CONSIDERING ISLAM – An Apologetic

EPHESIANS 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

There’s an increase in the so-called “religion” of Islam that commits violence the world over (especially Nigeria, Mali, Syria, Iraq and Iran) by so-called “radical Muslims”. I say “so-called” in both respects because Islam is more of a political ideology whose goal is global conquest (a “caliphate”) than merely a religion. Likewise Muslims who commit Jihad (conversion to Islam by violence if not first by persuasion) they aren’t “radical” – they’re simply being obedient to the Quran.

Read more!

PROVERBS 28:19-28 - SOW WHAT ABOUT MY LIFE?

PROVERBS 28:19-28 SOW WHAT ABOUT MY LIFE?

Check out the audio teaching on the SHINE BRIGHT YouTube Channel!

INTRODUCTION: Proverbs is really a book of contrasts: It reveals the way of wisdom and the ways of foolishness. In the path of wisdom there is blessing and reward; in the other paths of foolishness there is cursing and punishment. In these chapters and verses GOD provides us with choices.

He gave our First Parents a choice: obedience to His will or rebellion against it (GEN 3). He made it just as clear to Israel in DEUTERONOMY:

DEUTERONOMY 30:19-20
19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 "that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Isn’t that what life is about, especially for the disciple of Christ: making choices, hopefully wise choices as a result of reading, understanding, loving and obeying by the power of GOD - the Revelation of GOD – the Holy Bible!

R.U.L.O.P. = R.eading U.nderstanding L.oving O.beying by the P.ower of GOD

Read more!

CONSIDERING THE VALIDITY OF “The LAST DAYS”

EDITED AND EXPANDED VERSION

Critics and skeptics have ridiculed and scoffed at the idea of Christ’s return for 2000 years. The Bible says this would be the prevailing view prior to the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ:

2 PETER 3:3-4
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

They point out that Jesus said He would return “quickly” (REV 3:11; 22:7,12,20) but it’s been two thousand years already! What they fail to realize is that He was referring to the manner of His arrival, not a time duration.

“Quickly” as in “suddenly, without warning” (“like a thief in the night”; 1 THESS 5:2; 2 PET 3:10), or with the speed of lightning:

MATTHEW 24:27
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (See also LUKE 17:24).

Read more!

Ch. 7 in JOSHUA: CONQUERING The ENEMY, INHERITING The LAND

INTRODUCTION: Defeat can be demoralizing and potentially could set up a pattern of defeat. Even just the threat of defeat can cause detrimental effects. But victory can also be dangerous. It can produce a self-confidence in a Christian whose power and strength are to come through Christ and His Spirit, not by “the arm of the flesh” (JER 17:5).

We are to wait on the LORD, to seek His face and petition Him to take away our human weaknesses as well as our strengths and replace them with His grace and power – only these will do in this walk we live out in this world (ISA 40:31).

After Israel’s victory at Jericho I think the armies were feeling their proverbial oats, and after conquering that major city, the next one they saw on the list was this little “hick town” of Ai. The soldiers were quick to offer their two cents and recommended that only a portion of the army go and take Ai.

Where is Joshua’s prayer to the LORD for counsel? Or at least for confirmation on this plan conceived by the people? Did the LORD speak at all, that He would bless such a plan? I’m sure He was waiting to be consulted, but He was never approached.

Yet if He had been, the LORD would have informed Joshua about a rebellious Hebrew that let his coveting turn into capturing… some of the dainties of Jericho! The ensuing defeat could have been avoided.

May this be a lesson to us: a sanctified saint, free of the corrupt influences and prizes gained from this sinful world is a saint safe in their own integrity! And may we always be sure to consult the LORD in the Word and in prayer as well as godly counsel before making any major life decisions!

Read more!

FAITH: D.O.A. – PARTS ONE and TWO

PART ONE –

When the subject of salvation is brought up, some people say that they are “saved by the grace of GOD”. But the term salvation in a doctrinal sense is very comprehensive. It begins with justification in Christ, where our sins are forgiven, and we’re accounted as “not guilty” in GOD’s Court of Law. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. We are saved from sin and death, from judgment and eternal damnation. This is when eternal life begins. We are saved for perpetual relationship and fellowship with the LORD, all Three Members of the Trinity. We are saved for good works that stem from that relationship with GOD. We are saved for everlasting citizenship in heaven and on earth where we the church will rule alongside our King!

While our overall salvation is provided freely by GOD through His only begotten Son, we must always be attentive that our faith is focused in the right direction.

For now, let’s talk about this:

Faith and Hope are two aspects of the Christian life that are inextricably intertwined. It’s by our faith that we hold onto the promises of GOD today. The hope we have is not wishful but certain. An expectation of tomorrow and our future destiny.

Read more!

GNOSTICS KNOW ‘THE EYE’

Originally published on The RED PILL CONSORTIUM

Have you ever had one of those songs invade your head uninvited, and then rudely decided to hang around even when you try to show it the door? I think we’ve all had that experience haven’t we?

A couple weeks ago that happened to me; it wasn’t even a song I knew very well; it was cut on an Alan Parson’s Project album back in 1982 and while I can recall hearing it on occasion over the years, I didn’t really know the lyrics. In fact I remember when it first came out, I thought the one line said something like “…pie in the sky”.

Of course many if not most know what song I’m referring to. When it visited me those two weeks ago, I was a bit curious about it, so I grabbed my smart phone and Googled the title and found the lyrics. As I read them, my eyes got wider and wider with recognition of what these words might have (possibly?) meant in the song.

Read more!