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Understanding Angels Mike Johnson When you hear the word angel, what image comes to mind? Various visualizations may occur, but there is a good chance that paintings, drawings, modern-day television programs, and movies have influenced what we see. Some may think of a beautiful woman with long hair wearing a white robe who moves about […]
Reaping What We Sow (Gal. 6:7-8) Mike Johnson Near the end of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in a section of practical applications, Paul warned, “(7) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) For he who sows to his flesh will of […]
The Silent Killer Mike Johnson Doctors sometimes refer to high blood pressure as “the silent killer” because people often do not know they have it until the damage happens. This article is not about our physical health but rather about another silent killer condemned in the Scriptures, “bitterness.” Like high blood pressure, it often goes […]
The Doctrine Police Dylan Stewart Name calling is often a go-to response for people who are unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints when discussing the Bible. How long has it been since someone has called you a “legalist” for recognizing the strictness of the New Testament Law (Matthew 5:19; James 2:10)? When is the last […]
God’s Revelations Mike Johnson Some people do not believe that God has revealed Himself to mankind. In fact, they do not even believe that God exists. These people are called atheists. Another group, the deists, believe in the existence of a deity, but they think He has not given us a specific revelation; they believe […]
THE VALUE OF GOD’S WORD Richie Thetford Have you ever had something you valued very highly and were afraid that you might lose it? Most of us take great care in protecting what we highly treasure, and try to learn the best way to protect it. Sometimes our efforts to preserve and keep our treasures […]
God’s Barriers 0n the Road to Hell Jarrod Jacobs Picture a bridge that has just been washed away. When those working on this problem come to the scene, they put up barriers, or barricades to keep people from endangering their lives and the lives of others. Yes, accidents can occur, and yes, people can […]
T.N.T. A preacher once sent a number of books from his personal library (among them a copy of the New Testament) to be rebound. On the return of his books, he was startled to discover on the spine of the New Testament–in gold embossed letters–the initials “T.N.T.” You see, there was no room to spell […]
The Scriptures Are Understandable Mike Johnson Have you heard someone say, “I just can’t understand the Bible?” Unfortunately, many people look at the Scriptures in this way. They think it is a deep, dark, mysterious book that few can understand. However, people should not look at God’s Word in this way. Ephesians 3:3-4 tells us […]
Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14) Mike Johnson Many think that David is the author of Psalm 27 and that he wrote it when he was fleeing from Saul. It has been called “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith.” It starts with David expressing great confidence in God (1-3). God is his light, salvation, and strength. […]
My Sin Is Always Before Me (Psalm 51:3) Mike Johnson The writer of Psalm 51 expresses great sorrow for his sins. Most agree that David is the author, and he wrote it after his sin with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 11-12, we learn that David committed adultery, and then he committed murder trying to conceal […]
How Long Is This Line? Bobby Graham _______________ Would you care to guess or speculate how long this line is? The answers would likely vary. Some would underestimate its length, while others would overestimate it. It is possible that a few might guess its exact length, but their answer would still be a guess in […]
Buy the Truth and Sell It Not Bob Waldron One of the most important attitudes one can have in striving to go to heaven is that of intense zeal for the truth of God. Too often, people settle on something far less than the truth. Remember, a counterfeit, though it may look relatively genuine, is […]
The Pulpit Roger Shouse “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hikiah, and Masseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishel, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.” (Nehemiah 8:4) Ezra stood at a wooden podium. […]
You May be Surprised to Learn . . . Doy Moyer Have you ever taken for granted certain things and believed them, just because that is what you have been told? Perhaps you find yourself in that situation now, believing and doing things because that is what you were told. Religious people sometimes believe and […]
What Is Our Standard of Authority? Carrol R. Sutton In every phase of human activity, we constantly see the need for recognizing a standard of authority. In time, weights, and measures, we accept certain standards. Otherwise, there would be confusion. Our honesty and sincerity is not sufficient when it comes to determining the time of […]
Your Own Version You are writing a Gospel, A chapter each day, By deeds that you do, By words that you say, Men read what you write, Whether faithless or true; Say, what is the Gospel According to YOU?
The Word of God For feelings come and feelings go, And feelings are deceiving; My warrant is the Word of God Nought else is worth believing. I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word Till soul and body sever: For, though all things shall pass away, His Word shall stand forever.
PRAISING GOD’S WORKS (Psalm 111) Mike Johnson Psalm 111 starts with the exclamation, “Praise the Lord!” This psalm fits into a category of psalms known as “Hallelujah Psalms.” These psalms start and end, or start or end, with “hallelujah” or “praise the Lord.” Psalm 111 is the first in a trilogy of Hallelujah Psalms. This Psalm fits into another […]
More Valuable Than Gold (Psalm 19:10) Mike Johnson Psalm 19:10 (thought to be written by David) says the Word of God is “… more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.” (NASB) Wealth, whether in the form of gold or some other type of […]
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY (14) FALSE STANDARDS Mike Johnson Why is there so much division and confusion today in the religious world? Why are there so many different doctrines and so many religious groups? One reason is that many have never learned the importance of Bible authority. Some may acknowledge the need for guidance from the Bible, […]
NO MORE, NO LESS (Revelations 22:18-19) Mike Johnson “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this […]
WHAT IS TRUTH? Mike Johnson What is truth? This question is critical. Pilate asked it at Jesus’ trial in connection with the accusation made that Jesus was a king in a civil sense and thus a rival. It seems he asked it with scorn rather than with a quest for knowledge. Regardless, this question is […]
THE CONSISTENCY OF TRUTH Mike Johnson Truth is always consistent; it does not contradict itself. Thus, if the Bible is truth, there will be no contradictions in it. Sometimes people say, “You can prove anything by the Bible.” This statement is degrading to the Bible, and it reflects on the integrity of God. If it […]
The Authority of the Apostles Mike Johnson Many acknowledge the authority of God and Christ, but do not accept or understand the authority of the Apostles. Some people today say we only need the words of Jesus to guide us. Christ certainly has authority (Mt. 28:18, 17:1-8), but we must understand the authority, which also […]
The Authority of the Bible Mike Johnson The Bible teaches about the authority of God, Christ, and the apostles (Ps. 50:10-12; Heb. 1:1-2; Mt. 16:19, 17:5, 18:18; II Cor. 5:20; Phil. 4:9). Also, the Holy Spirit played a role as he guided the apostles “unto all truth.” Consider now the authority of God’s Word, the […]
DIVINE AUTHORITY Mike Johnson “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” These questions were asked of Jesus in the Jerusalem temple by certain chief priests and elders of the Jews (Mt. 21:23). Although not sincerely motivated, these questions bring out two principles. First, there is a need for authority in religion; second, authority must come from one who has the right to grant it. […]
Contend Earnestly for the Faith (Jude 3) Mike Johnson It is clear from the Old Testament that God intended for us to adhere to His Word, and the Scriptures should not be violated (Deut. 4:1-4, 5:32-33; Josh 1:7; Num. 22:18, 24:13; Pb. 4:26-27, 30:5-6; Lev. 18:4-5). Consider now the same concept from the standpoint of […]
Remembering God’s Wonderful Works (Ps. 111:4) Mike Johnson Psalm 111:4 says, “He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” We are to remember God’s wonderful works, which are great (Ps. 111:2a) These works of God include creation (Gen. 1, Ps. 19:1, Rom. 1:20, Jer. 10:12); God […]
Delighting in God’s Law (Psalm 1:2) Mike Johnson Psalm 1:1 tells us that the person whom God will bless must not walk in the counsel of the ungodly; he must not stand in the path of sinners, and he must not sit in the seat of the scornful. Then, verse 2 positively describes a righteous […]
THE NARROWNESS OF THE BIBLE Jarrod Jacobs Have we ever heard someone outside the body of Christ criticize a Christian by saying, “Boy, is he narrow-minded!”? I am sure we have heard this before. We may have said similar things as well. Has it ever occurred to us that the truth of God’s word is […]
WE ARE SEARCHING We are searching for people who have good and honest hearts open and receptive to the truth. (Lk. 8:15) We are searching for those who not only want to be religious, but who want to be right religiously. (Jer. 10:23) We are searching for those who believe the Bible to be the […]
Is the Bible the Word of God? Quite simply, the answer to the above question is Yes! Without even looking about what the Bible says about its inspiration, there is plenty of evidence that it is a unique book. The books of the Bible were written by 44 men over a period of about 1500 […]
THE BIBLE IS ALL WE HAVE David D. Bonner Sometimes people ask what are we doing for our young people. We are teaching them the Bible. What are we doing for the old folks, faithful saints, unfaithful people, people who are not even Christians? Since the Bible is all we have, we are trying to […]
HONESTY, ERROR, AND TRUTH Eugene Britnell There are many good people in the world who are honestly mistaken, but when a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, one of two things must happen: He will cease to be mistaken or, he will cease to be honest. If he does not obey it, he […]
ONLY THE WORD OF GOD Author Unknown What determines right? What is the standard of truth? The answer is; the Word of God only. Why? “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for […]
I Don’t See Anything Wrong With That How many times have we heard this reply when we question some belief or practice which may be without Bible authority? The saddest thing about the statement is that many times it is really true. So many individuals have so little knowledge and understanding of the Bible when […]
God’s Perfect Law of Liberty Mike Johnson James 1:25 says, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” This verse reveals some important points about God’s perfect law […]
How to Make Your Bible Study More Interesting and Helpful It is hard to find time to study the Bible–or even want to– when we don’t find it interesting or helpful to us. Let me make some suggestions that may help. A Plan – Set aside some time (each day, if possible) to study the […]
— USE OF THE BIBLE Mike Johnson People use the Bible in many different ways. Sadly, some only use the Bible as a place to record marriages, births, deaths, etc. Some people use it to swear on, sometimes calling for an entire stack. Others use it just as an ornament for a living room table, […]
You, Me, and The Bible You may understand the Bible and I may misunderstand it. I may understand it and you may misunderstand it. We may both misunderstand it – but differently. We may misunderstand it alike. However, we cannot both understand it – but differently. What kind of book would the Bible be if […]
BIBLE PREACHING John the Baptist’s message from the wilderness was not “Smile—God loves you.” It was “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” Jeremiah was not put into a miry pit for preaching, “I’m OK; you’re OK.” It was for crying against adultery, idolatry and other wickedness […]
A Voice from the Past “To actually and truly stand upon the Bible, then, is to believe and do the things that the Bible teaches and to leave undone everything that it does not teach. No man can allow his preference or his opinion to prevent him from doing anything that the Scriptures require nor […]
OUR PRECIOUS BIBLE “Our precious Bible, book divine” It tells of God and the beginning of time It’s a “light to our pathway, a lamp to our feet” May we always realize its taste so sweet It tells where we came from and why we’re here The possibility of life in that heavenly sphere […]
The Anvil Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; When looking in, I saw upon the floor, Old hammers worn with beating years of time. “How may anvils have you had,” said I, “To wear and batter all these hammers so?” “Just one,” said he; then […]
GOD’S WORD IS ENDURING Mike Johnson 1 Peter 1:22-25 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and […]
CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE ALIKE? Mike Johnson If we can understand the Bible at all, we can understand the Bible alike. The Bible is truth, and truth does not contradict itself. If two people disagree on a Bible passage, both cannot be correct, as the Bible does not teach two different and conflicting concepts. We may misunderstand the […]
Respect for God’s Word Mike Johnson Revelation 22:18-19, a passage found near the end of the Bible, is a very significant passage. It says: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written […]
The Inspiration of the Bible Mike Johnson Many people do not believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, and this number seems to be growing. There are even some religious people who deny “inspiration” in the sense that the Scriptures teach it. They define inspiration to mean only that the Bible bears the marks of literary […]
GOD’S INSPIRED MESSAGE Mike Johnson In I Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively […]
USE OF THE BIBLE Mike Johnson People use the Bible in many different ways. Sadly, some only use the Bible to record marriages, births, deaths, etc. Some people use it to swear on, sometimes calling for an entire stack. Others use it as an ornament for a living room table, thinking others will be impressed. […]