while there is still time!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." ( 1 Tim. 2:12 )

My friends , many people ( especially the legalists and pseudo-Christians ) , interpret this passage to mean that women should NEVER teach or preach in the church. However , Paul's words "I suffer not " ( "I never let" ) can be more literally translated "I am not allowing." Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching men. Paul's commended coworker , Priscilla , taught Apollos , the great preacher ( Acts 18:24-26 ). Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phebe worked in the church ( Rom. 16:1 ). Mary , Tryphena , Tryphosa , and Persis were the LORD's workers ( Rom. 16:6 , 12 ) , as were Euodias and Syntyche ( Phil. 4:2 ). Paul was very likely prohibiting the Ephesian women , not ALL women , from teaching.

You see , Paul did not want the Ephesian women to teach because they didn't yet have enough knowledge or experience. The Ephesian church had a particular problem with false teachers. Evidently the women were especially susceptible to the false teachings ( 2 Tim. 3:1-9 ) because they did not yet have enough biblical knowledge to discern the truth. In addition , some of the women were apparently flaunting their newfound Christian freedom by wearing inappropriate clothing ( 2:9 ). Paul was telling Timothy not to put anyone ( in this case , women ) into a position of leadership who was not yet mature in the faith ( see 3:6 ; 5:22 ). The same principle applies to churches today. In other words , new believers , be they man or women , should become secure and strong in the faith , as well as knowledgeable in Scripture , before taking leadership roles in the church.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-10T07:38:00.000-05:00

"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." ( Phil. 1:20-21 )

My friends , to those who don't believe in God , life on earth is all there is , and so it is natural for them to strive for this world's values - money , popularity , power , and prestige. For Paul , however , life meant developing eternal values and telling others about Christ , who alone can help us see life from an eternal perspective. Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like Him. Thus , Paul could confidently say that dying would be even better than living , because in death he would be spared from the troubles of this world and see Christ face-to-face ( 1 John 3:2-3 ). If you're not ready to die , then you're not ready to live! Once you are certain of your eternal destiny , then you're free to serve - devoting your life to what really counts without fear of dying!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-09T08:13:00.000-05:00

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." ( 1 Cor. 3:10-11 )

My friends , the foundation of the church - of all true believers - is JESUS CHRIST! Nothing and NO ONE else will do , wrote Paul. A building with no foundation , or one poorly constructed , will not last. The finest materials used to construct a home quickly rot and fall apart if they are resting on the ground. And a building is only as solid as its foundation. The foundation of the believers' life is JESUS CHRIST ; He is our base , our reason for being. Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by Him. Are you building YOUR life on the only real and lasting foundation , or are you building on a faulty foundation , such as a man-made religious denomination , wealth , security , success , or fame? Be careful how you build!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-08T07:34:00.000-05:00

"Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire." ( Isaiah 30:27 )

My friends , the judgment of God will be accompanied by thick , rising smoke and words that devour like fire ( see 33:14 ; Luke 12:49 ; Heb. 12:29 ). People who were brought up in a church but dropped out often complain about the preaching of the wrath of God. Yet , His wrath and anger are very real and are designed for the rebellious and for those who hate God , not for those who are humble and love Him. Are YOU one of God's people? Help others discover God's love so that His wrath will never be an issue for them.

Just Who Was Caiaphas?

2012-02-07T10:26:00.001-05:00

"And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." ( John 11:49-50 )

My friends, one of the most interesting aspects of my biblical studies was learning the (biblically correct) bios of the various people. One of the many I found , however , that is like many religious leaders of today , was Caiaphas.

You see , Caiaphas was the leader of the religious group called the Sadducees. Educated and wealthy , they were the politically influential in the nation. As the elite group , they were on fairly good terms with Rome. They hated Jesus because He endangered their secure lifestyles and taught a message they could NOT accept! ( sound familiar? ). A kingdom in which leaders humbly served had no appeal to them.

Caiaphas's usual policy was to remove any threats to his power by whatever means necessary. For Caiaphas , whether Jesus should die was not in question ; the only point to be settled was WHEN His death should take place. Not only did Jesus have to be captured and tried , the Jewish Council also needed Roman approval before they could carry out the death sentence. Caiaphas's plans were unexpectedly helped by Judas's offer to betray Jesus.

Caiaphas did not realize that his schemes were actually part of a wonderful plan God was carrying out. Caiaphas's willingness to sacrifice another man to preserve his own security was decidedly selfish. By contrast , Jesus' willingness to die for us was a clear example of loving self-sacrifice. Caiaphas thought he had won the battle as Jesus hung on the cross , but he did not count on the resurrection!

Caiaphas's mind was closed. He couldn't accept the resurrection even when the evidence was overwhelming , and he attempted to silence those whose lives had been forever changed by the risen Christ ( sound familiar? ) ; ( see also Matt. 28:12-13 ). Caiaphas represents those people who will not believe because they think it will cost them too much to accept Jesus as LORD. They choose the fleeting power , prestige , and pleasures of THIS life instead of the ETERNAL life God offers those who receive His Son!

So...what is YOUR choice?

Caiaphas is also mentioned in Matthew 26:3-4 , 57-67 ; Luke 3:2 ; John 11:49-53 ; John 18:13-28 ; and Acts 4:6.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-07T07:34:00.000-05:00

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." ( Daniel 7:13-14 )

My friends , this man is the Messiah , Jesus Christ! Jesus used this verse to refer to Himself ( Matt. 26:64 ;Luke 21:27 ; John 1:51 ). The clouds of heaven portray the deity of the Son of man for they are used exclusively as a divine attribute. God's glory appeared in a cloud in Exodus 16:10 and 19:9 at the giving of the Law at Sinai. Revelation also records Christ coming with the clouds ( Rev. 1:7 ).

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-06T07:39:00.000-05:00

"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." ( John 20:23 )

My friends , here , Jesus is telling the disciples their Spirit-powered and Spirit-guided mission - to preach the Good News about Jesus so people's sins might be forgiven. The disciples did NOT have the power to forgive sins ( only GOD can forgive sins - the power to forgive was NEVER given to the disciples , nor ANY human being! ) , but Jesus gave them the privilege of TELLING new believers that their sins HAVE BEEN forgiven because they have accepted Jesus' message. ALL believers have this same privilege! We can announce the forgiveness of sin with certainty when we ourselves have found repentance and FAITH!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-05T07:22:00.000-05:00

"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." ( Acts 3:16 )

My friends , Jesus , not the apostles , received the glory for the healing of the lame man. In those days a man's name represented his character ; it stood for his authority and power. By using Jesus' name , Peter showed who gave him the authority and power to heal. The apostles did not emphasize what they could do , but what God could do through them. Jesus' name is not to be used as magic - it must be used in FAITH! When we pray in Jesus' name, we must remember that it is Jesus Himself , not merely the sound of His name , who gives our prayers their power.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-04T08:27:00.000-05:00

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." ( Phil. 4:1 )

My friends , how do we "stand fast in the Lord"? This refers to what Paul has just taught in 3:20-21. The way to stand fast is to keep our eyes on Christ , to remember that this world is not our home , and to focus on the fact that Christ will bring everything under His control! Standing fast means steadfastly resisting the negative influences of temptation , false teaching , or persecution. It requires perseverance when we are challenged or opposed. Don't lose heart or give up! God promises to give us strength of character. With the Holy Spirit's help and with the help of fellow believers , you CAN stand fast in the LORD!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-03T08:15:00.000-05:00

"And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land." ( Exodus 11:10 )

My friends , did God really harden Pharaoh's heart and force him to do wrong? NO! Before the ten plagues began , Moses and Aaron announced what God would do if Pharaoh didn't let the people go! But their message only made Pharaoh stubborn - he was hardening his own heart! In so doing , he defied both God and His messengers. Through the first six plagues , Pharaoh's heart grew even more stubborn! After the sixth plague , God passed judgment. Sooner or later , evil people will be punished for their sins. When it became evident he wouldn't change , God simply gave Pharaoh what he wanted , and confirmed Pharaoh's prideful decision and set the painful consequences of his actions in motion! God didn't force Pharaoh to reject Him , rather , He gave him every opportunity to change his mind! In Ezekiel 33:11 , God says , "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked."

Exodus 8:32 tells us , "And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also.." Hence , God was giving Pharaoh increasingly severe warnings of the judgment that was to come. Pharaoh chose to bring judgment on himself and on his nation by hardening his own heart against God’s commands! But...don't expect the unbelievers to quote THAT verse!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-02T08:21:00.000-05:00

"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" ( Luke 12:27-28 )

My friends , many secularists love to quote the Bible and pick and choose what verse(s) they'll use to fit their comfort zone / beliefs , as well as taking the cited verses out of context , and not quoting verses either before or after the ones they cite in order to understand the correct biblical context.

The verses above are but one of many they cite. However , in these verses we must also read the surrounding ones. In other words , vss 27 and 28 above go with vss 22-34. Now , once we read those , we see that Jesus commanded us not to worry. But how can we avoid it? Only faith can free us from the anxiety caused by greed and covetousness. Working and planning responsibly is good ; dwelling on all the ways our planning could go wrong is bad. Worry is pointless because it can't fill any of our needs ; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe ( GOD ) loves us and knows what we need. He promises to meet our needs , but not necessarily all our desires!

Overcoming worry requires: ( 1 ) Simple trust in GOD , our Heavenly Father. This trust is expressed by praying to Him rather than worrying. ( 2 ) Perspective on your problems. This can be gained by developing a strategy for addressing and correcting your problems. ( 3 ) A support team to help. Find some believers who will pray for you to find wisdom and strength to deal with your worries.

And lastly - BEWARE whenever a NON-BELIEVER quotes from the Bible - a book they don't believe in to begin with!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-02-01T07:34:00.000-05:00

"Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?" ( Ezekiel 18:25 )

My friends , a typical childish response to punishment is to say , "That isn't fair!" In reality , God is fair , but we have broken the rules! It isn't God who must live up to our ideas of fairness ; instead , we must live up yo HIS! Don't spend your time looking for the loopholes in God's law. Decide instead to live up to GOD'S standards!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-31T09:23:00.000-05:00

"IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night," ( Psalm 92:1-2 )

My friends , during the Thanksgiving holiday , we focus on our blessings and express our gratitude to God for them. But thanks should be on our lips daily! We can never say thank you enough to parents , friends , leaders , and especially to GOD! When thanksgiving becomes an integral part of your life , you will find that your attitude toward life will change. You will become more positive , gracious , loving , and humble.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-30T07:40:00.000-05:00

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." ( Rev. 3:16 )

My friends , lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church at Laodicea ( like many today) , had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't stand for anything ; indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ , the church had become hardened and self-satisfied , and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a half-hearted , in name-only "Christian" who is self-sufficient! Don't settle for following God halfway. Let Christ fire up your faith and get you into the action!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-29T08:25:00.000-05:00

"Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." ( Matt. 4:5-7 )

My friends , let me begin by explaining verse 5. The Temple was the religious center of the Jewish nation and the place where the people expected the Messiah to arrive ( Malachi 3:1 ). Herod the Great had renovated the Temple in hopes of gaining the Jews' confidence. The Temple was the tallest building in the area , and this pinnacle was probably the corner wall that jutted out of the hillside , overlooking the valley below. From this spot , Jesus could see all of Jerusalem behind Him and the country for miles in front of Him.

God is not our magician in the sky. In response to Satan's temptations , Jesus said not to tempt God - not to put Him to a foolish test ( Deut. 6:16 ). We also see that Satan memorized and could quote Scripture ("for it is written") , albeit not obeying it as well as taking it out of context. You may want to ask God to do something to prove His existence or His love for you. Jesus once taught through a parable that people who don't believe through what is written in the Bible , still won't believe even if someone were to come back from the dead to warn them ( Luke 16:31 ) ! God wants us to live by FAITH , not MAGIC! Don't try to manipulate God by asking for signs!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-28T08:37:00.000-05:00

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." ( John 4:24 )

My friends , "God is a Spirit" means that He is not a PHYSICAL being limited to one place. He is present everywhere , and He can be worshipped anywhere , at any time! It is not where we worship that counts , but how we worship! Is your worship genuine and true? Do you have the Holy Spirit's help? How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? The Holy Spirit prays for us ( Rom. 8:26 ) , teaches us the words of Christ ( 14:26 ) , and tells us we are loved ( Rom. 5:5 ).

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-27T08:01:00.000-05:00

"And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." ( 1 Chron. 21:1 )

My friends , the Bible says that Satan "provoked" David to take a census. But , can Satan force people to do wrong? NO! Satan only tempted David with the idea , but David decided to act on the temptation. Ever since the Garden of Eden , Satan has been tempting people to sin. David's census was not against God's Law , but his motive for the census was wrong - pride in his mighty army while forgetting that his real strength came from God! Even Joab , not known for his high moral ideals , recognized the census as sin! From David's example we learn that an action that may not be wrong in itself , can be sinful if it is motivated by greed , arrogance , or selfishness. Often our motives , not the action itself , contain the sin. We must constantly weigh our motives before we act!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-26T07:21:00.000-05:00

"These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." ( Titus 2:15 )

My friends , here , Paul told Titus to teach the Scriptures as well as to live them. We must also teach , encourage , and correct ( "rebuke" ) others when necessary. We can easily feel afraid when others are older , more influential in the community , or wealthier. Like Titus , we should not let ourselves be threatened when we are trying to minister to others or provide leadership in the church.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-25T08:17:00.000-05:00

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." ( 2 Peter 3:10-11 )

My friends , Christ's Second Coming will be sudden and terrible for those who do NOT believe in Him! But if we are morally clean and spiritually alert , it won't come as a surprise. For other prophetic pictures of the Day of the LORD , see Isaiah 34:4 ; Joel 3:15-16 ; Matt. 24 ; Mark 13 ; Luke 21 ; Rev. 6:12-17. Realizing that the earth is going to be burned up , we should put our confidence in what is lasting and eternal and not be bound to earth and its treasures or pursuits. Do YOU spend more of your time piling up possessions , or striving to develop Christlike character?

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-24T09:31:00.000-05:00

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." ( Rom. 9:16 )

My friends , the fallacy of gaining salvation by human effort remains as strong as ever - people still think good intentions are the key to unlock the door to eternal life. By the time they get to try the lock , they will find that their key doesn't fit. Others imagine that their efforts are building up an invisible ladder to heaven made up of service , family , position , reputation , good work , and desire , although none of these rungs will support a feather! People are so busy trying to reach God that they completely miss the truth that God has already reached down to them! We cannot EARN God's mercy - if we could , it would not be MERCY!

Christians, Be Careful About Promoting the "Baptist" RELIGION!

2012-01-23T12:36:00.004-05:00

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." ( Matt. 1:1 )

My friends , this topic - or sermon - is long overdue. What prompted me to write it is all the unbiblical and legalistic trash of many "Baptist Christian" websites I've come across in the years. I mean ,the very name "Baptist Christian" is an oxymoron. It's no different than someone declaring they're a "Catholic Christian" or a "Momon Christian," etc.

Now , granted , I was baptized in a Baptist church , and my family and I also attend one. However , ask me if I'm a "Baptist" and my reply will be "NO! I'm a CHRISTIAN!" We attend our specific Baptist church because it is a KJV only Bible-based church , where the BIBLE - not the pastor - has the final say in areas of doctrinal dispute.

That said , all Christians are Jews by proxy. Neither Jesus or any of the apostles ever renounced their Jewish heritage! Read the above referenced verse. There , in Matthew 1:1 it is presenting this record of ancestors ( called a genealogy ) , which was one of the most interesting ways Matthew could begin a book for a Jewish audience. Because a person's family line proved his or her standing as one of God's chosen people , Matthew begins by showing that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham , the father of all Jews , and a direct descendant of David , fulfilling OT prophecies about the Messiah's line. This is the first of many proofs recorded by Matthew to show that Jesus is the true Messiah!

Now , was Jesus a Jew ethnically? Was Jesus an observant Jew religiously? And then finally, if Jesus was a Jew, why don’t Christians follow Judaism? We know that Jesus clearly identified with the Jews of His day, His physical people and tribe, and their religion (although correcting its errors) . John 1:11-12 tells us ; "He came unto his own [ Judah ] , and his own [ Judah ] received him not. But as many [ Jews ] as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Now , look at John 4:22 ; "Ye [ Gentiles ] worship ye know not what: we [ Jews ] know what we [ Jews ] worship: for salvation is of the Jews."

In other words , my friends , when Jesus said "salvation is of the Jews," He meant that only through the Jewish Messiah would the world find salvation. God promised that through the Jewish race ( NOT the religion ) , the whole earth would be blessed ( Gen. 12:3 ). The OT prophets called the Jews to be a light to other nations of the world , bringing them to a knowledge of God ; and they predicted the Messiah's coming. The woman at the well ( cf. 4:19-26 ) , knew of these passages and was expecting the Messiah , but she didn't realize she was talking to HIM!

Now , what about Mary, the mother of Jesus? In the genealogy in Luke chapter 3, we see clearly that Mary was a direct descendant of King David which gave Jesus the legal right to ascend the Jewish throne as well as establishing without any doubt that Jesus was a Jew ethnically!

Was Jesus an observant Jew religiously? Both of Jesus' parents "had performed all things according to the law of the Lord" ( Luke 2:39 ). His aunt and uncle, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were also Torah-observant Jews ( Luke 1:6 ), so we can see that probably the whole family took their Jewish faith very seriously.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus continually affirmed the authority of the Torah and the Prophets ( Matt. 5:17 ) even in the Kingdom of Heaven ( Matt. 5:19-20 ) He regularly attended synagogue ( Luke 4:16 ), and His teaching was respected by the other Jews of His day ( Luke 4:15 ). He taught in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem ( Luke 21:37 ), and if He were not a Jew, His going into that part of the Temple would simply not have been allowed ( Acts 21:28-30 ).

Jesus also displayed the outward signs of being an observant Jew. He wore tzitzit (tassles) on His clothing ( Luke 8:43 ; Matt. 14:36 ) to serve as a reminder of the commandments ( Numbers 15:37-39 ). He observed Passover ( John 2:13 ) and went up to Jerusalem ( Deut. 16:16 ) on this very important Jewish pilgrimage feast day. He observed Succoth, or the feast of tabernacles ( John 7:2 , 10 ) and went up to Jerusalem ( John 7:14 ) as required in the Torah. He also observed Hanukah, the festival of lights ( John 10:22 ) and probably Rosh Hashanah, the feast of trumpets ( John 5:1 ), going up to Jerusalem on both those occasions as well, even though it isn't commanded in the Torah. Clearly, Jesus identified Himself as a Jew ( John 4:22 ) and as King of the Jews( Mark 15:2 ). From His birth to His last Passover Seder ( Luke 22:14-15 ), Jesus lived as an observant Jew.

So, we now come to ask ourselves , if Jesus was a Jew, why is it that Christians don’t follow Judaism? Well , the Laws of Judaism were given to Moses for the children of Israel in a very sacred and special covenant at Mount Sinai and recorded for us in the book of Exodus. In this covenant, God wrote His laws on tablets of stone, and Israel was commanded to be obedient to all that was revealed to them. But this wonderful covenant was only a picture of a New and better covenant that God would one day give to His people, both Jew and Gentile.

Now , that doesn't mean that we disregard the OT , as Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:17 , "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

Now , also , as I've mentioned numerous times in the past , NO WHERE in the Bible is the word "religion" ever used in the context of a denomination. The word "Christian" comes from CHRIST! True Christians strive to be Christ-like! Hence , CHRISTians.

Read Acts 11:26. There we are told , "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Do you see anywhere where the disciples ( or JESUS ) , said they were no longer Jews? NO..you don't! You see , in verse 26 , the young church at Antioch was a curious mixture of Jews ( who spoke Greek or Aramaic ) and Gentiles ( NON-Jews ). It is significant that this is the first place where the BELIEVERS were called CHRISTIANS ( or "Christ-ones" ) , because all they had in common was CHRIST!

Now , many Baptist apologists will claim that John the Baptist was a "Baptist." NO..he was NOT!! His name was divinely given. It was to be “John” (Luke 1:13), which derives from a Hebrew term signifying “Jehovah is gracious.”

He was known familiarly as “the Baptist” (bearing no relation to the modern sect), which simply means “an immerser, one who administers the rite of immersion , baptizer” (see Matt. 3:1; 11:11; etc.).

Granted , little is known about John , but we do know that John was a Levite, one of the special tribe set aside by God to take care of all of the work associated with the temple ( Numbers 1:50-53 ). John was the son of Zechariah, a temple priest of the lineage of Abijah, while John’s mother Elizabeth was from the lineage of Aaron ( Luke 1:5 ). John was also related to Jesus as their mothers were cousins ( Luke 1:36 ). John lived a rugged life in the mountainous area of Judea, between the city of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. It is written that he wore clothes made out of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His diet was a simple one—locusts and wild honey ( Matt. 3:4 ). John lived a simple life as he focused on the kingdom work set before him. So , to say that John was a "Baptist" - in the denominational context - is to call the Word of God a LIE!

The reason that Christians should be careful about claiming they are "Baptists" as well as embracing the denomination , is because it may confuse , and actually drive away many who may want to come to Christ. Why? Well , first and foremost what if an unbeliever asks you , "What Baptist doctrine do you adhere to? Is it the First Baptist, Second Baptist, American Baptist, Southern Baptist, General Baptist, Independent Baptist, Primitive Baptist, which one?" The list could go on and on , my friends. What Bible do they use? The KJV , the NKJV , NIV , NIV - 1984 , New Life Version , New Century Version , New American Standard Bible - which one? Do YOU even know what Bible your Baptist church uses?

Today, there are at least 65 different Baptist associations or denominations in the United States. Some retain a strict autonomy for the local church, while others have more of a denominational structure. Some have very conservative views of doctrine and practice, while others are quite progressive and liberal. Even within some groups there is a wide divergence of practice, so it is hard to pin down exactly what they believe!

What about the Westboro Baptist Church or the Landover Baptist Church? Tell a non-believer you're a "Baptist" and they may link you to those church's doctrines. A simple look at their doctrines shows they are nothing but racist and anti-Semites! The members of the Westboro Baptist Church claim to speak in God’s name, but do so in a way contradictory to what God shows us in the Bible.

They came to national attention in 1998 after the horrific murder of admitted homosexual Matthew Shepherd who was beaten and left to die tied to a fence outside of Laramie, Wyoming. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested at Matthew’s funeral and his murderers’ trials and created a website saying Matthew was burning in hell. Now , how can they unequivocally make that literal judgment? The answer is they CAN'T! Do they know with absolute certainty that Matthew Shepherd did NOT accept Christ as his LORD and Savior in that nanosecond before he died? NO! No one knows that except GOD!

Now , there's a big difference from saying to someone , "If you don't get truly saved , and you remain and die in your sins ( be they homosexuality , disbelief , hatred , adultery , murder , etc.. ) , then God says you WILL go to hell for all eternity" ( cf. Rev. 21:8 ; Matt. 10:28 , etc..) , as opposed to saying that "When you die you WILL go to hell..period!"

I've had many people ask me , and I've even stated this on my blogs , "Pastor Mike. If an atheist , homosexual , Catholic , Mormon , etc.. , were to die right now , would they go to hell?" And my answer is always the same. I reply , "I don't know." Because I don't know if they repented and got saved BEFORE they died! If they DID get truly saved before they died , as the thief on the cross did by acknowledging Jesus as LORD and Savior ( cf. Luke 23:43 ) , then they are in Heaven right now!

My friends , the bottom line is , the name “Baptist” has come to mean many things to many people, and so can sometimes cause confusion. As with any other church, the name above the door isn't as important as what is taught within. As we examine any church, we would do well to follow the example of the Berean believers in Acts 17:11:

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

If you are attending a Baptist church that where the final authority is the Word of God ( i.e., the KJV Bible ) , as my family and I do , then I say "AMEN!" But I appeal to you NOT to say you are a "Baptist." You are a CHRISTIAN! And Christianity is NOT a religious denomination - it is a LIFESTYLE!

Until next time , may God bless and keep you all -

In His service ; Pastor Mike

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-23T07:36:00.000-05:00

"The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven." ( John 6:41 )

My friends , when John says "Jews," he is referring to the Jewish leaders who were hostile to Jesus , not to Jews in general. John himself was a Jew , and so was JESUS!

Some of the people grumbled in disagreement because they could not accept Jesus' claim of Divinity. They saw Him only as a carpenter from Nazareth. They refused to believe He was God's Divine Son , and they could not tolerate His message ( as many today cannot! ). Many people reject Christ because they say they cannot believe He is the Son of God. In reality , the claims He makes for their loyalty and obedience are what they can't accept. So to protect themselves from the message , they deny the messenger!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-22T07:09:00.000-05:00

"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." ( Esther 4:16 )

My friends , "Save your own skin" and "Watch out for number one" are mottoes that reflect this world's selfish outlook on life. Esther's attitude stands in sharp contrast to this. She knew what she had to do , and she knew it could cost her her life. And yet she responded , "if I perish, I perish." We should have the same commitment to do what is right despite the possible consequences. Do YOU try to save your own skin by remaining silent , rather than standing up for what is right? Commit yourself to do what God wants , and trust Him for the outcome!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." ( 2 Thess. 2:3 )

My friends , throughout history there have been individuals who have epitomized evil and who were hostile to everything Christ stands for ( see 1 John 2:18 ; 4:3 ; 2 John 1:7 ). These antichrists have lived in every generation and will continue to work their evil as they are doing today! Then , just before Christ's Second Coming , a "man of sin," a completely evil man , will arise. This "son of perdition" will be the Antichrist!

It is dangerous , however , to label any one individual as the Antichrist and try to predict Christ's coming based on that assumption. Paul mentioned the Antichrist , not so that we might attempt to identify him specifically , but so we might be ready for anything that threatens our faith. If our faith is strong , we don't need to be afraid of what lies ahead. We know that this man of sin is already defeated by God , no matter how powerful he becomes or how terrible our situation seems. God is in control , and He will be victorious! Our task is to be prepared for Christ and to spread the Good News so that more people will be prepared also!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." ( Matt. 17:20 )

My friends , Jesus wasn't condemning the disciples for substandard faith ; He was trying to show how important faith would be in their future ministry. If you are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain , turn your eyes from the mountain and look to CHRIST for more faith! Only then will you be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-19T07:34:00.000-05:00

"For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." ( Matt. 8:9-10 )

My friends , a centurion was a career military officer in the Roman army with control over 100 soldiers. Roman soldiers , of all people , were hated by the Jews for their oppression , control , and ridicule. Yet this man's genuine FAITH amazed Jesus. This hated Gentile's faith put to shame the stagnant piety of many of the Jewish religious leaders.

Jesus told the crowd that many religious Jews who should be in the Kingdom would be EXCLUDED because of their lack of FAITH! Entrenched in their religious traditions , they could not accept Christ and His new message. We must be careful not to become so set in our religious habits that we expect God to work only in specified ways. Don't limit God by your mind-set and LACK OF FAITH!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-17T06:59:00.000-05:00

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." ( Eph. 6:12 )

My friends , these who are not "flesh and blood" are demons over whom Satan has control. They are NOT mere fantasies - they are very REAL! We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church. When we believe in Christ and join His church , these beings become our enemies , and they try every device to turn us away from Christ and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory , we must engage in the struggle until Christ comes , because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the LORD's side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan , and God has provided that in His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. If you feel discouraged , remember Jesus' words to Peter : "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ( Matt. 16:18 ) .

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." ( Gal. 1:6 )

My friends , people who wanted Gentile believers to follow Jewish laws in order to obtain salvation preached "another gospel." Those proclaiming this different gospel believed that FAITH IN CHRIST was not enough , in order to be saved , a person must also follow the Jewish laws and customs , especially the rite of circumcision. This message , like that of many religious denominations today , as well as the Christian legalists , undermined the truth of the Good News that salvation is a gift , not a reward for certain works. Jesus Christ has made this gift available to all people , not just to Jews. Beware of people who say that we need to do more than believe IN Christ to be saved! When people set up additional requirements for salvation , they deny the power of Christ's death on the cross! ( see 3:1-5 ).

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-15T07:17:00.000-05:00

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." ( John 8:58 )

My friends , this is one of the most powerful statements uttered by Jesus. When He says He existed BEFORE Abraham was born , He undeniably proclaims His Divinity! Not only did Jesus say He existed before Abraham ; He also applied God's Holy Name ( I AM - Exodus 3:14 ) to Himself! This claim demands a response - it cannot be ignored! The Jewish leaders tried to stone Him for blasphemy because He claimed equality with God. But Jesus IS GOD! How have YOU responded to Jesus?

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." ( Matt. 5:38 )

My friends , God's purpose behind this law was an expression of mercy. It was given to judges and said , in effect , "Make the punishment fit the crime." It was NOT a guide for personal revenge ( Ex. 21:23-25 ; Lev. 24:19-20 ; Deut. 19:21 ). These laws were given to LIMIT vengeance and help the court mete out punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient. Some people , however , were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others. People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by saying , "I was just doing to him what he did to me."

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-13T07:58:00.000-05:00

"And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." ( Mark 14:24 )

My friends , Jesus' death for us on the cross seals a new agreement ( also called "new testament" or "new covenant" ) between God and mankind. The old agreement involved forgiveness of sins through the blood of animal sacrifice ( Ex. 24:6-8 ). But instead of a spotless lamb on the altar , Jesus offered Himself , the spotless Lamb of God , as a sacrifice that would forgive sin once and for all! Jesus was the FINAL sacrifice for sins , and His blood sealed the new agreement between God and us. Now all of us can come to God through JESUS , in full confidence that He will hear us and save us from our sins!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-12T07:35:00.000-05:00

"Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law." ( Malachi 2:9 )

My friends , here , the priests has allowed influential and favored people to break the law. They were so dependent on these people for support that they could not afford to confront them when they did wrong. In your church , are certain people allowed to do wrong without criticism? There should be no double standard based on wealth or position! Let your standards be those presented in God's Word! Playing favorites is contemptible in God's sight ( see James 2:1-9 ).

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ( John 3:16 )

My friends , some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable! But eternal life is not an extension man's miserable , mortal life ; eternal life is God's life embodied in Christ , given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever! In eternal life there is no death , sickness , enemy , evil , or sin. When we don't know Christ , we make choices as though this life were all we had. In reality , this life is just the introduction to eternity. Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective.

To believe is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in Him that He alone can save us. It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting His words as reliable and relying on Him for the power to change. If you have never trusted Christ , let this promise of everlasting life be yours!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones." ( Heb. 11:22 )

My friends , Joseph , one of Jacob's sons , was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers ( Gen. 37 ). Eventually , Joseph was sold again , this time to an officer of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Because of his faithfulness to God , however , Joseph was given a top-ranking position in Egypt. Although Joseph could have used that position to build a personal empire , he remembered God's promise to Abraham. After he had been reconciled to his brothers , he brought his family near to him , and requested that his bones be taken to the Promised Land when the Jews eventually left Egypt ( Gen. 50:24-25 ). Faith means trusting in God and doing what He wants , regardless of the circumstances!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common." ( Acts 2:44 )

My friends , recognizing the other believers as brothers and sisters in the family of God , the Christians in Jerusalem shared all they had so that ALL could benefit from GOD'S gifts! It is truly a shame that many today , who call themselves "Christians," give only "lip service" to their brothers and sisters in Christ who are truly in need. It is tempting - especially if we have material wealth - to cut ourselves off from one another , concerning ourselves with only our interests and enjoying our little piece of the world. But as part of God's spiritual family , we have a responsibility to help one another in every way possible. God's family works best when its members work together!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." ( Psalm 110:1ff ).

My friends , this is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament because of its clear references to the Messiah. In Matthew 22:41-45 , Jesus recited the words of verse 1 and applied them to HIMSELF! Verses 1 and 6 look forward to Christ's final and total destruction of the wicked ( Rev. 6 - 9 ) ; 110:2 prophecies Christ's reign on the earth ( Rev. 20:1-7 ) ; 110:3-4 tell of Christ's priestly work for His people ( Hebrews 5 - 8 ) ; and 110:5-6 look forward to the final battle on earth when Christ will overcome the forces of evil ( Rev. 19:11-21 ).

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-06T08:07:00.000-05:00

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." ( 2 Cor. 6:16 )

My friends , quoting from the prophet Isaiah , Paul asserted that the church is the temple of the living God. Corinth had an abundance of temples of pagan deities , so the recipients of his letter were able to visualize the contrast the apostle intended. Those who follow Christ are not known by a building ; they are known as those whom the Spirit of God lives. The church is not where believers go , it is who they are! God is NOT waiting for His people in some stain-glassed setting! He is ALWAYS with them! That is a sobering and yet a comforting thought. How does YOUR behavior reflect on the God you represent?

David's Spiritual Armor - We ALL Need to Put it on!

2012-01-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

My "Welcome" Video

2012-01-05T10:40:00.002-05:00

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-05T08:15:00.000-05:00

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." ( 2 Peter 2:1 )

My friends , Jesus had told the disciples that false teachers would come ( Matt. 24:11 ; Mark 13:22-23 ). Peter had heard these words , and now he was seeing them come true. Just as false prophets had contradicted the true prophets in Old Testament times ( see , for example , Jeremiah 23:16-40 ; 28:1-17 ) , telling people only what they wanted to hear , so false teachers twisted Christ's teachings and the words of His apostles. These teachers belittled the significance of Jesus' life , death , and resurrection. Some claimed He couldn't be God ; others claimed He couldn't have been a real man. They allowed and even encouraged all kinds of wrong and immoral acts , especially sexual sin. We must be careful to avoid false teachers today. Any book , tape , series , sermon , or TV message must be evaluated by GOD'S Word! Beware of special meanings or interpretations that belittle Christ or His work!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." ( Luke 15:20 )

My friends , in the preceding stories ( vss. 1-10 ) , the seeker actively looked for the coin and the sheep , whicjh could not return by themselves. In this story , the father watched and waited. He was dealing with a human being with a will of his own , but he was ready to greet his son if he returned. In the same way , God's love is constant and waiting. He will search for us and give us opportunities to respond , but He does not force us to come to Him. Like the father , He waits patiently for us to come to our senses!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." ( John 1:17 )

My friends , Law and grace are both aspects of God's nature that He uses in dealing with us. Moses emphasized God's Law and justice , while Jesus Christ came to highlight God's mercy , love , and forgiveness. Moses could only be the giver of the Law , while Christ came to fulfill it ( Matt. 5:17 ). The nature and will of God were revealed in the Law ; now the nature and will of God are revealed in Jesus Christ. Rather than coming through cold stone tablets , God's revelation ( "truth" ) now comes through a person's life. As we get to know Christ better , our understanding of God will increase.

God communicated through various people in the Old Testament , usually prophets who were told to give specific messages. But no one ever saw God! In Christ , God revealed His nature and essence in a way that could be seen and touched. In Christ , God BECAME a man who lived on earth!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-02T07:09:00.000-05:00

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." ( 1 Cor. 9:25 )

My friends , whatever happened to self-discipline? Many books and speakers guide wandering souls to self-fulfillment , self-satisfaction , and self-awareness. Not many tackle self-discipline.

Self-discipline requires an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses , with emphasis on the latter. It means building the will to say "NO!" when a powerful appetite inside you screams "YES!" For example , when you have self-discipline , you can ( 1 ) say "NO!" to friends or situations that will lead you away from Christ , ( 2 ) say "NO!" to casual sex , saving intimacy for marriage , and ( 3 ) say "NO!" to laziness in favor of "CAN DO" and "WILL DO!" Self-discipline is a long , steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally , and channeling natural appetites toward God's purposes. Where are YOUR weak points? Pray with a friend for God's help to redirect weakness into strength!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2012-01-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." ( Acts 13:46 )

My friends , why was it necessary for the Gospel to go first to the Jews? God planned that through the Jewish nation ALL the world would know of God ( Gen. 12:3 ). Paul , a Jew himself , loved his people ( Rom. 9:1-5 ) and wanted to give them every opportunity to join him in proclaiming God's salvation. Unfortunately , many Jews did not recognize Jesus as Messiah ,and they did not understand that God was offering salvation to anyone , Jew or Gentile ,who comes to Him through faith in JESUS!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-31T07:51:00.000-05:00

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." ( Mark 16:16 )

My friends , the above words are from Jesus Himself , but many well-meaning , albeit theologically misinformed Christians , fail to use proper Biblical exegesis in it's interpretation. Baptism by immersion does NOT save us! You see , it is NOT the water of baptism that saves , but God's grace THROUGH faith IN Christ! ( Eph. 2:8-9 ). Because of Jesus' response to the thief on the cross who died with Him , we know it is possible to be saved WITHOUT being baptized ( Luke 23:43 ). What about a hard core non-believer who all of a sudden truly repents of his sins and accepts Christ as his LORD and Savior in the nanosecond before he or she dies - will they be saved and enter Heaven? YES!! ( see Rom. 10:13 ; Acts 2:21 ; Acts 4:12 ). Of course , all true Christians should ( not MUST ) be baptized by immersion as a public declaration of their FAITH in Christ. However , baptism alone ,without FAITH , does NOT save us - as we would just be wet unbelievers! Those who refuse to believe IN Christ will be condemned , regardless of whether or not they have been baptized!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-30T08:02:00.000-05:00

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." ( Hebrews 11:7 )

My friends , Noah experienced rejection because he was different from his neighbors. God commanded him to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land , and although God's command seemed foolish , Noah obeyed. Noah's obedience made him appear strange to his neighbors , just as the new beliefs of Jewish Christians undoubtedly made them stand out. As you obey God , don't be surprised if others consider you different or even "crazy." Your obedience makes their disobedience stand out! Remember , if God asks you to do something , He will give you the necessary strength to carry out that task!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-29T07:31:00.000-05:00

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ( Phil. 4:6-7 )

My friends , "Be careful for nothing" means don't worry. Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job , in our homes , finances , personal relationships , at school. But Paul's advice is to turn your worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry , stop and pray!

Also , re: verse 7 , God's peace is different from the world's peace ( see John 14:27 ). It is NOT found in positive thinking , in absence of conflict , or in good feelings. Real peace comes from knowing that because God is in control , our citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure , our destiny is set , and our victory over sin is certain!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-28T07:47:00.000-05:00

"They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity." ( Hosea 4:8 )

My friends , the priests were glad when the people sinned. Because every time a person brought a sin offering , the priest received a portion of it! The more the people sinned , the more the priests received. Since they couldn't eat all of the offerings themselves , they sold some and gave some to their relatives. The priests profited from the continuation of sin ; it gave them power and position in the community. So instead of trying to lead the people out of sin , they encouraged it to increase their PROFIT$!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-27T08:22:00.000-05:00

"He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." ( Psalm 147:10-11 )

My friends , we may spend much of our lives trying to sharpen our skills or increase our strength. There is nothing wrong with doing so , and , in fact , our gifts can be used to glorify God. But when we use our skills with no regard for God , they are indeed worth little. It is our fear ( reverence ) and hope that God desires. When He has those , then He will use our skills and strengths in ways far greater than we can imagine.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-26T07:35:00.000-05:00

"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him." ( Mark 12:17 )

My friends , Jesus avoided the trick question by showing that believers have dual citizenship ( 1 Peter 2:17 ). our citizenship in the nation requires that we pay money for the services and benefits we receive. Our citizenship in the Kingdom of heaven requires that we pledge to GOD our primary obedience and commitment ( Acts 4:18-19 ; 5:29 ). As God's followers , we have legitimate obligations to both God and the government. But it is important to keep our priorities straight. When the two authorities conflict , our duty to God always must come BEFORE our duty to the government! The coin bearing the emperor's image should be given to the emperor ; our lives , bearing GOD'S image , belong to GOD! Are YOU giving to God what is rightfully His?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY , JESUS

2011-12-25T07:51:00.000-05:00

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-24T09:01:00.000-05:00

"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." ( Matt. 1:20-23 )

My friends , the angel declared to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Ghost and would be a son. This reveals an important TRUTH about Jesus - He is both God AND man! God took on the limitations of humanity so He could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe IN Him!

Verse 20 tells us that the conception and birth of Jesus are supernatural events beyond human logic or reasoning. Because of this , God sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what was happening ( see 2:13 , 19 ; Luke 1:11 , 26 ; 2:9 ).

Angels are spiritual beings created by God who carry out His work on earth. They bring God's messages to people ( Luke 1:26 ) , protect God's people ( Dan. 6:22 ) , offer encouragement ( Gen. 16:7ff ) , give guidance ( Ex. 14:19 ) , bring punishment ( 2 Sam. 24:16 ) , patrol the earth ( Zech. 1:9-14 ) , and fight the forces of evil ( 2 Kings 6:16-18 ; Rev. 20:1-2 ).

There are both good and bad angels ( Rev. 12:7 ) , but because bad angels are allied with Satan , they have considerably less power and authority. Eventually the main role of angels will be to offer continuous praise to God ( Rev. 7:11-12 ).

Lastly , verses 21-23 tells us that Jesus means "Savior." Jesus came to earth to save us because we can't save ourselves from sin's consequences. No matter how good we are , we can't eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only JESUS can do that! Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves ; He came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Thank Christ for His death on the cross for your sin , and then ask Him to take control of your life. Your NEW life begins at that moment!

Jesus would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah , for He would be Emmanuel ( God with us , see Isaiah 7:14 ). Jesus WAS God in the flesh ; thus God was literally among us! Through the Holy Spirit , God is present today in the life of every believer. Perhaps not even Isaiah understood how far-reaching the meaning of "Emmanuel" would be.

The LORD S COME!

2011-12-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-23T09:59:00.001-05:00

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." ( Matt. 2:1-2 )

My friends , the wise men traveled thousands of miles to see the king of the Jews. When they finally found Him , they responded with joy , worship , and gifts. How different from the approach people often take today. We expect God to come looking for us , to explain Himself , prove who He is , and give us gifts! But those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today , not for what they can get , but for who He is!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

"Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer." ( Proverbs 24:26 )

My friends , people often think that they should bend the truth to avoid hurting a friend. But one who gives an honest , straightforward answer is a TRUE friend! To be entrusted with the truth , even at the risk of offense , says this proverb , represents a gesture of high honor.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-21T09:54:00.001-05:00

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." ( Psalm 118:8 )

My friends , pilots put confidence in their planes. Commuters place confidence in trains , cars , or buses. Each day we must put our confidence in something or someone. If you are willing to trust a plane or car to get you to your destination , are you willing to trust GOD to guide you here on earth and to your ETERNAL destination? Do you trust HIM more than any human being? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone more than GOD!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-20T08:10:00.000-05:00

"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." ( Matt. 13:30 )

My friends , the young tares and the young blades of wheat look the same and can't be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest. Tares ( unbelievers ) and wheat ( believers ) must live side by side in this world. God allows unbelievers to remain for a while just as a farmer allows tares to remain in his field so the surrounding wheat isn't uprooted with them. At the harvest , however , the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. God's harvest ( judgment ) of ALL mankind IS coming! We are to make ourselves ready by making sure our faith is SINCERE!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-19T07:31:00.000-05:00

"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." ( 1 Kings 11:4 )

My friends , Solomon handled great pressures in running the government , but he could not handle the pressure from his wives who wanted him to worship THEIR gods! In marriage and other close friendships , it is difficult to resist pressure to compromise. Our love leads us to identify with the desires of those we care about.

Faced with such pressure , Solomon at first RESISTED it , maintaining pure faith. Then he TOLERATED a more widespread practice of idolatry. Finally , he himself became involved in idolatrous worship ; he RATIONALIZED away the potential danger to himself and the kingdom. Because we want to please and identify with our loved ones , God asks us NOT to marry those who do not share our commitment to Him!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." ( Gal. 6:17-18 )

My friends , Paul's letter to the Galatians boldly declares the freedom of the Christian. Doubtless these early Christians in Galatia wanted to grow in the Christian life , but they were being misled by those who said this could be done only by keeping certain Jewish laws.

How strange it would be for a prisoner who had been set free to walk back into his cell and refuse to leave! How strange for an animal , released from a trap , to go back inside it! How sad for a believer to be set free from the bondage of sin , only to return to rigid conformity to a set of rules and regulations!

If you believe in Jesus Christ , you HAVE been set free! Instead of going back into some form of slavery , whether to legalism or to sin , use your freedom to live for CHRIST and serve HIM as HE desires!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-17T08:52:00.000-05:00

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." ( Col. 1:15-16 )

My friends , this is one of the strongest statements about the Divine nature of Christ found anywhere in the Bible. Jesus is not only equal to God ( Phil. 2:6 ) , He IS GOD! ( John 10:30 , 38 ; 12:45 ; 14:1-11 ). He not only reflects God , but He reveals God to us ( John 1:18 ; 14:9 ). He came from Heaven , NOT from the dust of the ground ( 1 Cor. 15:47 ) , and is LORD of ALL ( Rom. 9:5 ; 10:11-13 ; Rev. 1:5 ; 17:14 ). He is completely Holy ( Heb. 7:26-28 ; 1 Peter 1:19 ; 2:22 ; 1 John 3:5 ) , and He has authority to judge the world ( Rom. 2:16 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ; 2 Tim. 4:1 ). Therefore , He is Supreme over ALL creation , including the spirit world. We , like the Colossian believers , must believe that Jesus IS God or our Christian faith is hollow and meaningless! We must oppose those who say that Jesus was merely a prophet or a good teacher!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." ( Jeremiah 2:13 )

My friends , who would set aside a sparkling fresh spring of water for a cistern , a pit that collected rain water? God told the Israelites that was what they were doing when they turned from Him , the fountain of living waters , to idols. Not only that , the cisterns they chose were broken and empty. The people had built religious systems in which to store truth , but they were worthless! Why should we cling to the broken promises of unstable "cisterns" ( money , power , religious systems , or whatever transitory thing we are putting in place of God ) , when God promises to constantly refresh us with HIMSELF , the LIVING WATER!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

"Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?" ( John 19:10 )

My friends , throughout the trial we see that JESUS was in control , NOT Pilate or the religious leaders! Pilate vacillated , the Jewish leaders reacted out of hatred and anger , but Jesus remained composed. He knew the TRUTH , He knew God's plan , and He knew the reason for His trial. Despite the pressure and persecution , Jesus remained unmoved. It was really Pilate and the religious leaders who were on trial , not Jesus! When you are questioned or ridiculed because of your faith , remember that while you may be on trial before your accusers , THEY are on trial before GOD!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-14T09:10:00.000-05:00

"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!" ( Ezek. 13:2-3 )

My friends , the false prophets had a large following because they comforted the people and approved of their sinful actions. Lies are often attractive , and liars may have large followings. Today , for example , some people assure us that God promises His followers health and material success. This is comforting , but is it TRUE? God's own Son did NOT have an easy life on this earth. Make sure the messages you believe are consistent with what GOD teaches in His Word!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-13T09:47:00.000-05:00

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." ( 1 Cor. 1:3 )

My friends , Grace is God's free gift of salvation given to us in Christ. Receiving it brings us peace ( Rom. 1:5 ). In a world of noise , confusion , and relentless pressures , people long for peace. Many give up the search , thinking it impossible to find , but true peace of heart and mind is available to us through faith in JESUS CHRIST!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF DAY

2011-12-12T07:14:00.000-05:00

"And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." ( Acts 7:60 )

My friends , as Stephen died ( "fell asleep" ) , he spoke words very similar to those of Jesus as He died on the cross ( Luke 23:34 ). For telling others the Good News of Jesus' death , burial , and resurrection the members of the early church were persecuted. Sometimes , as in the case of Stephen ( being stoned ) , they were even put to death. Christ had promised His followers that living for Him would lead to trouble ( see Luke 21:12-19 ). This is STILL true! If we boldly live out our faith , the light of our lives will expose the sinfulness of others. Our words of truth will pierce their souls. Some will be convicted and yield to the leading of the Spirit. Others will become angry and hardened in their hatred of the TRUTH! As Jesus said , "But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me" ( John 15:21 ). We shouldn't be surprised or abandon our faith when we are persecuted.

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-11T07:11:00.000-05:00

"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God." ( Psalm 43:3-4 )

My friends , The "holy hill" is Mount Zion , in Jerusalem , the city that David named as Israel's capital. The Temple was built on this hill as the place for the people to meet God in worship and prayer.

The psalm writer asked God to send His light and truth to guide him to the Temple , where he would meet God. God's truth ( see 1 John 2:27 ) provides the right path to follow , and God's light ( see 1 John 1:5 ) provides the clear vision to follow it. If you feel surrounded by darkness and uncertainty , follow God's light and truth back to HIM!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-10T08:13:00.000-05:00

"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." ( 1 John 4:6 )

My friends , false teachers are popular with the world because , like the false prophets of the Old Testament , they tell people what they want to hear. John warns that Christians who faithfully - and TRUTHFULLY , teach God's Word , will not win any popularity contests in the world. People don't want to hear their sins denounced ; they don't want to listen to demands that they change their behavior. You can tell a false teacher if he is well received by non-Christians who never are won to Christ!

VERSE AND COMMENTARY OF THE DAY

2011-12-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

"Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness." ( Psalm 95:8 )

My friends , a hardened heart is as useless as a hardened lump of clay or a hardened loaf of bread. Nothing can restore it and make it useful. The writer warns against hardening our hearts as Israel did in the wilderness by continuing to resist God's will ( Ex. 17:7 ). The Israelites had been so convinced that God couldn't deliver them that they simply lost their faith in Him. When someone's heart becomes hardened , that person is so stubbornly set in his ways that he cannot turn to God. This does not happen all at once ; it is the result of a series of choices to disregard God's will. If you resist God long enough , He may cast you aside like hardened bread , useless and worthless!