Is the Bible a Dead Letter?
Many people say so....there is a lot of interest in the “need” for a personal visit from the Holy Spirit in order to gain salvation, BUT:
For one thing, The Bible itself denies it!
Of course, the denominationalist would have it “dead”, because it reproves his false religion (“...in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” –Mt 15:9); the indulgent, worldly one wants it “dead” because it rebukes his lifestyle (Gal 5:19-21) and promises divine retribution (2 Th. 1:7-9).
For another, Its results prove otherwise!
Even the devil has a higher opinion of the power of God’s word than these false ones. He “snatches the word” out of human hearts lest they believe and be saved – Mt 13; Lk 8. He evidently believes Rom 10:17, which says, “faith cometh...by hearing the word of God”. The truth is, through the ages, millions have been moved by inspired words.
In the third place, It denies of God’s word what we all know to be true about man’s words.
“Words” carried to Jacob made him grieve (wrongfully, as it turned out), for 15 years for a son he was led to believe was dead, but who still lived. “Words” brought to Eli about the capture of the ark affected him so powerfully that he fell and broke his neck. “Words” from Stephen so enraged his hearers that they stoned him to death. There is no doubt that all of us have from time to time been mightily moved by “words” which we hear from those we love, etc.
Of course, the power of ANY word compels in proportion to the respect we have for the one who says it. The words of many politicians mean nothing to us, because we do not believe them to be true. Words from proven liars have little power to persuade, or move us to action.
The source of Bible “words” is God. Do we not know Him to be true? Has He ever told us anything but truth? The fact is, our view of God’s “words” reflects our view of God himself. There is a prevailing lack of reverence for God, which results in a casual, disbelieving reaction to His word. Only by placing our faith in what God says can we attain our desired hope of a home with Him forever. Does His word live in YOU?
--AcBelue
Editorial: A Portrait of the Lazy Man (Proverbs 4:13-16)
The book of Proverbs contains Biblical wisdom for everyday life. The simple sayings contained in the book preserve a practical form of wisdom that is unfortunately no longer common. Proverbs is so practical, in fact, that one may forget at times the spiritual foundation of the entire book: the fear of the LORD is the beginning of true wisdom and knowledge (1:7; 9:10). The spiritual context of wisdom is critical to its proper understanding and application. Biblical wisdom may produce a better life, but its aim is to prepare and preserve one for eternal life.
Proverbs twenty-six contains four portraits of ungodly men: the fool (1-12), the lazy (13-16), the meddling talker (17-22), and the malicious hypocrite (23-28). The text describes the features of each character and warns the wise man against entanglement with those who may prove harmful to his well-being, both temporal and eternal. In this brief study, notice the four features of the lazy man as described in Proverbs 26.
The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” (13) The wise work hard, but the foolish are full of talk (14:23). Lazy people always have an excuse for why they can’t work, can’t fulfill their obligations, and can’t succeed. The lazy imagine all kinds of barriers to their progress, but the only real barrier is their own indolence. The lazy fear a lion, but the righteous are as bold as a lion (28:1).
As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. (14) A lazy man loves his bed. Why should he get up? After all, there may be a lion in the street today. The wise realize that rest prepares us for another day of activity. Sleep is not an end unto itself. The wise man is disciplined, even in his sleeping habits (20:13), but the lazy man loves to stay in bed.
The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. (15) Just as the lazy lives to sleep, so his idea of hard work is the simple act of feeding himself. He buries his hand in the bowl, rather than moderately picking food from it. He is so weak and worthless that just stuffing his face tires him. The New Testament has a rule that would spare the lazy man the fatigue associated with eating (2Th. 3:10).
The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (16) Who needs to study? The lazy man thinks more of his own ideas than seven sensible men. The lazy man loves his own wisdom and shares it freely, but it is not the product of careful study, thought, or experience. As with the other benefits of life, the lazy man seeks to claim wisdom without working to obtain it.
Proverbs has a lot to say about lazy people. Laziness is offensive to God; it is a mark of foolishness, not wisdom. –The Editors
Can Anyone Do Any One of These Things?
Some today claim to have the same baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit which the apostles had. If this is true, then such people ought to be able to produce the same miracles which the Apostles did. Can anyone today do any one of these things?
1. Can ANYONE today know and write all truth without ever hearing or reading it–as an Apostle could? (Jn. 16:12-15; Acts 1:1-5, 8; Acts 2:1-4)
2. Can ANYONE today speak intelligently in foreign languages which he never learned–as an Apostle could? (Acts 2:4-11)
3. Can ANYONE today publicly heal on the spot a well-known cripple who had never walked–as an Apostle could? (Acts 3:1-10)
4. Can ANYONE today instantaneously cause a hopeless cripple to stand and walk and leap in public–as an Apostle could? (Acts 3:7-8)
5. Can ANYONE today perform a notable miracle in which even his opponents must admit it to be an undeniable miracle – as an Apostle could? (Acts 4:8-10, 14-16)
6. Can ANYONE today read and reveal the evil secret of a hypocrite’s heart – as an Apostle could? (Acts 5:1-11)
7. Can ANYONE today say to a chronically paralyzed man, “Arise”, and see him immediately rise and convince all the community – as an Apostle could? (Acts 9:33-35)
8. Can ANYONE today raise a dead woman to life after she had already been prepared for burial–as an Apostle could? (Acts 9:36-42)
9. Can ANYONE today pronounce blindness upon a man for a season because he perverted God’s truth–as an Apostle could? (Acts 13:4-12)
10. Can ANYONE today remain unharmed after being publicly bitten by an acknowledged deadly viper–as an Apostle could? (Acts 28:3-6)
AN APOSTLE COULD DO ALL OF THESE THINGS!
Can ANYONE today do ANY ONE of these things? If so, let him show himself. If not, the claim to possess what the Apostles had in the first century is proven false! They did these things as “signs” (2 Cor 12:12). Doing them today would also be a “sign” of the authenticity of the claimant. Lack of power to do them reveals the claimant as a deceiver and unworthy of acceptance. –AcBelue