Posts filed under ‘christianity’
Fat, Rich Shepherds
Something is wrong with too many churches in America and it stems from those in leadership positions. For the average person, often, the choice of a church is determined by how much charisma the pastor has and/or how many exciting programs exist for the kids, or how upbeat the music. It may be that only when the specter of real persecution raises its ugly head (which is what God brought to the shepherds of Ezekiel’s day), that people will come to realize the importance of belonging to a church where only the truth is preached weekly without fail. It is the truth of Scripture that produces depth in our relationship with God. If that truth isn’t preached, there is no depth. Too many today have itching ears and want to hear what they want to hear solely because it makes them feel good but provides no true growth (2 Timothy 4:3). It’s pabulum.
Zechariah’s Near and Far Visions, Pt 2
Clearly, the angel’s words (who simply reiterated what the Lord was saying), point to the future when the Lord’s words will find fulfillment. If we look at Israel since the time of Zechariah, there has been no time during which the above texts has found fulfillment. Yes, we can look at Israel today and understand that there are many unwalled villages (kibbutz), where there appear to be communal gardens and vineyards shared by people living in homes nearby. However, if we take the two verses as a while, the full force of the meaning of these verses has not been, nor is in effect. There is a constant danger against the people living in Israel from outside forces who wish to see that nation destroyed.
Do You Want to Know God?
First, when we simply read the Bible each day, we are immersing ourselves in God’s Word, not as an exercise to gain knowledge, but with the intent of gaining a greater appreciation for God; who He is, how He interacts with His Creation, how He proves His love repeatedly for that Creation, how He continually provides evidence that He is sovereign over all things, etc. While yes, these things are also related to doctrine or theology, by simply reading God’s Word, it allows us to see things in context, which is extremely important, so that we can gain the big picture that God wants us to see.
Continue Reading October 9, 2017 at 11:18 AM Leave a comment
Zechariah’s Near and Far Visions, Pt 1
In the Bible, a “horn” is normally understood to mean “power,” whether from an individual, a group of people, or an empire. Commentators of course disagree on the exact meaning, with some believing the “four horns” represents all Gentile powers (v. 21), to the four corners of the earth, while others believe these horns are representative of Babylon, Medes-Persians, Greece, and Rome (from Daniel 2, 7). Regardless of the exact meaning, it likely refers to Gentile powers that God used to scatter the Israelites from their Land after continued rebellion. However, as is always the case, God holds these “horns” responsible for the way they treated His peculiar people.
Habakkuk Comes to Terms with God’s Sovereignty
There are three chapters to Habakkuk. If you have not read the book in a while, please do so. We see the prophet go from frustrated, to confused, to understanding, to acceptance, to a greater awareness that God is fully sovereign. The prophet was humbled (which is the natural outcome of grasping the truth of God’s sovereignty), because God stooped to reveal to Habakkuk what he needed to know. That knowledge was not simply for Habakkuk alone or God would not have told him to write it down. It was for Habakkuk’s Jewish contemporaries, as well as Jews who came after them, and it is for us today.
Why Does God Use Other Nations to Oppose Israel?
Whether we’re dealing with a minor prophet like Micah, Nahum, Joel, or another, the truth is very clear. God will use whatever He chooses to use in order to purify and perfect the nation that He created and whose original leaders entered into an irrevocable covenant with Jehovah Himself. God originally dealt with Israel’s leaders who set things in motion. All who are born into that nation share the responsibility (and the guilt when falling), of carrying on that covenantal relationship. God is certainly very much aware of the fact that at some point, His promises to Israel will be completely fulfilled. All nations who seek Israel’s harm will be dealt with by God, in His way and in His time.
Wait! World Will End October 21st!
Seems pretty straightforward to me. Notice Jesus uses the phrase “times or seasons.” With those three words, He is covering all the bases. By using the word “times,” Jesus is saying “It is not for you to know months, days, hours, or minutes” and by using the word “seasons” He is saying that no one will know specifically which part of the year things will happen related to His coming Kingdom. It is so clear, it’s almost painful, yet this has not stopped people from bending themselves over backwards or into the shape of a pretzel to try to figure it out.
Continue Reading September 25, 2017 at 12:27 PM Leave a comment
Revelation 12: What is It Really About?
Revelation 12 says nothing about the timing of the Rapture or start of the Tribulation. It is not even addressing Christians at all in nearly the entire chapter. It is about Israel and it is the best, most concise summary of Israel’s history anywhere in God’s Word. Notice we did not need to go outside of the Bible into the area of constellations and horoscopes to ascertain the meaning of Revelation 12:1-6. This is not to say that we can never look outside the Bible to help us better understand the Bible. In this case however, it is very clear that the true meaning of the text is clarified in other portions of God’s Word.
Continue Reading September 19, 2017 at 12:45 PM Leave a comment
Israel Again Failing to Rely on God
Israel is doing what every other nation under threat from another nation is doing. They are going to other nations that may appear to be helpful in order to come out victorious in a war that is not being fought soldier to soldier. So far, Israel has not entered into any treaty that I’m aware of with neighboring nations, but one can only wonder how far off that is? Imagine what would happen if Israel’s leadership became Christian and started to depend solely on God for His victory? According to Scripture that will actually occur one day but that day is not yet. Israel has a lot yet to go through before she is ready to humble herself, rely on God, and receive His victory.
Prophet Steve Fletcher is Wrong Again…
The sad truth is that these men are either guided by their own minds, by demonic entities, or both. When God speaks through a genuine prophet – as He has done so many times in the past – the words spoken always come true! It is that simple and that plain, but too many refuse to see it because they prefer to lean into the ethereal, regardless of the source.
StudyGrowKnow 