The Real Boogey Man

It seems that people have always loved to be frightened. The feelings of fear and fright causes our heart rate to accelerate and gets a little adrenaline flowing, thus causing a heightened sense of awareness. We begin to feel more “alive” when we are fearful. To some this feeling is quite pleasurable, at least for a short while. We should note that there is a difference between fear or fright and terror. Fear or fright is a feeling we get while we watch a spooky movie or read a horror novel in the safety and security or our own home or a movie theater. Terror, on the other hand, is something experienced. Terror is a mortal and realized fear for our own life, or that of another person. Most victims of violent crime, police officers, fire fighters and combat veterans have felt a sense of terror at some point.

All Hallows (Saint’s) Evening, a.k.a. “Halloween” is the evening before All Saint’s Day, which is a catholic holiday in honor of all of their “saints.” Halloween has its roots in paganism. However, today it has little or nothing in common with the pagan celebration. This day and age, Halloween is just a time for children to dress-up in costumes and get tummy aches from eating too much candy. It is a day when being frightened is fun. It is a day for hearing and telling scary stories by the light of a campfire or by the light of a flashlight held beneath a chin.

The spooky stories we hear and tell on Halloween are full of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, witches, were-wolves, vampires, and worst of all – the Boogey Man, or when I was kid the, “Booger Man.” We tell these stories, knowing full well that there is no such thing as a vampire, or a ghost, or a Boogey Man. They’re all just stories. We all know that, don’t we? However, the scary elements of the stories (ghouls, goblins, etc) all have at least one thing in common – they all represent evil and darkness. The “Boogey Man” of the story is always an evil, sinister being that wants to kill and destroy.

The stories are make-believe, but Boogey Man is real! He has a name – Satan, the Devil. He is an evil, sinister being who only wants to kill and destroy souls. He is an angel, who led a revolt against God and was cast down, along with his fellow rebel angels. For him and his angels, God has “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). However, as of yet, the Devil is allowed to roam free. Our adversary Satan, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (2 Peter 5:8). He is the “Father of Lies” and a murderer. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44).

He knows that he has been condemned to everlasting fire in Hell and seeks to take as many souls as he can into that fiery pit with him. He is the source of all that is malicious, despiteful, evil, hateful, malevolent, malignant, nasty, rancorous, spiteful, vicious, wicked, poisonous, venomous, virulent, baneful, detrimental, noxious, pernicious, envious, jealous, mean or petty. He is the ultimate liar and deceiver. He is not a physical being who stalks and kills his victims like Jason (“Friday the 13th”), Freddy Kreuger (“Nightmare on Elm Street”), or a monster in a story. He seeks to kill and destroy in other ways. He tempts mankind into sin just as he tempted Jesus, “Who did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). He seeks to have us kill ourselves in sin, knowing full well that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23).

We need to fear and be in terror of him and his influence. He can destroy us if we allow him to. However, in our fear and terror of him, we must not panic! We must stand firm against him and resist his temptations. Soldiers in combat experience terror, but they stand firm in the face of it. Fire fighters and police officers experience terror and fight against it. Christians face the terror of Satan and his evil works and overcome them through faith in God and the assurance of eternal life in Christ Jesus. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). Satan cannot snatch away your soul unless you let him. Fear him. Be wary of him. Nevertheless, stand up to him! “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7).

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Hell

1 – Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word Sheol is derived from a root-word meaning “to ask,” “demand;” hence insatiableness (Prov. 30:15, 16). It is rendered “grave” thirty-one times (Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; 1 Sam. 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.

In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered “ hell ” the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of Sheol are “the congregation of the dead” (Prov. 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Num. 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps. 9:17; 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Ps. 16:10; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13, etc.).

Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (Job 10:21, 22), with bars (Job 17:16). The dead “go down” to it (Num. 16:30, 33; Ezek. 31:15, 16, 17).

2 – The Greek word Hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as Sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Pet. 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 1:18), and it is downward (Matt. 11:23; Luke 10:15).

The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of Hades called paradise (Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22).

(3.)  Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Matt. 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Matt. 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 16:24, etc.). (See HINNOM.)            …. Easton’s Dictionary

NOTE: The word most often that refers to the place of eternal punishment is “Greek — Gehenna”.  Whenever we look at the words that generally refer to the grave we find that the word in the Old Testament is “Sheol” and in the New Testament is Greek, “Hades”. When looking for word meanings, consider these distinctions. The three words must be translated in their proper place according to context. Remember this: there are three words in the Hebrew and Greek languages that are to be considered as we seek an understanding of the grave, the intermediate state of the dead and the eternal state of the wicked.

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Divisions and Denominations

QUESTION: “If there’s only one God and only one Bible, then why are there so many different churches or denominations?”

Excellent question! Certainly that’s not the way God intended for it to be, nor is it the way things were in the first century between 33 A.D. when Christ established His church (Matt. 16:18-19) on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-47), and the writing of Revelation by John, somewhere near the end of the 1st century. During that time the Scripture shows us but one church in existence. The church was the body of Christ, and there was only one (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4-6). During that time all the ‘churches’ (that is to say, local congregations of the same, one, exclusive, New Testament church over which Jesus was Head – Eph. 1:22-23) all taught the same things (1 Cor. 4:17, 7:17, 11:16, 16:1). They were expressly, exclusively, and unequivocally committed to the apostles’ doctrine only (Acts 2:42), as the apostles alone delivered by divine authority the very commandments of God (1 Cor. 14:33-38; 1 Thess. 2:13, 4:1-8; 2 Tim. 1:13).

Divisions (or denominations) were thoroughly condemned (1 Cor. 1:10-13), while unity was achieved only by simply standing together as one on the absolute truth of God’s Word just as Jesus had prayed for (John 17:6-23; Phil. 1:27-2:2). For 200 years or so thereafter there was but the one church Jesus built as seen in Scripture. Emperor Constantine later (313-337) began departures from the Scripture that led to the foundation of the Catholic Church being laid, and it wasn’t until 1517 that the first major protestant denominations began to be built by mere mortal men (Matt. 15:7-9), which did not resemble the church of Christ as seen in Scripture (Rom. 16:16), its having been established some 1484 years earlier. Most people are stunned to learn that in fact, none of the modern-day Protestant denominations (i.e. divisions) are more than 500 years old, being founded and established by mere, mortal men instead of Christ and His hand-picked, divinely-inspired apostles.

Bottom Line? There is one and only one God, one faith, one Lord, one baptism, and one body/church, according to God Himself in His holy word – period (Eph. 4:4-6). Want to learn more about the Lord’s one N.T. church as established and experienced in Scripture; the same one the apostles worked and worshipped both with and in respectively?  Come and see and check us out. Ask for a study. Ask questions. We’re easy to find, both in the phone book, and, unlike the denominations, also in The Book (Acts 2, Rom. 16:16).

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Humility

What does it mean to be humble?

Well, the Bible states that we are to be clothed with humility (1 Pet. 5:5). We are to humble ourselves under God (1 Pet. 5:6). Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:4) Thus, we are to serve “the Lord with all humility of mind . . . ” (Acts 20:19)

In the Bible, we read of examples we can follow of those who were humble. In regards to Christ, it is recorded that He, “being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:8) King Hezekiah, “humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” (2 Chron. 32:26) From the pen of God we see, “how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” (1 Ki. 21:29)

Now, we can show humility in different ways. First, it can be shown by serving one another. Paul wrote, “. . . be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thess. 5:13) The Hebrew writer said, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Heb. 6:10) Therefore, “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Heb. 10:24)

Second, humility is shown by preferring one another. Being, “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Rom. 12:10). Timothy was told to, “. . . observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Tim. 5:21) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. . . ” (Matt. 7:12)

Third, in showing humility, you must love all people. Paul said to, “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (Eph. 5:2) Thus, “Let brotherly love continue.” (Heb. 13:1)

Fourth, we show humility by working for others. We are commanded to be, “perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Eph. 4:12) “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12) Therefore, “whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (Jam. 1:25)

Fifth, we demonstrate humility by edifying and encouraging others. Many times Christians forget that we are suppose to be, “the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16) “not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” (Col. 2:19) So, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” (Rom. 14:19)

Living in humility is shown to be difficult when everyone goes their own way, does their own thing and forgets that they are connected to the body. Paul showed this confusion when the saints of Corinth even came together when he said, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” (1 Cor. 14:26) Thus, if something in the worship causes another to stumble and be unstable in his faith, how can that leader be humbly edifying others?

Therefore, we ought to always ask ourselves, “O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mic. 6:8) For, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-2) “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3)

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Ichabod

The spiritual picture of Israel during the time of Samson was so bleak. True enough, the mighty judge did so much to defeat the Philistines, but the immorality of his life brought shame on the nation God had treasured above all nations. There was, perhaps, hope that Eli, the new judge appointed by God, would bring greater spirituality to Israel, but such was far from what actually happened. In many ways it became worse.

The sons of the new judge, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests in charge of offering sacrifices at the tabernacle. God’s first description of them was, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:12). Ten verses later, we read that they were committing fornication with women at the entrance to this holy place.

It got even worse. When the Philistine army came against Israel and killed 4,000 Jews, the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the battle site as a “good luck charm” to see if it would help in the battle. It was Eli’s evil sons who brought this ark! The ark was captured; the sons of Eli were killed along with 30,000 in the army of Israel.

When the pregnant wife of Phinehas, one of Eli’s sons, heard of the death of her husband, the death of Eli (that’s another amazing story), the slaughter of 30,000 Israelites and the capture of the ark, she was so grieved that she delivered the child. The name she gave to that child, Ichabod, showed what grieved her most for Ichabod means “the glory has departed.” The enemies of God had taken those precious tablets and had taken the ark—the very place where atonement was made for God’s people. The glory of Israel was not found in her father-in-law or in her husband. It was in the ark!

So, what lesson is there for us in this story? Think about how the glory of God is found in the church. Paul said, “For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people’” (2 Cor. 6:16). We glorify Him when we let our lights shine (Matt. 5:16). He has sanctified the church, cleansed us and presented us as a glorious church (Eph. 5:26-27).

What will remove His presence from us? When sin enters the church and is ignored, we walk in darkness, and He no longer is there for He withdraws His fellowship (1 John 1:3, 6). His glory is in the church, but He cannot remain where ungodliness abounds!

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