Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Bible declares…

The Bible declares…
– that there is a God. It also declares that there is a Devil…Satan.
(Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:24; 1 Chron. 21:1; Zech. 3:1; Rev. 12:9-10)
– that their purpose is mutual: both want your soul! 
(1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Peter 5:8)
– that Satan portrays himself as God; but God NEVER portrays Himself as Satan.
(2 Thess. 2:3-12)
– that God encourages discussion and investigation of His words; Satan calls this vanity.
Isa. 1:18; 41:1; 43:26; Rom. 1:21; 2 Kings 17:15; Jer. 2:5; Eph. 4:17-18
– that God HAS never; and WILL never, deceive you to solicit your service.
Titus 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 6:28
– that Satan always HAS; and always WILL, deceive you for the same purpose.
(John 8:44)
Some, in the Bible, called the Son of God, Satan; and some called Satan, God.
John 19:20; Rev. 14:9, 11
For the Bible declares…
that there is TRUTH and there is ERROR. 
(1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 4:6)
That God has angels, apostles, ministers, and servants; so also, does Satan (Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 11:13, 15; Rom. 6:16).
Therefore, the PREACHING from their ministers bears many resemblances, but there is ONE glaring difference!
The reason for this ONE difference is because only ONE proclaims truth, for there is only ONE true gospel message. (Gal. 1:6-9)
Both have motives for advancing their message.
The one with a message of error always gives himself away; and always in the same manner…by IMITATION of the one with a message of truth.
The ones with the ERROR imitate the ones with the truth; but the ones with the truth NEVER imitate the ones with the ERROR.
(Jer. 2:13; 12:16; Gal. 2:14)
The ones with the error advance their cause by force, intimidation, and deceit;
Those with truth, promote their cause by honesty and patient overtness.
(Jer. 8:8; Prov. 7:5; 2 Cor. 4:2; 6:7; 2 Tim. 4:2)
Likewise, some call Satan’s ministers ‘gospel preachers’ and ‘gospel preachers’, ministers of Satan. In doing so, their true nature and true love are revealed – John 3:19-21; Matt. 10:24-25; John 8:39; 2 Thess. 2:10
It is why the Lord warned:
“Take heed WHAT ye hear” ~ Mark 4:24
“Take heed HOW ye hear” ~ Luke 6:38

It is why DOCTRINE MATTERS!

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Monday, August 19, 2019

BEING A FOOL AND BEING FOOLISH

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN BEING FOOLISH AND BEING A FOOL.
A fool has a great confidence that some find attractive.
The fool has an enormous talent to sense the needs of another and then transform himself into the kind of person that other person wants.
The fool will use his tongue to flatter others, to convince them that he alone understands them, and that others have misunderstood them and treated them badly.
They have a fun way about themselves that makes you drop your guard because of your natural desire to have fun and feel that you belong.

For the fool this is all a show, an act of hypocrisy, so that he might gain a temporary goal at the expense of another and then cast off the one he has used. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15) He may be bold and love to express his opinion, but he does not know where he is going.

One of the great mistakes a person can make is to get in the way of a fool and his folly. “Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly.” (Proverbs 17:12)

God warns us in many ways not to even try to teach a fool. “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)


A fool will threaten you if he perceives that you are getting in the way. He will threaten to slander you and will carry out that threat if you do not submit to him.


There is a big difference in being a fool and being foolish. All of us have been foolish and learned, but the fool will not. This is the very person that Jesus warned about: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7:6)


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Monday, August 12, 2019

Did the Bible actually prophesy about the WATERGATE scandal?

CONTEXT - it matters!
I remember a TV preacher from years ago, (during the Nixon presidency) saying that the Bible predicted the Watergate scandal...quoting passages such as Neh. 8:1, 3 which only contained the words "water" and "gate" in them, without regard for the context in which 'water' and 'gate'.

Nehemiah also mentioned the HORSE gate; the FOUNTAIN gate; the REFUSE gate, the VALLEY gate OLD gate, FISH gate, SHEEP gate, EAST gate, INSPECTION gate, OLD gate, GATE of EPHRAIM and GATE of the GUARD in Nehemiah chapter 3. These were simply the various ENTRANCES (gates) of the city of Jerusalem. WATER gate was one of the entrances to the city, NOT a prophecy of political scandal to occur in the 1970's, as this preacher applied. it.

A similar DISREGARD for CONTEXT could be made from a statement of Job. "If I have looked at the sun when it shone...that...would have been an iniquity...for I would have denied God above." ~ Job 31:26-28. Without regard for CONTEXT, some might conclude that looking at the sun would be a sin...

However, if you read the missing words in these 3 verses (vss. 26-28), as well as the entire chapter, Job's words are a declaration that he has NOT concealed his sin by doing any of the "if's" in this chapter.


Also, by consideration of earlier chapters in the book, Job's friends had accused him of this very thing...secret sins. This is why a study of context is crucial to teaching truthfully from the Bible.

CONTEXT MATTERS!
Jesus taught:
"Take heed WHAT ye hear" ~ Mark 4:24
"Take heed HOW ye hear" ~ Luke 8:18

If context is perverted; doctrine will also be perverted. CONTEXT makes a difference, because DOCTRINE MATTERS!

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rdb