What Does The Future Hold?

As we prepare to close one year and open another, it is a good time to realize we have only a few more years here on Earth until Christ returns. When you consider how close we are to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth, it should make the start of each year more exciting than the previous one.

Everyone has a theory, or at least an idea, about when Jesus is to return. When Jesus left, the angels declared Jesus would return.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:10-11

We were given a glimpse into the future in several passages, but the passage I like the best about the coming of the Lord is found in 2Thessolonians 2.

Let’s take a closer look at verses 1-12 and see what is soon to happen.

2Thessolonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

The coming of our Lord is His second coming when He actually touches His feet on the Earth again. Prior to that event there is a gathering of the church out of the earth before the tribulation.

Check the book of Revelation. Where do you find the church? From chapter 4 until chapter 22:16 the church is not mentioned. Why? We are not here. We have been gathered out.

Our gathering together unto Him is the event depicted in 1Thessolonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessolonians 4:16-17

The fact that we are reading the newspaper before it happens should not scare us, as we are encouraged in the next verse:

2Thessolonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Jesus’ return to earth, when He actually touches the Earth, will not happen until there is an anti-revival. There will be the form of religion but people will actually be moving away from the true Christ. People will be teaching others to know about God without knowing God.

The second event to happen before Jesus returns to Earth is that the Beast (the man of sin) is revealed. At a particular point in time the Beast will be revealed as the one world ruler. The ruler of the one world government will also rule the one world religion.

Buddhists will see him as the reincarnation of Buddha.
http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=7018

Islam will see him as the 12th Imam.
http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/12thimam.html

Jews will see him as the messiah and the “Christians” (who are not true Christians but only in name) will see this beast as the returned Jesus.

2Thessolonians 2:3 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;
2Thessolonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Notice that this beast will be sitting in the temple of God. There isn’t a temple today, but there are plans for one.

When it comes to looking for the return of Jesus, I like to look for the return of the third Temple. The building of the third temple will be after the gathering (rapture) of the church so the closer the temple gets, the gathering of the church to Christ is even closer.

Here are some sites I like to watch for this event:

http://www.jewishmag.com/16MAG/TEMPLE/temple.htm
“It is, therefore, worth dedicating a few minutes to consider how the Temple relates to us today. By this, we mean, of course, the Third Temple, whose re-building and long-awaited presence will usher in the Messianic Era.”

http://www.templemountfaithful.org/
“…the home page of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement. The goal of the Temple Mount Faithful is the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in our lifetime in accordance with the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation of the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name of G-d.”

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24662
“In what could trigger further violence between Jews and Palestinians, an Israeli organization says it has rescheduled earlier plans to "lay and anoint" the cornerstones for the "Third Temple of Israel."”

http://www.thirdtemple.com/photogallery.htm
Third Temple Photo Gallery

http://www.templemount.org/
http://www.templemount.org/tempprep.html
Preparations for a Third Jewish Temple

http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/
This website is about the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin.

http://www.templeinstitute.org/
http://www.templeinstitute.org/events.htm
“In these days leading up to the celebration of Chanukah - the rededication of the Holy Temple in the days of the Maccabees, The Temple Institute is pleased to unveil two new exciting projects: the construction of a new, state-of-the-art kior - brass laver, and the building of King David's Lyre.”

We are living in exciting times!

Just remember, while the Holy Spirit is here, He is holding back the evil that can not have full power until He is taken out of the way. Since we are sealed with the Holy Spirit – His removal is when we will be leaving to meet the Lord in the air.

2Thessolonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Thessolonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Thessolonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

After this, the beast will finally be revealed for the Antichrist he really is:

2Thessolonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Thessolonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Those who currently are not Christians and have heard the word of the truth, can only come to Christ before this event. After this event they are doomed to receive the recompense of their decision.

This takes care of anyone who says they will wait until after the Lord returns to receive Him as Savior. If you wait – you will loose the opportunity.

Every person refusing Christ now, left behind after the gathering, will be forever dammed.

2Thessolonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Thessolonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Thessolonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now is the time we need to get busy and win as many as possible to the Lord. Time is passing faster than we choose to believe it. Let us not grow weary in well doing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Is Heaven a Real Place?

Is Heaven a place or a relationship? Are there physical aspects to heaven or is it all metaphysical and allegorical? Is heaven a place we can touch?

Here are a few quotes from some wrong sources:

“Fundamentally, heaven is not a place at all. It is our definitive relationship with God, just as hell is the eternal severing of that relationship. 'Heaven' is where God is; and to be with God is to be 'in heaven'.”

“Thus, heaven is not a place, but "spirit." Heaven is not up or down, because Jesus was saying in Luke 17:20-21 that one cannot see heaven...it is not a physical place.”

“We talk about dying and “going to” heaven, as if we hop on a bus and ride from Point A to Point B. It may be that we better understand heaven as “the presence of the Lord, (Job 1:12)”.”

I have heard these claims myself. But I can assure you, there is a Heaven. It is a real, tangible place as much as St. Louis or Springfield. There is ample evidence in Scripture to support my view. We learn in Scripture about various places called heaven:

There is the first heaven, the atmosphere, where birds fly and clouds gather:

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. Genesis 1:7-8

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Genesis 1:20

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 1Kings 18:44-45

Next is the second heaven, the stratosphere, where the Sun, Moon, and Stars are located:

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, Genesis 1:14-17

Finally there is the third heaven, the place of the Lord’s Throne:

The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. Psalm 11:4

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Matthew 5:34

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Matthew 23:22

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Revelation 16:17

The concept of multiple heavens is not unusual to the Scriptures:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Deuteronomy 10:14

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2Corinthians 12:2

People are often confused between “Heaven” and “Kingdom of Heaven”. This confusion is not necessary. The Third Heaven contains the Throne of God. God, as The King Eternal, is ruler over His Kingdom.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

This Kingdom is referred to as either the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

We become a part of this Kingdom when we acknowledge our sin and we humble ourselves and receive the payment for our sin made by Christ on the cross. We then are members of the Kingdom upon Salvation. Joining the Kingdom of Heaven does not mean we have gone to Heaven.

Heaven, the third heaven, is an actual place. God’s Throne is not just a symbol of God’s judgment, but it is a actual, tangible, throne located in a specific location. The Throne of God is located in the Temple of Heaven.

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Revelation 16:17

We are given a better picture of heaven when we look at what Lucifer tried to do:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15

In the north side (yes, there is north, south, east, and west in heaven) of the mount of the congregation (there are mountains too) Lucifer wanted to enter the Temple and assume the power and authority of the Throne of God. He failed. Even after his failure, he still stands before the Throne to give audience to the King as recorded in Job:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Job 1:6

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 2:1 -2

There is evidence too we are going to heaven:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. Revelation 19:1 -5

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 2Corinthians 5:1-4

Heaven is a real place. In the future, we will be able to walk its width and breadth in our glorified body. This is the reality of Scripture.

Until Next Time, Keep Studying The Scriptures.

Fighting Demons with Daisies

Recently, we as Christians have been threatening, and employing, boycotts as weapons to bring about moral change. Not only are we aiming at the wrong target, but we are using the wrong weapons as well.

Corporate policies will only really change when the hearts of the owners have been transformed by the power of Christ. The hearts of the owners will be won to Christ by the power of God and our use of the spiritual weapons He has given.

As long as there have been businesses selling things, and consumers buying things, there has always been the opportunity for the consumer to punish the business with their purchasing power. This power has been used, from time to time, to change the direction of corporate policy and corporate behavior.

Personally, I avoid any movie made by Martin Scorsese. His movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ” repulsed me so much that I stay away from anything upon which he puts his name. I also do not watch any program, or movie, with Adam Sandler in it because I have found him to be a vile, nasty, anti-Christian actor. He reminds me of all the vile filth that stands against God.

I do not avoid them, however, because I am trying to bring economic ruin upon them. I know they will live just fine without my money. I do not buy from them for the same reason I don’t buy candy at a liquor store, and I don’t go into a porn store to find a newspaper, or for any reason. The liquor store and the smut shops will have to survive without me. The main reason I don’t go there is because the environment repulses me.

With this understanding in mind, I ask this question: Who made the economic boycott a weapon of spiritual warfare? What Scripture tells us to wage spiritual war by the use of the dollar? What true, lasting benefit to the Kingdom of God will come from any boycott?

To my knowledge the Jews in the Old Testament never boycotted anyone. In the New Testament, people bought meat offered to idols from the shambles. Paul never instituted a boycott against the shambles. Paul never boycotted Alexander the Coppersmith. Alexander became angered because people stopped buying idols. If Alexander made candle holders or copper trays, he probably would have still made a good income.

I understand the need for good stewardship in the use of our money, but what can you buy that has absolutely no profit for the pagans? When you purchase a car, you either purchase from a supporter of homosexuals, or a follower of Shinto. Do we forgo medication because the drug company owners are not Christians? Are every one of your doctors Christian? Of course not.

I have an idea, make a list of all the companies completely owned by Christians and produce a product completely made by Christians. Now buy from only the companies and products found on your list. What would you have to do without? Almost everything.

When we use the wrong weapons we lose the tactical advantage of the right weapons God designed for our warfare. God gave us specially designed weapons to fight this spiritual battle, and those weapons have nothing to do with the physical world around us.

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2Corinthians 10:4-6

What are our weapons? Removing pride, bringing every thought into obeying Christ, and putting on the whole Armor of God.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

You want real spiritual power? Live a holy, pure life. Pray and fast. Give generously to those who can not pay you back. Live with the courage to judge sin and show compassion to the sinner. Live a disciplined life of moderation. Evangelize. Forgive others the way you want God to forgive you. Serve. Be kind. Then rebuke, reprove, and exhort with all longsuffering and patience. These are the real sources of spiritual power.

When we try to use an economic boycott to transform the heart of a company, or an individual, we end up with the same results as fighting demons with daisies.

What About Drinking Alcohol?

For the Christian, drinking alcohol is only permitted as a medication, and then only when necessary.

Jesus did not drink, Timothy did not drink, and we are not to drink either.

How do we know Jesus did not drink? The Bible says so.

First, remember who Jesus is: He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Our Great High Priest, Prince of Peace, The Holy One, Mighty God, The God-Man, and The Pure Lamb of God.

Jesus is perfect – always was, always will be.

As the King of Kings, and Prince of Peace Jesus was bound by:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” Proverbs 31:4

As the Mighty God – Man, Jesus was bound by:

“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:” Isaiah 5:22

As the All Wise God, Jesus was bound by:

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1

As our Great High Priest, Jesus was bound by:

“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:” Leviticus 10:8-9

As the Holy One and the Pure Lamb of God:

“And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” Leviticus 10:10-11

Look how Jesus is described in this office of Great High Priest from Hebrews:

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26

As our Great High Priest, Jesus would also be bound by:

“Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.”
Ezekiel 44:21

Why?

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

Jesus is not the only bound by the Leviticus law for the priests. We are a priesthood of believers:

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

We are commanded to be holy.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

As a Priest in the Kingdom of God we are required to abstain from all alcoholic beverages. Timothy understood this requirement. Timothy did not drink alcohol. No wine. No mingled wine. No strong drink.

Timothy even refused to drink wine when there was a medical necessity. That is why Paul had to tell him:

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23

Paul told him to use wine, but only permitted its use for medicinal purposes. Is there a reason Paul did not open the issue any further than he did? Yes. Paul did not support recreational drinking.

Here are further instructions:

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Proverbs 23:29-30

That was the observation – Here’s the command:

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright." Proverbs 23: 31

The command is don’t even look at wine with desire. Why?

"At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." Proverbs 23:32-35

Are Christians permitted to drink socially or recreationally? No.

The miracle at Cana, Jesus being called a wine-bibber, and the fact that the general population of Israel drank intoxicating drinks can not change the facts presented above.

Since Scripture does not contradict itself, those events must be understood in light of these laws and not in ignorance of them.

Don’t Drink. Until Next Time: Keep Studying the Scriptures.

The Good Undershepherd

Once upon a time there was a shepherd. He was called an Undershepherd because he did not own the sheep, he reported to the Great Shepherd who owned the sheep. The Undershepherd did not work alone; he worked with other Undershepherds who also cared for the sheep. They all loved the sheep very much and they all worked very hard to take good care of them.

To make sure the job was done right, the Great Shepherd wrote out His instructions. He taught them exactly what to feed, and how to care for, the sheep. The Great Shepherd held his Undershepherds accountable for following His orders and delivered to them rewards or punishment based upon their performance.

The Undershepherd worked hard to memorize and follow the Great Shepherd’s instructions. There were the ordinary problems associated with caring for sheep. The sheep got sick, the sheep strayed, and the sheep were sometimes stubborn and did not want to go where they should. There was one more thing that was a danger to the sheep – wolves.

The Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to feed the sheep a strict diet of grass, grain, and water. The Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to keep the sheep moving toward the Kingdom. And the Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to teach the sheep to recognize wolves and stay away from them.

The weird thing about these sheep was, they wanted to decide which orders their Undershepherds were to follow. They also wanted to decide which orders were to be taught to them.

The sheep liked to know where to eat the best grass, grain, and water. The sheep liked to hear about the Kingdom and what was waiting for them at the end of the trail. But the sheep became mad and irritated when the Undershepherd tried to teach the sheep about the danger of wolves, how to recognize wolves, or to stay away from wolves.

Do sheep need to learn about wolves? Do sheep need to recognize danger from wolves in sheep’s clothing? Should the Undersheperd obey the sheep or the Great Shepherd?

When Does Life Begin - Simplified

I recently received this comment:

So, you never actually took a stand... When does life begin? Conception? When the heart beats? When the brain has activity? Just wondering, since you never really stated.

I never stated, but the Scriptures did. Life begins before the heartbeat, before brain activity and even before movement.

Psalm 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Life begins at “substance” when the human is yet incomplete.

I guess it would be considered conception, whether naturally or by SCNT, the result is the same – growth and maturity. If either is implanted into a womb the result will be a baby.

The point is, either way, the baby is a human long before it breaths air.

Is that any clearer?

When Does Life Begin?

Stem cell talk is everywhere. I want to approach this topic from another perspective. When does the Bible say life begins.

For those of you who don’t know – Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is when the egg of a female has it’s nucleus (the yolk of a chicken egg) removed and replaced with the nucleus of another like being.

For a human, the egg is taken from a woman. The nucleus of the egg is removed. The complete nucleus from another person is transferred to the egg. The now completed egg is stimulated to grow. If this SCNT egg is placed inside a woman’s womb – it produces a baby.

The supporters of SCNT do not place this completed egg back into the woman. Instead they incubate the egg while it divides and at some point in time (about 200 cells old) they tear apart the developing egg and inject them into an ailing person as a treatment.

You can read more about this at webmd:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/90/100668.htm

Stem cell research is one thing. Cloning human babies is another. Yet the two issues are so mixed up, we risk the worst of both worlds.
There are all kinds of stem cells. But the ones from which we can learn the most are the cells that make up an early human embryo. They're formed in the first 14 days after a human egg is fertilized by sperm or when a human egg has its own DNA replaced by DNA from an adult cell.
Scientists call this latter technique somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT. It's also the first step in cloning.


Another site to read is PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/stemcells.html

One way to do this might be to combine Thomson's stem cell work with the cloning technology developed by Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at the Roslin Institute. (In 1997, Wilmut and his team announced the birth of the cloned sheep Dolly, the first mammal cloned from the cell of an adult animal.) A somatic cell could be taken from the recipient individual, its nucleus inserted into an enucleated egg cell that is stimulated to begin dividing, and the resulting blastocyst-stage embryo then disaggregated to produce a histocompatible pluripotent stem cell line.

So far, everyone agrees how SCNT is done and what happens. Where they disagree is when is it considered living.

According to the supporters of this “therapy” life begins when the baby takes it’s first breath. If it has not breathed air– it is not a baby.

What does the Bible say?

Psalms 139:13-18
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Human life begins long before the child starts breathing.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

A bone is still a bone even while being formed in the womb.

Luke 1:39-44
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

According to Scripture, Life begins before breathing.

It is morally wrong to intentionally take the life of one person to hopefully improve the life of another.

If you live in Missouri and you voted yes on Amendment 2, you are an accomplice to the murder of human life.

If you live in Missouri and you did not vote on Amendment 2, you are also an accomplice to the murder of human life. (If you don’t understand how not voting is really a vote, read the principle in action in Numbers 30:1-16.)

We will reap what we have sown. Work now to REPEAL AMENDMENT 2.

Until next time, Keep Studying The Scriptures.

A Comment on a Comment

I received a brave comment from a Mr. (or Miss) Anonymous. I thought it may represent the thought of others too so I will address it here. Here is the unedited message:

Anonymous has left a comment on your post "Cutting to the Chase": “http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/capturedbytongues.html The man who wrote this article is a Seventh Day Adventist which most traditional Southern Baptists believe to be a cult. Why don't you list some reliable resources for your research instead of this cult. Southern Baptists are traditional cessasionists - the sign gifts were available at the time of the Apostles, but ceased with their death and the close of the canon. You completely misterpreted 1 Corinthians 14 - the supernatual gift of tongues (speaking in a language unknown to the speaker) was available at the time Paul was writing to the Corinthians but by the time Hebrews was written we see evidence that the "sign gifts" were rare or completely gone. You really should look at what reliable Southern Baptists have to say on this matter since you claim to be affiliated with a Southern Baptist Church. Jerry Vines, two time president of the SBC, wrote several books on this subject.”

First – I do not know if bluemarble.net is SDA or not but if a SDA says Jesus is God in the Flesh, I am going to agree with them. I do not choose to agree or disagree with someone based upon their denomination, I look at whether or not they agree with Scripture. On this topic of Tongues, this person is worthy of quoting.

Second – I do not agree with any SBC just because they are SBC. I have in my False Doctrines collection material printed by the SBC which say ecstatic utterance is a scriptural form of tongues. I like Jerry Vines and I am sure he is very knowledgeable. Jerry Vines, and Jerry Falwell for that matter, would agree with the concept of the Priesthood of the Believer. I am responsible to God, directly. Jerry Vines will not be standing up for me in judgment. I, and you, are responsible to be obedient to the command:

2Timothy 2:15-16
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We are not to rely on the scholarship of others. We can read them, study them, and evaluate them, but the ultimate responsibility for showing ourselves approved to God is us. Just because Jerry Vines, or any one else has said this or that does not make it equal to Scripture. If what I am saying lines up with Scripture, and I try to make sure it does, wonderful, but you are ultimately responsible for testing and trying it against the Scriptures.

Acts 17:10-11
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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.

Since ecstatic utterance was not a part of either Acts or Corinthians, then they could not have been included in Corinthians 13 to cease. Ecstatic Utterance is Pentecostal, it is Charismatic, but it is not Scriptural.

Until next time, Keep Studying the Scriptures.

Cutting to the Chase

Recently my Pastor started reading a book. He liked it so much that he bought one for each of the staff. I’m still in the process of reading it but it has changed several of my methods. The book is, “Why Men Hate Going to Church” by David Murrow. Currently it is only 13.99 from Lifeway.

To cut to the chase, it says I write too much. I agree. So I’ve decided to cut to the chase on a few issues. The number of words may have scared off some people so I’m going to be brief.

First, the root of the articles on Calvinism is: You are either a Calvinist or you are not. Hyper-Calvinism is a myth. Hyper-Calvinism is really, plain, old, authentic Calvinism. If you embrace all the points of Calvinism – you are a Calvinist. If you embrace any of the points (even just one) you must embrace them all. Each point of Calvinism is inseparably linked to each of the others. You can say you are a four point Calvinist but to embrace the reality and doctrine of the four points forces you to also embrace any of the other points you do not wish to embrace.

Secondly, Calvinists are always claiming to be based on Scriptures Alone. This is a lie. They base their doctrine and theology on a combination of the Bible AND Creeds AND Confessions AND Catechisms. If you don’t believe me just ask them about non-elect infants burning in hell if they die as an infant. That is not based on the Scriptures Alone.

Third, now we come to Speaking in Tongues. Again let me cut to the chase on the issue: ecstatic utterance as found in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches is not scriptural. Nowhere in scripture do we find even one instance of ecstatic utterance. Compare the events in Acts. Compare the instructions in the TOTAL chapter of 1Corinthians 14. Ecstatic utterance has no history in the church. Even books about Azusa Street confirm that ecstatic utterance was brought into the church from the outside. In the 1600’s, 1500’s, 1400’s, 1300’s, and so on, where do you find this ecstatic utterance? An interesting article is found here: http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/capturedbytongues.html . It agrees, as do several other sources, that before ecstatic utterance was in the church it was in Satanic Worship but never in the Scriptures.

Fourth, 1Corinthians 13:8-11 is claimed by a group of people who do not accept ecstatic utterance in the church, who say they are cessationists. A cessationist is a person who agrees with the ecstatic utterance view of tongues but uses this passage to say it is no longer in existence. I have news for you, it never did exist in the church at that time or in the Scriptures. If it never existed in the church it could not have ceased. This passage speaks of things existing today that will cease when Jesus comes. I believe the Scripture to be the inerrant, infallible, plenary, Word of God. But the Bible is not what this passage is referring to when it says, “When that which is perfect is come…” knowledge has not vanished, neither has languages, neither has prophecy (last I checked, Revelation has not happened yet, no matter what Hank says.)

These four summaries should help you understand the roots of my other longer articles. I will try to not be so verbose in the future so you don’t have to wade through a bunch of stuff before finding the root of the issue. Until next time, Keep Studying the Scripture.

What about Speaking in Tongues?

I thank Pastor McKissic and Baptist Press for making us aware that the issue of Charismatic Tongues http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24005 is not yet settled. I also thank The Pathway for printing the story and making the issue published. I looked through my recent articles and sermons and I realized, much to my surprise, that I have not addressed this issue in a long time.


The Bible uses 6 Greek words that the translators of the King James Bible translated into the word “tongue” or “tongues”. The main word in dispute is the term “glossa” used 50 times in 47 verses. It has a variety of uses from the tangible tongue as in Mark 7:33 and the intangible speech as in Acts 2:4.


For our study we will focus on those verses which use the term glossa to refer to intangible speech. The question arises, what speech? The main areas of dispute occur within the books of Acts and 1Corinthians with an additional verse in Mark 16:17.


Much of what people call Tongues has been defined by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches. Since there is a whole group of churches that claim to be Pentecostal churches it bears our examination to determine if they are truly after the order of the events on that Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was given.


To properly examine the Pentecostal position on Tongues we should first look at the references in Acts. The major account occurs in chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost.


What happened on Pentecost when the Holy Ghost filled the people assembled in Jerusalem? Because of a lack of space here, I will not quote the entire chapter, but I do want to draw your attention to the main passages and compare them to the Pentecostal churches of today.


Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.


Do Pentecostals experience the sound of a rushing mighty wind filling their churches? No.


Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.


Do Pentecostals experience visible cloven tongues like fire resting on each of them? No.


Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.


Pentecostals claim that this happens, “These early “Pentecostals” believed they were experiencing the same infilling of God’s power as the apostles did on the Day of Pentecost.” but investigate the Scriptures further:


Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?


Pentecostals speak in unintelligible languages. Their “tongues” are ecstatic utterances . In fact they try to blend unconnected Scripture found in 1Corinthians with the events in Acts. Read Acts 2 then read 1Corinthians 14 and it is easy to see there are two different events being addressed.


For being called Pentecostal they don’t measure up to the events that happened on Pentecost.


Tongues as found in Acts chapter 2 are clearly known languages. It even tells us that the disciples were speaking in the specific dialect (dialektos) of the hearer (Acts 2:8). To make the point even clearer it gives us the people groups represented:


Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.


Acts 2 should not be used by anyone wishing to speak in Charismatic Tongues. It is nothing more than a newspaper account of the events at Pentecost when the Comforter was given to the Jews. But Jesus did not just promise the Holy Spirit to the Jews.


In Acts 10 we see another account of speaking in Tongues. Again I will not quote the entire chapter but it would be beneficial for you to read it. The central verses about this issue are:


Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.


When the circumcised Jewish Christians saw the same event happen to uncircumcised Gentile Christians that happened to them, it was incontrovertible evidence that the Holy Ghost was given to all believers.


From this account, it would be reasonable to understand the Gentiles through the Holy Ghost probably spoke in Hebrew. This would be consistent with the Acts 2 account. It would also not be a springboard from which to support the Pentecostal or Charismatic definitions of Tongues.


The final Acts passage is found in Chapter 19.


Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.


Again in this account there is no ground from which to launch a journey into the Charismatic movement. This was the giving of the Holy Ghost as in the previous passages and tongues were the demonstration of the power of God to reach all people. This is what the Mark 16:17 passage was talking about.


By looking back there is nothing in Acts or Mark to support the idea of an unintelligible prayer language or an ecstatic utterance. There are no rules and no precedents from which to establish a doctrine or a practice of speaking in tongues today. There are no churches which are truly experiencing the events that happened on Pentecost. That means there are no truly Pentecostal churches.


The major part of the debate on Charismatic Tongues comes from the book of 1Corinthians. This book bears some background. Of all the books of the Bible, 1 and 2 Corinthians, the books written to spiritual babies , are where we find this subject. This is the church of which Paul said:


1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?


This passage shows, by Paul’s own admission, that this book is written as spiritual milk, not spiritual meat. It does not mean the book is any less inspired. It is just as much the infallible inerrant Word of God as is Genesis or Galatians. What it does mean is that Paul is here addressing issues you do not need to address in a spiritually mature church. It does not make the information found in 1Corinthians less powerful but it does give us the setting and the audience for what we are about to study.


Another point of note: this issue must be understood within the context of the Corinthian church. Paul was addressing problems and correcting issues that were leading the Corinthian church down the wrong road.


What we find on Tongues here must be defined and understood by the other information surrounding it. We should never use our own definitions and biases when approaching the Scripture. As best we can, we must study the meaning in the context to get the proper application to our lives today.


Finally, before we study this issue, we need to understand we are talking about an issue that is not considered a doctrine of division. If we were arguing about the Deity of Christ or the Trinity, that would be a significant issue if we did not agree. We can disagree about Tongues and still embrace each other as brothers in the fellowship of the believers. Your stand on Tongues will not determine your Salvation. There are some that believe it does, but I do not believe they are Southern Baptists.


With that having been said, we are ready now to explore this issue. The first mention of tongues is in chapter 12. Chapters 12, 13, and 14 mention tongues or glossa repeatedly and since the term “tongues” has a tainted understanding, I will substitute the word glossa.


1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.


Paul is now going to instruct the Corinthians about spiritual gifts, administrations, and operations. The term “gifts” in 12:4 is the Greek word “charisma”, a spiritual endowment. “Administrations” in 12:5 is the Greek word “diakonia” from which we get our word deacon, and it means a minister, or a servant. “Operations” in 12:6 is the Greek word “energēma” and it is used only 2 times in the New Testament, here and in 12:10 translated “working.”


The next few passages lists several of these items that are given to every man to profit everyone. Notice how it says one gets this, and another gets that. According to how they are listed, no one gets more than one:


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of Glossa; to another the interpretation of Glossa:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.


The items mentioned are: Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Diverse Kinds of Glossa, and Interpretation of Glossa.


It is interesting that the only one of these gifts that we are disputing as Southern Baptists is the Diverse Kinds of Glossa. We are not investigating the “Word of Wisdom” or the “Working of Miracles.” Those issues seem to be settled as Southern Baptists – even without the Baptist Faith and Message addressing them directly. Some things make you want to say, “Huh.”


The next passage in chapter 12 that mentions Glossa is:


1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of Glossa.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with Glossa? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.


The church has people gifted with various abilities and talents, spiritually endowed to help guide the people in developing a proper relationship with God. Notice how in chapter 12 the gift of Glossa is always followed by the interpretation of Glossa. Does this sound like ecstatic utterance to you? Does it sound like a private prayer language? No. Does it sound like the gift involved known languages? Yes.


Do you really want us to believe the Corinthian people were so developed in their spiritual maturity that they needed guidance in the super spiritual issues? Notice too how teacher is always mentioned in a superior position to Glossa.


Chapter 12 sets the stage to understand the use of Glossa in Chapter 13. Glossa is only used twice:


1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the Glossa of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.


1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be Glossa, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.


We would all agree the main focus of this chapter is not Glossa but Agape (Love). This chapter is known as the love chapter and it was written to spiritual babies who did not know what true love looked like.


Some people have used some verses from this chapter to try and prove that Glossa has ceased. They use 13:8 quoted above and:


1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


The question to be answered is, “What or who is “that which is perfect”?” Some say it refers to Jesus and His Second Coming, others say it is the completion of the Bible. Those who say it is the Bible use this passage to say that since the Bible has come, Glossa has ceased. If this is true then according to verse 8 prophecies, Glossa, and knowledge will all cease.


People who support this position say yes, special prophecies and special knowledge have ceased as well as Glossa. They see the completion of Canon ending the need for the special gifts used to verify the message.


No matter what your position is on Glossa, I believe we can all agree, this chapter does not contain any doctrine to use in building a case to define it. So far we have examined the entire New Testament on the Glossa issue and of the approximately 260 chapters found in it, only one chapter, in a book written to a bunch of spiritual babies, even addresses it.


Do not misunderstand what I am saying. Biblical Truth is still just as powerful when only mentioned once, but I do find it very interesting.


Now let’s examine this one perplexing chapter. Remember we must understand the difficult verses on Glossa based upon the information we have already been given. What have we been given so far?


So far we have Glossa meaning known languages that either do not need an interpreter, as in Acts, or that have the ability to be interpreted. In either situation it does not fit the current Pentecostal or Charismatic method of ecstatic utterance. It also does not fit the “private prayer language” definition. We must use the previous information to help us understand the unknown when we address Glossa from chapter 14.


One reoccurring word that the translators added actually adds more confusion than clarity. That is the word, “unknown”. For the sake of clarity we will omit the words added by the translators and I also continue using Glossa in place of tongues.


Seeing the importance of this one chapter on this issue, and considering the space necessary to address this issue properly, I have given my commentary on this entire chapter in an earlier article. Please read the article several times in it’s entirety before continuing in this document.


For those where the link does not work please type this into your browser:


http://theundershepherdsobservations.blogspot.com/2006/10/what-about-1corinthians-14-speaking-in.html


Notice how the term Glossa is set in this key passage:


1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
1Co 14:22 Wherefore Glossa are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with Glossa, and there come in unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1Co 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.


Look how verse 22 says Glossa are for a sign to unbelievers. Then in the next verse it gives an illustration about an unbeliever seeing Glossa spoken and thinking they are mad. Does that strike you as strange? If the Charismatic were asked to explain verse 22 they would say ecstatic utterance is a sign to convince the unbeliever of the presence of the Holy Ghost. But ask them to explain 23 and they start getting confused because here is the perfect opportunity to show a sign to the unbeliever and we are being discouraged from doing it. That is one of the reasons why I have chosen the vocabulary as I have in the commentary. It just makes sense.


Also notice how this reads:


1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an Glossa speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.


1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an Glossa, by two, or at the most three, and by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.


If no man understands, how does one interpret? In the Charismatic Tongues version the “interpretation” is just as spontaneous as the speaking of “tongues”. This works contrary to the rule given in verse 28. The only way for this to be understood is if Glossa is a known language. So what about verse 2? “No man understands,” is referring to no other man, else how could all verses compliment each other?


Charismatic Tongues is not rooted in Scripture. The roots are elsewhere and I have alluded to them above. By the admission of the Pentecostals themselves, the real spread of Charismatic Tongues did not occur until 1906 from the Azusa Street mission. Up until that year, Charismatic Tongues was not found


Additional readings can be researched here:

http://www.sendrevival.com/history/azusa_street/


Please notice these links are not to Southern Baptist versions of what happened. They are from the people that are actually in the movement.


Is there any room for people who speak in Charismatic Tongues in Southern Baptist churches? Yes! As I said before, speaking in Tongues is not to be a point of division. It does not make a person unsaved or unable to be used by God for His Kingdom.


I hope you realize that Charismatic Tongues is not Scriptural and it is not necessary for an abundant life and ministry filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.


1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Keep studying Scripture!

What about 1Corinthians 14? (Speaking in Tongues)

Note to the reader. This blog entry is not to be read as a replacement for Scripture but it is only a commentary on one of the most misunderstood chapters of the Bible.

In order to read this information properly you must have first read 1Corinthians chapters 13 and 14 prior to reading this commentary. It would also be best to read your favorite version of the Scriptures before and after you read this commentary.

I have not strictly followed the Greek, word for word, but I have added intent and nuance in with the content of the verses.

I encourage you to send me your comments. No comments are posted but they are received and reviewed. If you send me an email, I will respond. Thank you.

1Corinthians 14

1 Pursue Love and desire spiritual gifts, but give preference in your pursuits and desires to proclamation of the Word of God.

2 Because when you use your Native Language the people can’t understand you – God can – but no one else will understand what you are saying even though you are speaking spiritual hidden doctrine.

3 In contrast, when you proclaim God’s Word in a language they can understand, you teach, and encourage, and comfort.

4 He that uses his Native Language develops ideas in a way that is comfortable to him in that language, but he that proclaims the Word of God in the understood language teaches the church.

5 I wish that you all were multi-lingual, but my preference is for you to use the language of the hearers to proclaim the Word of God: The person that uses the appropriate language to proclaim God’s Word is more beneficial to the Kingdom of God than someone who speaks their own Native Language, unless, of course, there is an interpreter who puts that foreign language into a language that is easily understood, so the church may receive the instruction.

6 Now brothers, let me present this idea with an illustration: If I come into your church, and I am speaking my native language, what benefit will you have from that? Unless I gave you a revelation, or a special understanding, or a proclamation of God’s Word, or doctrine extracted from God’s Word in a language you understood?

7 Even things without voices follow the same logic. If a flute or a harp makes noises that are not understood by the hearer, how will the hearer know what is happening?

8 If a battle bugle is blown in a way that makes indiscriminate sounds, how will the army know to obediently run toward the enemy to attack?

9 This is the exact picture to remember if you use your Native Language for your comfort but you don’t say words that are easy for the hearer to understand. How is that person of a language different than yours suppose to understand you? All you end up doing is passing a lot of hot air over your lips.

10 There are many different languages and dialects in the world and every one of them is important.

11 They are important because they are tools with which to reach the people that use them. If I don’t use the proper language with the proper people there will be no benefit.

12 This has direct application to your situation – you think that your ability to speak other languages makes you appear more spiritually mature, but if you were truly spiritually mature you would seek to teach the Word of God in a language that was easy to understand.

13 That is why those of you who know more than one language should pray and ask God’s help to interpret from one language to another clearly and accurately.

14 Because if I even pray out loud in my own Native Language, I may be praying with my whole heart and soul, but those listening to me will not understand me.

15 What should I do in this situation? I should do both. I pray in my thoughts using my native language but what comes out of my mouth are words that are easy for the listener to understand. When I sing, I will sing with my whole heart but the audible words I sing will be easy for the listener to understand.

16 It that were not the case, and I was giving a blessing from my heart with my Native Language, how would a person who does not understand my speech participate with me by saying, “Amen” at the appropriate times, seeing he does not understand what I am saying.

17 You may be very skilled at praying in your Native Language but the other people present not instructed by what you say.

18 I thank God I am better skilled as speaking other languages more than any of you (because you do not know what to do with them.)

19 Even though I have this superior skill compared to you, I would rather speak five words in a language the people understand so I can teach them God’s Truth, than to speak ten thousand words in my Native Language that – although it may sound good – it is without value.

20 Brothers you need to have mature wisdom in understanding this matter: In the matter of hurtful behavior (which is what you are doing by excluding someone by your choice of language) you should be as innocent as a child. You need to have a mature perspective on this matter.

21 The Old Testament law says: With other mouths and other lips will I speak to this people and even if I use people of other cultures to bring the Word of God, you will not receive it, says the Lord

22 That’s why speaking in your Native Language is primarily for the evangelism of unbelievers as compared to proclaiming doctrine from God’s Word which is primarily focused on educating the believer.

23 For example, if a group of believers all gathered into one place, speaking their Native Languages (let’s say Hebrew), and someone walks in who does not understand that language (let’s say Greek) or even if they use unfamiliar vocabulary – that Greek visitor will think you are crazy – speaking jibberish.

24 Use the same illustration and instead of everyone speaking their own Native Language (let’s say Hebrew), they were proclaiming the Word of God in the common Language (let’s say Greek) then an unbelieving Greek person walks into the meeting, or someone unfamiliar with Christ, then he becomes convinced by everything he hears by doctrine he can understand. The very thoughts and intents of his heart are judged by the Word of God he hears proclaimed in a language he understands.

25 The very secrets of his heart are unlocked and are laid bare; and when that happens, he will fall on his face and worship God, and it does not stop there, he will tell others that God is indeed in you.

26 Since this is the case, how is it my brothers that when you come together each of you is doing your own thing, in your own favorite language? This person is singing, this person is teaching doctrine, this person is speaking their Native Language, this person is revealing biblical truth, and this other person is interpreting another language. This is not the right way to assemble as a church body. You should come together to build each other up.

27 To help eliminate the confusion, here are a few practical rules to follow – If anyone wants to speak in their Native Language, that’s fine, but limit the number of people who do to just two or at the very most three. The speaker must have someone present when they are speaking to interpret what is being said into a language that is easily understood by those present.

28 If you want to speak your Native Language and you look around and do not see anyone there who knows your Native Language, and the language of the hearers, and is able to interpret properly from one language into the other language, then you are commanded to not speak in your Native Language in the church – you can think it, but don’t say it.

29 If you are authorized to proclaim the Word of God in a lesson, there can be two or three teachers too – when someone is teaching, the spiritually mature are to examine what is said in the light of the Scriptures and evaluate it’s accuracy.

30 If in the course of teaching another spiritually mature person is used of God to add a point or to enhance the lesson, then the teacher should allow that person to say what God has laid on their heart.

31 Everyone can say what God has laid on their heart as long as you speak one at a time so everyone can hear, understand, and learn and everyone will be comforted by it.

32 All the truly spiritually mature people are able to control themselves, this is not something that is out of their control,

33 Because God is not the author of confusion, God is the author of peace and all the truly Christian churches should be filled with peace.

34 Do not permit women to proclaim God’s Word in the church assembly, because it is not permitted that they exercise power, control, or authority over men, but they are to be submissive to God through submitting to the men in leadership, just as the Law says.

35 If a woman, in the course of the assembly at church, has a question about the information being taught, instead of interrupting the speaker, and by it interrupting the proclamation of the Word of God, it is better if she asks her husband at home and avoid the disruption. If a woman does interrupt the sermon to ask a question, it will cause her shame and embarrassment as well as shaming her before God by interrupting His work.

36 I am giving you these rules to govern your assemblies because the Word of God did not come to you exclusively and it sure wasn’t invented by you. It came from God for everyone.

37 If you believe yourself to be spiritually mature, or if you are acknowledged as a preacher of the Word of God, then I encourage you to examine what I am telling you in the light of Scripture, and see if they stand. They will stand because I am writing the commandments of God.

38 If you choose to ignore these commands, you can do that, but it does not reduce the fact that they are from God.

39 In the light of the information I have just discussed, please grow in maturity so that you may proclaim and teach God’s Word to God’s people using God’s methods; don’t prevent someone from using their Native Language but use it for the Glory of God.

40 All things must be done in a decent and orderly manner.

What about Gun Control?

Who said this?

“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future.”
This quote is attributed to Adolf Hitler in 1935 – Adolf Hitler never said it.

For more information about it take a look at:
http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcbogus.html

But this does bring up an important issue. Guns. Weapons in general.

Our US Constitution protects our right as a citizen to keep and bear arms.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

What does the Bible say about gun ownership? What about the use of deadly force for the protection of life and property? How is shooting someone exercising love, “turn the other cheek,” or “do good to your enemies”?

There were many times when God told the people of Israel to go to war. Some people may say, “But that was in the Old Testament. What about the New Testament?”

We are warned by Paul: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Notice how this passage speaks of having non-carnal weapons. Does this then exclude the use of carnal weapons? No. This passage ends with the command “and being ready to punish all disobedience.” We use spiritual weapons of prayer and God’s Word to do our warfare on spiritual ground but not exclusively.

Jesus understood this concept when He told the disciples: “Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. … So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." Luke 22:36-38

Jesus knew He would soon die on the cross and His disciples were going to be without his physical presence. When Jesus was preparing to leave He told the disciples, “he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”

In the beginning of their ministry, the disciples were instructed to not carry a money bag and they did not have any savings account. After following Jesus for three years the disciples would not have many garments. Since they were traveling all the time they had no place to store their clothing. They would only have the clothes on their back and one extra change of clothes. Their extra clothing was probably the most valuable thing they owned. Jesus told them if they did not have a sword they were to sell their garment and buy a sword. Jesus did not instruct them to give the money to the poor or use the money to by something for someone. This proves Jesus placed a very high value on the disciples carrying a sword.

It also shows something else. Jesus permitted the disciples to carry weapons while they were traveling with Him. Notice what the disciples said in reply: “So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”” Two of the disciples did not need to go get a sword because they already had one.
Here is Jesus, King of Kings, Creator of the Universe, and he is allowing his disciples to carry a weapon. What would happen if pastors encouraged the deacons to carry weapons? I can just imagine the gossip.

Jesus knew there were spiritual weapons and their power. He also knew there was a need for physical weapons too. The sword was the most powerful weapon used by the citizens of that day and Jesus supported carrying one. The principle is found as an illustration in Luke 11:21 where it says: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.” and in Mark 3:27.

Jesus was not against the use of weapons for personal defense. We have spiritual weapons we are commanded to employ, but physical weapons are necessary at times too. Jesus said we can move mountains by prayer and faith in Matthew 21:21. We can also move mountains by tools and strength.

Consider this:
David didn’t only use faith to defeat Goliath. God used David’s weapon and skill to bring victory.

Gideon at times used a sword to kill and at another time used a pitcher with a lamp inside.

For the rest of the New Testament there are no recorded incidents with the disciples and swords.

"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:52-53

What Jesus did not say to never carry one. Jesus said to put the sword up into it’s place, not throw it away.

A faithful, loving, caring, biblical, Christian will support the right to carry a weapon.

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

Revival, Project Management style.

In years gone by it was not too uncommon to see a tent revival in and around our communities. When I was in High School in Indianapolis I was blessed to be a part of more than one tent revival. Our Youth Pastor would borrow a big tent, find some vacant land and secure permission, then we would set up the tent and borrow chairs from the church.

Next we would go door to door inviting people in the area to come to the tent revival. In the day we would visit and go soul winning and in the evening we would hold revival services. We would collect an offering and pay our expenses and buy our food with the offerings. Our Youth Pastor and 3 or 4 of us would sleep in his pickup truck camper and spent a whole week in this process.

In our churches we have transitioned from revivals that would last 2 or 3 weeks. Every evening there would be preaching on various topics of righteousness, sin, salvation, hell, heaven, holiness, morality, mortality, etc. People attended not because they had to but because they wanted. People actually looked forward to getting together every evening and hearing the Word of God preached by a man of God.

If you strip away all the exterior, what is left? What is revival? Today, many people see no need for a revival and more do not know what one is. Some people have never seen a true revival. Probably there are a few who hope they never do – (after judgment they will think differently).

The word “revival” never appears in scripture. But there are several times when revival occurred both in the Old and New Testaments. Habakkuk prayed for God to revive His work in Habakkuk 3:2:
“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”

Samuel preached a very simple revival message and because of obedient listeners, it became a national revival in 1 Samuel 7:3-4:
“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.”

Second Chronicles 7:14 puts it this way:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

In all these passages there is a process to revival. It is not the result of magic spells or of clever tricks. Revival is the result of work.

Paul understood the work of righteous living and drawing near to God and the influence godliness has in power.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1Corinthians 2:1-5

There are clear duties involved in revival. First, Recognize you are not where you need to be.

In project management they teach you to do a gap analysis. The first step in this analysis is to get an accurate picture of what is happening now. So what is happening now? Are your prayers being answered? Are you witnessing and leading people to the Lord? Are you talking the talk and walking the walk? Do you have the joy of the Lord? Do people see you as an example of what to do, be, and say? Is Jesus first? Get a real good picture of where you are in your relationship to God. How is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control being expressed in your life?

The next step of the project management is to develop a model of where you should be. What is the biblical picture of the ideal Christian. If all conditions were perfect, what type of relationship would you have with Christ?

Next you have to look at the distance from where you are and where you need to be and see the ‘gap’ between the two. Let the scope of that distance sink in.

After you understand the gap, develop measurable steps to go from where you are to where you should be. The key word is measurable. To say, “pray more” is fine but it would be better to say, “I will pray every morning for at least 15 minutes.” Now you have something measurable to gauge whether or not you are successful in making the change.

Once you have made a map or a plan for change, work the plan. Do it. Make necessary changes in your behavior to do what God says to do.

But that is not the end to a good Project Management plan. There are still two more steps.

Next, after you have worked the plan for a week, reevaluate. Take another look at the progress you have made in the past week. Does your plan need to be modified to make it successful? Are your steps to revival to large to be practical.

Paul reminds us:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2Corinthians 5:17

The Christian life begins with an event and becomes a lifetime process.

Finally, the last step to the process is, after you have reevaluated your plan and adjusted your steps, do your plan until your next reevaluation time. Reevaluation is an important part of the growth process.

That’s a look at revival through a project management lens.

The main part of revival is to love the Lord with your whole heart. Don’t be a half-hearted Christian. Your love for Christ should be so deep it should bring tears to your eyes. There should be nothing that stands between you and the Saviour.

When this happens you desire to put away worldly distractions (wicked ways). A revival is an opportunity to get clean. You not only want to put away ungodliness, you do it. You actually stop doing things that grieve the Holy Spirit and start doing things that please God.

Sometimes we get dirty in places we can’t see. The revival preacher holds up the mirror of the Word of God so we can see the dirt we may have missed. It’s embarrassing to find dirt on your face, but even more so in the presence of the King at Judgment. The time to get clean is before you go to court.

Finally, after we have become a clean vessel, get busy serving. We are given blessings to be blessed but more importantly to bless others. What better blessing can we share than to share the Salvation of Christ? Tell someone about what Jesus has done for you. Tell them how they can have the Love, Joy and Peace you have. Tell them you love them by telling them about Jesus.

You may attend a revival, but will you have revival? That decision is up to you.

Will you pray for revival in your own heart? Will you invite / bring people to the services to hear the Word of God? Will you pray for revival in the hearts of others? Will you commit to finding ways to serve the Lord? (Teach / assist in a children’s Sunday School Class, Cook meals, write cards, welcome visitors, call and invite the unsaved)

Let’s not just wait for revival – let’s go get one!

What about Racism?

Recently it was brought to my attention that the Council of Conservative Citizens website posted my article on a Communist America. Although I am encouraged that people are reading these important articles, I feel the need to make this next point extremely clear.

I am not now, nor have I ever been a member or a contributor to the Council of Conservative Citizens. I support the work of the members of God’s Kingdom where they align with the Word of God. If a person claims to be a Christian, they must be Christ-like and a true follower of Jesus Christ – God with us.

I have not researched the Council of Conservative Citizens enough to determine if they are racist or not. Making a list of racist organizations is not the purpose of this blog. Recently some of the comments I have read leads me to believe now is a good time to present the biblical perspective on race and racism.

To look at the problem of racism clearly we have to start from the beginning.

In the first chapters of Genesis we learn that God made one man and one woman. There was only one “race” because there was only one family.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

As time went by, this one family became larger and larger. Some people may ask the question, what race were these first two people? One thing for sure – no matter what race you are, you are one of their descendents.

Genesis 5:4-8 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

Because of sin, mankind moved away from obedience to God’s commands. What race were these people – that depends on how you define race. They were from one family, as are we all.

Families became more numerous and sin became more prevalent until God had enough. As they say in the computer world, God felt it was time to format and reinstall the human population.

Genesis 6:5-8 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

God was saddened, not by the races, creeds, or colors of men. What upset God was that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” You see, race was not then, and is not now, the issue, sin is.

After the flood, man was given a new start, and again it was through a single family – Noah. What was the race of the family? Godly. They were of the Godly race. This is the race of men and women of many nations, languages, and colors that worship the One True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in spirit and in truth. The Godly race is the only ones to be admitted into heaven. The Godly race is the only race with eternal life. Color had nothing to do with it – faith did. Today, the just shall live by faith. This is not selective of color, race, language, or nation.

Abraham was given the promise:

Gen 22:15-18 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Read carefully that final verse. All the nations of the earth are blessed because of the obedience of Abraham. It is important to remember that Abraham was not a Jew.

Gen 11:27-31 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

By nation Abraham was a Chaldean of the race of men, a son of Adam. We do not all trace our lineage back to Ur, but we do to both Noah and Adam.

Since Noah exited from the ark, man has continued to make the choice to either follow God or turn from Him.

Separation, segregation, climate, diet, genetics, language, and time have all added their modifications to the outside appearance of the one race of man. Today, as in the past, there are only two “races”. Godly and ungodly.

The principle is laid out in the Old Testament.

Exodus 12:48-49 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Notice, being a Jew was not about birth. It was not about race. It was not about color. It was about being a follower of God. If you obey the law like a Jew you were accepted as a Jew. Red, yellow, black, brown, or white all were welcome into the Godly line. Look at Rahab who was accepted into the blood line of Jesus Christ himself, but she was not a Jew by birth, and she is not the only one. Jesus Christ was a Jew by birth and was proud to be one. That is good enough for me. I am not Jewish but I am related to them by blood from Noah - so are you. I am also related to the King of the Jews, He's my King, Brother, and Advocate too.

Matthew 12:49-50 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and (Jesus) said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Last I checked, John 3:16 says:

John 3:16 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.

Who is a racist but he who would deny salvation to anyone based upon national origin? It is impossible to be a Christian racist when the Bible says God loves the whole world, and that anyone can be your brother by their embracing the same Heavenly Father in salvation.

I am convinced there are racists found in all races. There are Chinese who hate people of other races. There are Africans who hate people of other races. There are Latin Americans who hate people of other races. And, yes, there are Anglo-Saxons who are racist. God is not pleased with any racism. He loves everyone – that is why He provided salvation to all. It grieves Him that anyone refuses His offer of salvation and it should grieve us too.