Category: Subject Index

Early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he had a dream. The dream made him anxious, and he sought it’s meaning. His astrologers, sorcerers and magicians were more than willing to provide an interpretation, but Nebuchadnezzar obviously did not trust their powers of divination. So, he created a test. Before giving him the interpretation, they had to describe the dream itself. They replied, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean” (Daniel 2:10). Their explanation did not impress Nebuchadnezzar. He became angry, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be killed!

Nebuchadnezzar’s disgust was understandable, even if his murderous response was not. These dream interpreters were not claiming psychological insight. They claimed to be able to “divine” the interpretation. That is, they claimed a supernatural ability to determine a dream’s meaning. Logically, if one possessed such supernatural powers, “divining” the dream itself would be as simple as the interpretation. By their inability, they showed themselves to be charlatans.

Continue reading “Man Can’t Do It…But God Can!” →

In Matthew 10, Jesus sent His disciples to preach to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. In verse 40, He said to them, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent me.”

This is an interesting truth as it relates to hospitality. By being hospitable to those who belong to Christ, it is as if we are receiving the Lord Himself (and by extension, His Father). Our Lord will appreciate and deal kindly with those who care for His own.

Going further, Jesus then said, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward” (vs. 41). In order to understand this sentence, the phrase “in the name of” must be explained. Albert Barnes wrote,

“To receive in the “name” of a prophet is to receive “as” a prophet; to do proper honour to his character, and to evince attachment to the cause in which he was engaged.”

So, both with a righteous man, and with a prophet (or preacher), when you receive them because they are righteous or because they preach the truth, you please God just as they do!

Hospitality is important. Hospitality expressed because of our common faith and love for our brethren is a selfless act that pleases God, and elicits His favor!

Sermon by Dennis Scroggins

Truth can be understood, and must be defended, heeded, and obeyed. Too often men look to the unrighteous or ignorant for advice, rather than those who are familiar with and wise in the ways of God.

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Galatians 4:4-5 shows God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth. To redeem man! The shedding of His blood on the cross accomplished that purpose. Because of Jesus, we have the hope of redemption!

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

As so many spend one day a year remembering the day of Jesus’ birth, Paul noted in Galatians 4 the intent of that birth was to bring the Savior into the world to redeem men. Faithful Christians remember this EVERY first day of the week.

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Paul described himself, prior to becoming a Christian, as an insolent man. Pride and selfishness lead to disrepect of others. We must show respect to God, and our fellow man.

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In the face of those who denied the coming judgment of God, the apostle Peter warned his readers, whom he refers to as “Beloved”, to be mindful of God’s word and diligent to live righteously before Him.

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In 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Paul made a simple but compelling argument:

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory .”

Simply put, if those of the world are as wise as they claim to be, they would accept the Lord of glory rather than oppose Him!

Notice that Paul did not argue whether Jesus truly is the Son of God. To Paul, that was an established truth. His faith in His Lord would not waver… he was an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord.

We too believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. And so, when we consider the philosophies of men — the secular influences that hold sway in our society — we have confidence that they are not as wise as they believe themselves to be. If they were wise, they would acknowledge the truth. Jesus is the Son of God, and the Lord of our lives.

So, the Lordship of Jesus is commonly rejected in the world today. Paul rightly predicted that the powers that be “are coming to nothing.” The truly wise among us will acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and submit fully to His will.

The weather has changed, and it is cold out there today! Thankfully, here in North Texas the winters are relatively mild, so the cold temperatures will probably not hang around very long. It is also fortunate that this front did not bring in sleet or snow, making it dangerous to drive.

It is in winter that we expect snow. It comes with the season. The writer of Proverbs used this truth to make an important point:

“As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool” (26:1).

The phrase “is not fitting” is an interesting one. It indicates that honor does not properly belong to the fool. Such a situation is the direct opposite of that declared by the Psalmist, “Your testimonies are very sure; holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever” (93:5). Where holiness makes sense and is a proper adornment for God’s house, there is nothing natural or appropriate in a fool being honored.

And yet, we do it all the time! Such adoration and honor is heaped upon our entertainers, our athletes, our politicians. By honoring them as we do, we encourage and enable their foolish actions and values.

Concerning the fool being honored, Keil and Delitschz noted the following: “he will make unjust use of it, and draw false conclusions from it; it will strengthen him in his folly, and only increase it.” Proverbs 19:10 says, “Luxury (“delight” KJV) is not fitting for a fool.”

Instead, foolishness should be discouraged, both in others and most importantly in our own lives. Praise for foolishness is as incongruous as snow in summer!

Ezekiel 33 records an attitude toward the word of God that existed in that time, and in ours as well. The text verses 30-33) relate God’s words to the prophet regarding the reception of his message by the people.

“…they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (30-32).

Back in 1871, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown published a commentary on Ezekiel, where they attributed the following quote regarding this text to Jerome (4th century), “They praise thy eloquence, but care not for the subject of it as a real and personal thing; just as many do in the modern church.”

In Ezekiel’s day; in Jerome’s day; in the 19th century; in the 21st century; indeed in every age, among every people, there is the tendency to give lip service to God’s word.

“Oh, how beautiful it is, how soothing, how wonderful. It’s beautiful music to our ears.”

“…For they hear your words, but do not do them.”

How about you. Do you hear God’s words? Do you recognize how important it is to submit to Him? Do you obey God’s will for you?

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Even in the face of Jerusalem’s ruin, some in Judea persisted in their belief they would be delivered from the Chaldeans. They said, “Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession” (Ezekiel 33:24).

They were wrong. Why? Because their confident assertion was given despite a lack of repentance on their part. God’s judgment was visited upon Judea wholly as a result of her sin. The prophet reminded them of this. “Thus says the Lord God: ‘You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then posses the land?” (vs. 25). He further noted their reliance upon the sword, their abominations and infidelities.

Finally, God proclaimed, “For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through” (vs. 28).

Today, many show the same “arrogant strength” in their unwillingness to place their trust in the Almighty God. God rules in the affairs of men. He determines the rise and fall of nations (cf. Acts 17:26). Any people who persist in “arrogant strength,” opposing the will of God, will not stand. We pray our nation will learn this truth sooner rather than later.

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1 Samuel 13:8-15 records a difficult time in the reign of King Saul, that he handled poorly. He sinned against God, and the excuses he offered to Samuel have beneficial applications to each of us.

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In Psalm 119:18, the writer prays to God for discernment regarding the wonderful things contained in His law. Such discernment (the opening of our eyes) is needed, and worthy of our petitions to God.

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In Ephesians 3, Paul’s prayer for them was that they might know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

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