by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Veteran's Day
A Soldier’s Shield
The Bible Calls us to Prayer for Veterans
1 Samuel 12:23, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord for failing to pray for you.
I would propose to you that when those whose lives are in danger ask for prayer, it would be a sin to fail to pray for them. Born again Christians can take their rightful place among such giants of intercession (The Expositors Bible Commentary) as Moses, (Exodus 32;30-32) Daniel, (Daniel 9:4-20) the apostle Paul (Romans 1:9-10) And Jesus. (Romans 8:34)
Just what are the benefits in praying for those in our armed forces?
God who called us to Christ sent His Holy Spirit to have the Apostle Paul write, “I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…” (1 Timothy 2:1) Ephesians 6:18 tells us that Christians are to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers…” All Christians who come to understand and respond to their call to pray for others have the great opportunity to go before the “Throne of Grace” (Hebrews 4:16) and intercede for their fellowman. They have on many occasions seen the truth of what James wrote, “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Christians must resist that temptation of omission in prayer because they become weary of the nation’s continued descent into sin. The prophet Samuel saw the sins of the people, yet committed to pray for them because he did not want to sin against the Lord. The most influential work done for the Hebrews was the teaching of God’s Word and the prayers that came from great intercessors such as Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and King David. These powerful intercessors did not just leave the people of God to their own course – to sow as they pleased and reap as they had sown. They did not withdraw from their responsibility, but interceded with all their hearts before a merciful God who could bring a people to repentance, protect them from their enemies and empower them to accomplish His perfect will.
Prayer is mightier than a king’s power of authority and more effective than a warrior’s sword. Wars are going to come and it is the responsibility of Christians to hold up their generation of soldiers in prayer which the Apostle Paul understood to be a weapon that has divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
As Christians prayerfully examine the whole of Scripture they are led of the Holy Spirit to intercession. They know in their hearts that failing to pray for those who are in harm’s way, whether in fighting the spiritual or earthly battles of the Lord, is to sin. Pleasing God involves interceding for all of His works and for the people He is using to get His will done. (Matthew Henry Commentary; The Bible Readers Companion; Commentary on the Old Testament; The New American Commentary; True the Bible Commentary; The Pulpit Commentary)
I can assure you that every soldier who is facing the onslaught of our enemies’ attack would love to know that there are people of God out there who say as the apostle Paul, “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times…” (Romans 1:9-10)
Pray for Our Veterans!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | The Bible
Your Ideology, True or False, Part Two
Jesus said, “…for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” (John 18:37) The “truth” (ἀλήθεια alḗtheia): “What is true in itself, purity from all error or falsehood…” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary) Absolute truth is given to those who hunger and thirst for the Lord’s righteousness.
The Bible gives all of mankind stern warnings, “The heart is deceitful above all things…” (Jeremiah 17:9) “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)
We live in a day were people are questioning Biblical truth. Jesus made a statement that gives all a clear direction for life, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) John, in his Gospel used the Greek word Logos as a title for Jesus, “God’s revelation” for mankind. (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)
In the Farrier Trade (the art of shoeing horses) there are absolute truths. These truths are learned from horseman of the past, given to horseman of the present and passed on to the horseman of the future. All horseman know: 1.) A horse’s foot lands to height. 2.) A horse’s foot flies to weight and 3.) A Horse’s leg must have the proper line of support. No matter what task the horse is asked to do, racing, working cattle, jumping, etc. – avoiding these truths will certainly lead to the horse becoming lame, making it ineffective to perform at its peak level and possibly crippling the animal for the rest of its life..
There are three absolute truths to sound Christology: 1.) God the Father, (John 6:12) 2.) God the Son (John 14:9-11) 3.) God the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 2:11). The only way to God, is through the Son, Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) Salvation is found in no other Name, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12) “…If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ [the Holy Spirit] they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) Jesus said, “…everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” To Jesus, truth in not merely some intellectual concept of correct teachings, it involves life-oriented integrity that please the God who created mankind. Many can quote the Bible, speak religious precepts and tell others what Jesus said, yet they lack Biblical integrity in life. “Listen to My voice” means to hear, giving attention, causing one to strive for obedience to God’s Word.
The Psalmist wrote, “All Your commands are true.” (Psalm 119:151) “All Your words are true; all Your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160) The Gospel of John tells us, “…whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:21)
People with a false ideology use as their resources, teachings outside of God’s Word, often quoting celebrities, politicians, or studies not based on absolute truth. Born again Christians strive to live by true ideology, their philosophy of life is birthed from, guided by and substantiated by the whole counsel of God’s written Word.
Each person has an ideology, does yours move you to live a life of integrity before the Christ who died for all of mankind?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | The Bible
Your Ideology, True or False, Part One
Jesus said, For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:37-38) Pilate asked the question that is often asked today, “What is truth?” So many, proclaiming what they perceive as truth. All driven by the familiar phrases, “I think,” “I believe,” or the real truth, “My two cents.” No organization, group, or belief system can proclaim a life guiding truth made up from their own point of view. Here is why. No motorcycle club can race through a 65 mph speed zone running 90 mph, thinking it’s ok, because it is hard to detected them on the radar. That is a false-hood, an idea some bikers would like to believe. No inmate in a correctional facility can decide what is contraband, the overseers of the facility decide what is contraband. No one can choose to live a lifestyle based on personal opinion, preference, or self-delusion and expect their Creator (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:16) to be pleased with them. That is the heart if idolatry, the very ideology of Satan, which got him cast out of heaven.
For example: Let us consider an extreme lifestyle that led to barbaric acts that all us would agree would anger God, Human Sacrifices. The Bible and world history records a very sad fact, human sacrifices offered for some reason or another. The Rev. Samuel Burder (Oriental Literature) listed thirteen nationalities that offered human sacrifices, Egyptians, Arabians, Romans, and ten others. In the Bible you read of several occasions were the idolatrous Israelite’s offered up human sacrifices. God says this about His people who followed the examples of the Phoenician, who sacrificed their own children, “They [His people] have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal – something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter My mind.” (Jeremiah 19:5) That sad fact is, the thirteen nationalities written about by Rev. Burder and idolatrous Israel felt they were in the right and were doing a good thing for the people in their nation they lived in. The people of God in the Bible did a barbaric act, sacrificing their children because they did not think it worthwhile to seek the whole counsel of God’s Word, nor obey His commands.
There a people today who proclaim opinions, they desire their own preferences and love to serve the god of self-delusion rather than seek the whole counsel of God’s Word. Paul writes about these people in 2 Timothy, “….[people who] are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:4) They are “…always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” “…They are men of depraved minds…” (2 Timothy 3:7-8) God surrender’s these people over to the desires of their own hearts, they are overcome with different kids of sin which are listed in Romans 1:18-32, Galatians 5:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Just as the Israelite’s, in the Old Testament rejected the truths of God, people today reject the truths in the Word of God. Being influenced by false teachers who delude the minds of those who do not love the Lord, nor live for the Christ who died for them.
Are you like Pilate, drawing question about truth?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | The Bible
Thoroughly Equips
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training for righteousness, so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is the Word of God and is useful for thoroughly equipping (ἐξαρτίζω exartízō), outfitting and making Christians competent to perform every good work the Lord has called them to do.
In 2010 I had the privilege of watching Andy Khol (former NFL Punter and Kohl’s Kicking Camp Instructor) train place kickers and punters how to properly and effectively do their jobs. He told me a truth that has proven reliable. “It is the kickers and punters that take the time to read, study and apply what they learn who go on to achieve their goals in the college and professional realms.” During training camps he hands out a book that teaches specialty kickers and punters the mechanics of the game and how to find opportunities open to them. Kohl’s Kicking Camps open by substantiating their call with a list of kickers and punters actively participating in the college and NFL level (over 800 in 2010). Their training books place in writing the mechanics of kicking and punting along with detailed instructions on how to condition for the game. The book also gives pointers to kickers and punters on how to apply for scholarships and be considered for the NFL. At the close of the camp I attended, Andy pointed specialty kickers and punters to the Lord. WOW! It is this writer’s opinion that this approach to making disciples for the NFL is why the Super Bowl game has more fans and participants than the modern day church does on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Word of God has a list of men of faith who were thoroughly equipped by the Lord to be competent in the task set before them, regardless of what their call was. (Hebrews 11- 12:1) The Holy Spirit has given every true born again Christian Spiritual gifts for the “common good” (Corinthians 12:7) of mankind and for the edification of the Body of Christ. Just like a great football team has many positions which are filled by gifted men, the church has many members with different Spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s will in this sin cursed world. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11) These Spiritual gifts may be placed in three categories; 1.) The Gift of Service: administration, leading, encouragement, faith, giving, helps (or serving), and mercy; 2.) The Gift of Signs: distinguishing between spirits, gifts of healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues and miraculous powers; 3.) Support gifts: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, faith and prophecy. When these gifts of the Holy Spirit are exercised under the agape love of Christ, the obedient church will enjoy balance and joy in the Body of Christ. The church will also be fully equipped to reach a hurting, misled world that has been overcome by the world view, the sinful flesh and the lies of the devil.
Christians much accomplish and live out this truth. They must do the hard work that involves study and application of the whole council of God’s Word so they can be thoroughly equipped to accomplish His calling upon their lives, no matter what that work for Him is.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | The Bible
Preach Unashamedly
The Bible has clear instructions for all who proclaim to be teachers of God’s Word. Pastors are given a charge (2 Timothy 4:2) before God and Christ Jesus, of which they will give a full accounting of their ministries. (Romans 14:12) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:1-3)
We live in times where it is popular for religious writers and speakers to proclaim their visions and ministry views using church language rather than give healthy teaching of Scripture. Much of church literature and teaching today has religious sounding tones, indicating a lack of knowledge of the Bible and as well as lacking concern for the Apostle Paul’s instructions given in the “Pastoral Epistles (Letters).” Paul writes, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) To not to be “ashamed” (ἀνεπαίσχυντος anepaíschuntos) in one’s teaching of the Bible – is to be a teacher who is not lazy, unskilled or unfaithful to lead readers or hearers too what God’s Word says about what is being taught. Much of the religious writings received in the mail today or heard on religious broadcasts are full of wonderful sounding slogans. Literally, at some church conventions, leaders of their churches are told, “Do not preach, but share your opinion from the heart.” Constantly, while being interviewed by the worldly media, men and women viewed as religious leaders are allowing their teachings to be reduced to mere opinion.
Men and woman with the gift to teach God’s Word do not want people who read or hear their message to agree with them, but agree with the Word of the Lord as originally written in the Bible. Serious ministries have overseers who are appointed by Christ (Ephesians 4:11); they spend long hours in prayerful study of the Scriptures so they write or speak as teaching the “very words of God.” (1 Peter 4:11)
Dr. Billy Graham preached unashamedly; he will always be remembered as saying, “The Bible says!” Preacher/Teacher David Wilkerson, preached unashamedly; all his teachings showed straightforward exegesis of Scripture. Even his cover letters to introduce his written messages started with the Word of God, filled with Scripture and closed with encouraging writings from the Bible.
When you present truth, is it birthed from God’s Word? Is it substantiated with the whole counsel of Scripture? Are you skillful with the Sword of the Holy Spirit? Are you faithful to preach His truth unashamedly? Do you lead your readers or hearers to the teachings in the Bible? In the day of accountability, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, will you be rewarded as one who preached unashamedly?”
Recent Comments