BACK TO THE BIBLE
The Holy Bible
If we do not eat anything we die physically. If we do not read the Bible we die spiritually.
The Bible teaches the existence of a personal God and Saviour and also the existence of the devil. The devil's objectives are two fold: to prevent people from reading the Bible; to water down the Bible and undermine the truth. He has largely succeeded on both counts.
Many of the teachings of the Bible have been eroded or discarded completely on the grounds of being old fashioned, irrelevant or even wrong. This is particularly true concerning modern day morality especially with regard to sexual matters, the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of human life.
Many things which have been regarded for hundreds of years as wrong are now regarded as right. It is difficult to distinguish right from wrong. In the words of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
"Fair is foul, foul is fair,
Hover through the "fog and filthy air"
The spirit of the age is summed up in the words "just do it" or "anything goes".
The standards of the Bible are high, too high for many people. Many of us do not like the HOLY Bible, so we make up our own God who allows us to do what we want. The following pattern is seen time after time in our society:
STAGE 1 - Wrong
STAGE 2 - Not so bad
STAGE 3 - Alright
STAGE 4 - Fashionable.
The Holy Bible or Holy Book has become merely the Bible or another book.
THE GOSPEL (Good News)
John 3 v 16 has been called "the miniature gospel". It talks about God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ, about Heaven - eternal life and about hell - perishing.
The existence of hell is not popular although biblical
Many years ago l had a dream about hell. I found myself in a pitch black room. I could FEEL the darkness. There was a light switch but it did not work. Above all l knew that God was NOT there and l was SEPARATED from God.
Jesus died and rose again so that nobody need ever feel separated from God.
Separation from loved ones is an awful experience which has been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic and also by Vera Lynn's wartime song "We'll meet again".
The true gospel is summed up in the following words of the Apostle Paul
"Repentance towards God, and faith in Christ Jesus"
God's V.E. Day
God's V.E. Day took place outside the city wall of Jerusalem about 2000 years ago. The death of Jesus on the cross was the greatest victory the world has ever seen or ever will see. Christ was victorious over death, sin and hell. He conquered death and proclaimed His victory when He rose against after 3 days.
In the Bible God's plan centres on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This work is mentioned in the first book of the Bible - Genesis 3 v 15 and is mentioned in the last verse of the Bible - Revelation 21.
Conclusions
Reading the Bible is essential for our growth as Christians.
It sheds tremendous light on a dark world - Psalm 119 v 105.
Hebrews 4 v 12 says
"The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword"
The Bible is the inspired Word of God - 2 Timothy 3 v 16.
The Bible points clearly to the Saviour of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ and stresses the need for repentance towards God and faith in Jesus.
One writer says the following about the Bible
"It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you"
LET'S GET READING THE HOLY BIBLE DONE!
BACK TO THE BIBLE
PRAISING GOD
Few aspects of the Christian life are as underestimated and undervalued as the importance of praising God.
It would NOT be an exaggeration to say that human beings exist primarily to praise and worship God.
The Psalmist David says "I will praise God at all times".
He says also that God inhabits the praises of his people. As we praise God we draw near to God and God draws near to us.
As we praise God wonderful things happen, sometimes miraculous things, including healings. NEVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY has the world been in such need for healing.
We can praise God where we are. I used to visit an lady aged 84 on a regular basis. She could not get to church but she used to say " You can find God in your own bedroom". She was right. We can praise God in all sorts of ways: through our lips, through singing, through dance, through playing musical instruments and even in the silence of our own minds and hearts.
When we praise God we should do it with all our being and not half-heartedly. The Bible says that David danced "with all his might".
We should praise God whatever the circumstances. Paul and Silas found themselves in a filthy smelly dungeon with their legs fastened in stocks.
At midnight they sang praises to God. As a result a miracle took place. Paul and Silas were saved as well as the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16 vs 25-34).
Miracles are STILL taking place when we praise God.
When God works in our lives we should praise God to show our gratitude.
When the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate was healed by Jesus through Peter and Paul, he stood up and started walking and leaping and praising God! (Acts 3 vs 1-8).
We should praise God at all times for sending Jesus to die on a cross and rise again from the dead to save the world. (See photo)
Paul says " Rejoice in the Lord always, and again l say rejoice" (Philippians 4 v 4).
Conclusions.
1. Praising God IS the solution.
2. NEVER stop praising God for Jesus.
3. Praise God at all times WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!
4. LET'S GET PRAISING GOD DONE!