HOW CAN I, EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME?

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB

JANUARY 26, 2014

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HOW CAN I, EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME?

This man, in charge of the national treasury of Ethiopia, not only represents Africa, but also the rest of the non-Jewish world. He did not have the historical background and preparation of a relationship with God on which to build, so his conversion is an ideal guide for s to use when we are talking with others today who are also without that background. It is measured out step by step, We could liken him to the curious web surfer who searching the web stumbles upon a blog and reads it out of curiosity. This is a man, who being favorably impressed with scripture, bought  the book of the prophet Isaiah, and as his driver drove toward Gaza, he was reading this newly purchased book. God provided what was lacking in his background. Philip a deacon in the church at Jerusalem, could help him to understand what he was reading.

Acts 8:26-39

It was no coincidence that brought Philip and this man from Ethiopia together. In fact Philip had been busy evangelizing the gospel in Samaria, apparently with great success, when God sent him south toward Gaza. No specific place, or time, juso go. The rest was left up to Philip. We can be certain that he must have wondered that he was sent at the height of his preaching where he was, and told to go to the south. If you ever feel an urge from the Lord to do something, don’t delay. Had he waited a while he would not have been there when the Ethiopian passed that road.

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

This meeting was with no ordinary man. He was the head of the Treasury Department of Ethiopia. God had noted that he had bought a scroll and knew where he would be reading just the right prophecy.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

He was pondering what this meant, at just the same time Philip, the man who could answer him asked “Do you understand what you are reading?”

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and

said, Understandest thou what thou readest? This was no coincidence!  This was an arranged meeting, and Philip had the answer at the tip of his tongue. (This prophecy, familiar to Jews but totally known by other nations, was the perfect place to start. and he did, Philip explained:

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

82 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

This man had been in Jerusalem when Christ was crucified, and he probably wondered why Jesus had not defended himself.

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

When he opened the conversation Philip immediately explained the reason he did not. This was where Philip “preached unto him Jesus.”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

He told of the ministry and message of the man who had been crucified in Jerusalem, and what it means to all who believe and obey. We know he preached how to become a Christian, because as soon as they came to a stream across their road, he asked if there was any reason why he could not be baptized!

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And, Philip asked that only question we have to have the answer for. He said, “If you believe with your whole heart, you may!!”  

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

If you believe with your whole heart that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, you not only should, but you must, be baptized in the same way as the Ethiopian was.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (The word baptize means immersed.)

The faithful evangelist today will ask that same question, then both you and he will go down into the water, and like him you can come up out of the water a newly born child of God. Your sins will be gone, not because you believe, but because you both believed and obeyed. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) Not just one, but both.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

That Ethiopian not only believed, but he was transformed into a new man, a man who let his light so shine that from this one conversion the church began and spread to Africa through him!

That is why Jesus commanded of every Christian,  As ye go (A more accurately translated tense) unto all the world, preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Simply put, Be a sower of the word.)

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. He didn’t just pass through. He preached as he passed through. This is what the Lord wants for us.

Last night, my mail included a huge post card showing a tree and it’s roots Across a the ground level were the words “What on earth AM I HERE FOR?”

What we are here for is to do just what Philip did.

“As you go teach.”

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WHERE TEMPTATIONS COME FROM

James 1:12-15

We have all heard such trite sayings as, “The Devil made me do it.” Adam even blamed God when he said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12 There was no denying that he had sinned, so he blamed the only other person there, Eve, and then indirectly God, for God had given him woman. Where did the temptation come from in the beginning?

To be human, means that there will be temptations. Even our Lord was tempted as soon as he was baptized and began to fulfill his ministry, but being tempted does not automatically mean that sin follows. Our Lord lived a sinless life, even though he had taken on a physical body with all its needs and desires. His greatest temptations were those brought to him directly by Satan; not through an agency such as the serpent, or even one of his followers later, as when he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” It was Satan, Peter was being used. Having said that, let us look at the words of James, the physical brother of Jesus

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:12-15.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” It is a fact that temptations are going to come to every Christian, and Satan is not going to delay. In nature, there is great loss when the very young are decimated. They become the prey of others in the food chain. Thousands of tiny turtles are hatched on the beaches of the world, but many never survive the short trip to the sea. Tiny fish are eaten before they can mature. Likewise many new born Christians never make it to spiritual maturity. They need spiritual nourishment from the Word, and the care of their concerned brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is why churches have Elders. They are to be caretakers, not only of the very young in the faith, but until the Lord calls his children home to be with him.

It is not that Christians just survive, but they look forward to that “crown of life” that the Lord has promised to all those who love him. This is the eternal life that will be the result of being able to eat of the “tree of life” that will be available in heaven. Revelation 22:2, “on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded the fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Now Adam had said, “whom thou gavest.” This was an attempt to transfer the guilt to someone else, even God who gave Eve, but James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” No, we cannot cast the blame at the feet of anyone else, not even the one used as the means by Satan. Jesus spoke to Satan, not Peter even though the words came from Peter who said that Jesus would not die for the sins of mankind.

The guilt for submitting to temptation is laid directly upon the individual as he has permitted his “lust” to lead him astray. It may be physical lust, lust for wealth, lust for power, or fame, or whatever, but it all traces back to a weakness. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”

So, that is where the blame lies. The wages of sin is death. Let us rejoice in our Lord who willingly gave himself to pay that price for us. It was he, our Savior who said through Peter on Pentecost to the sinners, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38 In another place he also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

24th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 42,43,    1 Peter 2,    Proverbs 28:15-28

25th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 44, 45,    1 Peter 3,   Psalm 133

26th  Tuesday  -  Ezekiel  46, 47,    1 Peter 4,    Psalm 134

27th  Wednesday  -  Ezekiel 48,    1 Peter 5,    Psalm 135:1-12

28th  Thursday  -  Joel 1, 2, 3,    2 Peter 1,    Proverbs 29:1-9

29th  Friday  -  Habakkuk 1, 2, 3,    2 Peter 2,    Psalm 135:13-21

30th  Saturday  -  Obadiah,    2 Peter 3,    Psalm 136:1-12

MEMORY VERSE

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”  2 Peter 2:9

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ONE-LINERS

To err is human, to blame it on everybody else is even more human.

Wat a good thing Adam had: When he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

If your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing, you should consider running for a job in Washington D. C.

Some people think that the Great Commission is what the real estate agent gets when their house is sold.

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SEARCH FOR:

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A CHRISTMAS GIFT BOOK.   

  
BIOGRAPHY

"SOME OF GOD'S CHILDREN"

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"THE CALL TO AFRICA"

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HISTORICAL FICTION

                     

"MARY'S LETTERS"

ISBN 978-1-4628-9618-9,  hardcover                    

ISBN 976-1-4628-9617-2,  soft cover                     

ISBN 976-1-4628-9619-8,  kindle

MELCHISEDEC

Hebrews 7:1-11

The name Melchisedec means “King of Righteousness,” and he was the king of Jerusalem which translates as “Peace.”  We know nothing about his parentage, but he lived in the time of Abraham who paid a tithe to him from the spoils after he rescued his nephew.  He is called “high priest” before the priesthood was reserved for the tribe of Levi. He was a type of Christ who was also not a Levite, but his priesthood is far superior to that of Levitical priests as we shall see. His name is sometimes spelled with a “z” in place of the “s” I have used as that is the spelling of my King James Bible.   

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

(Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:6, Mark 5:7)

A TITHE

A tithe is one tenth of the total income before any deductions. Abraham gave a tenth of all that was taken in the battle. God defines that portion as his, says, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in  in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  Malachi 3:9,10  God is the same, yesterday, today, and for ever. We don’t owe it to Him. It is His, and he has, if anything, lent it to us as a test. Here, He tells us to test him.  Our first check of the month, should be to him. I personally make it a habit to write the tithe and the offering checks, then the one for the month’s rent, followed by other accounts as they arrive. I have never found that there is not enough to pay them all so that I “owe no man anything.” I also never have to worry about rising interest rates on my credit card that way. There is no interest.

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

(Hebrews 7:6,  Matthew 4:3, Hebrews 7:1, Hebrews 7:28)

HIS PRIESTHOOD WAS UNIQUELY SUPERIOR

When it began, the priesthood was limited to Levites, and among them the high priest. Like a royal birth, one had to qualify, then be ordained and set aside. In our lifetime, most of us have seen and understand how the Catholic church chooses a new pope. For them, of course, he must be first a priest, and the cardinals choose one from that limited field. I only use that illustration because we are more familiar with it having witnessed it unfold on television in great detail recently, than we are with the customs of Judaism.

Melchisedec was a priest, a type of Jesus Christ, who serves in a similar way for Christians. He carries our petitions to God; thus we pray in Jesus name. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me,” I  really believe that today, only Christians have the right to approach the Lord, and they through Jesus Christ. Prayer is a precious heritage, let us treat it reverently. The Jewish High Priests had to make sacrifices for their own sins and be ritually cleansed, before they could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then he could do so only once a year. Sinless, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, and the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, became one. The veil was torn down between them by God. All Christians can now approach God as often as they wish.   

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Acts 2:29, Acts 7:8, Genesis 14:20)

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

(Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26, 2 Chronicles 31:4)

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

(Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 6:20)

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

CHRIST IS SUPERIOR AS ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

The Levitical priesthood was passed from father to son and consequently there were many priests who lived far from from Godly lives. This is clear in that it was the priests, led by the High Priests, who paid Judas to betray Jesus, and laid slanderous charges, hiring false witnesses, that they might be rid of Jesus.

In stark contrast, Jesus gave his life on the cross of Calvary that we might have life, He will never die again. Our high priest after the order of Melchisadec, is alive and will be for ever.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

(Hebrews 9:6, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 7:17)

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST FOR ETERNITY

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto

God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

10th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 16,    Hebrews 9:15-28,    Psalm 122

11th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 17, 18,    Hebrews 10:1-18,    Psalm 123

12th  Tuesday  - Ezekiel 19, 20,     Hebrews 10:19-39,    Proverbs 27:11-20

13th  Wednesday  - Ezekiel 21, 22,    Hebrews 11:1-22,    Psalm 124

14th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 23,    Hebrews 11:23-40,    Psalm 125

15th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 24, 25, 26,    Hebrews 12:1-11,    Psalm 126

16th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel  27, 28,   Hebrews 12:12-29,   Proverbs 27:21-27

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MEMORY VERSE

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all of them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”  -  Hebrews 5:9-10

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When John found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided that he needed a wife to enjoy it with him so one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like an ordinary man,” he told her as he walked up to her, “but in just a few days, my father is going to die, and I will inherit his twenty million dollars.”

Impressed, she went home with him that evening and three weeks later she became his stepmother.