Eternal Revelation
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Book of Deuteronomy, God, Judaism, Mount Sinai, Pentecost, Shavuot, Torah
“Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.”— Deuteronomy 16:9–10
Isn’t it strange that the Bible gives us the date of every single holiday on the calendar except for one? And it’s the holiday that celebrates one of the most important events in human history! The Festival of Weeks, Shavuot or Pentecost, is associated with the giving of the Torah and the revelation of God at Mount Sinai, and yet neither the date of revelation, nor the precise date of the holiday is written in the Scriptures.
All we are told is that the festival occurs seven weeks from the time that we “put the sickle to the standing grain.” In addition, no one knows for sure where this momentous event occurred. Different theories abound, but God has made it so that no one can point to the precise location of Mount Sinai with complete certainty. All we know is that this great event happened somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, sometime in spring.
Why all the vagueness?
What we don’t know tells us a lot. The details that are absent from the story of the revelation point to a profound truth about the Torah: it is absolutely and unequivocally eternal. There is no date given because the Word of God is beyond time. It was, is, and always will be true. There is no time period, no season, and not even a single day during which the words of the Bible are not binding.
The location of the revelation is unknown because God’s Word is also beyond space. It is not confined to any single location. It holds true in every corner of the earth and is accessible no matter where you may be on the planet. By deliberately leaving us without the exact knowledge of where and when revelation took place, God is telling us that exactly where and when are irrelevant.
We can also learn from the only piece of information that we are given. What we do know is that the Torah was given in the desert. Had the Torah been given in a lush, bountiful land, we could have argued that keeping it was dependent upon easy circumstances. The Torah was given in a desert, a place known for harsh conditions and scarcity, in order to teach us that there are no conditions under which God’s Word does not apply.
No matter where you are or what your circumstances may be, God has a message for you right now. Pick up the Scriptures and study them daily. You will find that in some small way, the great revelation of long ago is still occurring today.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/eternal-revelation
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Southern Baptist Leader Condemns NC Pastors’ Anti-Gay Remarks By Katherine Weber
26 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Christian Post Tags: Baptist, Bible, God, North Carolina, Sean Harris, Southern Baptist Convention, Worley, YouTube
A strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) issued a statement this week condemning the recent comments made by two pastors, both of North Carolina, regarding homosexuality.
Bob Stith, Southern Baptist Convention’s national strategist for gender issues, clearly identified the pastors as belonging to independent Baptist churches which are unaffiliated with the SBC in his Wednesday statement, published by the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
“From the video clips it would appear that both men lead fairly large churches. I wonder how many people in those congregations were gripped with the fear that their personal struggle might be discovered,” Stith wrote.
“And how many have loved ones involved in homosexuality? I wonder about the loneliness and isolation they must have experienced, knowing they could never share those burdens,” he added.
Stith is referring to two separate incidences, the first occurring from an early May sermon by Pastor Sean Harris of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., and the second from a more recent sermon from Charles Worley, pastor of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, N.C.
In a sermon leading up to North Carolina’s mid-May vote on same-sex marriage, Harris told congregants that if their sons start acting effeminate, they should use physical force to adjust their behavior.
“The second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist,” Harris said in the sermon, as posted in a viral video on YouTube. “Man up! Give him a good punch, OK? ‘You’re not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male,’” he added, advising fathers on what they should say to their sons.
Harris apologized shortly after his sermon went viral online, saying that although he did not choose the best words, he was trying to convey the ultimate message that homosexuality is not what God intended for mankind.
“Those were not the best choice of words. If I had to do it over again I would not choose those words. I was using hyperbole in an effort to communicate the importance of the gender distinctions that God created,” he said.
“I would offer an apology to anyone I have offended. I don’t make an apology for those gender distinctions that are the Word of God,” he added.
In his sermon on May 13, Charles Worley said that homosexuals should be rounded up into an electric fence and left eventually to die.
“Build a great big large fence 50 or 100 miles long,” Worley said, according to the viral YouTube video of his sermon.
“Put all the lesbians in there. Fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals. Have that fence electrified so they can’t get out. You know what, in a few years, they’ll die out. You know why? They can’t reproduce,” he added.
Worley has not apologized for his comments, and many of his congregants have come forward in support of his controversial statements.
“He had every right to say what he said about putting them in a pen and giving them food,” congregant Geneva Sims, told WCNC.com, adding, “The Bible says they are worthy of death. He is preaching God’s Word.”
Sims added that she has been listening to Worley’s sermons since the 1970s. In a 1978 sermon, Worley referenced lynching when speaking on homosexuals, as the New York Daily News reported the sermon’s audio clip.
Stith, who has been head of the SBC’s gender issues department since 2007, noted the irony in Worley’s remarks.
“Ironically, one pastor seemed to be arguing for a genetic causation. How else to explain his statement that the death of all homosexuals in one generation would eliminate future struggles with homosexuality? Even the American Psychological Association no longer argues for strict genetic causation. The sad truth is that the attitudes reflected in these comments are far more likely to exacerbate problems than to help them.”
Ultimately, the SBC leader said, the extremeness of these pastors’ comments “stand as reminders to us – not only pastors, but all believers – that above all else we must represent the heart of Christ.”
His goal is to help Christians “develop compassionate hearts for those who struggle and their families.”
Stith also seeks to remind pastors that in this digital age, all they say in church may end up going viral on the Internet “within minutes.”
“Paul says, ‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt’ (Colossians 4:6). Will your words meet that standard? Will they hold out hope to anyone in bondage? Will they bring honor to Christ?” Stith concluded.
The SBC holds the position that “homosexuality is not a ‘valid alternative lifestyle.’ The Bible condemns it as sin. It is not, however, unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ.”
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The Great Race
26 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Joe Stowell Tags: Bible, First Epistle to the Corinthians, God, Jesus, Paul, race, Timothy, United States
“Run in such a way as to get the prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24
The month of June brings many sure signs of summer: the sweet smell of cut grass, soft breezes, picnics, fireflies, thunderstorms—and runners. This unique breed of humanity, forced to run circles in cramped indoor quarters during the North American winter, emerges with the first hint of spring and spends the summer dashing through neighborhoods and parks.
I have nothing against runners. Some of my best friends are addicted runners. Though I have never seen a runner smiling, apparently there is something fulfilling about it. I even tried it once, waiting for that surge of ecstasy that my friends told me I would experience, only to find that the ecstasy came when I stopped running!
So, whatever you think about running, it’s important to note that the Bible often speaks of living the Christian life as if it we were running a race. Following Jesus is clearly more than a leisurely stroll in the park! And the issue is not whether you will run the race. When you became His follower, you were put in the race. The question is not will you run, but how will you run?
So, here are three keys to running well.
First, stay in shape! I like Paul’s perspective in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” In other words, you need to be in it to win, and, like any race, winning requires discipline. As spiritual runners, we must discipline ourselves in the exercise and dietary habits of prayer and reading God’s Word. Drinking at the fountain of prayer and digesting the food of God’s Word gives us strength and motivation to run and win.
Secondly, obey the rules! Like all races, running to win means staying in the boundaries. Paul committed himself to living his life by God’s rules. He did not want to be “disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:27). As good runners, we embrace the rules and gladly submit to them.
Thirdly, run light! As Hebrews 12:1 instructs us, we are to lay aside every hindering weight and the sin that so easily besets us. What is it that distracts you and what is the sin that slows you down? Take them off and run light!
And finally, a couple more tips. Hebrews 12:1 also tells us to be willing to persevere. Our race is more than a few laps around the track—it’s a long-distance marathon. And let’s face it, this marathon can be stressful. Sometimes it’s the wind of life blowing against us—or mud kicked in our face from the runner in front of us. But whatever the case, runners that win never give up!
And keep your eyes on the finish line. Jesus is there! When you run for the honor and glory of His name, He reaches out with the victor’s crown and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
In my book, that’s worth running for!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Would you say that you are running “aimlessly,” or are you competing for the “crown that will last forever”?
- Read Hebrews 12:1-3. What things hinder and entangle you, and how do you intend to throw them off? What does Paul say to do so that you will not “grow weary and lose heart”?
- In Paul’s parting words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, he says that he is not the only one who will be awarded by the Lord. How does that encourage you to keep running for the prize?
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Read God’s Word–Every Day
25 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Encouraging Word Tags: Bible, God, God's Word Translation, Jesu, New King James Version, New Testament, Satan, Scripture
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Ro10:17
If you are wise, when God talks you’ll listen. And He will talk to you through the Bible. The reason the Bible has outsold every other book is because it is God’s Word on the issue. It takes approximately fifty-six hours to read the Bible through. If you read forty chapters a day you would complete the Bible within a month. If you read nine chapters of the New Testament each day you would complete it within thirty days. But you must read it systematically, regularly, and expectantly. When Satan attacked Him in the wilderness, Jesus quoted the Scriptures to him. That’s why the Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:11). The book of Proverbs has thirtyone chapters. Here’s an idea. Since there are thirty-one days in most months, why not read a chapter of this wisdom book every day. Can you imagine what you’d learn? The Word of God will build your faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Your faith grows when you hear God speak, and it works when you do what He says. If you struggle to lead a victorious Christian life, read these words carefully: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (v. 9 NKJV). The solution to every problem you face is contained in Scripture. To be wise you must study it. To be strong in faith you must believe it. To be successful in life you must practice it.
http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/read-gods-word-every-day/
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Put A Lid On It
24 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Joe Stowell Tags: Anger, Bible, Epistle to the Ephesians, God, holyspirit, Jesu, Lord, Sin
“In your anger do not sin.” Ephesians 4:26
Now that the weather is getting warmer, it will be my job to barbecue the hamburgers, or steaks if I’m fortunate! Over the years I have learned, through trial and error, how to regulate the heat on the grill so that the meat is properly cooked. If I waited until the coals were too hot, they would reach a point where I couldn’t keep the fire under control—and sure enough, everything would be charred to a crisp. My solution to this problem was to buy a grill with a lid on it. Closing the lid while the food was cooking reduced the oxygen flow and transformed the flames into a constructive, controlled heat. The outcome was tender, flavorful char-grilled food for everyone to enjoy!
Like barbecuing, we have the ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to put a lid on our anger so that it can become a productive force in our lives. Anger does not have to rage untended in our souls until it scorches everything and everybody nearby.
I find it important to note in our text that anger in itself is not a sin. The Bible says, “In your anger do not sin.” Anger alerts us that something has gone wrong. It’s a sign that we have suffered an injustice, or that someone has been treated unfairly. You can’t keep anger from happening but you can make sure that it doesn’t do collateral damage. If we are not careful, anger easily ignites other destructive sins.
So how do we keep the energy of our anger from bringing sin into our lives? One of the keys is to be slow to anger. The Bible tells us that God Himself experiences anger, but it also says He is slow to anger. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
As we follow God’s example, being slow to anger will give us time to prayerfully evaluate the emotion. We might ask the Lord to show us if our emotion is really justified, or if we have done anything to contribute to the situation that has caused the anger in the first place. Slowing down gives us time to ask ourselves: “Do I have all the facts?” and “In the long run is this situation even worth my anger?” And time enough to ask, “What could I do to be a part of the solution by showing God’s patience, love, and compassion?”
It’s all about counting to 10—in a spiritual sort of way!
The combination of prayer and a bit of contemplation will empower us to redirect our anger to positive outcomes. It’s all about keeping the lid on the flames before you ruin someone’s dinner!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Use the counting to 10 routine to take 10 seconds to pray!
- The next time you’re able to resist a sinful response to anger, spend time journaling about the experience. How did you feel as a result of choosing righteousness? What impact did your choice have on those around you?
- Unresolved anger is the root of many sins such as hatred, slander, and revenge. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas of residual anger; then take the necessary steps to free yourself from that pitfall.
The Right Delight
24 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Book of Esther, Esther, Ezra, God, Haman, Jew, Nehemiah
“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.” — Nehemiah 8:12
Rebecca just got promoted at work. As soon as she leaves the office with her new paycheck, her first stop is the car dealership down the block. She drives away with a brand new car.
Tom just celebrated a milestone birthday. In honor of the occasion he drives over to the jewelry store and buys himself a snazzy, new watch.
These stories sound familiar to most of us, and chances are that most of us either have done something like this, or know others who have. And in fact, there’s nothing wrong with these actions. People certainly are entitled to mark happy occasions with personal celebrations. Turning to the Bible, however, we see that perhaps there is an additional component to celebration that we might have overlooked.
In the wake of Ezra the Scribe’s success in reviewing the Bible’s teachings with the large crowds that had gathered, the people declared a holiday marking their spiritual achievements. Strikingly, the resultant revelry was marked by people sending to others less fortunate “portions of food” (in Hebrew, manot) as gifts.
This recalls a similar mass act of giving recorded in the Book of Esther, where we are told that in commemoration of God’s salvation of the Jewish people from the hands of the evil Haman, the Jews of Persia sent “presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor” (Esther 9:22).
In both of these examples, we find a celebration of thanksgiving marked not just by self-indulgence, but also by a desire to ensure that one’s neighbors and friends – as well as those in need – are included in the joyous occasion. Indeed, what more appropriate reaction to God’s abundant kindnesses could there be than to share the bounty of His goodness with others who have less than we do?
Over the course of our lives we all hopefully have the chance to experience success or joy, even if only small or fleeting. When we do, let us remember these biblical examples and share our happiness with others. And in turn – and perhaps more importantly – let us commit to rejoicing with our fellows – our coworkers, spouses, children, next-door-neighbors – when they succeed.
For after all, as we learn from the books of Nehemiah and Esther, when we spread happiness and good tidings with others, we are engaged in the truest form of gratitude to and worship of the Almighty.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/the-right-delight
Atheist Richard Dawkins Supports Bibles in Schools By Jeff Schapiro
23 May 2012 1 Comment
in The Christian Post Tags: Authorized King James Version, Bible, Christianity, King James Bible, Michael Gove, National Secular Society, Richard Dawkins, Terry Sanderson
World-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins says he supports the mission of England’s Department for Education to make sure every public school in the nation has a copy of the 1611 translation of the King James Bible.
“A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian,” said Dawkins in a column he wrote for The Guardian.
The author and evolutionary biologist even went as far as to say he would have donated to the cause had he been given the opportunity to do so.
The books are being distributed to the schools in celebration of the translation’s 400th anniversary. The plan is being spearheaded by education secretary Michael Gove, who wrote the letter that is being included with each of the Bibles. While some have enthusiastically supported Gove’s goal, others say it is unfair to people who hold to beliefs other than Christianity.
“This is not simply another piece of literature, it is the holy scripture of one particular religion,” Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said in a statement. “Is it really the job of the Government to be promoting one particular religion in schools that are increasingly multi-faith?”
But Dawkins is backing the distribution plan, albeit with an “ulterior motive.”
“I have an ulterior motive for wishing to contribute to Gove’s scheme,” he wrote. “People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality … I have even heard the cynically misanthropic opinion that, without the Bible as a moral compass, people would have no restraint against murder, theft and mayhem. The surest way to disabuse yourself of this pernicious falsehood is to read the Bible itself.”
He shared a study conducted by The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science in which only 35 percent of self-identified British Christians accurately identified Matthew as the first book of the New Testament. Among those surveyed, 39 percent said they “don’t know” which book is comes first.
He noted that many of the bloody events and wars in English history were the result of religious clashes, and argued that if people would read the Bible they would not see it as a moral guide.
The estimated cost of providing a total of nearly 24,000 Bibles to all of the nation’s state-funded primary and secondary schools is £375,000 (approximately $592,000), and the project was funded by charitable donations. The Department for Education says the Bible’s impact on history and today’s culture alike makes it a worthwhile addition to any public school’s collection.
“The story of the King James Bible can help children – of all faiths and none – better understand its place in our nation’s identity and history, and appreciate its influence on our language, literature, democracy and culture,” the department stated last week.
Distribution of the Bible’s began on May 14, and all the schools should receive them by the end of this month.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-richard-dawkins-supports-bibles-in-schools-75290/
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Compete Or Converge
23 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Joe Stowell Tags: Bible, Boaz, David, God, Jesse, Jesus, Obed, Ruth
“[Ruth] bore a son. . . . They called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:13,17
Walking through campus one day, a seminary professor came upon a custodian reading the Bible during lunch hour. The professor asked what he was reading. “Revelation,” the custodian said. “I’m sure you don’t understand what it means,” said the professor condescendingly. “Actually, I do,” he replied. “It means Jesus wins.”
In the face of life’s challenges, it’s important to remember that ultimately God always wins! And since His plans are always in the victory lane, it’s infinitely wiser to converge with His will rather than compete with it.
In the story of Ruth, God providentially set the stage for Boaz to rescue Ruth and Naomi from a life of poverty and the shame of not having an heir. Ruth could have been bitter about her status as a young widow, and Boaz might have thought that as a foreigner Ruth was not worth his time. But they recognized the hand of God in their circumstances and converged with His plan to provide for her needs. The best part is that their story doesn’t end there. Salvation for the world was yet to come through their descendants—first David and then Jesus (Matt. 1:5-16).
We can compete with God’s plan and pursue our own agenda. Or we can converge with God’s plan and join the winning side. The choice is ours.
Choose not a path that God can’t bless, For it will end in sure defeat; But choose God’s path of victory And with His plans you won’t compete. —D. De Haan
God’s plans always lead to victory.
Teach Your Children
23 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Ezra, Israel, Jerusalem, Levite, Moses, Nehemiah, Torah
“The Levites . . . instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” — Nehemiah 8:7-8
With the success of Nehemiah’s persistent campaign to rebuild Jerusalem and return the exiled Jews to their ancestral towns and villages in Israel, Ezra the Scribe – along with his fellow priests, Levites, and Nehemiah himself – embarked on a companion project: the renewal of Israel’s spiritual health through studying Scripture.
This national revival commenced with the public reading of the Books of Moses. In order to facilitate understanding of the Biblical text, Ezra arranged for the Levites to clarify the words’ meaning, thereby allowing each person present at the public reading to understand what was being read.
An ancient Talmudic interpretation explains the various clauses in Nehemiah 8:8 – which describes the Levites’ efforts to explain the Biblical text – as referring to the way in which the Torah is studied and read even today.
In other words, Ezra and his companions did not aid the Jewish people in understanding the Bible merely on a one-time basis. Instead, they took the opportunity of widespread interest in the Holy Scripture to develop a method for understanding and studying the Bible that would stand the test of time. For they knew that the divine values inherent in every word, every syllable, every letter of the biblical text are crucial for the existence of a moral society in any age, not just their own.
Our own generation has borne witness to an increase in accessibility to the text of the Bible the likes of which our ancestors could only have dreamed. The Bible has been translated into over two thousand languages; commentaries and other resources for understanding and discussing the Bible can be accessed on the Internet at the click of a button, or else in public libraries, or bookstores across the world. Never before in world history has it been easier for the average person to engage seriously with the Living Word of God.
We therefore have before us a mission – a momentous responsibility. If we wish to see the ethical heritage of the Bible preserved in the modern world – a world that so desperately needs it – we must renew our own commitment to reading, studying and living Scripture. We must resolve to be students, and perhaps even teachers of the Almighty’s Word.
As we do so, we become part of the ancient project that began with Ezra and Nehemiah themselves.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/teach-your-children
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Shake it Out, Baby!
22 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Christianity, God, Hebrew language, Israelites, Jerusalem, Nehemiah, Religion and Spirituality
“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, ‘In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!’ At this the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.” —Nehemiah 5:13
“It was an act of God . . .”
Often uttered in hushed, apologetic tones, these words evoke images of destruction wrought by the forces of nature – a tornado, or a wildfire. Indeed, the modern mind conceives of divine punishment in almost entirely catastrophic terms. One imagines the fiery fate of Sodom and Gomorrah – an exclamation point at the end of a harsh, divine admonishment.
In light of such preconceived notions, Nehemiah’s metaphorical illustration of the threat of God’s wrath seems inaccurate, even clumsy. In exhorting his countrymen to cease oppressing the destitute among them, Nehemiah characterizes the act of divine retribution as akin to shaking out a dirty garment. Of all the analogies Nehemiah might have selected, why on earth did he opt for this one? If Nehemiah had at his disposal fire, brimstone, plague or famine, why choose the rather mundane act of shaking out one’s clothing of dust or crumbs?
Perhaps the answer lies in a closer look at Nehemiah’s metaphor. When, generally, do we shake out a piece of clothing? Just prior to throwing it away? Of course not! The only reason we shake out the dirt and dust is to clear our clothing of clutter that has built up over time, so that we can wear it and use it again. In other words, the act of shaking out an item – in Hebrew, “ni’ur” – represents the initial step of preparation to make use of it once more.
Likewise, when God chastises His people, His wrath may be terrible to behold, but it is hardly final. On the contrary, when we misbehave, God wishes to help us repent, to help erase our sins and begin from scratch. The ills we suffer grant us an opportunity to start fresh – to serve God once again. Just as a tablecloth at the end of a meal – soiled and spent – may be rendered good as new through the process of ni’ur, so too, Nehemiah reminds us, does mankind benefit even from divine punishment.
Our task then is to examine any ill fortune that befalls us and ask ourselves: Has God deemed it necessary to “shake us out”? And if He has, how might we ensure that we make the most of our being good as new?
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/shake-it-out-baby
