Sunday night the Dallas Cowboys were playing the Greenbay Packers. It was quite a game.
The game came down to a fourth quarter play in which the Dallas receiver caught the ball around the goal line.
The catch was contested and overruled. It appears he wasn’t in totally in control of the ball when he hit the ground. Continue reading
Paul’s entire set of epistles seem to be nothing but Christian apologetics – he defends the faith.
Each letter is written to a group, region, or church that seems to be going through problems, questions, or false teachings.
For instance to the Corinthians Paul defended the resurrection, spiritual gifts, Communion, marriage and divorce, hair length, and law suits just to name a few.
To the Galatians, Paul had to defend against Judaizers that came with a different gospel of following the Law.
In Ephesians he defended the family.
And I could go on but you can read each for yourself and experience what Paul was saying.
Probably one of the best lines from Paul on apologetics is given in Colossians –
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Col 4:5-6
Apologetics demands wisdom and patience. It demands grace in what you say and how you say it so that the answers you give will be received.
Abba, I want grace and salt in my speech today. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
Over three years had passed since his conversion to Christianity from Judaism. He had visited Arabia, Damascus, and finally the birthplace of the church – Jerusalem. Continue reading
I study the Bible a lot – every day I have my nose in it. And I know there are times I can get teach and preach and get over the heads of those listening.
This is especially true of new things – things the listeners have not studied or heard before.
I try to explain everything but sometimes it just takes time to sink in.
The same thing happened to Mary.
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:28-30
Mary was troubled at his saying.
Why? Because it was new to her.
She lived in a society that followed the Law of Moses. It was a society where the religious leaders would emphasize that she wasn’t good enough and because her family wasn’t rich, they weren’t considered to be blessed.
Now an angel tells her she is highly favored and she has found favor with God.
The angel told her of grace, something she just didn’t understand. Grace and following the Law had little in common. Then again, they have everything in common. But there I go again – getting in deep.
Mary is not alone when it comes to not understanding grace. There are many people that don’t. I can’t swear that I fully comprehend it but I fully accept it.
I know I am saved by God’s grace.
There are many things in God’s word that are difficult to understand. Like grace, they need to be accepted and allowed to accomplish their purpose in you.
Abba, Your grace is more than sufficient for me. I love Your grace. Thank You for giving it to me through my Savior, Jesus. YES&AMEN
My year old grandson started walking last night. He was standing by my chair and just let go and walked over to Haylee who was about six feet away. Then he walked back.
Once he discovered what he was doing he would walk some 15 feet across the living room and back.
He was as excited as the rest of us. With each step he’ll grow more confident and steady and there will be no stopping him.
It’s an experience every parent and grandparent goes through.
It’s hard to imagine that Jesus went through it too.
After his birth and dedication the Bible says,
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40
There was the day he rolled over on His own.
The day He started crawling and waving bye and hi.
Then the day came when He let go of the chair and walked across the room, much to the thrill and excitement of Joseph and Mary.
There was no stopping Him.
He kept on walking.
He walked Galilee and Judea.
He walked through Samaria and through the streets of Jerusalem.
He walked in the mountains and He walked on the water.
Then the day came when He walked to Golgotha and was crucified.
But death didn’t stop Him. He walked up to the devil and took the keys of death and hell. He walked out of the tomb. He walked among His disciples. He walked for forty days.
He walked to the Mount of Olives but He didn’t walk back down.
He ascended to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of Father.
And He has passed the walking over to you and me now!
It’s up to each of us to walk by His grace and walk by faith.
Abba, use my legs to carry me where You want me to go. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
He has done it again!
Last night Nik Walenda broke two world records by tightrope walking between three skyscrapers in Chicago, the windy city. One walk had a nineteen degree slant and the other walk he did blindfolded.
The event was promoted very heavily on other channels. In fact, my daughter, Kimberly and I watched one, which is how I knew about it.
The promotion highlighted some of Nik’s other accomplishments.
When he walks the tightrope, Nik can be heard saying, “I praise You, Jesus” and other accolades and prayers to God.
Kimberly misunderstood what he was saying. She thought he had said, “Crazy! Jesus!”, thinking he was telling the Savior that what he was doing was crazy.
To many it is! Both the tightrope walking and the calling on the Name of the Lord!
But Nik is following the scripture, which says,
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17
It would be well for all of us to heed the same today and praise Jesus in all we do!
Abba, I praise You for this day. I praise You for my job, my family, my church, for the talents You have given me. May I always use it for Your honor and glory. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. 1 John 4:2-3
I believe Jesus came in the flesh!
It doesn’t stop there.
I believe He came, died, was buried, and rose the third day.
I believe that many saw Him after the resurrection.
I believe He ascended to Father and is now at His right hand.
I believe He intercedes for you and me.
There are those that would say Jesus was just a good man or a prophet. By that they do not confess He came in the flesh.
Some others would say He never existed and the Bible was written by a man (or several men) and is a made up book of stories. By this they do not confess that Jesus has some in the flesh.
Both are the spirit of Antichrist.
And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:3
If you are a Christian, your confession of Jesus should be first and foremost in your life. That confession should be evident in your speech and actions.
A drunk is a drunk because he drinks.
An adulterer is an adulterer because she cheats.
A liar is a liar because he lies.
A murderer is a murderer because he kills.
A Christian is a Christian because…
You get the point?
Abba, I confess my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. YES&AMEN
Right after the gentleman died of Ebola in Dallas, I saw a report on Facebook that a family of five were diagnosed with the disease, thus quarantining an entire town in Texas.
I saw this same story shared over and over, which seems to give credibility to it.
But it was a false report.
We tend to believe something we hear over and over, especially from different sources.
This can even take place with false information about the Bible. All it takes is some pastor doing some studying online and seeing the same comments made about a subject.
Recently I taught on the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-26. It ends with Jesus mentioning an eye of a needle.
For the last few centuries it has been commonly taught that this refers to a small gate in the city that travelers had to stoop to get through and a camel had to get down on it’s knees to get through.
For years it has been taught as gospel but for me something just wasn’t right about it.
The Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; Heb 10:15
I believe the Holy Spirit checks our spirit and bears witness to us. The Holy Spirit will lead you to the truth.
My thought is why a small door would be necessary. Of course there was an answer for that but that didn’t make since either.
Why a small door that would cause animals such difficulty to enter with their owners?
The main thing that bothered me about the story is this – it wasn’t impossible for a camel to enter such a gate; it was just difficult. It could be done.
When Jesus made the statement that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, the disciples wondered who could be saved!
In my entire ministry I have never taught the small gate theory. Today there are many commentaries that give no evidence that such a gate ever existed.
So listen to the Holy Spirit when you study your Bible. And listen when you read about things outside the Bible.
Abba, give me guidance to discover the truth so I may teach others Your perfect truth! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
I believe everyone has something to do in ministry.
The Bible says,
He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, Eph 4:11
And
God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Cor 12:28
Sometimes the ministry is not glamorous or giving much credit.
And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Gen 22:5
Abraham and Isaac were going to worship and sacrifice to God. The young men with them were told to stay with the donkey.
On the surface it seems like Abraham is doing all the important ministry – the worshipping, the sacrifice, and the fellowship.
But the young men have just as important job. They had to watch the stuff. Perhaps Abraham set up camp and the young men are waiting on their return with a hot meal and drink.
When I was in elementary school I thought the coolest adult at school was the janitor. He got to handle all that neat trash, push garbage cans around, mop up messes, and he picked at us kids.
Now that I’m grown it’s just not as glamorous but I see how important it is.
Whatever God has you doing, whether it’s pastoring a church or handing out tracks on a sidewalk – be the best you can be at it. If it wasn’t important He wouldn’t have you doing it.
Abba, thank You for the ministry You have given me. I want to do my best in it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
Gen 21:25-26 Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.”
Misunderstanding can ruin a relationship just as quickly as a slap to the face.
Abraham was holding a grudge against Abimelech, for something Abimelech knew nothing about.
They eventually did resolve this misunderstanding.
How many times do you get angry when someone misinterprets what you say or misdirects your intentions?
Better yet, how many times do you misunderstand someone else?
Give others the benefit of the doubt and let God do a work to clear things up. And remember that you shouldn’t spread rumors about what you do not fully understand.
It would have been easy for Abraham to tell all his friends about how Abimelech was such a thief and a scoundrel and Abraham would have been wrong.
Today you have a marvelous principle from Jesus on clearing up relationship problems.
Matt 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Of course, there is the old-fashioned “forgive and forget” and don’t bother bringing it up!
Abba, there are instructions for all relationships in Your word. YES&AMEN
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 