BIBLE - What is it?

WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

• "THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

• Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

• Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

• It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

• It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character.

• Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

• Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

• It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

• Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

• It is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever.

• It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

— Anonymous (found on the flyleaf of an old Bible.) It was posted on FB

Shammah

This is one of my favorite scriptures...one of David's mighty men, Shammah. My seed is my family and the Philistines represent the enemy. He fought the enemy with the sword (Word of God) and won. This is a beautiful truth and I use it in prayer to battle when the enemy comes against my family.

11 Sam. 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

CHILD'S FAITH

A child is like a butterfly in the wind.
Some can fly higher than others.
But each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?
-EACH ONE IF DIFFERENT
-EACH ONE IS SPECIAL
-EACH ONE IS BEAUTIFUL

Jesus words, "Let the little children come to Me, 

and do not forbid them; for of such is the
Kingdom of heaven."

Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive

the Kingdom of God as a little child will by

no means enter it.

Mark 10:14-15

When you think of a child they are trusting, fearless, they will
receive love and follow your instructions. 

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

"Because narrow is the gate and DIFFICULT is the way which leads to

life, and there are few who find it. 

Matthew 7:13-14

We come as a child in faith believing that He will lead and guide us and love us unconditionally.

'We will' face difficult places in our walk with Him but He will never leave or forsake us and will

strengthen us each moment of the day when we put our trust in Him.

John Wesley

A Diligent Preacher: John Wesley preached three sermons a day for 54 years, preaching more than 44,000 times. He travelled by horseback and carriage more than 200,000 miles (around 5,000 miles a year), knew 10 languages, published a four-volume commentary on the Bible, an English dictionary, five volumes on natural philosophy, four volumes on church history, histories of England and Rome, grammar books on Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French and English, three works on medicine, six volumes of church music, seven volumes of sermons and controversial papers, edited a library of fifty books, arose at 4 a.m., and worked solidly to 10 p.m. ARE YOU GETTING TIRED? He said, "I have more hours of private retirement than any man in England." At 83 he was irritated because he could no longer write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. On his 85th birthday he wrote that he felt no weariness while travelling or preaching. But at 86 he was ashamed that he could no longer preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that he had an increasing tendency to sleep in till 5:30 a.m. 

Moses

STRATEGY....building a plan for success

Exodus 17

vs. 1 Israel set out for their journey at the command of the Lord.

vs. 2 They contend with Moses asking the question "why".

vs. 3 'Why have you brought us up to kill us, our children and livestock with thirst'.

Moses seeks the Lord and God gives a strategy. vs. 6 tells him to take his rod and strike the rock. He obeys and the people drink.

To me it is a bitter sweet victory because they questioned whether the Lord was among them.

Vs. 8 Faced with Amelek(means, warlike, dweller in the valley) whose intent is to fight.

Moses again gives direction and take the rod to the top of the hill. He tells Joshua to fight and he obeys. When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed and when he let down his hand, Amelek prevailed. Aaron and Hur put a stone under him and he sat and they held his hands up. Joshua defeats Amalek and his people with the sword. Moses rod represented the authority and Joshua's sword the Word. Victory is won on the mountain not in the valley.

Moses build an altar and its name is The Lord is my Banner (JEHOVAH NISSI).

Moses, the leader sought God in the face of trouble and God gave the strategy in both cases and the Lord prevailed.



Abram-Lot

 SACRIFICE..Giving up in order to gain

Genesis 13..Abram and Lot go up from Egypt. Abram and Lots herdsmen fight because there is not enough space for the animals.

Vs 4 Abram seeks the Lord. He states the land will not support both of them. Abram gives Lot first choice of land and he 'lifts his eyes' and chooses land close to Sodom. (this speaks to me of a fleshly choice as it does not ...

say he sought the Lord) BUT God speaks to Abram says, 'lift your eyes' from the place you are, northward,southward, eastward, and westward. All the land God gives to him and his descendants....He speaks and tells him to walk the land the length..its width and he will give it to him. He obeys and move his tent and dwells and build an altar. Both lifted their eyes and the end result was blessing on Abram and Lots choice led him into captivity (chap 14). Abram allowed another to choose first and in the end became the Father of God's chosen people. First choices are not always the best BUT seeking the Lord is the key to choice even if you feel you have to sacrifice the best.

Joseph

RESPECT a lesson in humility. 

GENESIS 37,39, 42-45


JOSEPH a young man whose father showed him partiality...but his brothers e
vied..hated...stripped and sold him...lied and became deceivers to his father. Joseph sold into Egypt to Potiphar..his wife tries to seduce him and sets trap..untruth...but husband believes and puts him in prison for 2 years. Finds favor with the guard and because

 of God's mercy uses him. Famine comes to brothers land and they go to Egypt where there is grain unknowingly, to their brother who elevated by God is now governor. They present themselves as honest men to him...He puts them to the test. Amazing he holds no judgment...bitterness..anger or any of the emotions that were rightly his. He saves them from themselves. He respected others no matter where he found himself and now respects the brothers who betrayed him and in humility is used of God to restore. A key is that he knew it was God that had allowed it all in his life...much more to the story and lots of lessons...it can speak volumes to our lives today.