Now that the Christmas season is over, so are the holiday snacks and goodies!
More importantly though, for those walking with the Lord, it means that the special feeling in the air during Christmas is gone; that constant "Birth of Christ" reminder leading up to December 25th is gone. Seeing as this is the case, keeping in the word of God daily is more important than ever.
The days feel short yet long, it's continually cold and snowy outside, and spring seems so far away. Make it a resolution to keep to the Bible daily, and to really seek spiritual growth during this "idle" time. Not to say that when it's nice outside, it's okay to let your walk with God slip, however, during the winter months it's easier to hone your focus on spiritual things. Do not let yourself be distracted by the TV or Internet. Get rid of cable if you must.
Your physical fitness is, of course, of some importance. However, your spiritual fitness is what matters most.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Armour of God - Eph 6:11
In the KJV it is written:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
I looked up the meaning of "wiles", as a lot of the old English in the KJV confuses me. I assumed it meant deception. But, the definition I got of this word is much more in-depth:
wile |wīl|noun ( wiles)devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.
What a powerful definition. The devil most certainly has many strategems he uses to manipulate us!
Hold fast to the Word of God, and His word only. Take care to research the books you are reading, the sermons you listen to, the articles you read... are they in full compliance with the Word of God?
Read further in Ephesians for more information about the armour of God: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=KJV
What a powerful definition. The devil most certainly has many strategems he uses to manipulate us!
Hold fast to the Word of God, and His word only. Take care to research the books you are reading, the sermons you listen to, the articles you read... are they in full compliance with the Word of God?
Read further in Ephesians for more information about the armour of God: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=KJV
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Mid-Week Scripture - 27 Dec 12 - Keep your mind on Heaven
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:2 (KJV)
The "Modern" Christian - Translations and Teachers (Part 1)
Translations, Teachers, Incorrect Doctrine, Misconceptions, Misinterpretations.... There are so many factors that contribute to the state of today's modern Christian. Please note that these factors are almost limitless.
There is one Gospel, and one Gospel only.
It is interesting to note that some people have a very wrong view of the Gospel. What makes this interesting is that most of the time, their version of the Gospel is what touches so many people - and these people end up following the wrong Gospel, or, a tainted version of the Gospel, if you will.
My idea of extreme Christianity is someone who is on fire for Jesus, someone who is obedient to God's word in full, and strives for a complete, as accurate as possible knowledge of the Bible. Because in this world, following the Bible to the "T" is what people would normally consider extreme.
Over the course of the last millenniums, believers have been lead into many directions on how to live their lives. People rely on Biblical teachers to help them along their walk with God, which is okay - to a point. Biblical teachers over the course of time have modernized their teachings, and have in the process taught other Christians, Bible students and the like their new teachings. These people who rely solely on the teachers to get their doctrinal foundation are getting "spoon fed" the Gospel message. Unfortunately, the majority of these people do not read the scriptures for themselves to get a clear untainted message, straight from the source.
As the English language progressed into what it is today, the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible has become harder to understand, causing new translations to be published. Versions like the New International Version (NIV), New King James Version (NKJV), so on and so forth. The original English version, the KJV, is rarely referred to by both believers and teachers when reading their new translations, so confusion, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation of the scriptures are very evident.
If you take a moment to take in the image of the "modern Christian" in it's entirety, you see a group of people who are essentially lost. Just like Atheists and Agnostics, only arguably worse. These people are supposed to be the salt and the light to the people who do not know Christ. But, because of all the different denominations, "traditions", beliefs, arguments, "doctrinal differences", practices, etc., Christianity now looks like a big joke, to both believers and unbelievers.
The new translations of the Bible are not only to blame. It is the teachers, the believers, the ones who want to do things their own way, the ones who do not like what the Bible has to say - the list can go on for days!
I will not go into specific issues, but I do want to just convey something to you before you go to your next Church service, or listen to your favourite Bible teacher on the radio. Ask yourself these questions: Is the doctrine the pastor is teaching correct and true to God's word? Are the teachings partially or fully opinionated, or corrupted by "modernized" interpretations?
I challenge you to do your own self lead Bible study. Have the KJV open, and perhaps the NKJV open beside it to help you with the old English, if you have trouble reading it. Read God's word with an open heart and obedient spirit. Pray before you start. Do your extra studying to gain understanding by reading Bible commentaries (biblecc.org), and spend a few days reading the same verses (in context).
Dare to take in God's word fully, to the "T". Be an extremist, not a "modern" Christian.
Part 2 to come soon
There is one Gospel, and one Gospel only.
It is interesting to note that some people have a very wrong view of the Gospel. What makes this interesting is that most of the time, their version of the Gospel is what touches so many people - and these people end up following the wrong Gospel, or, a tainted version of the Gospel, if you will.
My idea of extreme Christianity is someone who is on fire for Jesus, someone who is obedient to God's word in full, and strives for a complete, as accurate as possible knowledge of the Bible. Because in this world, following the Bible to the "T" is what people would normally consider extreme.
Over the course of the last millenniums, believers have been lead into many directions on how to live their lives. People rely on Biblical teachers to help them along their walk with God, which is okay - to a point. Biblical teachers over the course of time have modernized their teachings, and have in the process taught other Christians, Bible students and the like their new teachings. These people who rely solely on the teachers to get their doctrinal foundation are getting "spoon fed" the Gospel message. Unfortunately, the majority of these people do not read the scriptures for themselves to get a clear untainted message, straight from the source.
As the English language progressed into what it is today, the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible has become harder to understand, causing new translations to be published. Versions like the New International Version (NIV), New King James Version (NKJV), so on and so forth. The original English version, the KJV, is rarely referred to by both believers and teachers when reading their new translations, so confusion, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation of the scriptures are very evident.
If you take a moment to take in the image of the "modern Christian" in it's entirety, you see a group of people who are essentially lost. Just like Atheists and Agnostics, only arguably worse. These people are supposed to be the salt and the light to the people who do not know Christ. But, because of all the different denominations, "traditions", beliefs, arguments, "doctrinal differences", practices, etc., Christianity now looks like a big joke, to both believers and unbelievers.
The new translations of the Bible are not only to blame. It is the teachers, the believers, the ones who want to do things their own way, the ones who do not like what the Bible has to say - the list can go on for days!
I will not go into specific issues, but I do want to just convey something to you before you go to your next Church service, or listen to your favourite Bible teacher on the radio. Ask yourself these questions: Is the doctrine the pastor is teaching correct and true to God's word? Are the teachings partially or fully opinionated, or corrupted by "modernized" interpretations?
I challenge you to do your own self lead Bible study. Have the KJV open, and perhaps the NKJV open beside it to help you with the old English, if you have trouble reading it. Read God's word with an open heart and obedient spirit. Pray before you start. Do your extra studying to gain understanding by reading Bible commentaries (biblecc.org), and spend a few days reading the same verses (in context).
Dare to take in God's word fully, to the "T". Be an extremist, not a "modern" Christian.
Part 2 to come soon
Monday, December 24, 2012
Hark! The Herald Angel's Sing - Beautiful Lyrics
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
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