Great Victory

Great Victory

When the Second World War was won, several newspapers printed this one word at the top of the front page in big bold letters. There were numerous celebrations, parties, and festivities acclaiming the end of this great conflict. What would have happened had individuals moped around looking depressed and upset at such news? Some might have asked, “Haven’t you heard about the great victory? We’ve won! It’s over! No more war!” At seeing some despondent, some might ask, “Whose side were you on, anyway?”Great Victory

Sometimes I wonder if Christians sometimes get confused about Christ’s victory. By the way some mope around, they may think that the battle is still undecided and can go either way. Perhaps they are watching the morning or evening news too much and have confused our political battles with Christ’s victory. Brethren, these things ought not to be! When I read Revelation 19 and the great rejoicing that takes place in that chapter because of Christ’s victory, what do the latest political victories or failures matter? They are just vapors that appear for a little time and then vanish, but Christ Jesus is forever. His victory is assured, and His triumph has begun! The only question we need to be asking ourselves is “How am I going to get as many people to go to the celebration party with me.”

The apostle John wrote, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Let’s rejoice and be glad knowing that “The Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Revelation 19:6).

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Nineveh Repented

Nineveh Repented

Who has not heard of the story of Jonah and his three days and nights in the belly of the big fish? It is one of the most amazing events in the scriptures and even many non-believers know about it. We sometimes focus on Jonah’s preaching as the only reason the men of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes. What else caused this pagan city to repent?jonah fish

It was more than just the message he delivered. He walked the streets of that massive city giving them the message God had given to him.  “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).  The message was from God, but was there any way that any person could know that God was the source of the message?

The answer to this question is found in Luke 11:30). “For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.” Jesus said that Jonah was more than just a preacher to the Ninevites—he was a sign. We noted in last week’s article that a sign is far more than an event which happens. It is a sign from God, and it has no earthly explanation.

How Jonah was a sign is not specified. Those sailors who tossed Jonah overboard and seeing the storm stop immediately saw truth and worshiped God. When that storm first came, they threw their cargo into the sea and reversed their course to return home (Jonah 1:13). There was no need to continue the journey. Is it possible they arrived, and their words prepared the way for Jonah? Is it possible that Jonah’s appearance showed he had been in that fish? Or was it some other way? Jonah was not just a preacher; he was a sign!

The miracles performed by the early Christians were a sign they were more than just “preachers.” Jesus said that those who believed and were baptized would perform miracles (Mark 16:16-18).  After Jesus ascended, “…they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the words through the accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).

Why were there miracles in the exodus from Egypt? God was confirming His words with accompanying signs. Why did Jesus perform miracles? God was confirming His words with accompanying signs.

The Bible said that those signs would cease (1 Cor. 13:8-10). While we might think that more would believe today if they saw signs, think of the words spoken to the rich man in Hades. He wanted a miracle to be shown to his brothers. Was he right? “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31). A failure to understand how God used signs can lead one to believe “lying wonders” today (2 Thess. 2:9).

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Sell it Not!

Sell it Not!

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23 KJV)Sell It Not

Buy low, sell high is the simplest explanation of commerce and the market economy. Who among you has invested a lot of money in collectibles? I used to collect NFL trading cards – (anyone want to buy a Ryan Leaf rookie card?) There used to be some stuffed animals known as Beanie Babies, which were immensely popular as collectible items. Some people paid outrageous sums of money to buy some of the more limited-edition critters, thinking they will be worth more in the future and would bring a profit. The problem was that Beanie Baby collection turned out to be simply a fad and the collectibles market for stuffed toys collapsed. I had a friend who was into collecting those things, but he decided to unload everything he saw the value starting to decline. There are thousands of people today who are holding onto thousands of beaning babies apiece, hoping one day there will once more be a market for them. The deal was that whoever has them last, loses.

The truth on the other hand, never goes down in value. When one buys the truth and holds on to the truth, he or she naturally gains in wisdom, instruction and understanding. These things are what is truly valuable.

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19; John 8:31-32

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He Sees Your Worth

He Sees Your Worth

There are some passages in the Bible that you can read a lifetime and simply read over them without considering them closer.  In this lesson, an instance of this is examined.  It is funny how commentary after commentary, scholar after scholar, and one’s own blind trudge forward can miss what is quite simple.  This video is the start of looking at your worth in the eyes of God.  I will likely provide a follow up video later as there were simply some thoughts and passages I did not get to properly explore.

Self worth seems to have its extremes in life.  We can go from the extreme of being arrogant straight to the line of feeling like we have no value at all.  I believe we have all seen examples like this in family, friends, or community.  This Locusts and Wild Honey study comes out of Matthew 17 and 18 and attempts to look at the full passage to understand the message and context.  There are wonderful themes of forgiveness and compassion that are never skipped in this selection of scripture and certainly, they won’t be skipped this time either (even if i does take another recording!).

Remember, whether you have matured to the point of strong Biblical reliance upon your Lord or whether you are continually barraged with your own failings in this life, God cares for you deeply.  You have worth.

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Back to School

Back to School!

School starts soon! I can’t believe the summer has flown by so quickly. Just yesterday it was Memorial Day (it seems). We wish our children a very good school year. We hope they succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Yet, at the same time, education in secular matters is not the priority. We must recognize the supremacy of the spiritual (Matthew 6:33). Secular education should be tempered by spirituality. Paul said, “I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19).back to school

The world is filled with people who had great education, were successful in life, but died dissatisfied with their accomplishments. This is because the world can never truly satisfy (Proverbs 27:20). We work to gain thinking that the next great thing, accomplishment, or deal will fulfill us. When it finally comes, it lacks the luster that we thought it had, and we move on to the next “next great thing,” and the cycle repeats itself. One day, if we’re lucky, we will wake up and decide that we must do something better with our life. The unlucky never arrive at that day.Proverbs 14:14 states, “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.”

As we go “back to school” let’s not get so wrapped up in our secular education that we forget that the world and everything in it belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). Let’s prioritize the spiritual. Let’s remember that all the good things that we have come from God (James 1:17), and let’s seek to use those things to the glory of God, including our education (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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