Archive for the ‘Bible’ Category

10 Nov

Half a Loaf?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Discipleship, God's Word, Truth.

Dear readers,

The seasons are a changing. There has been snow in our state, but not in our immediate area as I write this. We are blessed more than we realize. I remember an early October snow when we had cows twenty miles from home. We drove them home with horses and it was far from an enjoyable task. It wasn’t just a little snow, it was about 6 inches deep, heavy and wet. Enough of the reminiscing, on to the present.

I have noticed that you can now buy half a loaf of bread. Who knew that would be a thing? It seems folks these days only take what suits their current needs. It is somewhat the same with spiritual matters. The world, if it acknowledges God at all, will take what they need from His word and leave the rest. They may go for half the loaf, or maybe just a few slices depending on their needs at the moment. There is no planning ahead.

In fact, the Bible needs to be taken in its entirety for it to be of any use at all. The tendency of the world, and many who claim Christ is to use the Bible as a cafeteria, taking only what appeals to them and ignoring the rest. In truth, the word of God always has been and is still applicable to each person.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). When Jesus was tempted by the devil he said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4).

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Finally this, “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll” (Revelation 22:19).

Application for us: It’s okay to purchase a half-loaf of Sara Lee bread if that meets your needs, but please don’t treat the Bible as a buffet from which you can pick and choose. This will have eternal consequences.

For Him,

Pastor Jerry.

20 Oct

The Lord’s Patience

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Culture, Eternal Life, Faith, Gospel, Judgment, Salvation, Truth.

Dear friends,

The weather seems to be moving toward the changing of the seasons. It has been much cooler in recent days. There were reports of frost in areas to our north Sunday morning.

Our local network of churches met on Sunday afternoon, and it was encouraging to hear how the Lord is working in each of those ministries. There were reports of increasing church attendance, and growth in the areas of youth groups and Bible studies. Small churches sometimes get overlooked in the grand scheme of things, but I believe they have a big part in God’s plan for getting the Good News out to the world.

In this age of anti-Christian thought, we must be reminded that the Bible is true, and that it contains the Word of God. The skeptics would have us think believing in a loving and just God is a myth. This is a lie from the devil and is designed to make us doubt.

I’m reminded of the words of Peter’s second letter. “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:3-9).

The Lord desires everyone to come to Him, accepting His salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. If you have not done that, why are you waiting? He is patiently waiting for you to admit your sin, repent (turn from) it, and believe that Jesus came to save all who will believe. Do not reject His offer.

For Him,

Pastor Jerry

8 Sep

No Secret Christians

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Body of Believers, Family of God, Fellowship, Relationships.

Hello friends,
The news from last week was the big rain. My electronic rain gauge registered 9.07 inches in 24 hours. Most of it came in a twelve-hour period. The river rose, but since the repairs to the dam gate controls have been mostly completed the lake stayed at a normal level.

It was good to see people in church this morning who we met a few years ago when they camped at the lake. Christians are family whether we meet weekly or annually. No matter the time or place, fellow believers have a common connection.

You may have heard of those who claim no need for fellowship as a church, but this is not biblical. In fact, the church from the beginning has centered on common fellowship. In Acts chapter two we read, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

We are commanded to be His witnesses, and a witness is to speak of his or her testimony concerning their salvation. When the religious leaders commanded Peter and John to stop preaching their answer was, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

In Hebrews we read, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

18 Aug

Jesus, Lord of All

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Culture, God's Word, Obedience, Salvation, Witness.

Hello friends,
We keep getting those timely rains. There hasn’t been much watering of the lawn this summer, but plenty of mowing. There are blessings all around and we don’t have to look far to see them.

Sometimes I read articles from other sources that I feel are worth sharing. One of those came to me from Pastor J.D. Greear. He tells of efforts in the past to remove certain sections of the Bible.

He writes, “If someone did this today, they would probably cut out Jesus’ teachings on the sanctity of sex and marriage. They would keep the miracles and cut out large parts of the Sermon on the mount.

Our culture says it is fine to worship Jesus—just edit Him to fit their preferences so you can still bow where you need to bow.

For followers of Jesus, that is not an option. Jesus is Lord. If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. People treat the Bible like a cafeteria, where you pick the food options that you like and ignore the rest.

People think you can do that with Jesus. You can accept the parts of Him you want and postpone the others until later. I once heard a college student explain that she had accepted Jesus as Savior now and planned to accept Him as Lord later.

You cannot divide Jesus! He is either Lord, or He is not. If God is the only God, and He is the only one who can save and the only revealer of mysteries, then we as Christians must make this clear to others. To not do so is not just cowardly, it is cruel.

Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood in faithfulness to God when everyone else bowed to a false god, even though they got thrown into a fiery furnace for it an entire empire got to see the reality of the God of Israel on display.

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

The eternal future of coming generations depends on our ability to stand firm in the present.”

For Him,
Pastor Jerry

5 May

GPS

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Bible, Faith, God's Word, Planning, Truth.

Dear friends,
We have goslings at the lake. These, along with fresh blooms of daffodils and tulips, are a sure sign that spring is here. Our weather the last few days is nothing less than delightful.

Another sign of spring is all the field work that is being done. As we returned from an errand late in the day, we observed a farmer in the field. Since it was after sundown, my bride asked how do they do that? My reply was, GPS. She said isn’t it interesting that people will depend on some satellite they can’t see for guidance, yet refuse to follow God? That was a profound observation.

For the Christian, there is another GPS. It is God’s Plan for Salvation, and it is called the Bible. From beginning to end, the Bible gives us guidance for life. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan for humanity is made plain. From the garden of Eden to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that plan was carried out.

It is one thing to follow an unseen satellite at planting time, yet another to follow God, who has made himself known through His creation. The God who created the universe also holds that GPS satellite in its orbit.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have clearly been seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105). This sounds like GPS to me, but infinitely more dependable. Many of us have stories of the man-made GPS leading us astray, not so with God’s directions.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).

Come to Jesus and let Him be your guide. He will not let you stray, nor will He lead you down a wrong path.

For Him,
Pastor Jerry

24 Mar

The Real Thing

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Culture, False teachers, God's Word, Trust, Truth.

Hello friends,
March is almost gone, and I won’t be sorry to see it go. Hopefully, April will bring those proverbial showers, followed by the May flowers. We got very little snow from the last storm, but oh how the wind did blow. I know the wind must blow, but really?

This week, due to time issues I am going into the archives for our devotional thought. I think this still applies to our current situation.

I have always enjoyed a glass of grapefruit juice, but because of the different medications I take, I no longer am afforded the pleasure. I would at times buy it in place of a sugary soft drink. I believed one grapefruit juice was the same as any other, but I found out otherwise when I purchased another brand with a look-alike label. I soon discovered there was no comparison in the taste of the two. The “real stuff” was much better tasting than the bargain brand in spite of the similarity of the labels.

How do I apply this to spiritual matters? In our search for meaning in life, we try many things and seek answers in many places. If we know where to find the right answers and experience them, it is easy to spot the counterfeits and the “wannabes.” If we are grounded in God’s word, that is if we study and learn from the Bible what it says about Jesus Christ and the way to eternal life, we won’t be led astray by false teaching and popular thoughts and ideas. We need to be able to distinguish between the authentic and the look-a-likes.

In his letter to Titus, Paul gives advice that should apply to all of us. “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Tituss 1:9).

To the church at Ephesus, he wrote that we are to be mature in our faith so that, “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching (doctrine) and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching… then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

For Him,
Pastor Jerry

3 Mar

Know What You Believe

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Evangelism, Faith, Gospel, Wisdom.

Dear readers,
Winter may be returning, stay tuned. We have enjoyed some spring-like weather this past week, but it appears this will all change in the coming day. We would certainly welcome some moisture, even if it comes as the frozen kind.

As I contemplate what to write this week, I am drawn to the fact that there are a lot of people who criticize Christians and the Bible, but they have never opened a Bible to see for themselves what it says. They may go to church occasionally and hear a sermon based on a couple of verses, but that is all the Bible they know.

The scriptures tell us that faith comes by hearing, but it is also important to study the Bible for ourselves. There were many false prophets in Old Testament times who were preaching feel-good messages, and God had harsh words for them. “But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word” (Jeremiah 23:18).

If we don’t examine the scriptures for ourselves, it is easy to be led astray by false teaching. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Joshua was told by the Lord, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).

A passage of scripture we heard in our worship this morning reads, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!… Consequently, faith comes by hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13-15, 17).

The Word of Christ is the Bible. Read it every day, then study and meditate on what you read; how else will you be able to defend your faith? As the saying goes; believe what you know and know what you believe!

For Him,
Pastor Jerry

17 Feb

No Middle Ground

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, False teachers, Gospel, Truth.

Hello all,
You may have seen the TV commercial that proclaims, “He Gets Us”. It gives a feel-good message about serving others but leaves out the part about the need for a Savior. It is true that Jesus knows about our struggles and encourages us to minister to others as He did. But as we do, we need to explain our motivation, and that is to bring others to faith in the Lord.

“He gets us” doesn’t tell the truth of the gospel, that Jesus Christ came to die for our sins. It is fine to serve others, but more eternally significant to tell them their need for a Savior. Jesus knows us intimately and understands our struggles. He was tempted as we are, but his response to temptation was not to give in to it, but to resist it. “Then Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil… Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him” (Matthew 4:1,11).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

In a recent message from a well-known pastor, he claimed Jesus will be found in the middle and used the crucifixion as his illustration. Jesus was crucified between two criminals, but this is not to make a point about His political leanings. Jesus wasn’t in the middle; he was totally on the side of truth.

Find a church that preaches the Word of God, not man-made ideas that twist the scriptures into something God did not intend. We cannot preach a watered down or politically correct gospel to try and increase church attendance. This is a large part of why the church has lost credibility in recent years.

What did Paul tell Timothy? “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus didn’t come to find middle ground, He came to seek and to save the lost, wherever they are.

In Truth,
Pastor Jerry

4 Nov

Creation

Posted by sandhillspastor in Attributes of God, Bible, Creation, Faith, Truth, Worship.

Dear friends,
Now that the time has changed back to standard time, we can adjust to a new schedule, only to have it change again in a few months. Where is the sanity in this?

On Saturday, we made the trip to Broken Bow to visit the Bone Yard Creation Museum. I heartily recommend this as a very informational and educational place to experience. The exhibits and information shared will give you new insights into creation and provide ways to counter the evolution argument. Everything I saw pointed to the truth of the Bible and the Genesis record of God’s creation.

I have heard most of the arguments against a literal six-day creation, and I trust the Bible when it says God got it done in six days. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). And in verse 31 of chapter one and verse one of chapter 2, it says, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day… Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in their vast array.

The heavens attest to the truth of creation. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands, Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 1:20; “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

In Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, we read these words concerning Jesus Christ: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (Psalm 150:1-3).

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

29 Apr

Beware of False Doctrine

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, False teachers, God's Word, Truth, Wisdom.

Dear friends,

We were spared from the rough weather on Friday. We did get an inch and a half of beneficial rain. We keep the victims of the tornadoes in our prayers and give thanks for safety in the storms.

The Bible warns of false teachers in the last days. We are seeing more evidence of this. Almost every day, we read of someone bending the truth of God’s word to fit into his or her personal agenda. Paul warned his readers: “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

In 2 Peter 2, we read: There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep. Verses 1-3.

Paul warns against false teaching in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

So, how do we combat the false teachers who lead people away from the truth? Paul gives this advice to Timothy: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:15-16.

To be able to recognize false teachers and their false gospel, we must immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Read the Bible. Find a good Bible study group. Attend a Bible believing, Bible preaching church. Check out what the pastor or Bible study leader tells you. Be like the folks at Berea. In Acts 17:11, we read concerning the church there; “For they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

For Truth,

Pastor Jerry

« Older Entries