January 29th 2017
Do You Believe That God Gave Us The Bible Through The Men He Choose To Write It?
John 10:27-28 (NIV)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.
Jesus experienced how the sheep knew their shepherd, when the shepherds would come into Jerusalem and drive their sheep into a common pen with other sheep. Then when they concluded their business in the city, they would be ready to leave, they would go to this common pen containing many herds of sheep. They would open the gate and call out for their sheep, and only their sheep would respond and follow their shepherd, because they knew his or her voice. Are you listening for Jesus voice to bid you to follow Him? Have you already heard His voice, and you choose to follow Him? Then the Good News is this, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.” Did you get that, you are safe as your salvation is guaranteed by Jesus, “and (you) they shall never perish”
Most people turn to other members of mankind seeking wisdom and truth, but truth and wisdom comes only from Jesus Christ. Most people believe there is safety in numbers, as they will usually side with a consensus of what they believe to be the largest number of a viewpoint. However, consensus does not equal truth! Millions of people do not believe that smoking cigarettes and/or using other tobacco products is harmful to their health. Many people will refer to such numbers as evidence that using tobacco and/or other drugs may not be injurious to their health. This kind of truth allows people to feel okay about destroying their health because a consensus seemed to indicate it was okay.
Too many people in this country today are following some consensus that lets them hate other people who look different than them. Some are following a consensus that tells them it is okay to be defiant toward the police and/or military members. Such people believe it is okay to not report the people in their community who break the laws, because they would be “a rat” by somehow disowning them. People often see defiance as some form of personal freedom, but instead it is actually a form of slavery, as it holds them captive to a wrong belief system! To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32). Truth that is real does have a freeing effect, but it does not come from sinful mankind!
James wrote about how we should try to gain wisdom by asking God for it. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5). James here seems to be indicating that God will grant us wisdom even though we are sinners, as James says if God “who gives generously to all without finding fault.” So, you can be given wisdom even without first, “cleaning up your act” as this new wisdom, may help you align yourself with God! Paul also wrote about asking God for wisdom. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Remember, wisdom comes from God through Jesus Christ to those who choose to follow Him!
Solomon became the wisest man on the earth, because he asked for wisdom to lead God’s people, instead of asking for wealth, as most humans would. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (2 Chronicles 1:10-12)
Today in the USA we need to pray for God’s intervention so that this our land may again be blessed by God, so that we may maintain our freedom, and be able to maintain a peaceful society. God once promised His people that He would heal their land, if they would humble themselves. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:13-15). Can this great country actually be humble enough to attract God’s blessing? Can out current leadership be humble before God?
If you are a safety in number person, then Christianity is not really for you, in that, more people in this world do not identify with salvation only being available through Jesus Christ! Thomas questioned Jesus when He told His disciples that He was the Way the only way, by which mankind may be saved. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5-6). In our world, today, this is a difficult teaching, in that, it does not allow for Political Correctness to offer the wisdom needed to discern the truth. Jesus did not only say that He offers the only way to heaven, but He also thus offers the only truth about salvation.
No other religion on this earth offers a path to salvation! Therefore, if we allow people to adhere to the belief systems their eternal souls will not end up in heaven when they die! Our task on this earth is to tell all people the Good News, so that their immortal souls may end up in heaven when they die! Christianity is the only religion that offers the truth about Jesus Christ and also is the only one that allows followers to know they are saved, because all salvation is obtained by what Jesus did in our stead, not controlled by what you a sinful person does!
The Bible contains the entire story of the universe, and more importantly, it contains the only true story of God’s salvation. Jesus is contained in all the Bible, not just in the red-letter words! These words that were recorded by Jesus’ disciples are very important, but to really understand the words Jesus uttered while walking this earth, you must believe all the words of this Book of God. Can you believe, do you believe, that God gave us the words in the Bible through the men He choose to write it? Then God has controlled the Biblical accounts over the years, so that essentially all these writings are still true! Then Jesus left the Holy Spirit behind for us, when He went back to be with the Father in heaven to help us believe the accounts in our Bible.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 10:27-28 (NIV)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.
Jesus experienced how the sheep knew their shepherd, when the shepherds would come into Jerusalem and drive their sheep into a common pen with other sheep. Then when they concluded their business in the city, they would be ready to leave, they would go to this common pen containing many herds of sheep. They would open the gate and call out for their sheep, and only their sheep would respond and follow their shepherd, because they knew his or her voice. Are you listening for Jesus voice to bid you to follow Him? Have you already heard His voice, and you choose to follow Him? Then the Good News is this, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.” Did you get that, you are safe as your salvation is guaranteed by Jesus, “and (you) they shall never perish”
Most people turn to other members of mankind seeking wisdom and truth, but truth and wisdom comes only from Jesus Christ. Most people believe there is safety in numbers, as they will usually side with a consensus of what they believe to be the largest number of a viewpoint. However, consensus does not equal truth! Millions of people do not believe that smoking cigarettes and/or using other tobacco products is harmful to their health. Many people will refer to such numbers as evidence that using tobacco and/or other drugs may not be injurious to their health. This kind of truth allows people to feel okay about destroying their health because a consensus seemed to indicate it was okay.
Too many people in this country today are following some consensus that lets them hate other people who look different than them. Some are following a consensus that tells them it is okay to be defiant toward the police and/or military members. Such people believe it is okay to not report the people in their community who break the laws, because they would be “a rat” by somehow disowning them. People often see defiance as some form of personal freedom, but instead it is actually a form of slavery, as it holds them captive to a wrong belief system! To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32). Truth that is real does have a freeing effect, but it does not come from sinful mankind!
James wrote about how we should try to gain wisdom by asking God for it. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5). James here seems to be indicating that God will grant us wisdom even though we are sinners, as James says if God “who gives generously to all without finding fault.” So, you can be given wisdom even without first, “cleaning up your act” as this new wisdom, may help you align yourself with God! Paul also wrote about asking God for wisdom. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Remember, wisdom comes from God through Jesus Christ to those who choose to follow Him!
Solomon became the wisest man on the earth, because he asked for wisdom to lead God’s people, instead of asking for wealth, as most humans would. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (2 Chronicles 1:10-12)
Today in the USA we need to pray for God’s intervention so that this our land may again be blessed by God, so that we may maintain our freedom, and be able to maintain a peaceful society. God once promised His people that He would heal their land, if they would humble themselves. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:13-15). Can this great country actually be humble enough to attract God’s blessing? Can out current leadership be humble before God?
If you are a safety in number person, then Christianity is not really for you, in that, more people in this world do not identify with salvation only being available through Jesus Christ! Thomas questioned Jesus when He told His disciples that He was the Way the only way, by which mankind may be saved. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5-6). In our world, today, this is a difficult teaching, in that, it does not allow for Political Correctness to offer the wisdom needed to discern the truth. Jesus did not only say that He offers the only way to heaven, but He also thus offers the only truth about salvation.
No other religion on this earth offers a path to salvation! Therefore, if we allow people to adhere to the belief systems their eternal souls will not end up in heaven when they die! Our task on this earth is to tell all people the Good News, so that their immortal souls may end up in heaven when they die! Christianity is the only religion that offers the truth about Jesus Christ and also is the only one that allows followers to know they are saved, because all salvation is obtained by what Jesus did in our stead, not controlled by what you a sinful person does!
The Bible contains the entire story of the universe, and more importantly, it contains the only true story of God’s salvation. Jesus is contained in all the Bible, not just in the red-letter words! These words that were recorded by Jesus’ disciples are very important, but to really understand the words Jesus uttered while walking this earth, you must believe all the words of this Book of God. Can you believe, do you believe, that God gave us the words in the Bible through the men He choose to write it? Then God has controlled the Biblical accounts over the years, so that essentially all these writings are still true! Then Jesus left the Holy Spirit behind for us, when He went back to be with the Father in heaven to help us believe the accounts in our Bible.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak