Archives

All posts by The Bible In Your Hand

My Thanksgiving Prayer

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on November 22, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

ThanksgivingMy Thanksgiving Prayer

I am sure many of us can relate to this.  Yesterday was a very tough day as I was personally stabbed in the back.  No, not physically but figuratively.  It hurts, stings and even today, brings a tear to my eye.

My friend and for the past 20 years, partner in ministry stabbed me in the back.  I think we both knew there would be growing pains as my wife and I transitioned to a new church.  We did not expect the reaction that we have received or felt from our former ministry partner during the two months since we transitioned our ministry.

It makes Thanksgiving a little tough, for the feelings of hurt are still there.  But last night as I thought about what happened, I can see areas, where indeed I could have handled things differently.  I can see where the signs of problems developed quite some time ago, until yesterday they bubbled over, words were spoken, feelings were hurt, and Thanksgiving could be ruined.

When so much has been invested in a relationship, and you have enjoyed working, sharing together, and both our families have spent countless hours together in both ministry and in recreation, the loss creates a stinging heartfelt hurt.

Perhaps this is the way it was for God the Father and the Pre-incarnate Christ when Adam and Eve figuratively stabbed them in the back.  Think of the love and compassion shown by the Pre-incarnate Christ as he kneeled down and formed Adam out of the dust of the earth, and later Eve from Adam.  How he lovingly set aside one day each week to spend with His newly created family in God’s home on earth the Garden of Eden.

Yet despite the stab in the back, the rejection the Pre-incarnate Christ and God the Father felt from their earth family, they still continued to love and show mercy, tenderness and compassion toward them.  He continued to lead, guide and direct, yet the rejection of the human family toward God continued.

Which brought my thinking to the scene on Calvary.  Here is the creator of the world being nailed to a wooden cross. The emblem of suffering and shame, dyeing the most humiliating death possible and from hands of the ones He had created, loved and shown mercy toward.  But instead of getting mad, upset or speaking words of hatred, Christ said, “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

If my Saviour and Lord who was every bit as human as you and I, refusing to use his divinity, but instead becoming one like us can then love his enemies and even when suffering the most humiliating death at the hands of those He loved, then how can I let this disagreement between my friend and I affect me.  Instead of being mad, I need to bend my knee and pray, first that my own sins and short comings will be forgiven, and that my heart and the heart of my former ministry partner will also be changed.

Since we last celebrated Thanksgiving, I am sure each of us can think of the many ways we have been hurt by someone or something.  Let us all bend our knee, humble our spirit praying that the sins and short comings in our life will be forgiven and then pray for those that have hurt us.

Oh, trust me, I know this is much easier said than done.  It difficult to pray for another, especially when they have hurt you, or even you have hurt them.  But if Christ can pray for, and love those that crucified him. If Christ is truly our Lord and Saviour, then His example should become our desire. That would be, we love one another as he has loved us.

Therefore, for the family of my friend and for my friend I offer up a prayer today, that we both can forgive each other.  Instead of focusing on the negative that has happened, let us focus on all the wonderful blessings, that have come from working and sharing together over all these years.  May God richly bless you and keep you until the day of His return.

To each of you reading this, this morning, I pray for each of you, that you too can put away the negative thoughts toward friends, family, and coworkers. Instead remember the blessings God has bestowed upon us all.  So many that we cannot count and in ways we will not know or understand until His return in the clouds of glory.

This is my Prayer, Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings, to you all. Amen.

The Price of a Godly Life

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on November 20, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

A Godly LifeThe Price of a Godly Life


Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12.

As the time comes for God’s final message to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through the humble, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified through the power of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be unconstrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of world will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of false teachers—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred.

The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. Religious bodies will appeal to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work they will become more bold and decided against those that keep the law of God.  All manner of wrath and hatred will be invoked against commandment keepers of God.

The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” To human wisdom, all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, … there will be strange developments.

As we watch the daily newscasts we see this beginning to take place within the European Union.

The truth is, no man can serve God without enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness.

What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for Christ’s sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ. It is this fellowship with the Saviour that will enable God’s people to endure to the end.

 

Revivals True Counterfeit

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on November 16, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , .

Revivals True and Counterfeit

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:16, 17.

Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest.

Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not bestowed.

A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the obligation of the divine law, has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time.

It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.