DO WOMEN REALLY HAVE TO BE QUIET IN CHURCH?

   Before attempting to address this important question, let me say right from the start that I firmly believe and fully agree with 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 which reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,….”  

   Also, I completely embrace 2 PETER 1:20-21 which reads, “…..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.”    

   Another New Testament passage to keep   in our hearts when approaching the Holy Bible in order to learn from its inspired contents is found in 2 TIMOTHY 2:15, “Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

HONORING THE HOLY BIBLE

Thirteen years ago, I conducted an informal survey of over 500 Email and Facebook Contacts, asking them what they thought were the most important questions people are asking today about God, Christianity, the Bible and life in general.

Based on this simple research, the number 1 question the participants thought people were asking was, “How do you know the Bible is true?”

73% of those surveyed thought this question was very important; while 21% thought of it as important.  Only 6% thought it was unimportant.  If the same survey is conducted today, I am sure the majority would still think this question is important, “How do you know the Bible is true?”

In obedience to 1 PETER 3:15 - which says to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you….” I shall endeavor to answer this important question again, in honor of this holiest of books.

AN AWAKENING LESSON FROM THE FIRST CONGREGATION

 ACTS 2  41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  43  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  44  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.   

   46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

New King James Version®.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

AN AWAKENING LESSON FROM THE FIRST CONGREGATION

   What if a brand new local church congregation suddenly grew by 3,000 new believers, most of whom were visiting from other countries that had no churches of any kind yet?  Would it be wise for us to send them all back to their homelands quickly without any time spent for their genuine discipleship?

THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON

ACTS 2 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.  15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.  16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:                                                                  

JOEL 2:28-32a  17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and   vapor of smoke.  20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,          before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  

BIBLICAL PRAYER FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4,8

…..I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth….. 

⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;…. 

According to these often quoted verses, we can see it is very Biblical for us all to pray for everyone who is in authority.  What many might often miss in this passage is that we are told to do this - everywhere - without wrath and doubting.  With that possibility being possible sometimes, let’s begin by asking the Lord to search our own hearts and minds to help us repent of any present anger and all our unbelief.

BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT FAITH

According to the Scriptures, faith is….

• what comes from hearing the Word of God - ROMANS 10:17
• what believers are given “the measure of” - ROMANS 12:3 
• one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit - 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10
• an expression of the fruit of the Spirit - GALATIANS 5:22-23
• God’s gift through which we are saved by grace - EPHESIANS 2:8-10
• the substance of things hoped for - HEBREWS 11:1
• the evidence of things not seen - HEBREWS 11:1
• necessary for pleasing God - HEBREWS 11:6

With these things being understood, we can see that Scriptural faith does not originate from us but it comes to us from The Lord, Who lives forever.  

PROTEST RALLY INTERVIEW - June 7, 2020

TRIBULATIONS

Thunder snow

Sleeting storms
Crippled metroplexes 
Power down, frozen towns 
Polar vortex touches Texas 
In the world you will have tribulation 

Falling rains, rising floods
Stranding many on their roofs
Dozens slain, sliding mud
Dirty avalanche on the loose
In the world you will have tribulation

Wild fires, uncontrolled 
Fire-starters, unpatrolled 
Fire-nadoes, beyond belief 
Firefighters, need relief 
In the world you will have tribulation 

THE BENEFITS OF BIBLICAL MEDITATION

   Unlike many of today’s so called popular meditation methods, meditating on Holy Scripture does not involve attempting to empty one’s own mind while mindlessly making monosyllabic sounds and sitting uncomfortably on floor mats.

   Biblical meditation includes taking time to regularly fill our minds with good things from Scripture while reading the Bible and thinking about what is being read.  This can be accompanied by praying often with a mindset of humility and a willingness to repent; while.. 

PRIDE IS NOT A GOOD GUIDE (S. O. A. P. Meditation)

    Last week’s Devotional sought to demonstrate how one can benefit from meditating on the Scriptures by using a simple and prayerful 4-part approach to Journaling called SOAP; which is an acrostic for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer.

    Beginning and ending with prayer and praying at every step, this easy discipline involves one’s own Bible, a notebook and a pen.  Once again, here is an attempt to share how this can easily work for any believer wanting to enjoy life-changing Bible reading.