THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

Like seems to attract like. Dare to be different and you will be resented, perhaps even attacked. As a child my parents used to order baby chickens from a hatchery and they arrived at our farm with the mail. In order to keep them from piling up and suffocating one another, they arrived in special boxes, separated into sections like an egg box. Occasionally there would be one chick that was black and that one would require very special care as the others would peck it to death. Through no fault of its own, it was just different.

Going far back in history, Noah and his family were different, which probably says much about the fact that though he dared build a boat far from water, and did not join the rest of the world in their pagan worship, only his sons and their wives, believed his preaching over the hundred years it took him to build the ark. They were different.

God brought the construction of the Tower of Babel to an instant stop by confounding their language and changing their hereditary appearance into the many different peoples we see in the world today.

Joseph was so different from his brothers that they did not recognize this “Egyptian” they dealt with in Egypt. God used this difference as He prepared a chosen people for the advent of the Messiah.

At the same time, he was also preparing a nation that would provide a master language and transportation. The Romans introduced Greek as the official language and a network of military roads over which the Gospel would be spread throughout their Empire.

At Pentecost, He provided through the Holy Spirit, instant translations and interpreters to preach the message of  salvation through Jesus Christ. When the people heard and cried out, “What must we do,” Peter told them how to be cleansed of their sins so the Lord could add them to His church. The Apostles would use that common language, and the trade routes that the Romans had built, to carry the message of salvation to the limits of the empire. God is still doing the same today with the web, television and even the English language. The English formed an empire and  language links that span the world. In Africa we see new nations being formed, and, one of their official languages is often English. At the same time it is the goal that the Bible will be translated in all the languages of the world in the next fifty years.

Acts 2:1-12

1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place,

If a church was not founded, fully developed, as the Lord wanted it, on that first Pentecost, it can not be His church.   

2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

This was not a wind. It as the sound, as of a mighty wind. The sound was like wind. Wind is destructive, this was not.

3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

The physical manifestation was “like as of fire”. God’s presence is often depicted as like a fire. Remember Moses’ burning bush, that was not destroyed, the Pillar of fire that led the Children of Israel across the wilderness..

  

4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This is the most wonderful of all the manifestations. This message is for all the world.

5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

We find this in every major City of the world today.

6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

While the speaker preached in his own language, the hearing all who heard, do so in their own dialect and language.

7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all of them which speak Galileans?

8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

The miracle was in the hearing.  I have preached sermons being heard in three languages. The thrill is when you can speak as you would in only your own, but you see the response in the listeners.

9  Parthians, and Medes,and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

JUNE

9th  Sunday  -  2 Samuel 16, 17,    Acts 7:37-60    Proverbs 14:19-25

10th  Monday  -  2 Samuel 18,    Acts 8:1-24,    Psalm 71:19-24

11th  Tuesday  -  2 Samuel 19,    Acts 8:25-40,    Psalm 72

12th  Wednesday  -  2  Samuel 20, 21,    Acts 9:1-22,    Psalm 73:1-14

13th  Thursday  -  2 Samuel 22,    Acts 9:23-43,    Proverbs 14:26-35

14th  Friday  -  2 Samuel 23, 24,    Acts 10:1-18,    Psalm 73:15-28

15th  Saturday  -  1 Kings 1,    Acts 10:19-48,    Psalm 74:1-9

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

Search and follow the links.

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MEMORY VERSE

“The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” -  Acts 2:47b

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Asked once why so many Christians seem much less than perfect, C.S.Lewis replied, “You should have seen them before they became Christians.”

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We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers.

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LOVEST THOU ME, PETER?

“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

You and I are either alive or we are dead. John makes it very clear that he is writing that we may be able to be able to be among the alive spiritually. In the long run, physically is not worth comment. Don’t squander that precious time we have been given to prepare for eternity.

Let us visualize the scene for the coming action. Peter had announced that he was going fishing, and the other ten of the apostles had accompanied him in two of his boats. They had lowered their nets and fished all night with no catches. In the early morning they saw a man on the shore. He was cooking fish over a fire. He called to them, asking if they had caught any fish, and they had to admit they had not. Then, strangely, he suggested they cast their nets on the other side of their boat. When they tried his instruction their nets surfaced totally filled with fish.

This had happened before! and by it, they knew that this was Jesus! Leaving the nets dragging in the water they headed to him. Peter, pulling on his clothing, leapt into the water to reach him first. When Jesus asked for more fish to prepare, they took stock and found that they had caught 153 large fish in that one cast. Their boat was heavily loaded, and none of the nets were damaged. Only Jesus could do this! As far as we know, this was the last time they went back to their trade as fishermen for fish. The message was as clear, as they remembered his promise, I will make you fishers of men.  

John 21:15-17

For us to understand this portion, we should be reading it in the original Greek language, but all we really need to know is the meaning of two of the words that are translated as “love” in our Bibles. There are really three words, but the Bible does not use the third, which, seems to be the one most people are the most familiar with today, thanks to the entertainment industry. That is the word for erroic and sexual activities.

15  So when they and dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou more than these? He saith to him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

(Greek - agapao, phileo. John 21:12, Matthew 26:33, Mark 14:29, John 13:37, Luke 12:32)

In our Bibles it would seem that Jesus has asked the same thing of Peter three times, but that is not so. The first two times he used the world for love that means a total commitment.

So, considering Peter’s denial three time that he even knew Jesus when he was in the garden of the high Priest, Jesus asks twice, “are you totally committed to me?”  The first time Peter replies with a qualified “yes”, he says “Feed my lambs.” Can you not picture all the fish at their feet? It is obvious that Peter was not caring for men. He was going back to his first total commitment, fishing.  

16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him; Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

(Greek - agapao, phileo. Matthew 2:6, Matthew 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2, Revelation 7:17)

Again he asked, the same question, and Peter still used the weaker word. This time Jesus admonished, “Feed my sheep.”  Notice the change from lambs, to sheep, but that Peter still uses the weaker word, which means a conscious good will toward another. Jesus is trying to get him to see the difference.

17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto him Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

(Greek - phileo.  John 13:38, John 16:30, John 21:15, John 21:16)

The third time, Jesus asks using the lesser word. It was as obvious to Peter as if he had said, “Peter, do you even like me?”  This time he got through to Peter, and again he admonished, “Feed my sheep.”

 This is a lesson that we all need to hear, and apply to ourselves. The next time we are tempted to return to the things we really loved to do before we became a Christian, We need to ask ourselves. “Am I being totally committed to my Lord and Saviour?” Probably not. This life is short, much too short for us to take “recesses” like we did in grammar school.  

It is no sin to go fishing, unless we put it in the place of serving the Lord.

In the book of Revelation, 3:14-22, the letter to the church at Laodicea seems to identify with the church of today, wealthy, self centered, active in a “country club” style, it also happens to be the last letter, if you follow the theory that these letters represent the church in various eras historically. Unfortunately, it is also lukewarm as was the water in that wealthy city which got its water from hot springs.

The point is that in all the other cases, the church is admonished to repent, not so Laodicea, instead the letter addresses the individual faithful there. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

There can be no greater honour than to be invited to sit with the Lord of Lords in his throne. He is coming, perhaps very soon, to gather his own from all the world over all the ages.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

JUNE

2nd  Sunday  -  2 Samuel 3,    Acts 2,    Psalm 69:1-12

3rd  Monday  -  2 Samuel 4, 5,    Acts 3,    Psalm 69:13-28

4th  Tuesday  -  2 Samuel 6, 7,    Acts 4,    Psalm 69:29-36

5th Wednesday  -  2 Samuel 8, 9,    Acts 5:1-16,    Proverbs 14:10-18

6th Thursday  -  2 Samuel 10, 11,    Acts 5:17-42,    Psalm 70

7th  Friday  -  2 Samuel 12, 13,    Acts 6,    Psalm 71:1-8

8th Saturday  -  2 Samuel 14, 15,    Acts 7:1-36,    Psalm 71:9-18

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

Search  <Searching the Scriptures with Bob>

and follow the links.

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MEMORY VERSE

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  -  Acts 4:12

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There were only a few shepherds at the first Bethlehem. The ox and the ass understood more about the first Christmas than the high priests in Jerusalem. And it is the same today.

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The wise men were truly wise men. Unlike most men, they stopped to ask directions.

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Sign seen in a department store: “Make this a Christmas your spouse won’t forget. Charge everything.

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JESUS' PRAYER FOR A UNIFIED WORLD

                                                                                        

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John 17:20-26

The prayer that we have been taught from the time that we were small children to pray is just that. It was Jesus answer to his disciples who asked him, Lord teach us to pray. We call it, “the Lord’s Prayer.” It was meant as an example of the type of things that we should include in our prayers; not a prayer to be repeated by memory every time we pray. What is included in our prayers depends upon the individual, the time, and the place. The mature Christian should turn to John 17. This is a prayer of our Lord and it deals with the deep core feelings and desires of Jesus as he talked with his Father. Jesus dealt with his deepest concerns, and this prayer is going to be answered! Our vision falls short, when we ask in generalities such as, “God bless the missionaries.”   Neither was he praying only for his apostles. Notice that his prayer says, “Neither pray I for these alone.” Yes, he prayed for the apostles, but he also prayed for, “ them also which shall believe on me through their word.” Go the extra mile, include their converts, the word they have been laboring to translate for all the unreached people of the world, who’s converts will carry that same Word to others, generation after generation. When I prepare a study, using a portion of His teaching, It want it to be available not only to the few I may personally be able to take it to, but I pray also for those may come across it and read it later on the web, perhaps on Facebook, Twitter, or Stumble-Upon, or perhaps by those who have been passed a study by someone using the “forward” button. It may be passed to someone in China, India, Europe, or to all over the world at one time. I know, for example, that this paragraph is going to Denmark, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Hong Kong. How many countries can we working together, reach? This can be translated and forwarded in another language with only the click of a few buttons  We have already placed translated salvation tracts to about seventy languages with this in mind. We pray that you will help pass them.   

20  Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

What was it that Jesus was so concerned about? “That they may all be one.”  They speak different languages, they are scattered wide, but Jesus did not pray for something that was impossible. He prayed for what is not only possible, but what will be one day. We read that every knee shall bend one day in and every head bow, when he comes in his greatness. That is going to be a great day, and it is coming. God’s timing is perfect, and when the time is right, it will be answered. The saved will all be as one, of one mind.

He also tells us why that is desirable; “that the world may believe.”  Our divided faith is not what Jesus wanted for His church. Everything will change when we finally realize that He said what he wanted in His Word.  It alone must become our guide and authority. The only thing we need to be one, is that we agree to accept a, “thus saith the Word.” We can’t care less what brother John Doe, or sister Josephine say! We want to know what does Jesus say.

WHY?

   

21  That they may all be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

“That the world may believe.” What must we continually believe? We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he was sent by God to make salvation possible. If he had not come, died, and risen from the dead, there would be no hope for any of us.

(“may continually believe,”  John 10:38, John 17:11, John 17:23,  John 17:8, John 3:17, John 17:3, John 17:8, John 17:18, John 17:23, John 17:25)

22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

Jesus is going to come in glorious power, and it will be he that unites all this splintered world into one. No one will be able to deny his authority. The world will, at last, know what real love is. “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,“ 1 Corinthians 13:13.

23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

All that live on earth will know, where and what real love is. It existed from the foundation of the world, even before anything was created. Sex has nothing to do with it. God so loved the world, his creation, that he was willing to send his Son to make salvation available to all.

{John 17:2, John 12:26, John 1:14, John 17:22, Matthew 25:34, John 1:5)

25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

(“even the world” , John 17:11, 1 John 1:9, John 7:29, John 15:21, John 3:17, John 17:3, John 18:8, John 17:18, John 17:21, John 17:23)

26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

( John 17:6, John 15:9)

This is Jesus’ prayer, his concern what that we be eternally saved. This is how he wants us to pray.  Pray for the world to become one, in Him.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

MAY

26th  Sunday  -  1 Samuel 21, 22,    John 17,    Psalm 68:1-6

27th  Monday  -  1 Samuel 23, 24,    John 18,    Psalm 68:7-13

28th  Tuesday  -  1 Samuel 25,    John 19:1-22,    Proverbs 13:13-25

29th  Wednesday  -  1 Samuel 26, 27,    John 19:23-42    Psalm 68:14-19

30th   Thursday  -  1 Samuel 28, 29,    John 20,    Psalm 68:20-27        

31st  Friday  -  1 Samuel 30, 31,    John 20,    Psalm 68:28-35

JUNE

1st  Saturday  -  2 Samuel 1, 2,    John 2,    Proverbs 14:1-9

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

and follow the links.

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MEMORY VERSE

“But these ae written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing  ye might have life through his name.”  -  John 20:31

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FAST FOOD

When I stopped at a fast food restaurant recently, I was fascinated by a sign which offered fat free French fries. I decided to give them a try.

I was dismayed when the clerk filled a basket of fries from the fryer, which were dripping with fat. He filled a bag with them and put them in my order.

“Just a minute,” I said, “Those aren’t fat free.”

“Yes, they are. We only charge for the potatoes. The fat is free.”

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REMEMBER ALWAYS, “GOD LOVES YOU”

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ETERNAL MANSIONS

John 14:1-7

Where we happen to be born, who our parents were,  and our material wealth, all make a difference, even for this short stay on earth.  But no matter how long we may live, its brevity is emphasized in scripture as being like a mist, or grass that withers and is burned. In reality, it is simply a time granted to us to prepare for the reality of endless time hereafter. We have this time to prepare, not with material things, but Spiritually. All people are equal there. I think of it as being something like the rondavels we used to use while we were attending African Church conferences. When the children were small, and where they were available, we hired these small buildings very similar to those our African brethren often built for themselves. They consisted of a concrete floor, a circular wall with a metal or thatched roof, There was only one door, and perhaps a window. The only furnishings would be two metal cots, a small table and two chairs. Clearly, they were not really meant for lengthy stays. That is what our stay here on earth is like; long enough to prepare for eternity, but not necessarily comfortable.

1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

(John 14:27, John 16:22, John 16:24)

2  In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I realize that most more modern translations do not use the word “mansions.” They carry more the impression of rooms or perhaps, apartments. Probably that is more accurate, but I prefer mansions, for God probably makes them appropriately beautiful as he did the New Jerusalem described in Revelation. I think of them as more beautiful than anything we see here on earth. Just reading this text makes me want to say, “Book me one for eternity! Now!” Afterall, I might not have a chance tomorrow. Tomorrow is not even promised, only “now!”

(John 13:22, John 13:36)

3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Did you ever book a holiday destination? Remember, how hard it was to wait. Once booked, you want to go now. Our brother Jesus has booked the place and is even now preparing it so everything will be absolutely perfect. We have all looked at the pictures of Holiday Resorts, with beautiful beaches and longed to be there, just for a few days. These mansions are for ever and with every care laid on. Our Doctor has insisted that we need to go to “assisted living” where a small bedroom, and tiny kitchenette, was offered to us for $70 per day each, and extra charges for anything above the very basic. Of course, we said, “No, thanks.” Heaven has no charges, angelic service, and not a thing to complain about. We are happy just to be booked. How about you? Forget what the doctor said.

(John 14:18, John 14:28, John 12:26)

4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Finding something in a big city can be a problem. We had to call AAA for a tow a few years back, when the car just stopped in the middle lane of a six lane major highway in Dallas. I praised the Lord when strong young men dashed up to hand push us off the road. All our lives were at risk until we were safely in the parking lot of a mall we happened to be beside. Those young men looked like angles to this old man. The tow truck gave us a ride home, and every turn was anticipated and spoken to us by his navigator, which he ignored as he knew exactly where we were going. We know our spiritual way home, but we dare not improvise. God has spoken the way to us in his Word, and he expects us to follow that way. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:35-39.)

5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

(John 11:16)

6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

That tow driver went his own way, but make note of that, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - Jesus.

(John 10:9, Romans 5:2, Romans 2:18, Hebrews 10:20, John 1:14, John 1:4, John 11:25, 1 John 5:20)

7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jess made it very clear, there just is no other way than through Him. Ignore Him, and you will not find your way there.

(John 8:19, 1 John 2:13, John 6:46)  

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

MAY

19th  Sunday  -  1 Samuel 10, 11,    John 11:28-57,   Psalm 64

20th  Monday  -  1 Samuel 12, 13,   John 12:1-22,    Proverbs 12:14-28

21st  Tuesday  -  1 Samuel 14,   John 12:23-50,    Psalm 65

22nd  Wednesday  -  1 Samuel 15, 16,   John 13,   Psalm 66:1-10

23rd  Thursday  -  1 Samuel 17,    John 14,    Psalm 66:11-20

24th  Friday  -  1 Samuel 18, 19,    John 15,    Proverbs 13:1-12

25th  Saturday -  1 Samuel 20,    John 16,    Psalm 67

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THE LINK TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

http://searchingthescriptureswithbob, blogspot.com

or simply search for

<Searching the Scriptures with Bob>

and follow the links!

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MEMORY VERSE

“Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount.”

Hebrews 8:5

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HUMOR

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.

As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son.

“Yes, What is it Dad?”

“Don’t be nervous son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn’t go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come live with you and your wife.”

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REMEMBER ALWAYS, “GOD LOVES YOU.”

ENROLL A FRIEND