One point that truly needs to be made last week while discussing Miracles. Miracles have a purpose. Today, if we listen to people there seems to be no purpose in miracles. They would say that they are done at different times for different reasons. But what sayeth the scriptures? What does the Bible say about this matter? First, let us deal with the purpose of miracles. Miracles were to confirm the word. Mark 16:20 reads, “They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Hebrews 2:3-4...Continue reading
Author: Keith Dixon
Does saying “The Sinner’s Prayer” Save?
Preachers sometimes invite listeners to pray something such as, “God, I am sorry I have sinned. Please forgive me and let Jesus come into my heart. I thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen” The preacher then says, “Since you have asked Christ into your life, you are now His child, and your sins are forgiven.” The problem, however, is that the promise of forgiveness is from a man, not God. God has never promised to respond to “the sinner’s prayer.” Prayer is a privilege for...Continue reading
Older than Dirt
This came across my desk and I did take the test and yes, I am older than dirt. How many of you are too! Hope you have a good laugh out of this too. We were cleaning out my grandmother’s house and found an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. It the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my granddaughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a saltshaker or something. I knew it was the bottle that sat...Continue reading
Bible Class Attendance
Stephen Wiggins I stand in utter amazement as to why so many members of the Lord’s church neglect our Bible study morning and Wednesday nights. By their lack of attendance these Christians show that they obviously do not attach very much importance to studying the Bible together with God’s saints. They seem not to know that it has always been characteristic of faithful Christians everywhere to attend and take part in, if at all possible, these periods Bible study every time the church comes together for such a purpose. These sporadic and infrequent Bible study...Continue reading
“What Is in Thine Hand?”
We read in the Old Testament of God speaking to Moses from the burning bush, commissioning him to lead the chosen people out of Egypt. But Moses objected, saying that no one would believe him to have been sent by God. When asked what was in his hand, Moses answered, “A rod.” The Lord told him to put it down. As we know, it became a serpent. When, at God’s direction, he caught it up, it became a rod again. God is powerful and He could have chosen anything in the universe to use as...Continue reading
After I’m Gone
Hebrews 11:4 records these amazing words, “he being dead still speaks.” This passage reveals that the good testimony of Able lives on even though he has gone the way of all the earth (Josh. 23:14) a living legacy from the grave. What will we leave behind to speak for us when we are dead? Will it be like Joshua’s influence that lived on in the generation after his death? “And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten yours...Continue reading
Singing or Playing?
In 2 Timothy 2:15 the Record reads, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There are times when religious people never seem to be able to distinguish between the testaments or dispensations of God. Many are still confused about what the New Testament authorizes when it comes to music in worship rendered to God. What saith the Scriptures? Acts 16:25, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Rom. 15:9, “…for this...
Laws and Opinions
Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision: but faith which worketh by love.” There are some things that do not matter. There are some things we may do any way we desire. There are other things for which God has specific laws. When God has told us to do something, we must do exactly what God has said. If he has told us how to do it, we must do it the way he said to do it, but if God has told us to do something and has...Continue reading
A Living Hope
There are towns scattered across our land that bear the name “New Hope.” We do not know why such a place would receive such a name, but we do know it says something that was good. You had rather see a town called that than one that would be called “No Hope.” In your New Testament, you will find some people in situations where there was “no hope.” This is said of those who were Gentiles (Eph 2:12). Peter would speak of a “living hope” when he says, “Blessed be the God and Father of...Continue reading
Sacred Matters Demand Proper Respect
It has amazed me for years to see folks demand proper respect for sacred matters in the Lord’s Day assembly and then treat these same sacred matters as a form of entertainment in the home. Years ago an aged gentleman led the singing at the congregation where I preached my first sermon. He would have never consented to using a piano to accompany the singing of praises to God during the assembly of the church. This same gentleman, however, invited his denominational neighbors to his home of Sunday afternoon, and while his wife played the...Continue reading