Why Scripture Matters

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, 

correcting and  training in righteousness, 

so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped 

for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:14, 16-17 NIV

With that Scripture quote alone we don't even need to write another word for it supports itself.

But I think I'll write a bit more about how how beautiful it is to live and breathe God in your heart by studying His Word through the Bible.

When you become a true born-again Christian, your life will change magnificently.

When you've been touched by God, you will only want to know EVERYTHING about Him.

It's almost like oxygen for you.

You breathe in from the Bible each day.

You listen to chosen sermons each day.

A lot of those had been carefully selected for use on this blog.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, the one Christ left us with, to teach us:

15 “If you love me, 

keep my commands. 

16 And I will ask the Father, 

and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 

17 the Spirit of truth. 

The world cannot accept him, 

because it neither sees him nor knows him. 

But you know him, 

for he lives with you and will be in you. 

18 I will not leave you as orphans; 

I will come to you."

John 14:15-18 NIV

I've also found that people who are in Christ tend to find each other and God connects us effortlessly.

You will find yourself with a new circle of friends who are so much like you -- loving God above all.

And all because you sought God and wanted to learn more about Him.

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, 

“and will bring you back from captivity.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV

You will also find, from reading Scriptures and loving God with all your heart, that you've become humble and teachable.

Also, you will see the world for what it is:

On Not Loving the World

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, 

love for the Father is not in them. 

16 For everything in the world—

the lust of the flesh, 

the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life—

comes not from the Father but from the world. 

17 The world and its desires pass away, 

but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

The greatest wisdom is that which comes from the Word of God -- JESUS. 

How else have I come to know all these but through the Bible and through the various teachers I've featured on this blog?

Have a teachable heart.

Open your heart to Jesus, through God's Scriptures.

Your life will be as you never knew it before.

Updated 18 January 2022

Why Study Bible Prophecy At All?

Why does Bible Prophecy matter?

Why study it at all?

What made me get into it?

After watching Dr. David R. Reagan's two videos on "rebellious" America, something was triggered in me to focus on Bible Prophecy.

Sure, I was a baby Christian, hardly even a day old then, but I was magnetized to study Bible Prophecy.

When you are intrigued or interested in something -- as if a "call" had been sounded -- you don't even think how difficult or challenging it may be.

That never even occurred to me, for I've been a relentless reader, writer, student, and researcher on matters of the self and soul since I was a child -- what more when it was a question of knowing more about God and Christ's Prophecies -- something I'd waited for all my life?

I personally felt the urgency of the times. I'm just blessed to be here on time to tell you these things, even as many have gone on before me.

On 6 September 2019, I felt I was in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing -- focusing on God, Christ, the Bible, and Bible Prophecy.

Forty-five days later, today, my zeal has grown even more.

Sure, unbelievers will call us "nuts" like how John MacArthur once wondered about how people call end times ministers "Grape Nuts" (how it ought to be one or the other).

Thanks to internet evangelist, Nathan Jones, a colleague of Dr. David R. Reagan, the short (a little over five minutes) video will give you a quick run-through of the importance of studying Bible Prophecy.

When else will you do so?

When it's too late?

I've made my decision first week of September 2019.

And there was no turning back after that.

Every day merely showed how little I knew and that it was time to catch up.

Read the Bible.

It will tell you everything you know, for it's God's Word.

It's time to learn more about 27% of the Bible -- Prophecies.

"...worship God: 

for the testimony of Jesus 

is the spirit of prophecy."

Revelation 19:10 NIV

On the Question of Suffering and Evil

It's a fair question, and a very common one at that, when people who are in pain and suffering (or even those so ready to mock God and Christians), ask, 

"If God is so good why is there suffering in the world?"

True believers of God and those who read the Bible cringe at such unbelief challenging the love and power of God.

But like I said, it's a fair question in this world of many religions.

We do have free will:

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, 

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, 

whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, 

or the gods of the Amorites, 

in whose land you are living. 

But as for me and my household, 

we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:15 NIV

How we exercise that free will is another story.

To put things in perspective, John MacArthur says there are no "good" people, in answer to that popular book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People".

Do you believe there are no good people?

I do, because the Bible tells me so.

Here's God to tell you Himself, thus the Flood:

5 The LORD saw how great 

the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, 

and that every inclination of the thoughts 

of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Genesis 6:5 NIV

And after the Flood, here's what God says:

21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: 

“Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, 

even though every inclination of the human heart 

is evil from childhood. 

And never again will I destroy all living creatures, 

as I have done.

Genesis 8:21 NIV

The Bible -- the infallible Word of God -- is proof positive of man's perpetual sinfulness.

The Bible doesn't mock our fallibility, otherwise God wouldn't have sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world 

to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17 NIV

It takes a humble heart to know Christ.

And let's face it: we are an ungrateful lot.

When you really care to know God in full, you will eagerly and happily listen to His Words, become obedient, and trusting.

You will also be faithful and devoted to His Word.

And the Bible carries all the answers to any and every question the human race has.

Jesus offers us comfort in our times of difficulties.

He says:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

So, there's really no need to lament, accuse, blame, or give up.

Christ is in charge.

The only question has always been:

Have we received Him?

To protect ourselves from evil, we can do what my Bible teacher friend recommends from the ever-wiser King Solomon:

“…Fear God and keep his commandments, 

for this is the duty of all mankind.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13. NIV

(Verses sourced from biblegateway.com)

Updated 18 January 2022

How Not To Be Bewitched By False Doctrines

"Most churches in our society are bewitched," says John MacArthur.

He says "bewitched" means "charmed, fascinated in a misleading way, related to spells, sorcery, and demon power".

He also quotes Galatians 3:3-6 NIV here:

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish Galatians! 

Who has bewitched you?

 Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 

2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: 

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, 

or by believing what you heard? 

3 Are you so foolish? 

After beginning by means of the Spirit, 

are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 

4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—

if it really was in vain? 

5 So again I ask, 

does God give you his Spirit 

and work miracles among you by the works of the law, 

or by your believing what you heard? 

6 So also Abraham “believed God, 

and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

If we are true followers of Christ and lovers of God, we must be on that straight and narrow path and get them right for now is the time to do so, more than at any other time in our lives.

It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to truth for He is the "Spirit of Truth". Here's what Jesus says:

26 But the Advocate, 

the Holy Spirit, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

will teach you all things 

and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 14:26 NIV

Further, this is how the Holy Spirit can help us in our search for God's Truth:

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, 

he will guide you into all the truth. 

He will not speak on his own; 

he will speak only what he hears, 

and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13 NIV

We really have to be careful of all those false prophets as Jesus' Second Coming comes near. Here are several important verses from Bible Study Tools:

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. 

They come to you in sheep’s clothing, 

but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. 

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, 

or figs from thistles? 

17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, 

but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, 

and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit 

is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, 

‘Lord, Lord,’ 

will enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

22 Many will say to me on that day, 

‘Lord, Lord, 

did we not prophesy in your name 

and in your name drive out demons 

and in your name perform many miracles?’ 

23 Then I will tell them plainly, 

‘I never knew you. 

Away from me, 

you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine 

and puts them into practice 

is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

25 The rain came down, 

the streams rose, 

and the winds blew and beat against that house; 

yet it did not fall, 

because it had its foundation on the rock. 

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine 

and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man 

who built his house on sand. 

27 The rain came down, 

the streams rose, 

and the winds blew and beat against that house, 

and it fell with a great crash.” 

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, 

the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 

29 because he taught as one who had authority, 

and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:15-29 NIV

As John MacArthur says, "Satan snatches the seed" before it has been given a chance to grow -- thus, the Gospel doesn't take root in us.

But there is a solution: we can have spiritual discernment through the Holy Spirit. Jesus made sure of that.

(All other verses from biblegateway.com)

Updated 18 January 2022

David Wilkerson on "Witchcraft in the Church"

The Holy Spirit had been leading me to many wonderful pastors and preachers of great dedication and precision for over a month now.

One I had been studying the past couple of days was David Wilkerson.

(The link was sourced from Dr. David R. Reagan's "Christ in Prophecy" site.)

The fiery preacher David Wilkerson has this to say about how witchcraft has infiltrated the church in insidious ways.

He also shared an important verse from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible where the word "witchcraft" was used:

22 And Samuel said, 

Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, 

as in obeying the voice of the Lord? 

Behold, 

to obey is better than sacrifice, 

and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, 

and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 

Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 

he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV

The late David Wilkerson* cautions us to be careful and have a "spirit of discernment" even as he says:

"Demons cannot co-exist with the presence of Christ."

(KJV verse source: biblegateway.com)

*News of David Wilkerson's death from Palestine Herald-Press.

Updated 18 January 2022

What is God's Will For Us?

There is something very strange and yet very beautiful going on.

That's been the case since I first became a born-again Christian on 6 September 2019.

The dreams changed, the feelings changed, the practices changed, the studies changed, my days have changed.

And today, I was happily surprised that my Bible teacher friend shared the quote above, and to think I had just discovered Greg Laurie a couple of days ago.

My friend's Laurie quote EXACTLY matches this 4 May 2019 video I had been studying yesterday, something on knowing what God's Will is for us so it's most timely I incorporate both on this blog post.

I like pastor's Laurie approach of taking us to those places (this one filmed in Greece) where we can learn relevant Bible phrases and teachings, pretty much like Dr. David R. Reagan's many videos.

This method is effective in rounding out our education -- a great aid for baby Christians like myself.

In this video, pastor Laurie says:

"God's plan for you is better than your plan for yourself."

Another beautiful verse that pastor Laurie used in the video can be found here:

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, 

I urge you, 

brothers and sisters, 

in view of God’s mercy, 

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, 

holy and pleasing to God—

this is your true and proper worship. 

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—

his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

(Scripture source: biblegateway.com)

Updated 18 January 2022

"Saved By Grace, Not By Good Works"

How the Bible corrects us so!

Many Roman Catholics think that by doing good works they can be saved.

But that's how their church has led them to believe, based on their catechism.

Biblical Christians, those who are faithful to God's Word, learn differently.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God— 

9 not by works, 

so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

That verse (and the title of this post) is constantly used by Mike Gendron in correcting Roman Catholics, of which I once was, as Mike Gendron was once, too.

How humbling to be corrected by the Bible, the Word of God!

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight 

by the works of the law; 

rather, 

through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God 

has been made known, 

to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ 

to all who believe. 

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

24 and all are justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:20-24 NIV

Another verse, proof of God's Grace, to enlighten us:

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, 

the glory of the one and only Son, 

who came from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

John 1:4  NIV

This is also how we can strengthen our hearts in God:

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, 

not by eating ceremonial foods, 

which is of no benefit to those who do so.

Hebrews 13:9 NIV

Scripture really has much to teach us.

Please open your heart to God's True Teachings from the Bible.

(NIV verses obtained from biblestudytools.com)

Updated 18 January 2022