This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
One thing very common to northeastern cities is litter—yes trash! Look anywhere and it won't be hard to find bottles, paper, tires, food, dead animals, etc. To some people, littering is just like walking out a door—it comes very easy. There are two things about litter that makes it sinful in the eyes of God. First, it is against the law. The laws of the land prohibit irresponsible acts like people throwing litter around. The word of God makes it clear that our Father in Heaven wishes for citizens to comply with the laws of the land and do what is good for themselves and others (Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17). The laws against littering are for the good of every city, state, and nation, for it promotes clean living for the community. Second, littering is offensive to those working to promote the right thing among men. Imagine a person who has cleaned an area, only to return and find that some slob has left a box of half-eaten chicken, candy wrappers, and an empty bottle of beer. Talk about mad, the person who cleaned the area will have every right to be mad because whoever left that trash could care less about the hard effort it took to clean the place. So if you don't want to cause offense, don't litter (2 Corinthians 6:3). And by the way, what are trash cans for? Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
This past week the world saw hundreds of Muslims destroying things because a Danish newspaper published a cartoon implying that their Prophet Muhammad was in favor of doing destructive things. If someone draws a cartoon implying something about one's god, hero, etc., and the response is violence, then it serves to confirm the cartoon is correct or that the followers don't know the history of their leader (you can read about Muhammad's history in books). People must not reply to what they consider as wrong doing with wrong doing (Matthew 5:10–12, 5:38–48; 1 Peter 2:19–23). To do so is to show that the person who drew the cartoon was probably right because if the leader was like that, so will the followers be (1 Corinthians 11:1, Matt. 15:13–14; Acts 5:34–37; Matt. 23:15). Setting things on fire, killing, mauling, and being full of wrath, aren't the traits of people who are children of God. Such traits are works of wickedness, found only in the children of the Devil (John 8:39–44; James 3:13–18, 1:17–27; Romans 13:12–14, 3:10–18). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Creator of the world, and Judge of all, made it perfectly clear that the use of swords against the enemies of truth isn't the answer (Matt. 26:50–52). Jesus also said that His followers shouldn't desire the deaths of those who refuse to obey the truth. Two of Jesus' followers wanted to command fire to fall from heaven upon those who had rejected Christ, but Jesus rebuke them (Luke 9:51–56). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
St. Valentines Day will be here soon and as tradition has it, people will go to city halls to get married on that day. Some of the people are getting married for the rightreason, but many are not. God will be pleased with some of the marriages and with others He will not. Some people have no right to get married in the eyes of God and even though a court may pronounce one married that doesn't mean God is going to agree with that verdict and stamp His approval on the union (Isaiah 55:8). John the Baptizer was a great preacher in his day, and he let King Herod know that his marriage was not lawful in the eyes of God (Matthew 14:4, 19:6). Anyone planning to marry should have a Bible study on the subject to see if he is eligible in the eyes of God to marry. And shame on those religious leaders who don't teach people the truth on the subject of marriage—these leaders ask no questions and offer no Biblical advice. You religious leaders, don't you think you ought to study the Bible with the people first? Do you let them know that the Bible teaches that there are three kinds of people who are eligible to marry? Those who have never married (Genesis 2:18). Those who are widowed (Romans 7:1–4). Those who have put their spouses away because that person committed adultery (Matthew 19:9). Or maybe you don't mind pronouncing "man and wife" upon someone who may not be worthy of the title? (Isaiah 5:20–21). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See this is new? It hath been already of old time which was before us," (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10). What a true statement that is! Today, when doctors perform major surgery, they put patients to sleep. However, it was God who performed the first operation when He put Adam to sleep and removed a rib from his side and created Eve (Genesis 2:21). You think a walkie talkie is a great invention? Think again. God created the first walkie talkie when He carried on a conversation with Moses through a burning bush which wasn't consumed by the flames (Exodus 3:1–5). When a rocket is shot up into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida, one can stand watching it go straight up until it disappears from sight. That is nothing new. Jesus Christ Himself ascended back into Heaven on a cloud, and it took Him up like a rocket and the people on the ground watched until they saw Him no more (Acts 1:9–11). You think automatic doors at the local supermarket was a great invention? Think again! It was God who also gave man the idea of self-opening doors. In Acts 12:10, Peter was led to an iron gate which automatically opened, and he walked right through. The Bible is indeed the word of Almighty God, so read it to know it, obey it in order to be right in the eyes of God; and if we can be of help in your study of the scriptures, do let us know (2 Timothy 3:14–17, Hebrews 4:12). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
Why are people so interested in the lives of movie stars and other celebrities? Television devotes hours of programming to shows like "Extra" and "ET" and people just sit around their sets and eat it all up. People, why give yourselves to following the lives of others whom you haven't met or probably never will? Why not work on your own life? Come the day of Judgment, those celebrities will have to stand before Jesus just like everyone else, and they will be sent to either heaven or hell (Romans 14:9–12; Matthew 25:31–46). Rather than spend time following which celebrity is marrying whom and who is having a baby in Hollywood, why not invest time studying God's word (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; Titus 2:1–10). The word of God teaches that the church is to take an interest in you, and we are doing that. Would you like to know what the word of God has to say about what you can do in life to prepare yourself for eternity? I did say the word of God, not the word of man, for it is God's word that will save us (1 Peter 1:22–25). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
Jesus was no muscular, good-looking ladies' man. That is know by considering the text of Isaiah 53:2, "he hath no form nor comeliness and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him," (KJV). So sorry ladies if you were expecting a "fine man" forget it. He didn't live in a 40-room mansion or was chauffeured around in a cadillac chariot, as many so-called preachers do today. He was poor and had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). Yet He is the Son of God sent to earth to die for the sings of all men, and that he did, thereby establishing a chance for every person in every country to be saved (Matt. 16:13–16; John 1:29, John 3:36). Jesus delivered His messages with such clarity and honesty that those who listened said, "never a man spoke like this," (John 7:36). Jesus is our Savior, and He will be our Judge on the last day (Acts 5:29–32; John 5:22–29; 2 Timothy 4:2). And it doesn't matter if one lives in the USA, Israel, Iraq, India, Russia, or anywhere else on this great big earth. Jesus will be our judge! (Matt 25:31–46). Do you believe in Him and have you obeyed Him? (1 Corinthians 15:1–5). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. This is only for people who believe the Bible to be God's word.
On December 20, ABC aired a special entitled, "What Happens After Death?". Amazingly many tuned in to watch this program hosted by Barbara Walters as she interviewed people of different religious beliefs. Now the sad thing is many probably watched that program hoping to get answers. People, we all need to wake up! We don't have to watch a program put on TV by ABC, and we sure don't need to be listening to what men say about the after life. People, we need to start listening to God! You know that book called the Bible? We need to listen to it. We need to open it up and turn to Hebrews 9:27 and read "after death comes the Judgment." We need to open the Bible and read Luke 16:19–31 where Jesus teaches us that the soul or spirit goes to the realm of the unseen which is Hades; once there, the soul awaits the final judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43, 46; Acts 2:22–27; Acts 7:59–60). We need to turn to Matthew 7:21 where Jesus said one must obey the will of God in order to enter Heaven. The will of God is His word and man must obey it (1 Timothy 4:16). But first, man needs to know what the word teaches (Ephesians 5:17). We don't need ABC, actors, neighbors, or religious leaders of different faiths telling us what they believe (Matt. 15:13–14). God has sent His Son, so let us listen to Him (Matt. 17:4–5, Hebrews 2:1–2, Heb. 5:9). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. |