Category: General

Are not our thoughts upon Heaven more than ever before with all that our world is facing at this time? We are looking forward to that time when we will be taken Home to be with Jesus, but while here on earth we cannot know anything about Heaven apart from the Word of God. Here are some things revealed in God’s Word about Heaven.

These few paragraphs by no means exhaust the subject, but may be instructive and helpful to God’s people.

God is in Heaven. “Is not God in the height of heaven? …” (Job 22: 12), exclaimed Eliphaz.

God’s throne is in Heaven.“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven …” (Psalm 11:4).

The Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven. “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God …” (1 Peter 3:22).

Angels are in Heaven.“…angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:22). Of the angels, our Lord declared, “… for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Redeemed men and women are in Heaven. “… ye are come … to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-23).

The names of the Lord’s followers are in Heaven. “… rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Treasures are in Heaven “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven …” (Matthew 6:20). ” … knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Hebrews 10:34). God ” … hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ … To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Perfect knowledge is in Heaven. “… behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard … said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1). Paul “… was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Holiness is in Heaven.“And there shall be no more curse …” (Revelation 22:3). “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5). “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Eternal glory is in Heaven. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 4:17-5:1).

So, then, we “… wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

When we consider the fact that man was created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1 :26-27), and soul winning is putting a person into a position where the lost image of God can be restored and dominion regained, how important is soul winning?

When we consider the fact that an unsaved person is open to demon possession, and a saved person is indwelt by God Himself, in the person of the blessed Holy Spirit, how important is soul winning (1 Corinthians 3:16)?

When we consider that the Bible, which is earth’s operational manual, is a closed book to the unsaved but taught to the believer by the indwelling Spirit (1 John 2:27), how important is soul winning? When we consider that prayer is only effective as a new-born child of God prays in the name of Jesus (John 16:23), how important is soul winning?

When we consider that the only thing that keeps the world from becoming so rotten that it is discarded by God is Christians who are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), how important is soul winning? When we consider that the only thing keeping earth from giving in to total moral and spiritual darkness is saved people who are

the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), how important is soul winning? When we consider how sin destroys lives and how only the indwelling Lord can give one power to conquer sin (1 John 4:4), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how badly children need Christian parents (Deuteronomy 6:7), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how many young lives are being destroyed and how only a Christian young person can hope to avoid such destruction (1 John 2:13), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how miserable most people are and how joyous the Christian life can be, how important is soul winning?

When we consider that unsaved people are destined to spend eternity separated from God in Hell (Psalm 9:17), how important is soul winning?

When we consider that only saved people can hope to enjoy the bliss of Heaven (John 5:24), how important is soul winning?

Is soul winning more important than visiting family or friends? Is it more important than a sports event? Is it more important than that vacation you planned for so long? Is it more important than being thought of as a “good guy” or a “great gal”? Is it more important than money, comfort, popularity, or even life itself? The questions all answer themselves.

The real new morality is the old-fashioned Biblical morality! It is real, sound, sensible, straight-laced morality. It is not a morality that is moral merely for fear of disease or for fear of pregnancy. It is not a morality that is moral merely for fear of the wrath of the parent, of society, or even of God. It is not a morality that is moral because everyone else is or was moral.

The real new morality is a morality that still sees engraven above the clattering confusion of today’s carnality the eternal Word of an eternal, all-wise, and loving God, Who has said, ” … thou shalt not … ” It is a morality which obeys this clear edict, knowing that what He has forbidden, He has wisely forbidden, and ” … blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11 :28). The real new morality perceives that God did not say, “Thou shalt not commit adultery for fear of disease or pregnancy or of getting caught,” but for fear of self destruction, of soul destruction, or fear of loss of personal value and worth. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption … ” (Galatians 6:8), a corruption of spirit, of mind, of soul, of life itself. This same God has said, ” … Thou shalt do no murder … Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Matthew 19:18). And though one may for a time not be caught while being a liar or a thief, these acts carry within themselves the poisons of inner destruction, and one is “caught” in a self-destroying way of life long before the heavy hand of a policeman rests upon him.

The real new morality is the morality of the youth who believes that his body was meant for something better than the barnyards of life; that man does not live by lust alone: of the youth who dreams of marriage, of a home, and of a family life built upon a solid and lasting foundation. It is not the fear of getting caught that keeps him moral, but a knowing that should he descend to such animalism his own stained conscience and memory would spoil every beautiful dream-picture that he holds in his heart. This youth also dares to believe that somewhere in this confused world there is a person of the opposite sex who is keeping herself; who has the same dreams, the same ideals, and that someday they two will meet, and that when they meet it will mean all the world to be clean, unsullied, undamaged, to enter what is still life’s noblest and most exciting adventure -marriage.

The real new morality is really not new. But in today’s world, against the black backdrop of today’s moral cannibalism, it is seen with a new beauty and with a new appreciation of its worth. The rewards of today’s real new morality never seemed more glamorous, lasting, and outrageously superior to those of the world’s used-car, trade-in moral policies than when contrasted with one’s neighbour’s ugly quarrels, embarrassing divorce wranglings, cheatings, alimonies, nomad children, and tumble weed existence. It leads one to cry out, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103: 1) for the morality and sanctity with which thou hast surrounded my life and my marriage!”

” … Keep thysel fpure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

• Intro:
  • Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
  • This Sunday is regarded by many as Easter Sunday, but “Easter” is the name of a female pagan goddess.
  • In actuality, for us, this is not Easter Sunday but rather Resurrection Sunday, the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead following his crucifixion. 
  • So, today I am going to preach on some Biblical aspects of the resurrection that are helpful for all of us.
• The prophecy of his resurrection – 1 Cor 15:3-4
  • – his resurrection was “according to the scriptures”
  • – Peter knew where the principle verses were in Ps 16:10-11 which say, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 
  • On many occasions the Lord prophesied of his resurrection.  He said to the Pharisees, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” [Jn 2:19]. 
  • In another place he told them, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” [Matt 12:40]. 
  • He told his disciples, “… that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be raised again the third day,” [Matt 16:21].
• The proof of his resurrection – Acts 1:3 says that,
  • “he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days”
  • – 1 Cor 15:5-8 identifies the different people that saw the Lord risen from the dead: Cephas, the twelve, above 500 brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and Paul
  • – in Rev 1:12-18 John saw him in heaven
  • – Thomas wouldn’t believe until he saw him face to face and had the opportunity to touch the wounds
  • – when he saw him he worshipped him and said, “My Lord and my God,” Jn 20:28 – not the least of all of these proofs is the empty tomb.
• The purpose of his resurrection 
• – there are several very important reasons why Jesus had to rise from the dead
  • – first, for Israel, their hope is in the resurrection of the saints of their nation [Acts 23:6]
    • – according to Ezek 37, the saints who are laid in their graves will rise and inhabit the land of Israel forever
  • –    David is mentioned by name as one who will rise and lead the nation [Ezek 37:24-25]
  • – second, the gospel is incomplete without his resurrection
    • – in his death and burial our sins are paid for and the body of sins is destroyed [Rom 6:6]
    • – but in his resurrection is where we get to walk in the newness of life [Rom 6:4]
    • we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord [Rom 6:11]
  • – third, because of his resurrection his body in now in heaven seated at the right hand of God
    • – when we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into his body we are already seated in heavenly places in him [1 Cor 12:13; Eph 5:30, 2:6]
    • – his resurrection gives us proof and assurance that the life he offers us is, in fact, eternal.
• The power of his resurrection – in Phil 3:10 Paul said,
  • “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” 
  • In Gal 2:20 Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” 
  • In 1 Cor 15:31 Paul said, “I die daily.” 
  • What all this means simply is that when you receive Jesus as your Saviour you don’t have to try to start living like you’re a Christian. 
  • You simply die to yourself and let Christ live his life through you.
  • You are crucified with Christ to be made conformable unto his death so that the power of God that raised him from the dead will work in you to change who you are and thereby change what you do.
• Take a thief, for example. 
  • He didn’t become a thief the first time that he stole something. 
  • He was already a thief at heart or he would have never stolen anything. 
  • Once he steals, he reveals that he is a thief. 
  • Now this thief gets saved; he’s still a thief. 
  • He comes to Christ and he says, “I am a no good, sorry, guilty thief and I need to change.” 
  • He repents of being a thief but, because he is a thief at heart, simply refusing to steal doesn’t change him. 
  • Under the wrong circumstances he will steal again. 
  •  So, in Christ he dies to being a thief and is risen to walk as an honest man. 
  • Christ living inside of him gives him the power to quit being a thief and, therefore, he quits stealing. 
  •  If the old fellow decides to come down off of that cross where he is crucified with Christ and start living his old life again, you can be sure that he’ll start stealing again one of these days. 
  • Why? 
  • He’s back to being a thief. 
  • You see, it is the resurrection power of Christ that changes us into God’s creatures. 
  • Without the resurrection, we would just be another brand of religion.
• The promise of his resurrection 
  • – the promise of his resurrection is simply this: as his body literally rose from the dead so our bodies will literally rise from the dead. 
  • We are buried in corruption and we will be raised in incorruption. 
  • We live in mortality but we will be changed into immortality [1 Cor 15:50-55]. 
  • Jesus Christ, because of his resurrection, is going to “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” [Phil 3:21]. 
  • Folks, those of us who are saved are going to rise one day with a brand new, glorified body which will never sin, never suffer pain, never die and never sorrow again. 
  • Glory to God.
• Conclusion:
  • You have no need to doubt whether the bodily resurrection of Jesus is real: it was prophesied, it was proven and its purposes are being fulfilled. 
  • If you want the power of Christ to work in you to save you, to change who you are, to give you eternal life and to change what your body will be like in eternity, then you need to trust Jesus Christ today. 
  •  And if you are already saved and struggling with the same sin over and over with no change and no victory, you need to admit what you are, die to yourself on the cross with Christ and yield to the power of his resurrection within you. 
  • And remember to be comforted by this fact, Jesus is coming soon to give you a brand new body that will live forever with him in eternity!!

• Text:         Acts 7:48-60
• Introduction:
  • What fills your mind?
  • The things of God or things of the world?
  • Stephen is a great example to each of us as to what we should be filled with.
• Question:
  • What are these things?
  • He was a man:
• 1)   Full of Faith (Acts 6:5,8).
  • Faith binds us to God.
  • Faith has three qualities:
    • a)   It is the act of the will in receiving Christ as Saviour – John 1:12.
      • Saving faith.
    • b)   It is living in obedience to God – Acts 5:29,32.
      • Walking by faith.
    • c)   It is the attitude of the heart in leaving things in God’s hands.
      • (II Cor.4:13-18)
  • Faith rest.
    • To be full of faith means that there is no room for doubt, nor fear in the heart, just as there is no room for anything else in a full vessel.
• 2)   Full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).
  • How do we become filled with the Holy Spirit? – Eph.5:18.
    • a)   Sing (Eph. 5:19).
    • b)   Give thanks (Eph. 5:20).
    • c)   Submit yourselves to one another. (Eph. 5:21)
    • d)   Children, obey your parents (Eph. 6:1)
    • e)   Be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10).
    • f)    Put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:11).
    • g)   Pray always (Eph. 6:18).
    • h)  Fill yourself with Scripture.
• 3)   Full of Power (Acts 6:8).
  • Power is the ability to do things.
  • God never asks us to do things without giving us the power to do them.
  • With every command there is a promise.
    • “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost..” Acts 1:8
  • We need power to share the Gospel, to have compassion on the needy, to teach God’s Word, to rebuke error, and to edify others.
  • We are filled with God’s power as we are filled with God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
    • ‘Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.’ Micah 3:8.
• 4)   Full of Light (Acts 6:15).
  • The light within caused Stephen’s face to shine as an angel’s face.
  • Sin makes us ugly, but being filled with Christ makes us beautiful.
    • Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works…’
    • II Corinthians 4:4 Stephen had the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
    • II Corinthians 4:6 Stephen had the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in his life.
• 5)   Full of Scripture (Acts 7:1-50).
  • As we read Acts chapter 7, we realize that as Stephen related the history of Israel, he was filled with the knowledge of the Bible.
  • If we fill our lives and minds with God’s Word, we will be full of power and full of the Holy Spirit.
  • Question: Are you full of God’s Word?
  • Question: Do you study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word daily?
• 6)   Full of Courage (Acts 7:51).
  • The face of man and the fear of man did not affect Stephen.

• He did not hesitate to charge those who were opposing God’s work with being ‘stiffnecked and uncircumcised,’ of resisting the Holy Ghost, with not keeping God’s law, and with murdering Jesus Christ. (v.51-53).
  • His courage and conviction resulted later in the conversion of Saul.
  • Question: Are you full of courage for Christ?
• 7)   Full of Love (Acts 7:60).
  • The stones that the persecutors hurled at Stephen broke his head, but they could not break his heart of love for Israel.
  • His lips were bloodied with the blood of persecution, but they could not stop the pouring forth of love’s intercession.
  • When the love of God fills our hearts and minds, it will enable the servant of God to do greater things for Christ.
    • ‘The love of Christ constrains us.’ (2 Corinthians 5:14).
• 8)   Full of Wisdom (Acts 6:3,10).
  • Stephen was full of wisdom because he spent time with God in the Bible, in prayer, in preaching the gospel, and in humbly serving God’s people.
• Conclusion:
  • As Christ is sufficient to carry Stephen through martyrdom, so Christ is sufficient to carry us through every situation of life.
  • Let us seek to be full of these 8 qualities.
    • Faith
    • The Holy Spirit
    • Power
    • Light
    • The Scripture
    • Courage
    • Love
    • Wisdom

Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.“

Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and Pray for them which despitefully use, and persecute you;” (read verses 45-47)

Matthew 6:12 (in the model prayer) says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” and verses 14-15 say, “For if we forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“

Luke 17:3-4 says, “Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.“

Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.“

Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.“

The Scriptures speak so plain that there is NO ROOM FOR DOUBT… THERE IS NO PLACE FOR AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH!

Here are some thoughts that you may want to consider:

• An unforgiving spirit is not Christ-like.
• It is a tool of Satan.
• Destroys relationships.
• Causes division.
• Causes depression and robs joy.
• Damages testimonies.
• Weakens the Gospel message.
• Becomes a barrier to Spirituality and power in prayer.
• Becomes a burden to the heart and mind.
• It is never too late to win the victory. Do it today! Call your offended brother, friend, or relative and enjoy life again.

Will it be easy? No! Why not? Because Satan will attempt in any way possible to keep you from this victory!

• Introduction:
• Cremation (the burning of the dead) is not a Christian practice.
  • God commanded the dead to be buried – Deuteronomy 21:22-23.
  • God buried Moses, Deuteronomy 34:5-6.
    • According to Jude 9, Michael the Archangel and Satan came into conflict over the body of Moses and possibly because Satan wanted to make a shrine or place of idolatry of it.
    • If so, God could have burned him just as well as burying him.
    • Note that GOD HIMSELF buried Moses!
  • God commanded Israel not to burn their children – Leviticus 18:21
  • God punished Moab for cremating the king of Edom – Amos 2:1
  • Cremation is associated with idolatry.
    • 2 Chronicles 28:1-3
    • 2 Chronicles 33:1-6
    • 2 Kings 16:1-3
    • 2 Kings17:17,31
    • 2 Kings 21:6
    • Jeremiah 7:30-31
    • Jeremiah 19:3-5
    • Ezekiel 16:20-21
    • Ezekiel 20:30-31
    • Ezekiel 23:37
  • God’s people burned the dead to show contempt.
    • Joshua 7:25
    • 2 Samuel 23:1-7
    • 2 Kings 23:16,20
  • Burial following death is an important spiritual symbol.
    • Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death”
    • And Colossians 2:12 says, “Buried with Him in baptism”.
  • Burial is a part of the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
    • Read and notice verse 4 “And that He was buried, and that He arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
  • All Scripture is “profitable for instruction” and thus, Christ is the believers’ example in the proper mode of handling the dead.
  • Now, if Christian is cremated, it is not difficulty for God to transform those ashes into a glorified body.
  • The same is true for those burned or consumed by wild animals.
  • God will raise all the bodies of His children, no matter what their manner of death or disposal and will fashion them, “like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:21)
• Conclusion:
  • Cremation should not be practiced by Christians who are looking forward to a resurrection.
    • 1 Corinthians 15 – Chapter on the resurrection

“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure

is, there will you heart be also” (Luke 12:33-34).

This is the list of orders which Christ has placed on record for His

people:

The Unexplainable Bargain– “Sell that ye have, and give alms … “

To the carnal man, this is no bargain at all. Instead it borders on folly. To the Christian, however, there is that which scattereth, and yet increaseth and there is that which maketh himself poor yet hath great riches (see Proverbs 11 :24).

The Unaging Bags – ” … provide yourselves bags which wax

not old … “

Ageless treasures must be placed in unaging bags. Heavenly treasures will be lost except they are bagged in Heaven. Lay up your treasures in Heaven, where your life is hid in Christ in God.

The Unfailing Bounty– ” … a treasure in the heavens that faileth not … “

Everything in Heaven is of God’s making. What we have to enrich us is but the gift of God. Bank your God-given treasures within the heavenly bank, and what interest will be due to you on the great dividend day!

The Unapproachable Bank -” … where no thief approacheth … “

Heaven’s bank has never been robbed nor have any of its treasures been stolen. Our treasures are absolutely safe therein. Happy are those who bank in Heaven.

The Incorruptible Barrier –” … neither moth corrupteth”

The moth cannot fly in between the bars of the treasure trove of Heaven. This Heaven cannot be infiltrated by the smallest of destructive forces. It is omnipotently impregnable.

The Unbreakable Bond –” … where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

What a bond to the heart of the saint is His treasure, the priceless Saviour. That bond forged in the fires of Calvary and hammered on the anvil of grace is unbreakable. It stands steadfast forever.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41-42).

The operative word in this statement is the little word how. Jesus behold how the people cast the money into the treasury. The Master’s interest was not so much in what people were giving, but how they were giving. He was looking at the motive for giving, the impulse of the donation, the inspiration of the offering. There is a very illuminating phrase in 1 Samuel 2:3 which declares that “… by him actions are weighed.”

As Jesus watched, in came the lonely widow, and at once He saw something which deeply moved His heart. As she cast in her two mites, the Master observed that this act was the expression of faith, “… she of her want did cast in all that she had … “ (Mark 12:44). This is an outstanding example of childlike faith. The statement literally means that she gave all that she had to live on. In other words, she trusted God to supply her wants, and devoted her property entirely to Him. It is a comparatively easy thing to give out of abundance, but it requires strong faith to give out of poverty.

Her giving was also an expression of her hope. She gave “… all her living” (Mark 12:44). As Dr. G. Campbell Morgan points out, this woman had vision! She saw beyond this world to the next. Her heart was in Heaven, so she wanted her treasure to follow. She knew what Jesus meant when He said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Jesus also observed that her act was an expression of her love. She cast in “… all her living” (Mark 12:44). Only an hour or so before, the Lord had declared that the fulfilling of the commandments was to love God and to love our neighbour. What, it might be asked, had this to do with the gifts that were placed in the treasury of the temple?

The answer is “everything.” All gifts placed in the chest were divided between the priests and the poor; however, as much as the priests might have been degraded, let us never forget that to the simple heart of this woman they stood as the representatives of God. Then there were the poor. She was one of the poorest of the poor, but they were her neighbours, and when she dropped her gifts into the treasury, she was keeping the whole law. She was expressing her love to God and her love to her neighbour.

Jesus still sits “… over against the treasury …” (Mark 12:41), and as the Lord of all giving, He watches with deep interest to see whether or not our offerings are the expression of faith, hope, and love. He is interested in your giving. What does He see behind the coins, the paper money, and the bank book?

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” (Hebrews 13:9).

The text here is an apostolic caution against false doctrine. It forms part of a warning which Paul addressed to Hebrew Christians. It is a caution just as much needed now as it was two thousand years ago. Never, I think, was it so important for Christian ministers to cry aloud continually, “Be not carried about…”

The old enemy of mankind, the devil, has no more subtle device for ruining souls than that of spreading false doctrine. “… He was a murderer from the beginning …” (John 8:44); he never ceases going to and fro in the earth “… seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Outside the church, he is ever persuading men to maintain barbarous customs and destructive superstitions. Human sacrifice to idols – gross, revolting, cruel, disgusting worship of abominable false deities – persecution, slavery, cannibalism, child murder, devastating religious wars; all these are a part of Satan’s handiwork and the fruit of his suggestions. Like a pirate, his object is to “sink, bum, and destroy.” Inside the church, he is ever labouring to sow heresies, to propagate errors, to foster departures from the faith. If he cannot prevent the waters flowing from the Fountain of Life, he tries hard to poison them. If he cannot destroy the medicine of the Gospel, he strives to adulterate and corrupt it. No wonder that he is called Apollyon, the destroyer.

If any one ask me, “What is the best safe-guard against false doctrine?” I answer, “The Bible: the Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied.” We must go back to the old prescription of our Master, “Search the scriptures …” (John 5:39). If we want a weapon to wield against the devices of Satan, there is nothing like “… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). But to wield it successfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently, and prayerfully. This is a point on which, I fear, many fail. In an age of hurry and bustle, few read their Bibles as much as they should. More books perhaps are read than ever, but less of the one Book which makes man wise unto salvation. Rome and new doctrines could never have made such havoc in the church in the last fifty years, if there had not been a most superficial knowledge of the Scriptures throughout the land. A Bible-reading people is the strength of the church.