Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Breathe, Pray, Abide.. still small voice? Will you still yourself.. pausing you instead of others.. to listen up? Too many get ripped off of what's most important, but you can recover your quiet time alone with Jesus.

How God speaks, who heard Him, where it happened, and how it has always aligned with His written Word

Hey, today His speaking to me is more important than me speaking to Him.. but I will speak with Him too. It helps gobs!!! I want to hear from Him everyday.. if possible. I'm ordinary like so many, but we can at times (in His time) hear from Him. It's important to. 

It's always SO sad to me in this fallen world when mentally challenged people on the streets tell me they so often hear voices and then obey any voice they hear, but listen to the Lord.

Don't let anything distract you away from God and hearing His clear voice. That can happen. Not how or when you or I want to, but it can still happen.

Do you need to recover your smart quiet time alone with Jesus. Do you daily steal away to be with your first-love? You know He's the Friend that sticks closer than a brother for you!

Have you heard His "still, small voice" before—I mean the voice of the Holy Spirit? Biblically, do you allow the Holy Spirit to live big inside of, and through you?

He is able -- He can indeed communicate gently right into your conscience and mind by His Scriptures and Spirit today—rather than by some dramatic, thunderous events as so many people have expected.

That's the primary way He speaks to people today.. is by His Word.

I like accurate news from decent sources who discern and consistently get it right (they're not always easy to locate). It's so I can be aware, but to hear His "still, small voice," I firmly advise everyone.. to start by removing all the distractions like television, radio, podcasts, movies, fake Legacy news platforms, Reddit and phones too.. practicing calm silence (Psalm 46:10), and testing it all like a Berean would against the Scriptures, and then wisely.. actively obeying that voice to follow Jesus, the Chief Shepherd.

If you really desire to hear the voice of God, the first and most important place to start is in His Word, the Bible. God’s voice is often not some mystical whisper or an audible sound from the heavens. It’s very clear, accessible, and written down for us.

Every time you open your Bible, you are reading God’s direct message to you. Sometimes, God speaks to us through His Word in a specific way. You’ll read a verse, and it’s like it jumps off the page—it’s exactly what you needed to hear in that moment. That’s God speaking to your heart.

I. BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT HEARING FROM GOD

1. God is a Speaking God

“Thus says the LORD…” (appears over 400 times in the Old Testament)

  • Hebrews 1:1–2 – God spoke in many ways, now fully in His Son

  • John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice…”

  • Isaiah 55:11 – God’s word always accomplishes His purpose

  • Psalm 19:1–11 – God speaks through creation and Scripture

  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – Scripture fully equips us for every good work

  • 2 Peter 1:19–21 – No Scripture came by human will, but by the Spirit

Study 1 Kings 19:9–18. What is Supporting that text? John 10:27; Hebrews 1:1–2; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Zechariah 4:6.

God still speaks today—but most clearly, consistently, and safely ..it's through His Word, by His Spirit, to His people.

God’s still small voice never has or will contradict Scripture—it illuminates, applies, and confirms it. I don't need any new revelation, I have His old good revelation the Bible. If it's new, it ain't true. 


II. THE STILL SMALL VOICE — ELJAH (THE CLASSIC TEXT)

Elijah at Horeb

  • 1 Kings 19:9–18

    • Wind (not in it)

    • Earthquake (not in it)

    • Fire (not in it)

    • A still small voice (qôl demāmāh daqqāh) — “a gentle whisper”

Result of hearing God:

  • Direction (anoint Hazael, Jehu, Elisha)

  • Encouragement (“I have 7,000 who have not bowed”)

  • Succession (Elisha found and called)

* God whispered after Elijah poured out his despair—intimacy preceded instruction.


III. PEOPLE IN SCRIPTURE WHO HEARD GOD’S VOICE

A. Patriarchs

Abraham

  • Genesis 12:1–4 – “Go from your country…”

  • Genesis 15:1 – “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield”

  • Genesis 22:11–18 – Voice stops sacrifice

“Faith is hearing God’s Word and acting like it’s true.” — Warren Wiersbe

Isaac

  • Genesis 26:2–5 – “Do not go down to Egypt…”

Jacob

  • Genesis 28:12–15 – Bethel dream

  • Genesis 31:3 – “Return to the land of your fathers”

  • Genesis 46:2–4 – God speaks in visions at night


B. Moses and the Exodus Generation

Moses

  • Exodus 3:1–12 – Burning bush

  • Exodus 33:11 – God spoke to Moses “face to face”

  • Numbers 12:6–8 – God spoke plainly with Moses

Israel

  • Deuteronomy 5:4 – God spoke from the fire

  • Psalm 95:7–8 – “Today, if you hear His voice…”


C. Judges and Leaders

Gideon

  • Judges 6:11–24 – Angel of the LORD

  • Judges 6:36–40 – God confirms His will

Samson’s Parents

  • Judges 13 – God speaks about the child to be born


D. Prophets

Samuel

  • 1 Samuel 3:1–10 – “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears”

“God does not shout to make Himself heard over the noise; He whispers to draw us close.” — Charles Spurgeon

Nathan

  • 2 Samuel 7 – God corrects David’s plan

Isaiah

  • Isaiah 6:1–8 – “Whom shall I send?”

  • Isaiah 30:21 – “You will hear a voice behind you…”

Jeremiah

  • Jeremiah 1:4–10 – God’s word comes to him

Ezekiel

  • Ezekiel 2:1–7 – “Son of man, I am sending you”


E. Kings

David

  • 1 Samuel 23:2–4 – “Shall I go attack the Philistines?”

  • 2 Samuel 5:19–25 – God gives battle strategy

  • Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you…”

Solomon

  • 1 Kings 3:5–14 – God speaks in a dream


IV. PLACES WHERE GOD SPOKE

- Place- Reference- What Happened
EdenGenesis 3God walked and spoke
BethelGenesis 28God revealed destiny
Horeb1 Kings 19Still small voice
SinaiExodus 19–20Law given
TempleIsaiah 6Commission
River ChebarEzekiel 1Vision
Upper RoomActs 2Spirit speaks
PrisonActs 16Direction in worship
WildernessHosea 2:14God woos and speaks tenderly

V. NEW TESTAMENT — GOD SPEAKS THROUGH CHRIST AND THE SPIRIT

Jesus (the God man)

  • Matthew 4:4 – Man lives by every word of God

  • John 6:63 – His words are spirit and life

  • John 14–16 – Spirit will guide into all truth

  • John 20:22 – “Receive the Holy Spirit”

Holy Spirit (God)

  • Acts 8:29 – “The Spirit said to Philip…”

  • Acts 10:19–20 – Spirit speaks to Peter

  • Acts 13:2 – “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul”

  • Acts 16:6–10 – Spirit forbids and redirects Paul

  • Romans 8:14–16 – Led by the Spirit

  • Revelation 2–3 – “He who has an ear, let him hear”

“The Holy Spirit speaks softly, but His whisper shakes eternity.” — A.W. Tozer


VI. HOW GOD SPEAKS (BIBLICAL PATTERNS WE SEE)

  1. Through Scripture (primary, infallible)

    • Psalm 119:105

    • Colossians 3:16

  2. Through the Holy Spirit’s inner witness

    • Romans 8:16

    • 1 John 2:27

  3. Through peace or restraint

    • Colossians 3:15

    • Isaiah 26:3

  4. Through wise counsel

    • Proverbs 11:14

  5. Through circumstances (never alone)

    • Acts 16:6–10


* AGAIN, ON HEARING GOD...

  • A.W. Tozer – “God is speaking. The question is not whether God speaks, but whether we listen.”

  • Dallas Willard – “Hearing God is the foundation of a life of obedience.”

  • Charles Spurgeon – “When God speaks, His servants are not confused, only humbled.”

  • John Wesley – “The Bible knows nothing of a solitary religion; God speaks in His Word and confirms it in the heart.”

  • D.L. Moody – “The Scriptures were not given for our information but for our transformation.”

  • Martyn Lloyd-Jones – “The Spirit who inspired the Word now illuminates it.”


VIII. IMPORTANT BIBLICAL SAFEGUARDS 

Isaiah 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

God’s still small voice never ever--it has and never will:

  • Contradict Scripture

  • Promote sin

  • Elevate human self

  • Bring confusion

  • Violate God’s HOLY, UPRIGHT, STRAIGHTFORWARD, flawless sterling character

It always:

  • Aligns with the written Word

  • Produces peace and conviction in a believer

  • Exalts Christ Jesus

  • Builds holiness

  • Leads us to obedience

* God Can Still Whisper: Learning to Hear the Voice That Never Contradicts His Word

There are moments when God shakes the mountains—and moments when He barely stirs the air.

Most of us expect the former. We long for thunder. We wait for fire. We want earthquakes that leave no doubt. But God, in His wisdom, often chooses the whisper.

Elijah learned this the hard way.

After calling fire down from heaven and humiliating the prophets of Baal, Elijah ran for his life, collapsed in exhaustion, and hid in a cave on Mount Horeb. The prophet who had just seen God move in power now felt abandoned and alone. That is often how spiritual burnout works—it follows spiritual victory like a shadow at noon.

Elijah, have a snack. Take a nap if ya will. 

God met him there.

First came a wind so violent it shattered rocks. Then an earthquake. Then fire. But Scripture says something startling: the Lord was not in any of them (1 Kings 19:11–12). After all the noise came qôl demāmāh daqqāh—a Hebrew phrase so tender it almost resists translation: “a sound of gentle stillness… a thin whisper.. a hushed breath.”

And there, finally, God spoke.

The point was not volume. The point was close intimate relationship.

God was teaching Elijah—and us—that divine silence does not mean divine absence, and gentle guidance does not mean weak authority. As Zechariah would later declare, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).


The Whisper That Shapes a Believing Life

It was after the whisper that Elijah found Elisha.
After the whisper, the future was secured.
After the whisper, God’s plan moved forward.

God often speaks softly because He is close. Thunder travels far. Whispers require intimacy.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “God is speaking. The problem is not with God’s voice, but with our ears.” And that is precisely the issue in our age of constant noise. According to Barna, over 70% of Christians say they want to hear God’s direction more clearly, yet fewer than 30% read Scripture daily—the very place God has promised to speak most clearly.

God is not silent. We are distracted.


How God Speaks—And How He Does Not

Scripture is clear: God speaks in many ways.

He spoke through whirlwinds (Job 38:1), thunder (Psalm 104:7), fire (Exodus 19:18), dreams (Genesis 28:12), visions (Isaiah 6), angels (Luke 1), prophets, apostles, and finally through His Son. “In these last days,” Hebrews declares, “He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2).

But the most consistent, reliable, and sufficient way God speaks today is through His written Word.

The Greek word theopneustos (2 Timothy 3:16) means “God-breathed.” The Bible is not merely inspired—it is exhaled by God. Every command, promise, warning, and comfort carries the breath of heaven.

Isaiah puts it plainly: “So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty” (Isaiah 55:11).

If you want to hear God, open the book He already wrote.


The Gospel: From Thunder to Whisper

There is a beautiful contrast between Sinai and Calvary.

The law came with fire, darkness, and terror (Hebrews 12:18–24). The gospel comes with grace, peace, and invitation. The law shatters; grace heals. The law exposes guilt; grace announces pardon. The law thunders, “You must!” The gospel whispers, “It is finished.”

John Piper once said, “God’s whisper can be louder than the world’s scream.” And it is the whisper of the gospel that melts hearts hardened by sin.


What did Jesus mean by: “My sheep hear my voice”?

There's the Discipline to Listening

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). That's not mere poetic sentiment—it is a solid promise. Its happened in every age--sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice because they have closely lived with him, walked with him, and followed him. Out in nature, they even trust His loyal sheepdogs. 

The bank teller learns to spot counterfeits by handling real money all day long. Christians learn to recognize God’s voice by saturating themselves in Scripture.

Chuck Smith used to say, “When and where God guides, God provides—and He never guides contrary to His Word.” 

That is the test. There's never a need for anyone to become a manipulative, selfish Telathon-Tuesday type false teacher fleecing His flock. Feed them through all the counsels of Scripture. 

If a voice leads you away from holiness, humility, obedience, or love, it is not God’s voice. If it contradicts Scripture, it is not revelation—it is deception.

God does not stutter.

God does not contradict Himself.

God does not revise truth.


The Voice That Guides Our Steps--It's Jesus' Voice

Sometimes you'll hear God guide you through His Scripture. Get in Christ now, and in them daily. Come as you are.. or come back to Him as you are.. with words of honest confession and repentance. He will forgive and restore you if you ask Him to. 

Sometimes through wise counsel (Proverbs 15:22).

Sometimes through conscience shaped by truth (Romans 12:2).

Sometimes through circumstances.

Sometimes through the quiet nudge of the Holy Spirit.

But always—always—the written Word is the standard.

James promises wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5), but that wisdom will never contradict what God has already said. The Spirit’s role is not to add new truth, but to apply eternal truth to present situations.

As Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, “The Spirit does not contradict the Word He inspired.”


Obedience Comes Before Clarity

Here is a truth many overlook: God often withholds further direction until we obey what He has already revealed.

We already know God’s will in many areas:

  • Be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

  • Give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

  • Live honorably (1 Peter 2:12–15)

  • Love God and love others (Matthew 22:37–40)

If we ignore these, why would we expect further whispers?

Jesus said, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God” (John 7:17). Obedience sharpens hearing. Disobedience dulls it.


The Still Small Voice in a Loud World

In a world of notifications, algorithms, breaking news, and endless opinions, God still speaks the way He always has—clearly, gently, faithfully.

He speaks through Scripture.
He confirms through His Spirit.
He guides through wisdom.
He comforts through truth.
He directs through peace.

And when He whispers, it is not because He is weak, but because He is near.

As the old hymn reminds us:

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.”

Stillness is not emptiness.
Silence is not absence.
The whisper is enough.


Will You Take Time Away From The Chaos To Seek The Lord? Are You A Listener?

If you want to hear God more clearly, draw closer.
If you want guidance, open His Word.
If you want peace, obey what He has already said.

God’s mouth still speaks.

God’s Word still lives.

God’s Spirit still guides.

And those who belong to Him still hear His voice.

 the Good Shepherd. It is not sentimental. It is not decorative. It is a declaration of authority, intimacy, and love. When Jesus speaks of Himself this way, He is telling us who leads us, how He leads us, and why we are safe.

“My sheep hear My voice.”
That simple sentence carries the weight of eternity.

Jesus expands it like this: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Hearing, knowing, and following are bound together. They are not separate acts. They are the marks of a living relationship.

In John 10:1–30, Jesus is surrounded by opposition. Religious leaders are plotting, resisting, and twisting the truth. Yet instead of hardening His words, Jesus softens His tone toward His followers. He draws them close and shows them His heart. He is not like the thieves and hirelings who abuse and abandon the flock. He is the Shepherd who stays, who protects, who leads from the front, and who lays down His life for the sheep.

The sheepfold He describes is the place of safety, the household of God. No one enters except through Him. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). The Shepherd decides who comes in. He stands watch. He guards the night. And when danger comes, He does not run. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Only true sheep follow Him, and they follow because they recognize Him. “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4, NLT). The Shepherd does not drive His sheep from behind. He walks ahead of them. His life becomes the path. His obedience becomes the pattern. He does not force us forward. He invites us to trust Him enough to step where He steps.

When Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice,” He is describing a relationship of deep familiarity. In the first century, many flocks shared a single sheep pen. At dawn, shepherds would stand at the entrance and call their own sheep. Only their flock responded. The sheep had learned that voice through time, presence, and care. They trusted it. They knew it meant safety.

So Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). This knowing is not intellectual only. It is lived. It is relational. It is learned by walking with Him through valleys and pastures alike.

This is why Scripture connects hearing with faith. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). We hear His voice most clearly through His Word. The more we listen, the more familiar His voice becomes. And the more familiar His voice becomes, the less confusing the world sounds.

There is a quiet strength in those who have learned this.

I think of a woman I once knew who lost her job after refusing to falsify records. She had children. She had bills. Nothing about her circumstances looked safe. Yet she opened her Bible each morning and read aloud, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Weeks passed with no change. Months came with no offers. Still she refused to compromise. Then, unexpectedly, a door opened to a position she had never applied for, with better pay and peace of conscience. She would later say, “I was afraid, but His voice was clearer than my fear.”

That is the voice of the Shepherd. It does not always remove the valley, but it leads us through it.

“My sheep hear My voice” also speaks of calling. Jesus says He calls His own sheep by name (John 10:3), and Scripture affirms that God knows His servants personally. “I know you by name” (Exodus 33:17). “I have called you by your name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). The Shepherd’s voice is not generic. It is personal. He knows who you are before you know who you are.

This calling brings us into a life that is not only saved but shaped. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). The voice that calls us into the fold also calls us forward into maturity.

And true sheep respond with obedience. Scripture is unflinching here. “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (1 John 2:3). To hear and not follow is to deceive ourselves. To claim intimacy without obedience is to misunderstand love. “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6).

There is no shame in this. There is freedom. Obedience is not a burden when the voice is trusted.

“My sheep” also reminds us that not all voices are equal, and not all who hear are willing to follow. There are true sheep and false sheep. The true sheep listen. The false sheep wander. But those who belong to Christ are bound to Him in union. “Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We belong to Him. “They were yours; you gave them to me” (John 17:6).

And what He owns, He keeps.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). The hands that were pierced now hold us. The Father’s hand holds us too. “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:29–30). This is not fragile salvation. This is secure love.

Jesus laid down His life so His sheep would never be lost. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). We are kept not by our grip on Him, but by His grip on us.

And so the Good Shepherd still speaks. He still calls. He still leads. His sheep still hear His voice. By grace we entered the fold. By grace we remain. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

As A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” And as Charles Spurgeon said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

Those who hear the Shepherd’s voice learn that even hard roads are safe roads when He walks ahead of us.

And in the end, that is what it means to belong to Him.

We are well known to Him.

We are called to Him.

We are led by Him.

We are kept by Him.

Not a mere man's voice. God said, “My sheep hear My voice.”

We live in a world of so many alerts, alarms, beeps, notifications, social opinions, email subscriptions, and constant noise. The average American consumes over 11 hours of media per day (says George Barna's Research). Yet Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). God is not competing with the noise—He is calling us out of it.

Elijah expected God in the noise. God came in the whisper.


* GOD SOMETIMES SPEAKS IN POWER — BUT OFTEN IN QUIET

Go through slowly: 1 Kings 19:11–12

“And after the fire a still small voice…”

In Hebrew?

  • Qôl (קוֹל) = voice, sound, proclamation

  • Demāmāh (דְּמָמָה) = silence, stillness, calm

  • Daqqāh (דַקָּה) = thin, gentle, fine

Literally: “A sound of gentle stillness” or “a whisper made of silence.”

God’s presence is not always proven by drama. Silence does not mean absence. Stillness does not mean inactivity.

A.W. Tozer: “God speaks in whispers so we will lean in.”


A Wise Application Of Scripture Beats Mere Human Applications

  • Don’t mistake God’s quietness for distance--He us close, believer. In Him we live move and have our being. He has set the boundaries of our journeys. 

  • The deepest guidance often comes in the calmest moments of life.


II. GOD’S WHISPER ALWAYS COMES AFTER HONEST PRAYER

Text: 1 Kings 19:4, 10

Have a snack, take a nap. Elijah pours out his heart regarding fears, exhaustion, and confusion. God feeds him, lets him rest, then speaks.

God often whispers after we speak to Him -- after we stop fuming and pretending.

Psalm 62:1: “My soul finds rest in God alone.”


Charles Spurgeon:

“Prayer pulls the rope down below, and the great bell rings above.”


III. GOD SPEAKS IN MANY WAYS — BUT NEVER CONTRADICTS HIMSELF

Text: Hebrews 1:1–2; 2 Timothy 3:16–17

God did speak:

  • Through thunder (Exodus 19)

  • Through whirlwinds (Job 38)

  • Through prophets (“Thus says the Lord”)

  • Through His Son

  • Through Scripture (now our primary means)


Do Your Own Greek Word Study, Expand On This...

  • Theopneustos (θεόπνευστος) = God-breathed

  • Scripture carries God’s breath, not just God’s ideas

Isaiah 55:11: “My word… will accomplish what I desire.”

God’s whisper today will always echo His written Word.

John MacArthur: “The Spirit of God will never lead you to violate the Word of God.”


* FROM THUNDER TO WHISPER

Text: Hebrews 12:18–24

  • Law came with fire, fear, and trembling

  • Grace came with a Savior who says, “Come unto Me”

Illustration:
The law breaks the stone heart; the gospel heals it.

Lyric (Rock of Ages):
“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.”


Application

  • If God is correcting you, it will come with hope, not condemnation.

  • If God is guiding you, it will come with peace, not panic.


* HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE GOD’S VOICE TODAY?

Text: John 10:27; Romans 8:14

“My sheep hear My voice.”

Greek Word Study

  • Akouō (ἀκούω) = to hear with understanding

  • Ginōskō (γινώσκω) = to know by relationship

Meaning:
We recognize God’s voice because we know Him, not because we guess.


Illustration:

Bank tellers recognize counterfeits by handling real money. Christians recognize error by knowing Scripture.

Chuck Smith Sr.: “When you know the Word, you know the voice.”


* OBEDIENCE SHARPENS HEARING

Text: John 7:17; James 1:22

God often withholds further direction until we obey what He has already revealed.

Known Will of God:

  • Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

  • Gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

  • Godly conduct (1 Peter 2:15)


Application

If you want to hear God more clearly:

  1. Read His Word daily

  2. Obey immediately

  3. Pray for wisdom

  4. Seek godly counsel

  5. Walk in the Spirit


* WARNING: NOT EVERY VOICE IS GOD’S VOICE

Text: Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 1:8

If it contradicts Scripture, it is not God.

If it promotes sin, it is not God.

If it exalts self, it is not God.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “The Spirit never contradicts the Word He inspired.”

Have you been distracted a bit, or drifted away from your relationship with God? Are you kind of worldly, religious, lukewarm, weird and carnally-minded now? You can repent, return, recover your quiet time alone with Jesus, and hear His voice speak. 

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2:4

If you’re a real saint in Jesus, can you remember what it was like when you first asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? Suddenly, you were introduced to a wonderful book called the Bible. Suddenly, there was a user’s manual for life, a book that gave you absolutes—black and white, right and wrong. Can you remember the first time you began to read its pages and it came alive for you? It spoke to your situation. It was as though it had been custom-written for you.

You didn’t care who saw you reading your Bible. You were more interested in what God had to say. Can you remember how that used to be?

But things are a little different now. You still read your Bible—when you find the time. You are just so busy these days.

Jesus to His church said: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2:2–5 NKJV).

They had become busy about nothing of real value. In spite of all their activity, these believers had lost that red-hot first-love passion when Jesus was their all in all.

What are the three "R’s" of revival that Jesus gives to them?:

remember,

repent,

repeat.

Remember from where you have fallen ..sinning.. repent and do the first works quickly, and repeat—yes, return.. go back and do what you did before that was edifying and good. Let’s also put these into practice, because we need to be revived before God. Our nation needs a fifthy Great Awakening -- yes, another Spiritual Awakening with an authentic revival in churches more than ever before!

"My sheep" clearly affirms that there are true sheep and false sheep with false shepherds. True sheep know, listen to, and obey the Good Shepherd’s voice; false sheep pay no mind to Him, but they are good at posing sometimes for gain. 

My sheep also communicates the reality of our union with Christ: “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We belong to our Good Shepherd (John 17:6).

Of His sheep, Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:28–30). Those who belong to the Good Shepherd belong to God the Father. They are His forever. Jesus laid down His life on the cross to give His followers eternal life, and they are safe in His sheepfold for all eternity (John 6:373917:2918:9).

The Good Shepherd says, “My sheep hear My voice.” These sheep have heard the call of Christ to enter the best sheepfold. His. Freely by grace and not by works--no earning the blessings of God. the Good Shepherd has saved me through faith, and now I belong to God in the family of God forever (Ephesians 2:1–10). You can too. Come Home.. come to Jesus as you are

Hey, there are two types of people.. lost or saved. Do you have an assurance from God about that?

There are.. yep, two types of people.. those who pray to God in Jesus name, and those who give up.

Man, I need divine His empowerment.

"Take time away.. to take a Knee." See Ephesians 3:14-21.

Be an effective Christian and patriot -- pray in faith.

Think about the Posture of Prayer.

Remember how Samuel responded to God.

Eli this prest said unto Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say, 'Speak, LORD, for Thy servant heareth.'" 1 Samuel 3:9

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." See 1 Samuel 3:10.

Think about our petition of prayer.. it's for the power of the Spirit to live the life and be/verbally give witness to others.

Please never stop praying for those that are unsaved--especially your family members- never stop praying--God hears the prayers of his people.

Have you noticed how so many podcasters today feel so weak, so inadequate in spiritual lockdown, and so incapable and unable?

I say.. please get on your knees. We need that explosive power that brought Jesus back to physical life from death in that grave. Wherever you look, you see the love of God in #ChristJesus!

In the Christ of the Bible, we have that dynamite power! knowGod.org

Prayer should not be our last-chance option of desperation after whatever.. after failures and all, but it should be our first choice in Christ.

Man, I need Him every day -- I really don't know what I'd do without him. I want to hear from Jesus! So, how can I pray for you?

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Baby August Oliver wants his milk when he wants it. He lets it be known!

That makes me think about milk too — it’s good nourishment for growth.

Last night I had two fresh almond cookies dipped in milk — SO SO good!

Sup with spiritual food? If it’s from God it is good because He is good. God is light, and there’s no darkness in Him. What does the Bible say about how we are to feed ourselves — you know, to nourish ourselves spiritually?

You and I need good spiritual nourishment. All Christians regularly need to be fed in order to grow right, to mature, and to get strong in the Lord.

What does the Bible say about the evangelization of children? I say keep it simple, put the goodies and cookies down on a lower shelf where they can reach them. Come on Kurt, do young children really need to be evangelized? (my wife Liney was very young when she got saved and she remembers it!)

What is the value in reading the Bible for yourself?

What are the Bible basics I need to grasp?

Photo by Timothy Eberly

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” Matthew 7:24–25

Now, of those persons who decide to believe only parts of the Bible, (those parts, that of course line up with their lifestyle), Jesus would strongly address them:

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” Matthew 7:26,27

You can not love God at all, if you do not love His truth that’s found in the Bible!

It’s sad that so many within Christendom today lean solely on their subjective experiences for direction. Inner fuzzy sentiment, cozy feelings and so-called spoken “prophetic words” from other Christians (that sound so spiritual) seem to have more weight for direction than the Bible. But there must be an objective way to test subjective enlightenment and personal revelations. Otherwise, we’d all go sideways spiritually. Hey Buckeroo, there’s no new revelation, fresh illumination in God’s old Bible.. sure!

If it’s new it ain’t true, and if it’s true it ain’t new.

No soldier would go out on the battlefield all famished and undernourished if they didn’t have to. Why fight weak? No, be rested and properly fed first before you do your good warfare.

“To wield the sword of the Spirit successfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently and prayerfully.” — JCRyle

What does the Bible say about how we are to nourish ourselves spiritually?

What does it mean for a Christian to grow in faith? How can I increase my faith and grow up spiritually?

What does it mean that man shall not live by bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3)?

Is the Bible truly God’s Word? How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

How can I help new baby believers get established? What are some ways that I can assist new believers in growing in their faith?

“So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.” Romans 10:17 amp

Our Christian faith is historical and evidential (See Acts 17:2,3), and the Bible has been verified to be totally true and divine. So we want to study!

You can not love God at all, if you do not love His truth that’s found in the Bible!

Any knowledge can puff us up if we let it. Knowledge of the truth can it it’s not wisely applied. Why be merely religious like those leaders back in the day who treated Jesus beyond harshly?

We are not called to study truth as an end in itself — for the sake of merely knowing truth. We humbly, prayerfully study the Word so we can better worship God, and can better witness. Yes, be a good witness and give a good witness–wisely do warfare and work. We study so that we can enjoy closer fellowship with God and better fellowship with other believers. We want to obey the great commandment and great commission — we want to go win souls and equip the saints to go win souls while we can!

If the Bible isn’t the Word of God, those who have believed it throughout the centuries are embarrassingly mistaken. If it isn’t then all those martyrs who have given their lives down through the ages (even in our day) to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ all died in vain. Thank God this is not the case, however, there are several reasons that verify that the Bible is God’s Word. In “Does Inerrancy Matter?” 

Dr. Montgomery Boice Gave Us four proofs for the Bible’s inerrancy.

- The Bible itself teaches inerrancy.

- Jesus Christ affirmed the inerrancy of the Scriptures.

- The Church has always believed in the Bible’s inerrancy.

- The Lord’s holy character demands that His Book is inerrant.

— The Bible teaches inerrancy. Yes, without a doubt the Bible views itself as God’s Message. Over 2,000 times in the Old Testament alone, there are clauses such as “And God spoke”, “The Word of God came to Jonah” and “God said.”

The Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16

That word “inspiration” in the original language is theopneustos, (theh-op’-nyoo-stos) and is literally translated “..breathed out of the nostrils of God.” So the Scriptures originated with God exhaling life and truth in to his servants, in to their very thoughts. And God overshadowed them as they flawlessly wrote this truth down.

“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21

In 2 Peter 1:16–20 the Apostle Peter teaches us that experience is never to be the basis for our beliefs, but the Bible is to be our basis and no other book with it. Furthermore, what is contained in the Word is not at all from men’s minds, even though it passed through the prophet’s minds.

They spoke out as God moved through them. Our so-called natural or supernatural experiences are not to be leaned on for direction. Ask yourself do they have a real Bible basis. They must have, any of us could go off into left field! Yes, all the so-called experiences of the Spirit (I mean that people say are “of the Spirit” and does this bring up His gifts to mind?).. well, everything needs to be measured against what the Bible teaches. The Bereans did that when Paul ministered.

I like Acts 17:10–12, it describes the Bereans as “examining the Scriptures daily to see if [the] things [Paul and Silas preached] were so.” This conviction to act like a Berean needs to be ingrained in each of us.

Who were the Bereans in the Bible? What were the Bereans known for? Where is Berea located?

Notice again the order the Bereans employed: The Bereans received, then examined, and finally believed the truth (Acts 17:11–12).

It was by the authoritative witness of Scripture that the Bereans believed what they received. The truth was clearly brought to them as a conclusion from sound interpretation. The apostles taught them that Jesus Christ was the Christ, the Son of God. This truth they then verified according to the Word (Scripture at this point, the Old Testament texts they had at the synagogue). Then they believed!

Let’s be as cautious as those in the early church (including the Bereans) were. They didn’t have the full New Testament. They didn’t yet have Romans 8, Ephesians 2, or the Gospel of John. God worked through them just the same.

Christians today DO NOT DO theology ex nihilo (getting it from nothing) or ex ratio (getting it solely from reason, what can be observed and deduced in the world). The essential truths of the Historic Christian faith developed in the early church should be received by believers, but not simply on their internal logic. Christians should search Scripture daily to see how these teachings are upheld by the witness of God’s Scriptures. We shouldn’t act as if we are the first ones to ever read the Bible (it wasn’t written to us, but for us too). Neither should we set our Bibles aside to put our trust in all really old writings just because they are called creeds. I like our good creeds. We receive the truth handed down to us, that’s verified and then we guard it by the authority of the Scriptures. We share the truth by the power of the same Holy Spirit.

“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” 2 Timothy 1:14 nkjv

What’s the end goal of acting like a Berean in our day? It’s not to win debates or fill our heads with knowledge for its own sake.. where that terminates upon itself. The Bible passage teaches us that it’s so that many will see our godly lives, hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus.

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” Acts 17:11–12 nkjv

The goal of emulating the Bereans’ pattern is to bring about saving faith and to strengthen faith too. It is Christ’s person and work preached from the Scriptures that saves sinners and sanctifies believers.

— Jesus Christ Himself affirmed inerrancy! Today, the people who believe that certain passages in the Bible are erroneous, or mythical often refer to the first eleven chapters of the Genesis account, which include the facts of creationism and the flood, but guess what. Jesus Christ, Himself believed in and spoke of these portions of the Scripture as if they were true because they are truth. Yep, Jesus utilized the creation account along with the flood as references in His preaching.

“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’” Matthew 19:4

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” Matthew 24:37

Jesus reaffirmed and confirmed what the Bible says about itself, that every Scriptural word from God will be fulfilled.

“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” Luke 24:44,45

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ‘For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled’” Matthew 5:17–18

The Lord Jesus showed from the Old Testament how those writings referring to Himself, were being fulfilled in Him.

Watching prophecy being fulfilled with one hundred percent accuracy should have convinced all those in that era, that the Scriptures are of divine origin.

With Jesus referring to these passages we can see that He believed in them. He said the Scriptures cannot be broken, therefore we today have no grounds to take some lame lesser view of them (as fools have done) and still call ourselves His followers!

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). Jots and tittles are small marks in the Hebrew alphabet, which distinguish one letter from another. This means that all Bible predictions will be fulfilled even the ones that seem insignificant or obscure. You can be absolutely sure, will all be fulfilled, no ifs, ands, or buts about it!

— The Christian Church concurs with the Bible’s inerrancy. Sure does — talk about clout! Christ’s own Church has believed the Bible to be the Word of God for 1,800 years! This historical fact all alone certainly does not prove the divine inerrancy of the Bible, but our generation would be insanely idiotic to disregard the age-old credibility of the saints of previous centuries! They accepted the Scriptures as God’s holy and powerful word — let’s study find the answers (they are there for us) and do the same.

Martin Luther states, “The Scriptures, although they were written by men, are not of men nor from men, but from God.”

John Calvin attests, “We owe to the Scriptures the same reverence which we owe to God; because it has proceeded from Him alone and has nothing belonging to man mixed with it.”

— The Lord’s holy character attests to the fact of the Bible’s inerrancy. God’s perfect, sterling, very excellent character concurs and proclaims that the Bible is without error — because He too remains flawless.

“..God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” Titus 1:2

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” John 17:17

“The entirety of Your word is truth..” Psalm 119:160

I’m so grateful for God’s love letter! To people and for people, God brought us His infallible revelation through fallible men. The Spirit of God moved on men in a powerful way to give us His promises and Scriptures.. that we can fully trust.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..” 2 Timothy 3:16

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:20,21

For us, there are many good reasons that prove the Bible was divinely inspired.

The witness of all History verifies the Bible’s source. History is His-story! All true Science and legitimate Archaeology agree together with the Bible. So many prophecies have been fulfilled just as God said they would be. Today we have evidence of changed lives as proof too.

If you could find ten people in your local area with similar educational backgrounds, all speaking the same language and ask them to write their opinion on one controversial subject, such as “The meaning of life,” it’s very hard to get them to agree. But the Bible had 40 different people writing the Message down and they didn’t write about one subject, but many very controversial subjects. They came from a wide variety of different backgrounds: Joshua was a military general, Daniel was a prime minister, Peter was a fisherman, and Nehemiah was a cup-bearer.

Most of them were not contemporaries of each other. It took over 1,600 years to write the Bible. They wrote from different settings: Moses wrote from the wilderness, Paul wrote from prison, John wrote from the Island of Patmos. They wrote from three different continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. They wrote in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek and yet with all this there is a perfect unity, a complete harmony in the Bible! There is one theme throughout the whole Bible, “Salvation through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is seen in every book. Sin is sin in every book — it doesn’t change to righteousness anywhere. It all goes together; the Old is the New concealed and the New is the Old revealed!

(FYI: Parts of Daniel are in Aramaic — that’s the only part of the Bible that’s in that language.)

The Word of God is alive today!

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner” Hebrews 4:12

It’s true, God’s Word can change you from the inside out. Jesus catches his fish so to speak, and then He cleans them. Come as you are! Right now. The living word can resurrect you from the dead because He is living. God the Author is living! Over 500 people saw Jesus alive after His death on Calvary’s cross — after He came out of the cold dank tomb!

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me, the Bible has feet, it runs after me, the Bible has hands, it grabs a hold of me.” Martin Luther

The study of God’s Word is vital for every believer. It initiates spiritual growth in our relationships, yes, with God and our beloved brethren in that order.

People today in every land are talking about spiritual growth, but there is no spiritual growth apart from the Word of God.

Listen to God speak, read His word, hear Him well, memorize the truths you’ll need for what you’ll face, and internalize the word so that you’re ready to put feet to your faith in a way that you won’t regret. That no one will regret. Knowledge of Bible truth never comes by intuition. It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily, prayerful study and attentive reading.

God is pure, so His Word indeed has a purifying effect on those who love and obey it (See Psalm 119:9; Ephesians 5:26).

1 Peter 2.2 reads as follows: ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν.

“Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation..” Most modern translations also go with.. τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα as ‘the pure spiritual milk’ or something very similar (NIV, RSV, REB, TEV, NLT, NJB, ESV, NAB, ASV, etc.) The KJV here has “the sincere milk of the word.”

What does it mean that every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5)?

Every word of God is pure. This reminds us that the Bible in its original autograph is infallible and inerrant. Everything in it is truth. Its author is God, who makes no mistakes. His Word is the final authority (Psalm 119:89Galatians 3:10).

Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep” in John 21 ..knowing real well the need.

In two Bible books (1 Corinthians and Hebrews) the Apostle Paul, contrasted “milk” verses “meat” of the word in order to make a clear spiritual analogy that would help. Paul said,

“And, I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to those who are spiritual, but as to those who are carnal — even as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, and not meat; for you were not yet able to receive spiritual meat; and neither are you able now, for you are still carnal. For since envy and contention and divisions are among you, are you not carnal?..” 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 hbfv

I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?” nasb

Milk (in the Greek is gala. See Strong’s Concordance #G1051). It means the basic spiritual nourishment, the elemental teachings of true Christianity first learned by new believers. The word “meat” comes from the Greek word Broma (See Strong’s #G1033). It means the more solid and complete or deeper spiritual doctrines of God’s message.

Some people.. even Christian people.. foolishly try to apply the word in their lives and then they wonder why God didn’t bless them. What is the key to wisely applying the Bible to my life?

On milk and meat — please see the fifth chapter of Paul’s letter addressed to the Hebrews. Spend some time there.

Concerning Whom (Jesus and his fulfilling the role of High Priest after the order of Melchizedek) we have much to say and hard to explain, since you have become dull of in hearing.

For truly, by this time you ought to be teachers, but instead you need to have someone teach you again what are the beginning principles of the oracles of God, and have become those in need of milk, and not of solid food (See Hebrews 5:11 to 12–6:20).

What are the four types of people presented in 5:11–6:20 of Hebrews:

1. Immature milk eaters, 5:11–13

2. Mature meat eaters, 5:14

3. Immature who revert into the type rather than the antitype, 6:1–8

4. Mature eaters who go and produce fruit thirty, sixty and one hundred fold, 6:9–20

Only two types, people are either lost or found (by God a.k.a. saved), dead or alive spiritually. Saved people are either growing spiritually or not. Paul talks about the natural man, the carnal man, and the spiritual man. Be saved, be spiritual, be growing in the word.  

What does Paul mean when he writes of the natural man?

Saved baby Christians need basic nourishment to grow right. Spiritual babyhood is found in Hebrews 5:13“..for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.”

Sure, a baby Christian will for a time live on milk, and not on solid foods. He or she is often “unskilled” in making proper judgments about all of the Scriptures. He or she wants to read the whole Bible through because they do not yet have the ability to see how a certain passage from Scripture wisely applies to his or her life.

The Reasons Why..

  1. We need the whole counsel of God taught. They cannot understand every passage yet (we’re all studying truth and learning more and more if we’re wise — we all want to mature and grow some more. I personally can’t seem to get to the bottom of the Bible and I love that. I want to stay hungry and believe all the promises in God’s word. As life around me changes there are often new insights to be had or new applications regarding God’s unchanging word),
  2. They cannot always form a sound principle from a certain passage,
  3. They do not always know how to assimilate it into their life and
  4. They want to wisely apply the right principle to a given situation in their life, but we all need clear Bible teaching. They lack the “skills” to become mature all alone.

“Unskilled” means “without experience.”

Godly wisdom is about doing the best thing with what we know. You know how some knowledge can be dangerous.

Some spiritually dead religious people sadly have a track record of using the Scriptures to go hurt people, even driving them away from God, His church, and His kind-hearted people.

It is so important to experience Jesus and His love firsthand along with the principles of the Word rather than merely letting them sit idle in our minds. It is not only a matter of what we know but an issue of what we do with what we know.

A babe is a gullible individual. They can be susceptible to spiritual infections or diseases so to speak. We must keep the false teachers away from them.

Yes, the babes are also weak and not able to stand against the winds of false doctrine. See Ephesians 4:13,14. God uses the same contrast of a mature person (teleios) and a babe (nepios). The babe often does not have the strength to stand during times of temptation or trial. They each can be blown about hither and thither where the crazy wind may go.

..till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

The Apostle Peter basically taught that newborn babes should get and stay motivated for the milk. That’s normal.

Liney and feel blessed. We now have six grandkids, three girls and three boys. And one is brand new. We used to live in Augsburg Germany and so his name is August Oliver v. Schleicher. Guess what. He has an intense craving for his mother’s milk as any growing baby would!

The time of day or night doesn’t matter at all, real early or real late it simply doesn’t matter. If li’l Augie gets hungry, the thumb and his blankie will no longer do! He will start to get loud.

He lets everyone in the entire house know about it too, and Augie won’t stop letting everyone know about it until he’s satisfied. It’s that important.

If his parents temporarily stick a finger in Augie’s mouth.. he’ll suck on it for a small fraction of a minute (and what powerful cheek muscles he shows off). But then he realizes that he just isn’t getting any nutritious milk, and so the baby's screams of total disapproval will soon follow.

Mr. J.I. Packer reported that a Puritan preacher named Laurence Chaderton had once apologized to his congregation for preaching for two hours. How did they respond? They said, “For God’s sake, sir, Go on, go on!” I’ve felt like that before. When they know what they’re doing, I don’t want em to quit for this is fairly rare in our world.

At 82, after preaching for 50 years, Mr. Chaderton decided to retire. But then he received a small pile of letters from 40 clergy professionals begging him not to. They were testifying that they owed their conversion to God and were grateful for his good ministry of the Word. People are hungry for the Gospel. They are craving the Word of God, He fills the empty void inside, and there is such a leadership vacume too — it’s not always so easy to find on fire godly leaders who really care for God’s flock.

On-fire Bible teachers and Christians are NOT TO BE hot-headed. Let the Word and Spirit of God both fill and control you! 

Part of being a biblical witness for Jesus is not being all religious, spooky, or acting like a jerk towards saints or sinners. You and I were blessed to be a blessing. 

What can I learn from the lives of leaders and various other people mentioned in the Bible?

Got some general Bible questions today? ..or some topical Bible questions?

What about regarding those interesting Old Testament individuals?

Why are there so many different Christian interpretations? If all Christians have the same Bible, and the same Holy Spirit, should not Christians believe the same? We do believe the same regarding all the Essentials, yet we graciously give each other freedom with all the periphery non-essentials. It’s simply, it’s absolutely, it’s definitely.. unloving not to.

“In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, and in all things charity.” ~ Rupertus Meldenius 


This quote, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” is often attributed to Augustine of Hippo and sometimes to John Wesley, but it was first written down by Rupertus Meldenius in a in a tract 1627 or 1628. He was a German Lutheran theologian. 

Mr. Augustine (Aurelius Augustinus) lived from 13 November 354 to 28 August 430. He was born in Thagaste in Roman Africa

Rupertus Meldenius, aka Peter Meiderlin and Peter Meuderlinus (was born March 22, 1582, in Oberacker; died June 1, 1651, in Augsburg Germany). 

“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.” 2 Tim. 2:14

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men [and ‘all’ in the original language here actually means: all], apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” 2 Tim. 2:24–25

We put up with anything rather than hinder the Gospel of Christ.” 1 Cor. 9:12

Believe in the living word of God — Jesus Christ. He is the only way in where you want to go. I’m talking about entrance into God’s forever home, with His forever family.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16,17

“There is no sin that shall damn the man who believes, and nothing can save the man who will not believe (in the Jesus of the Bible).” — Charles Spurgeon

Listen, you can be saved by Him right here and now (click).

What is the history of the Bible in English?

What are the different English Bible versions?

What does it mean that people will not endure sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3)?

Is there a good way to study the Bible?

How is a study Bible different from a regular Bible? In what ways can a study Bible be valuable?

What are the most well-known Bible verses about certain subjects? ..or got any miscellaneous questions?

How do I know the Bible is not just mythology? How can I trust the Bible when so many worldly and very educated people are saying it is filled with myths?

What are the most frequently asked Bible questions?

Why should I care what the Bible says? Why should I trust that the Bible is true?

Apply the Bible to your life. Dare ya to request of God: “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law” (Ps. 119:18). Sure, pray this verse daily, before you sit down to read. Cry out to the Lord, “Please speak to me, turning some of Your logos into rhema for me today, Jesus. I need Your Word more than my next breath.”

Expect God’s Spirit to speak to you from His written Word, giving direction and peace. After having read some passages in God’s Word, ask some questions to glean further understanding.

Humbly in faith ask God: What does it mean to me personally?

What does it say for me to do personally?

Lord, if you were in my situation today (and You are right here with me now), how would You apply these Scriptures.. how should I? What do I do here?

How should I adjust my attitude, behavior and words to please God?

Commit yourself to obeying God’s Word. Unlike the new age meditating in the world, our meditation is Word-focused, and the Word is that special object we look at. After reading the Bible prayerfully, rephrasing it into your own words will help you meditate upon its rich truth. Righteous meditation has to do with reflection, pondering and visualizing yourself doing it.

This verbal process causes the Word to sink deep into your spirit-man where it explodes with fresh illumination and overcoming power.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

Success or failure in the Christian life is dependent on how much of the Word of God you take in on a regular basis and how much of it you obey in the right way! Jesus is God’s way for us, and He has a righteous way for us to walk out His word.

The Authority of the Scriptures has been clearly established. However, many religious people today teach contrary to the Bible and they call themselves Christian leaders.

So why was the Bible in two covenants new and old?

Augustine once said about the Bible: “In the Old Testament the New is concealed, in the New the Old is revealed.” The canon of Scripture is not meant to be approached like a television series: “Man, I liked season 5 of that series so much better than season 2 cuz the actors were changed out.”

The true story of the Lord’s grace through his chosen people Israel to bring salvation to humanity in this fallen world ..as the light of the world is a story that began not with the “in the beginning” of John 1 (the gospel) but with the “in the beginning” of Genesis 1 in the Old Testament.

Pause and muse on how John began his NT gospel with those words (“in the beginning was the Word” — who is Jesus). Well, John was intentionally echoing the creation account of Genesis there. Through Jesus, the good creation that God began in OT Genesis is being transformed into a new creation by means of a new exodus led by a new type of Moses who brings us not out.. not merely out of the slavery in Egypt (a type of the world system), but out of the slavery and bondage of sin, of satan, and out of death.

Jesus Christ is the new Adam if you will, who can and delights to forgive repentant people to come and believe in Him. He basically recalibrates humanity from a trajectory of decay and death (from the first OT Adam) toward the path of redemption, reconciliation, and eternal life!

Without the Old, we cannot understand the New, and without the New, we have an incomplete understanding of the Old.

“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little” Isaiah 28:9,10

The Old Covenant was preparatory for the New Covenant. What are they key differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

How does the new covenant complete and fulfill the old covenant?

Are Christians under the Old Covenant?

What is the New Covenant?

What is the difference between a sect and a cult? What makes a religious group a sect, and what makes a religious group a cult.. even if they say they adhere to the Bible?

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” Hebrews 10:1

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

The Old Covenant sets forth beautiful types and shadows for the New Covenant so that we can gain insight for a functioning church life that positively impacts the world. We are to be world-changers. We are to witness, plant seeds and win souls.

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” 1 Corinthians 10:11

Family talk: What should our love and attitude be like? I say it should be childlike simple as A, B, C:

A. Obedience to Authority. Once we have knowledge of God’s gospel message and the Scriptures, we must wisely apply God’s Word, I mean righteously put some shoe leather to the pavement so to speak. We are to be living it out in love, doing what it says, and not doing what it says to avoid. Otherwise, we forfeit the right to name Jesus as Lord. We are to love God most, to love and practice righteousness, and love people too. We are to hate and forsake sin.. due to our love for Him.

But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46

B. Humble subjection of all our personal opinions and feelings to scriptural Authority. Our preconceived ideas must line up with the Bible, or we should simply forsake them.

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5

C. Holy desire to become more like Jesus — let’s have that more and more with every passing day. God’s word is His will, and His will is His word. As we see the will of God, our former doctrines, ideas, and imaginations are then changed. 

What's not to love about God and the veracity of His Scriptures?  Zip! We are transformed by the power of the word.

We become increasingly more like Jesus Christ as the Spirit does His sanctifying work on the inside of us believers.

Does God reward us for being obedient to His Word?

How can I meditate on God’s Word?

The worlds were framed by the word of God (Hebrews 11:3)!

How can the Word of God divide soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12)?

What does it mean to be doers of the Word in James 1:22?

What does it mean that the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)?

Why is obedience to the Word of God important? .. Even a young believer can cleanse his way by the word (Psalm 119:9).

How can I have God’s Word hidden in my heart (Psalm 119:11)?

How is hearing by the Word of God and how is that related to faith (Romans 10:17)?

What is the importance of the Bible?

What does God say about obedience to Scripture?

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 3:18