Following the Star

by Max Lucado

Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything?

The Wise Men did. They can be an example to us. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can give him today: their hope, their time, and their worship.

The wandering wise men gave Jesus their hope. When everyone else saw a night sky, this small band of men saw the light. The sight of the star sparked a desire in their hearts that send them packing. They went, seeking Jesus.

When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars—“The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). Give God your hope for Christmas.

While you’re giving, give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their presents, they gave their presence. It’s likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven. Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you: “You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart” (Duet. 4:29).

And when they did find him, the wise men gave Jesus another gift: their worship. Men of wealth, influence, and intellect: what did they do when they saw Jesus? “…they fell down and worshiped him” (Matt. 2:11)

Worship. It’s a gift that extends to the giver as well. Through worship, we come to see God more clearly. God invites us, through worship, to see his face so he can change ours. In worship, we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and let God do his work. And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship. The wise men sought the child of God, just as God seeks his children. “The Father is actively seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23).

The gifts of hope, time, and worship. Three gifts the wise still give.

Parenting

Do We Value Our Family Time?

Family time is something we all say we value, but few experience.

Surveys show that most families rate time together a number one priority. However, the same surveys show that fathers spend only a few minutes a day with their children. "In his book, If I Were Starting My Family Again, John Drescher wrote about a study of 300 seventh- and eighth-grade boys who kept detailed records of how much time their fathers actually spent with them over a two-week period. Most saw their father only at the dinner table. A number didn't see their fathers for days at a time. The average time father and son were alone together was seven and one-half minutes a week.

There are several "excuses" that we use to justify our lack of time together as families:


1. We excuse ourselves by saying, "We don't spend much time together, but our time is quality time." The problem with this argument is that quality time cannot exist apart from quantities of time.
2. Another argument we use is, "My kids are little. If I'm not around much for the first few years it won't matter." The problem here is that many opportunities present themselves only once and only for a moment. A child is only two for one year. Toddlers do not remain toddlers for long. We must seize every opportunity to be together because none of us knows which moments are going to be locked forever into a child's memory. And none of us knows which experiences will mark turning points in a child's life.
3. A third excuse is, "I'll make it up to them later. There's plenty of time. I'll build my career now so that when they're older we'll have plenty of money to spend on activities we all enjoy." This argument is foolish. Who really believes that we'll have more time in a few years than we have now. Busy lifestyles don't change when we reach a certain age; they just become more deeply ingrained. We all have twenty-four hours in a day and what we do with them tells what is important to us.

If we have no time for our children while they are young, they likely will have no time for us when we are old. We need to be making the most of very opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). Enjoy each other now; be a part of our children's lives; make family time a priority. Schedule plenty of time together so quality experiences can happen. Don't postpone the imperative for something that is only important. Don't say, "I'll make it up to you later." Spend the time with your loved ones today.

More Scriptures on Family Time
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Proverbs 22:6 -Train up a child...
Ephesians 6:4 -The training and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 -...Lest children become discouraged.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -So that your children may fear the Lord.
Psalm 127:3-5 -Children a reward.
Proverbs 6:20-23 -The way to life.
I Thessalonians 2:11-12 -Live lives worthy of God.
Psalm 78:4-7 -Tell the next generation.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Temptation

It bears repeating: If something looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is exactly that -- too good to be true. Or maybe it's a matter of being too bad for you.

I don't know what tempts you. Maybe it's some get-rich-quick scheme you've read about in a magazine. Maybe it's sex. Or power. Or prestige. Maybe it's all of those things.

Our lives are full of "opportunities" that, in truth, are inopportune for us. But how do we tell the difference between those challenges that are good for our character and those that will ensnare us? It's not always clear-cut. And it's almost never easy.

But God has some guidelines and some comforting works for us as we face the temptations of our lives. You can read about it in 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 and James 1:12-16. Although sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by our desires to have that which would ought not have, it is reassuring to remember that God promises us the strength to handle these challenges to our character and our conscience.

At the least, it gives us the courage to pray the familiar petition: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

More Scriptures on temptation
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 119:11 -God's Word helps you stand.
Matthew 4:1-11 -Even Jesus was tempted.
1 Corinthians 10:13 -He'll provide a way out.
1 Peter 1:6-7 -Rejoice! Even in temptation.
2 Peter 1:3-4 -Divine power to escape corruption.
James 1:2-6 -Testing produces perseverance.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 -Equipped for good work.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Fear

Perhaps you've seen the "No Fear" t-shirts, which speak to the courage of the world-class athlete. The best performers, it is asserted, do not choke. Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, game on the line. No fear? Third down and long yardage, late in the fourth quarter, down by five points, hunched over the center to receive the snap. No fear?

In fact, there are some extraordinary athletes who seem to thrive on the pressure, who elevate their game when it means the most and all eyes and all hopes are fixed on them.

But for the rest of us...

But, let's be honest: Most of us get dry-mouth at moments like that. In fact, most of us go through the days of our lives, wracked by anxieties and fears. What if my boss finds out my limitations? What if my best friend discovers the real me? What will happen to me when I die?

These are ordinary fears, but you need not be overwhelmed or paralyzed by them. There is an antidote, which the Apostle Paul wrote about eloquently and powerfully in his letter to the church at Philippi. It's contained in Philippians 4:6-9.

Those verses may not fit on a t-shirt, but they are just the right size to slip into your heart. And they point to the truest source of living life and facing death with "No Fear."

More Scriptures on fear
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 34:7 -God delivers from fear those who fear Him.
Psalm 37:5-9 -Do not fret, but hope in the Lord.
Psalm 55:22 -Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you.
Jeremiah 32:27 - Is anything too hard for the God of all mankind?
Jeremiah 33:3 -Call to Him and He will answer you.
Matthew 6:25-34 -Do not worry about your life.
Hebrews 13 :5-6 - I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
1 Peter 5:7 -Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Weariness

A generation ago, sometime in the 1970's brave futurists were forecasting a leisure oriented life for workers on the eve of the 21st Century. They predicted 30-hour work weeks and long, activity-packed weekends on boats, golf courses, tennis courts and hiking trails.

Well, things didn't quite turn out that way. Even though technology has given us the tools to do our work faster than anyone imagined possible, even 20 years ago, most people I know are devoting more hours to their jobs. And they're dedicating more time to learn the technology that is supposed to free us up.

The pace of the rat-race seems to never slow down. And we find ourselves driven to do more and more things.

A timeless call to the overburdened

We grow tired and weary. But technology, for all of its wonders, has no answer for our weariness. God, however, issues a timeless call to all those who are overburdened and in need of a rest stop -- for the body and for the soul. You may find that comforting call in Psalm 23, one of the most familiar Psalms in the Bible, and again in Matthew 11:28-29.

Most of you won't hear this message from your boss or from your coworkers today, so hear it from me: In the hurricane of activities that make up your days, take time to ponder the meaning of your life. In the blur of the day's events, stop and smell the flowers. And when you rest, fall into the arms of the God who made you to be a creature of work -- but also of play and of worship. And when you can't take the time to stop your body's activity, at least refresh your mind with the knowledge that He's there and He cares.

More Scriptures on weariness
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 119:28 -Call to Him for strength.
Isaiah 40:29-31 -Hope in the Lord renews strength.
Isaiah 50:4 -The word that sustains the weary.
Jeremiah 31:25 -Refreshment for the weary.
Galatians 6:9 -Don't become weary in doing good.
Hebrews 12:2 -Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Prayer

The Bible instructs believers to pray "without ceasing," which is more difficult than most of the better-known Ten Commandments. Are you really supposed to pray constantly, continuously? What about eating and sleeping? And working? And building relationships with your family and friends? And listening to music? And watching movies? And doing homework? And checking out the newest stuff on the Internet?

Is it possible to pray all the time?

A posture of awareness

From my perspective, prayer is a posture. By that, I mean that it's a way of approaching God -- and it's a way of approaching your life. A "prayer full" posture does not mean one literally spends days, weeks, months and years on the knees locked in conscious conversation with God. Rather, life is spent growing ever more aware of the source of deepest gladness and trust-- in constant comunication through that awareness.

Be a person of prayer -- in a posture of awareness of and gratitude to God. For further insight into prayer, read Philippians 4:6-9. For the prayer Jesus taught to his followers, read Matthew 6:5-15.

More Scriptures on prayer
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 34:4-8 -Those who look to the Lord are never shamed.
Psalm 34:15 -His eyes on the righteous.
Proverbs 3:5 -He will direct your paths.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 -Call and He will answer.
Matthew 7:7-11 -Ask, seek, knock.
Mark 11:24-25 -Forgive others, THEN pray.
Luke 18:1-7 -Parable of prayer and never giving up.
John 14:14-16 -Obey, THEN pray.
Romans 8:26 -The Spirit intercedes for us in prayer.
Ephesians 3:20 -He is able.
Hebrews 4:14-16 -Approach the throne with confidence.
James 1:5 -Pray for wisdom.
James 5:16-18 -Confess, THEN pray. Elijah's example.

Finally, if you're having trouble praying, notice the common thread in the above passages. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Lack of obedience? Someone you need to forgive? Make it right first, THEN pray.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Truth & Honesty

Truth and its Consequences

One of the phrases that most of us heard often when we were growing up was, "honesty is the best policy." Whether it was our parents, or our teachers, or even our peers, it seems that everyone was interested in knowing that they could trust what they were hearing from us.

Telling the truth is, indeed, very important. So many of us think that it is okay to "shade the truth," and then we wonder why no one believes us anymore. The Bible says "the Lord detests lying lips" (Proverbs 12:22).

But there is another aspect of honesty that we need to consider -- living the truth! A popular book of several years back asked this question in its title, "Who Are You When Nobody is Looking?" Are you one person in public, but another person entirely when you think that you can "get away with it?" God calls for His people to be people of integrity - the same on the inside as they are on the outside.

Jesus had some choice words for the Pharisees who were trying to impress people with their outward appearances and behavior but whose hearts were far from God. Read about it in Matthew 23:27-28.

God calls on us to speak the truth, and live the truth, so that those around us may come to know the Truth - Jesus Christ!!

More Scriptures on truth
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalms 34:13 -Keep your lips from speaking lies.
Proverbs 6:16-19 - The Lord hates a lying tongue.
Proverbs 14:12 -There is a way that seems right to a man...
Jeremiah 17:9 -The heart is deceitful above all things...
John 14:6 -"I am the way and the truth and the life..."
Colossians 3:9-11 -Do not lie to each other...

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Loneliness

Perhaps you are sitting in the library of a university with enough students, staff and faculty to populate a small city. Or maybe you are working at your desk in a corporation whose assets rival the gross national product of some nations. You are surrounded by people -- hundreds, perhaps thousands of people in close proximity each day. And yet, you feel the pain of being lonely . . . detached . . . unconnected.

You are, if I may say so, not alone.

A society of acquaintances

You and I both know well that the lament of loneliness is one of the most common anthems of our time, We fill our schedules with wall-to-wall events and pack in meeting after meeting, phone call after fax response. But despite all the people and all the activity, we so rarely link ourselves deeply with others. We have become a society of clients more than colleagues . . . acquaintances more than friends.

Los Angeles once was described to me as a thousand suburbs in search of a city. It strikes me that our society has become like the sprawl of L.A. We are often little islands of self-absorbed, self contained individuals in a futile search for the solid continent of community.

In our aloneness, we have plenty of company.

A Constant Companion

But, in truth, we are never really alone. People may let us down. Friends may disappoint us. Families sometimes fracture. But Someone is always with you. You can find Him in Psalm 23, declaring that He is with you. And in Isaiah 41:10, assuring that He'll strengthen and help you. Say hello to a companion on whom you may always count.

More Scriptures on loneliness
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Proverbs 18:24 -A friend closer than a brother.
Jeremiah 17:14-17 -Refuge in the day of disaster.
John 14:1-6 -Let not your heart be troubled.
John 14:26:28 -The Spirit's comfort.
John 16:1-16 -Why you are not alone.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Forgiveness

The biggest challenge most of us face in our lives is swallowing our pride and admitting that we were wrong. Gulp! It's tough duty to summon the courage to admit to others -- and to God -- that we fall short of our best intentions, that we sometimes make a mess of things.

Confession: More important than self-esteem

It is human nature to miss the mark of perfection. It also is human nature to convince ourselves that we really don't have to confess our shortcomings to anyone else. After all, our delicate psyches and our self-esteem might be wounded if we focused on such negative matters.

Yet, out of the bad news of sin and separation from God and neighbors emerges the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation. God's promise, as recorded in Isaiah 1:18 and 1 John 1:7-9, offers to those who truly seek forgiveness a cleansing of the soul, a purging of your personal rap sheet.

Forgiveness: Never in short supply

Because people are proud and stubborn, you can go to any library in the English speaking world and check out a book by Dr. Karl Menninger entitled, "Whatever Became of Sin?"

And while you're browsing, because God is just and full of loving kindness, you can check out the Bible and discover whatever became of forgiveness, too.

I think you'll find that both sin and forgiveness may fall out of fashion, but they are never in short supply.

More Scriptures on forgiveness
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 85:2-3 -God covers sin.
Psalm 103:11-13 -As far as the east is from the west...
Isaiah 43:25 -He remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 55:6-7 -Turn to the Lord for pardon.
Jeremiah 33:8 -He'll cleanse and forgive.
Matthew 1:21 -Jesus came to save.
Matthew 26:28 -Jesus' blood for forgiveness.
Mark 2:5-11 -Jesus' authority to forgive.
Luke 24:46-47 -Repentance and forgiveness.
Acts 10:43 -All who believe are forgiven.
Colossians 2:13-15 -He nailed our sins to the cross.
1 John 2:1-2 -He speaks to the Father on our behalf.

taken from www.gospelcom.net

Friendship

The price of friendship

If you want to know something about me without asking any questions, study my friends. The people with whom I choose to spend my free time, with whom I eat and laugh and cry -- those people are the mirrors of my soul. It's true: you really can tell a lot about a person by the company he keeps.

Now, if you choose friends the way I choose friends, there is no pattern or logic to it. I have friends who are unspeakably wealthy, and friends who are desperately short on cash. I have friends who do not vote for the political candidates I prefer, and friends who can finish my sentences if I pause to take a breath.

Friendships are made, not born

Friendship is a funny thing. We are all born into a family, but we grow into friendships. Members of your family may be your best friends. But if they are, I suspect it's more a matter of spirit than of blood.

Sometimes we lose touch with friends. We move away. We change jobs. Our lives take unexpected turns. Yet there is one friendship upon which every one of us may depend. It is a friendship which is available to all who will call upon the name of the Ultimate Friend.

The Ultimate Friend

That friendship is with Jesus, and the formula for that relationship is described in warm words in John 15:12-17. It's a friendship based on the greatest love of all. If you haven't experienced it -- and you should trust me on this, my friend -- you don't know what you're missing.

More Scriptures on friendship
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Proverbs 17:9 -He who covers over an offense promotes love.
Proverbs 18:24 - A friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:5 - Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron...
Jeremiah 33:2-3 -Call and He will answer.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 -If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 -A description of love.
James 4:4 - Friendship with the world...

taken from www.gospelcom.net

The Five Points Of Calvinism

There are two mains camps of theology within Christianity in America today: Arminianism and Calvinism.

Calvinism is a system of biblical interpretation taught by John Calvin. Calvin lived in France in the 1500's at the time of Martin Luther who sparked the Reformation.
The system of Calvinism adheres to a very high view of scripture and seeks to derive its theological formulations based solely on God’s word. It focuses on God’s sovereignty, stating that God is able and willing by virtue of his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, to do whatever He desires with His creation.
It also maintains that within the Bible are the following teachings: That God, by His sovereign grace predestines people into salvation; that Jesus died only for those predestined; that God regenerates the individual where he is then able and wants to choose God; and that it is impossible for those who are redeemed to lose their salvation.

Arminianism, on the other hand, maintains that God predestined, but not in an absolute sense. Rather, He looked into the future to see who would pick him and then He chose them. Jesus died for all peoples' sins who have ever lived and ever will live, not just the Christians. Each person is the one who decides if he wants to be saved or not. And finally, it is possible to lose your salvation (some arminians believe you cannot lose your salvation).
Basically, Calvinism is known by an acronym: T.U.L.I.P.

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)

These five categories do not comprise Calvinism in totality. They simply represent some of its main points.

1. Total Depravity:
Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by sin.
The doctrine of Total Depravity is derived from scriptures that reveal human character: Man’s heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23) and sick (Jer. 17:9). Man is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20). He does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). He is at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15). And, is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). The Calvinist asks the question, "In light of the scriptures that declare man’s true nature as being utterly lost and incapable, how is it possible for anyone to choose or desire God?" The answer is, "He cannot. Therefore God must predestine."
Calvinism also maintains that because of our s fallen nature we are born again not by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 8:29; 9:9-23).

2. Unconditional Election:
God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual. He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21).

3. Limited Atonement:
Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. Support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matt. 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many'; John 10:11, 15 which say that Jesus died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matt. 25:32-33); John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not all).

4. Irresistible Grace:
When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God. Some of the verses used in support of this teaching are Romans 9:16 where it says that "it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy"; Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work of God; Acts 13:48 where God appoints people to believe; and John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man’s will, but by God’s.

5. Perseverance of the Saints:
You cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved are eternally secure. They are eternally secure in Christ. Some of the verses for this position are John 10:27-28 where Jesus said His sheep will never perish; John 6:47 where salvation is described as everlasting life; Romans 8:1 where it is said we have passed out of judgment; 1 Corinthians 10:13 where God promises to never let us be tempted beyond what we can handle; and Phil. 1:6 where God is the one being faithful to perfect us until the day of Jesus’ return.

taken from The Calvinist Corner

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD STRONGER

1. Learn From GOD : Read The Bible.

How do we know who God is? How do we begin to understand His character and attributes? It is only by reading the Bible that we can know the truth about God. In this age of information, it is easy to get caught up in all the changing research and data which bombards us everyday. How important it is to remember that God's Word never changes! The Bible has the answers for all our questions and it offers hope for our times of hopelessness. It tells us of our origin and tells us of our eternal destiny. Most importantly it shows us Jesus Christ:

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT "...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

In other words, if you want your faith to grow and mature, read God's word on a consistent basis.

READ: Psalm 1 , Isaiah 40:7-8 , 2 Timothy 2:15

2. Talk To God : Pray.

Prayer is simply talking to God from your heart. Your prayers don't have to sound "religious" and you don't have to use only 'Christian sounding words. God wants to hear from the "real" you and He wants to hear your deepest concerns and needs. Prayer is mainly a time for us to thank the Lord and to praise Him for the great things He has done in our lives. Read Matthew 6:5-13 to see an example of a prayer which Jesus prayed.

Prayer is also a time for us to receive God's forgiveness for our sins. When you sin, don't beat yourself up and condemn yourself but go directly to God and confess your sins in prayer. God will be "faithful and just" to forgive you. Look at I John 1:8-10 and underline these scriptures in your Bible. Also, remember that you now belong to Jesus Christ and...

"...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
3. Hang Out With Other Christians : Fellowship.

Now that you have entered into God's family, you need to spend time with your new brothers and sisters. It's a good idea to develop friendships with people who have been walking with the Lord for a long time and spend time with them so you can learn from everything the Lord has shown them over the years. Likewise, as you grow and mature in the Lord, there will be others who begin to learn from your example. That's what fellowship is all about--the strengthening of all of God's people; or as the Bible puts it, "...the building up of the body of Christ".

READ: Ephesians 4:15-16 , Hebrews 10:19-25 , Acts 2:42-47
4. Tell People About Your Faith : Tell Others.

Chances are, before you gave your life to Jesus, someone close to you or even someone you had never met before shared with you the good news about a relationship with God. Always remember that God hasn't redeemed you, forgiven your sins, and given you a new life so that you can horde all of His blessings for yourself! He wants you to share your new life with others.

Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

5. Make A Public Commitment For Jesus : Be Baptized.

Baptism is an outward expression of what the Lord has done on the inside. It is not the act of baptism which cleanses you of your sins. Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16)

Notice that it is not the lack of baptism which brings condemnation but unbelief. However, Jesus is commanding us to be baptized and we should be careful to obey everything that God asks of us.

To learn more about baptism,
READ: Romans 6:3-4 , Colossians 2:10-13

Taken From http://jesusgift.com

I Am The Lord, I Changed Not

God is unchangeable. God's word is unchangeable too. In Matthew 24:35, the Lord Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Why then are we so ready to accept changes to God's word in the form of different Bible versions? The Authorized King James text has faithfully served the body of Christ for almost 400 years. During this time, and during its translation, Satan has viciously and relentlessly attacked it. I now hear Christians attacking it too! I've heard preachers and lay people say things like, "it's too hard to read" or "it doesn't properly reflect the true meaning of the original Greek". The issue about the original Greek sets my teeth on edge--which Greek? There are Greek manuscripts galore, including the corrupted manuscripts that the Roman Catholic religion uses. The snide remarks and attacks against this utterly reliable text are unfounded.

We must remember that the Bible is a spiritual book and is understandable to those who are led by God's Spirit. It is not possible for the natural man to understand it [I Corinthians 2:14], hence paraphrasing or simplifying it will do no good. The Bible is not supposed to read like a fairy tale--Peter said, "for we have not followed cunningly devised fables" [II Peter 1:16]. The words of the Authorized King James are not laborious to me, they are beautiful and full of God's power. Even the world knows it--the Authorized King James has been listed on Norton Anthology's list of "the world's best literature" for decades.

The new versions have come up with some dangerous changes to the scriptures. The Lord God gives us stern warnings about changing His Word--

Revelation 22:18-19, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book

Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Look at this change in the NIV

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son...

The authorized King James says,

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son.

In this instance, the NIV changes the scriptures by saying that Jesus is God's "one and only" Son instead of His only begotten Son. This change causes a contradiction in the word of God because God has more than one son according to both the King James (Genesis 6:2, Job 1:6, John 1:12) and NIV (Genesis 6:2).

I do not buy the line that the inerrant word of God is found only in the originals-- which nobody has. I know that God has the power to preserve His word and that he wouldn't leave us out in the dark with an "imperfect" translation. In the authorized King James Version God assembled, and moved with His Spirit, a team of some of the world's best scholars to translate His word into the world's most popular language, English.

The complete translator's notes of the Authorized King James scholars are not included in today's publishings. This is unfortunate because these notes say a lot about these men-- they were humble, loved the word of God, loved the King, were berated by the Catholic religion, and they desired a translation for the common man who was kept in darkness. Some of the translators where killed for their faith. This book was forged in blood, sweat, and tears.

I've heard folks make a big to-do about the italics in the Authorized KJV. Well, unlike many of today's translators the authorized KJV translators let us know which words they had to add in translating in order to give the full meaning of the original text (these are the words in italics in the KJV). Other translators have added words too--but they don't tell you what they've added. I speak a little Spanish and know that it is oftentimes necessary to rearrange or add words so that the translation makes sense. These men went through the extra trouble of identifying which words they added. That's real scholarship and integrity.

Let's fall in love with the Authorized KJV again and stand on it. Let's get down to business and read the Word and stop spending so much time reading what others have to say about the Word in commentaries, Greek lexicons, study bibles, etc. We want the Holy Ghost to talk to us.

How many classes have you been in where every student has a different textbook? None. It just doesn't make good sense on a very practical level. We all need to be on the same sheet of music so that we are in harmony. Let's not confuse our kids by teaching/preaching from the NKJV, NIV, NASV, LB, the Message, Phillips, GN, etc.

Let's not accept the premise that the tried and true Authorized King James is somehow outdated and is to be replaced by dozens of new translations. A standard test determined the Authorized KJV reading level to be 5th grade because it contains mostly one and two-syllablic words making it one of the easiest to read. People have been getting saved by reading it for a long, long time. We know that it contains the Word of life whereby we live and grow.

Satan knows that in a generation we won't uniformly quote the scriptures. Imagine ten people with ten different translations trying to recite a psalm together. Confusion. Satan knows that many newborn babes in Christ will not have the real milk that they need in order to grow because they'll have a watered down version of the truth. He figures that if he can't kill the babes, he'll do the next best thing-stunt their growth. At the same time the world will point to Christianity and say, "They don't even have a definitive word of God. Anybody can write a Bible." They already say that the Bible was "just written by men".

Being able to talk to a child of God and have our spirits commune on the parts of God's word that we've memorized is great. I now find people who are quoting scriptures that I know, but they are worded so differently that I have to ask the reference. This is confusion, and we know who authors confusion, the enemy of our souls, the Devil. I believe that the emergence of these many different "Bible" versions is Satan's most successful attempt to attack God's word. The Bible says that in the last days there's going to be a falling away of the church and I believe that these other versions are helping to usher it along.

Taken from www.holybible.com

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers:

You say: "It's impossible."
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on."
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it."
God says: It will be worth it. (Roman 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself."
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage."
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippics 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I don't have enough faith."
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough."
God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

Pass this on; you never know whose life my be in need of it today! God is too good to be unkind, He is too wise to be mistaken, and when you can't trace His hand, that's when you must learn to trust His heart.

DO YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

God wants you to be sure.
The Bible says, "These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know ye have eternal life"
(1 John 5:13)

Another question to consider is:
Suppose you were standing before God right now
and He asked you, "Why should I let you into My heaven?"
What do you think you would say?

You may not know what you would say, But...You can know,
because God loves you and has a purpose for your life.
The Bible states it this way, "God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life"
(John 3;16)

GOD'S PURPOSE IS THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

We receive eternal life as a free gift.
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
(Romans 6:23)

We can live a full and meaningful life right now.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly"
(John 10:10)

We will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also"
(John 14:3)

Eternal life gives meaning to life. Yet...
Our sinful nature keeps us from fulfilling God's
purpose for our lives. Thus...


OUR NEED IS TO UNDERSTAND OUR PROBLEM.

We are all sinners by nature and by choice.
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23)

We cannot save ourselves.
"Not of works, lest any man should boast"
(Ephesians 2:9)

We deserve death and hell.
"The wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23)

It is true that:
God is holy and just and must punish sin, yet He loves us and
has provided forgiveness for our sin. Jesus said, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me"
(John 14:6)

The Good News is that God has provided for the forgiveness of our sins.

GOD'S PROVISION IS JESUS CHRIST.

Jesus is God and became man.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us"
(John 1:1,14)

Jesus died for us on the cross.
"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God"
(I Peter 3:18)

Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
"(Jesus) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification"
(Romans 4:25)

That is good news,...
but the only way Jesus can affect our lives is for us to receive Him.
The Bible says, "As many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"
(John 1:12)

The choice is ours. Thus...

OUR RESPONSE IS TO RECEIVE JESUS.

We must repent of our sin.

Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sin.
"Repent and turn to God, and do works [which give evidence of] repentance."
(Acts 26:20)

Repentance is turning to God through Jesus and away from our sin.
It's like making a U-turn. As we turn...

We must place our faith in Jesus.
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
(Ephesians 2:8)

Faith is trusting Jesus.
It's like taking a trip on an airplane. You will never make the trip
until you trust the plane enough to board it.
To trust totally in Jesus means..

We must surrender to Jesus as Lord.
"If thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For...with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation"
(Romans 10:9-10)

Surrendering to Jesus as Lord is not just saying we give our lives to Jesus.
"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)

Surrendering to Jesus as Lord means giving Jesus control of our lives.

To give Jesus control of our lives is like driving down the highway with another
person. As long as you are driving, you are in control. If you realize you don't know
the way, but the other person does, you might say, "You take the wheel and drive."
Then the other person is in control and the two of you take the route he chooses.

As evidence of giving Jesus control, you will want to identify with Him.
The New Testament way is to confess Jesus publicly (Matthew 10:32-33)
and to follow Him in baptism and church membership (Acts 2:41)

THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:

* Does what you have been reading make sense to you?
* Is there any reason why you would not be willing to receive God's gift of eternal life?
* Are you willing to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus right now?

The Bible says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"
(Romans 10:13)

You need to ask the Lord to save you.

Read this prayer and see if it says what you want to say to God.

Dear God, I know that Jesus is Your Son, and that He died on the cross and was raised
from the dead. I know I have sinned and need forgiveness. I am willing to turn from my
sins and receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Call upon the Lord in repentance, faith, and surrender, using these
or similar words of your own; and Jesus will become your Savior and Lord.

Welcome to the family of God. You have just made the most important
decision of your life. You can be sure you are saved and have eternal life.

Your assurance...You know you have eternal life because:

God keeps His promises.
You repented of your sin (Acts 3:19).
You placed your faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9)
You surrendered to Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10)

God heard your prayer.
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"
(Romans 10:13)

You need to grow as a Christian.
The Bible calls new Christians "babes in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1).
Without certain essentials, babies will not develop normally.

The church is to a new Christian what the home and family are to a new baby.
You identify with your new family by confessing Jesus publicly and by experiencing
believer's baptism. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls"
(Acts 2:41)

Attend church Sunday and share with the pastor that you desire to be
baptized and become a member of the church.

Praying is to spiritual life what breathing is to physical life. Breathing must be
regular and continuous. The Bible says, "Pray without ceasing"
(1 Thessalonians 5:17). Learn to be specific in your praying. "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

God's word is to a new Christian what good food is to a new baby.
Good food is a daily requirement for proper growth. "As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow" (1 Peter 2:2)

Learning to witness is to a new Christian what learning to talk is to a new baby.
Christ commands us to share the good news with others.
"Ye shall be witnesses " (Acts 1:8).

Information taken from the "Eternal Life" tract
produced by the North American Mission Board, SBC.

Interesting Facts About God

The Bible is the life and tree of knowledge which contains:

* 66 books
* 1,189 chapters
* 31,173 verses
* 810,697 words
* and 3,566,480 letters.
* The longest chapter is Psalm 119.
* The middle verse is Psalm 118.8.
* The longest name is in Isaiah 8.
* The word "and " occurs 46,627 times.
* The word "Lord" 1,855 times.
* 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37 are almost alike.
* The longest verse is Esther 8:9 with 90 words and 426 letters.
* The shortest verse is John 11:35; "Jesus wept".
* Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except 2.
* Ezra the scribe was the first to preach from a pulpit.
* The words "boy" and "girl" "chapel" "coffin" "eternity" and "reverend" are only mentioned once - read on until you find them.
* The finest piece of reading is said to be in Acts 26.
* The name of God is not once mentioned in Esther, although it contains so much holiness, knowledge, love, and wisdom.

Read the Bible diligently in preference to the trash of the present day. All who may doubt these words and figures, count them for yourselves.

The above wonderful calculations occupied much time, devotion, study and perseverance to complete the work, and it is said to have originated from either an afflicted invalid lady or from a convict long confined in prison, thus enabling him to help pass away the solitary hours, and who must have been blessed with the patience of Job to complete the task.

The above was taken from a print over 250 years old. The Friendly Companion, Vol CXIV November 1989

Diary Of A Bible

If your Bible could write a diary of its usage, what would it say about your "devotional habits? Here is a sample of poor neglected bible.


January 15: "I've been resting quietly for a week. The first few nights after the first of the year my owner read me regularly, but now has forgotten me, I guess."

February 2: "Cleaned up. I was dusted today, along with other things, and put back in my place."

February 22: "My owner used me for a short time after dinner. Looked up a few references. Going to Sunday school tomorrow."

March 7: "Cleaned up. Dusted, and in my old place again. Have been down in the lower hall since my trip to Sunday school."

April 2: "Busy day. My owner led a Christian Endeavor meeting and had to look up references. He had an awful time finding me, although I was right there in my place all the time."

May 5: "In Grandma's lap. She is here on a visit. Today she let a tear drop on Colossians 2:5-7."

May 6: :In Grandma's lap again this afternoon. She spent most of her time on 1 Corinthians 13, and the last four verses of the fifteenth chapter."

May 7-9: "In Grandma's lap every afternoon now. It';s a comfortable spot. Sometimes she reads me, and sometimes she talks to me."

May 10: "Grandma's gone. Back in my old place again. She kissed me goodbye."

June 4: "Had a couple of four-leaf clovers stuck in me today."

July 1: "Packed in a suitcase with clothes and other things. Off on a vacation, I guess."

July 7: "Still in the suitcase."

July 10: "Still in the suitcase, although nearly everthing elser has been taken out."

July 15: "Home again and in my old place. Quite a long journey, although I don't see why I went, for I was never taken out of the suitcase."

August 1: "Rather stuffy and hot. Have two magazines, a novel and an jold hat on top of me. Wish thay would take them off."

September 10: "Cleaned up. Dusted and set right again."

September 22: "Used by Mary a few minutes today. She was writing a letter to a friend whose brother died and wanted an appropriate verse."

October 1: "Back in my old place agian. Not even dusted this week. I seem to be used only for emergencies. Wonder why they bother with me at all?"

Let this story encourage us to spend more time in the timeless truth of God's Holy Word!

Why Do I Believe that the Bible is the Word of God?

I believe the Bible is God's Word for ten reasons. Consider the following evidences:

1) The Bible's Oneness - The Bible contains sixty-six books written by over forty different writers from differing backgrounds over a span of two thousand years. Yet from Genesis to Revelation the Bible proclaims one truth, one plan of salvation, one code of ethics. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who inspired and guided each human writer to write His Word.

2) The Bible's Indestructibility - Kings have directed campaigns to root the Bible out of their kingdoms. Emperors have declared all-out wars to destroy the Bible. Yet ever since the days of the printing press, the Bible remains the most read book throughout the world. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who is almighty to preserve His Word throughout the ages.

3) The Bible's Universality - The Bible speaks to people from all types of cultures, continents, centuries, backgrounds, languages, ages, occupations, etc. It not only relates, but it also speaks powerfully to stop sinners, renew hearts and lead people to God. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who delights to apply His Word, by His Holy Spirit, to the minds and hearts of people.

4) The Bible's Inexhaustibility - Hundreds of Bible commentaries have been written; countless sermons have been preached, and yet, new insights are continually drawn from the Bible's limitless depths. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God of infinite wisdom and truth.

5) The Bible's Honesty - Biographical accounts of the heroes of faith in Scripture differ from human-authored biographies. Biographies written by people tend to enlarge their heroes' strengths, minimize their weaknesses and ignore their errors. The Bible, however, honestly relates David's, Noah's, and Peter's sinful failures as well as their triumphs of faith. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God of perfect honesty and integrity.

6) The Bible's Truth - Human writings attempt to minimize mankind's sin and expand upon his goodness; they attempt to credit man with some aspect of his salvation. This appeals to people. The Bible, however, teaches that natural man is totally sinful and cannot save himself; only God's grace can save him. The Bible exalts God to the highest and humbles man to the lowest. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God of infinite justice and graciousness.

7) The Bible's Historical Accuracy - Ancient human writings generally contain numerous errors. With expanding archeological evidence, however, biblical truths are being increasingly supported. To date, no factual evidence has been substantiated that disproves a single, biblical, historical truth. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who loves truth and is without error.

8) The Bible's Scientific Accuracy - When reading books written by authors who lived many years ago, we encounter numerous errors due to the writers' lack of current scientific knowledge. To date, however, no scientific truth has been discovered that contradicts the Bible. The Bible, in fact, speaks of several scientific truths prior to their being discovered by man and believed by societies. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who creates, upholds and understands all parts of His creation.

9) The Bible's Prophetical Accuracy - Human predictions and prophecies generally contain a mixture of truth and error. Some prove true while others do not. The Bible is full of prophecy; but no biblical prophesy has yet been proven wrong. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who is all-knowing, who knows the end as well as the beginning of all things.

10) The Bible's Personal Application - Applications of biblical truth have renewed people's lives, granted new spiritual life, opened spiritual insights, replaced hate with love, convicted people of sin, revealed Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners and turned people from self-centered to God-centered lives. Why? Because the Bible is the Word of God; a God who delights to convert and save sinful people. Yes, the Bible is the Word of God. Its oneness, indestructibility, universality, inexhaustibility, honesty, truth, historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, prophetical accuracy and personal application all testify of this truth.

The Bible is the Word of God. Do you believe it?