LOST IN THE CHURCH: [BEING LOST IN CHURCH] Part Six Idolatry in the House of God Many have interpreted the word idol from the perspective of the Old Covenant, an era in which the main emphasis was on the physical. But now, the Lord is seeking people who will worship Him in spirit. Therefore, the most dangerous and difficult idol—not one made of iron, stone, or wood—is the one that can be carved within a person’s heart or spirit. An IDOL can be anything that takes the place of God within a person. The first commandment the Lord gave us is to love Him above everything else. Therefore, whatever you can love more than you love God becomes an idol to you. Furthermore, the Lord has warned us not to fear anything more than Him (Matthew 10:28), and not to place our faith, hope, or dependence on anything except Him. By this reasoning, whatever you give those places in your life becomes an idol that you have carved within your own heart. Scripture is clear that those who worship idols will have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). In these last days, many people have become lost in Church by worshipping things that are close to the Lord, or things that have been called by His name, thinking that by doing so they are worshipping the Lord Himself! Some of the things people have come to worship—and many of you may be surprised when I mention them—include worship services, the Church, the mother of Jesus, servants of God, angels, the Word of God, prayer, the name of a church, and so on. But the Lord will never allow anything to take His glory! Nevertheless, many people who worship idols in the house of God do so out of ignorance and lack of knowledge. And this is where our enemy gains his strength. Therefore, this message is given by the great grace of God to those who are willing to love the Lord above everything else. Worshipping the Word of God The Word of God can become an idol if it takes the place of God Himself. And this is astonishing! I know that by making this statement, I have probably disturbed the theology of many people. Let me repeat it, so that you understand that I am not speaking carelessly: “The word of God can become a very dangerous idol, and it can bring death if it is worshipped or allowed to take the place of God.” There is nothing as valuable as the Word of God. Nevertheless, everyone must understand that the “word of God” is not God Himself! It is extremely dangerous for any person, Church, or institution to build upon the word of God instead of building upon God Himself. Today, there are many Churches that have fallen into this kind of deception. You can recognize them by observing their people: they have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). The Church develops certain forms of worship that contradict the presence of God! The Word of God vs. “the word of God” I know that when I say “the word of God is not God,” many people become surprised, especially when they remember John 1:1, which says: > “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is absolutely true that this Scripture says the Word was God. However, it is important to understand that this passage is speaking about “the Word” and not merely “the word of God.” There is a significant difference between these two expressions: “the Word of God” and “the word of God.” When you say “the Word of God,” you are referring, in essence, to a Person—which is why Word begins with a capital letter. However, when you say “the word of God,” you are not necessarily referring to a person, but rather to the ordinary word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Throughout the Bible, there are places where the word “Word” is used with a capital letter. When Scripture uses it in that way, it refers to a Person—Christ! The Bible is filled with the word of God that needs to be made alive. When a person reads it, they should seek the Spirit through whom that word was written. Therefore, the word of God needs the Spirit behind it so that it can be transformed into the living Word of God, who is a Person. And that is what saves, blesses, and heals. Thus: The word of God + the Holy Spirit = The Word of God [Jesus] Without the Holy Spirit, there is no life in anything. Therefore, do not be surprised that even the Bible can be used by witches or traditional healers in their practices. This helps us understand the meaning of the Scripture: > “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” — 2 Corinthians 3:6 Essentially, without the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes nothing more than a book of history, literature, philosophy, stories, politics, or any other ordinary book. And many people have treated Scripture in exactly that way. They have never encountered the Living Word of God within their hearts. As a result, they have built their lives upon a “word of God” that has never become flesh within them. Because of their lack of understanding, many people consider such individuals to be servants of God. Yet this condition has ultimately turned them into philosophers, motivational speakers, politicians, and extreme businessmen operating within the house of God. This is extremely dangerous! When the Lord made a whip and overturned the tables of the merchants in His Father’s house, was that not also a prophecy of what is going to take place in the house of God today? May God bless you greatly! #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula +255 616 609 885 #LostInTheChurch #CircumcisionOfTheHeart #TrueHoliness #BornAgain #GraceAndTruth #ChristJesus #Christianity #TheCross #SpiritualGrowth #GodsWord

❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 6 of 6. How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. Continued. In both instances, what we experience by-passes the mind or intellect. Both the witness within our spirits, and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit may at times go contrary to our personal feelings and emotions" regarding some matter but we will know, nevertheless, what God's will is concerning the situation and what we should do. Feelings and emotions can deceive or confuse us if we rely entirely upon them, for this is the realm in which both Satan and the intellect reign; whereas the enlightened spirit of a Christian, and the voice of God's Spirit within will always guide us correctly if we will listen to them (Jn. 16:13) 1 Cor. 2:10-16; 1 Jn. 2:27). Of course, usually what we feel about a situation will be in harmony with what we are inwardly impressed to do, but it is not our feelings or emotions through which God's will is imparted to us. Inasmuch as God frequently desires to alert us to some spiritual or physical danger, prepare us with regarding some event that is about to occur, or inform us concerning His will about some present or future matter, then it is imperative that we become sensitive to the inner voice of the Spirit if we are to hear Him when He speaks. It is a real blessing to be so sensitive to the Spirit's voice that you know when you are moving in the will of God. Being yielded to the Spirit is the secret of being "fruitful in every good work." When we are fully yielded to Him, and sensitive to His voice, then we can always move with Him, fulfilling God's will, and we will not have to waste time planning and scheming, or running all over the place hoping that we are doing God's will and fulfilling His purpose. By Prophecy Occasionally God will inform us of His will regarding some matter, or concerning some problem about which we are praying, through prophecy or the ministry gift of the prophet. Generally, this will be a confirmation of what He has already been speaking inwardly to us about, and not the giving of guidance by prophecy as such. It cannot be overemphasized that it is God's purpose to lead the Christian inwardly by His Spirit or the inward witness (Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 2:14-16). Christians are not to seek guidance through prophecy or visions, inasmuch as some people have been misdirected or led astray, sometimes with serious consequences, on the basis of an alleged prophecy or revelation given to them by some overzealous individual who felt that he (or she) had an anointing to "prophesy" to them. In one case a minister who was sure that he had been led of the Spirit to leave a certain church to minister in another place was then prophesied to by a self-appointed prophetess and told that the Lord wanted him to return to the former church which he had recently left. This left him thoroughly confused as to what he was supposed to do, not knowing which of the two conflicting "revelations" was from the Lord. In two other instances, certain individuals who were seeking guidance were informed by overzealous Christians with an "anointing" that they were to move to a certain city and state as this was God's will for them. In neither case was the guidance from the Lord. Some Christians have actually been appointed to some office such as prophet, teacher, elder, or evangelist, and some Christian groups have been set in "divine order" by misguided individuals who interpret emotional feeling, spiritual enthusiasm, or actual delusion by Satan, as an anointing to prophesy. In other instances, a genuine anointing to speak in tongues or to minister the simple gift of prophecy to the church for "edification, and exhortation, and comfort" (1 Cor. 14:3) was misdirected to some particular individual and ended up as personal guidance coming forth from their own spirits instead of the Holy Spirit. In another instance, a woman "prophesied" to the leader of a group that it was time to discontinue teaching them, as God wanted them to begin to stand on their own feet without teaching. Shortly after his ministry was terminated, the leader of the group realized the mistake and contacted him three times wanting to know if he thought the prophecy had been genuine, inasmuch as it was obvious to all that they had not reached such a place of spiritual maturity where they no longer needed Biblical teaching. Christians should not seek guidance by prophecy or visions. We have reference here only to the attempt to seek or give guidance by means of personal prophecy or revelation through some over zealous individual, not to prophecy and visions in general which God does give to His Church for edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor.14:3; Joel 2:28-29). Occasionally, God Himself chooses to speak to us through prophecy and vision in order to lead us, but in every case it will be in harmony with His Word, and it will authenticated by the fact that it is usually a confirmation of what the Spirit has already shown to us personally. Also, occasionally, prophecy becomes the means by which God leads us in order to fulfill His will about some important matter. By Scriptural Teaching; One of the most important channels through which God desires to speak to His people and reveal His will to them is one that few people recognize and appreciate as they should, and that is through the ministry of biblical teaching. Frequently, in a meeting people will come and ask for an appointment for spiritual counseling concerning some question or problem confronting them. Instead, they should first plan to attend all the teaching sessions, inasmuch as God has sent this ministry into their midst at this time to help solve such problems as this for which they feel they need counseling, and that He often gives the necessary guidance through the teaching. On several occasions people who have taken such advice have come afterward and stated that they no longer were in need of counseling as God had given them the answers they needed through the teaching ministry. Certainly God knows the various problems and needs of His people, and that it would be impossible for any one minister to deal with everyone individually who requests counseling and help. Therefore, through the teaching ministry He provides the solution for those who are willing to pay the cost of sacrificing some of their time and interest in other things to avail themselves of it. Sadly, there are some individuals who will not do this. They will insist that you give them individual attention and special time, as they believe that their problems are of such a nature to warrant it, but at the same time they will not avail themselves of the ministry God has sent into their midst to help them. It is useless to expect God to give you special guidance and revelation about some matter when you do not avail yourself of the biblical ministry that He is sending into your locality for precisely this purpose. Your problems and the decisions you must make are not really much different from those of most other Christians. It is only because they affect you personally that you think this. And even if your problems were unusually different, nevertheless, there are certain spiritual principles set forth in God's Word which can be brought forth through teaching which will show you how to deal with your situation and what your responsibility is with regard to it. We have found this to be true time and again. For example, some faith principle which can be applied for healing a disease can also be used to solve a financial or marital problem, if you know what it is and how to apply it. But one must be willing to avail himself of the teaching ministry and literature available in order to learn these truths, for "faith cometh by hearing the Word" (Rom. 10:17). For instance, such passages as Matthew 18:19, Mark 11:22-24; John 14:14; 1 John 5:14-15; Philippians 4:19, and Psalm 37:4 have almost limitless potential for fulfilling practically any need of every description when the believer knows how to apply them and accepts their validity for today. For the thousands who accept the responsibility of learning how to live and walk by faith themselves, they discover that they are able, not only to help themselves, but also liberate others from their problems and oppression. God desires for us to mature to the place where we do not constantly need to be ministered to, but can minister to others and their needs. Through Circumstances; Sometimes God confirms His will to us through circumstances, controlling or changing events in such a way that we are able to recognize His providential hand at work to fulfill His purpose in our lives. God informed Abraham that his descendants would spend 400 years in Egypt before He would bring them forth to inherit the Promised Land (Gen. 15). At the time God told him this, Abraham did not have a single descendant, for as yet Isaac had not been born. From this time, we see God beginning to bring His will for Israel to pass through the providential control of circumstances and events. Twenty-five years later Isaac is born by a miracle to Sarah, who is barren. His son Jacob in turn has twelve sons, one of whom is Joseph, his favorite. Because of envy his brothers sell him into slavery into Egypt, which begins a new phase of the fulfillment of God's plan to get Abraham's descendants into Egypt, a famine later compelling Jacob and all of his descendants to migrate there to live. After several years of hardship and adversity, Joseph had been miraculously elevated to a high position in Egypt by Pharaoh, a divine foresight to prepare the way for the Israelites. Thus, their arrival in Egypt was no accident, nor were they merely victims of circumstances, but we are clearly shown the providential control of God throughout, a fact which Joseph himself discerned (Gen. 50:20). The fulfillment of God's plan for our lives often depends, to some degree at least, upon our awareness of His providential working and controlling our daily affairs and experiences. As stated previously, God's plan for your life did not begin when you were born or when you were converted, but the Scriptures declare that the believer was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and called to fulfill His glorious plan and purpose (Rom. 8:28-30, Eph. 1:3-6), Moreover, God has often been working in the circumstances of your life for months or years before He reveals some aspect of His purpose to you. We are not to seek guidance by asking God to reveal His will to us through outward circumstances generally, but as we pray for His leading, usually He will impress upon us what course of action to take. Frequently, He will then confirm this inward leading through circumstances and events in our lives, which, if we are spiritually observant enough, can be discerned. CONCLUSION. We do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col. 1:9) The Apostle prays. It is not sufficient just to have a knowledge of God's will, but as the quotation above indicates, we must also have spiritual wisdom and understanding to be able to apply it and profit from it. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge correctly and effectively. Solomon knew God's will for his life - he was chosen to be the King of Israel. But he was also aware that if he was to succeed in this task and fulfill God's will as he should, then he would need more than mere human wisdom and the limited understanding man acquires through study and by experience so he prayed for the impartation of divine wisdom, discernment, and understanding. Thus, it is one thing to know God's will; it is another to have the wisdom and understanding to apply it. A man may know a very great deal, and yet not be a wise man. Occasionally, for example, we see a student who graduates from college with a high academic standing sometimes fail completely in some career or profession which he has chosen, simply because he lacks the wisdom to apply his knowledge in a practical way to his life. A wise Christian, therefore, is not just one who knows His Lord's will, but he is one who also understands how to use this knowledge in the proper place, in the proper way, and at the proper time. For instance, every believer knows, on the basis of Jesus' clear teaching in John 15, that the Christian is called to "bear fruit." But the mere possession of the knowledge of this fact does not impart to the believer the wisdom to accomplish it, for the churches are literally exhausting themselves in all manner of religious programs and activities in an effort to accomplish God's will in this regard, without any significant achievement. It is one thing for the Christian to know that he has been called to bear fruit, but only the Holy Spirit can reveal to him the understanding that it is not in doing, but in dying that we bear fruit (Jn. 12:24). Paul's prayer is that "you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ... being fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:9-10), revealing, thereby, that fruitfulness does not lie merely in knowing God's will, but also in possessing the spiritual wisdom and understanding to apply it. As was shown earlier, fruitfulness is not merely religious activity, such as serving in two or three offices in the church, visiting as many homes as possible in the community to invite people to church, giving out tracts, busyness with churchwork, attending all the services, reading the Bible through at least once a year, and so on. Fruitfulness does not come by religious commotion, but through crucifixion; not by doing, but by dying. God calls no one to work for Him, but to learn to move with Him. This truth is not something one can discern with reason or intellect, but comes as a result of the impartation of divine wisdom and understanding to those who ask for it, "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:6 ). Again, it is one thing to know that the believer is called to experience a measure of trials and tests of his faith (1 Pet. 2:19f; Jam. 1:2-4), but human wisdom will never help him to see the eternal purpose in those trials, nor enable him to respond in such a way that he will profit and not lose by such sufferings and testing. It requires divine wisdom and understanding to meet temptations, and to bear trials, so that such testing, instead of depressing and defeating the believer, will be able to accomplish God's will and purpose in his life. It requires divine understanding for him to see that Romans 8:28 is valid for him in time of trial and adversity, as well as in time of prosperity and blessing. Thus, when you seek a knowledge of God's will for your life, and for making decisions in important matters, also ask Him for wisdom and spiritual understanding to apply the knowledge He imparts to you, for the Scriptures tell us– Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Prov. 4:7). Amen and amen! Edited. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

REPENT NOW — Life Is Uncertain A solemn Christian sermon with prayer “Prepare to meet your God.” — Amos 4:12 The world often imagines death as the Grim Reaper—a dark figure carrying a scythe. That image is a powerful symbol in art and literature, but the Bible points us to a deeper truth: our lives are fragile, and none of us knows the day or hour when our earthly life will end. This is not meant to produce panic. It is meant to awaken the heart. Tomorrow is not promised Every sunrise is a gift from God. We make plans for next week, next year, and retirement, yet Scripture reminds us how brief life truly is. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” — James 4:14 If your heart is far from Christ, do not delay repentance. If there is unforgiveness, confess it. If there is hidden sin, bring it into the light. If you have wandered from the Lord, come home today. Jesus is the Savior, not the destroyer God does not delight in the death of the wicked. His desire is that people turn and live. “The Lord is… patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 The Cross stands as Heaven's invitation. Jesus stretched out His hands so that guilty sinners could become forgiven children of God. No sin is too great for His mercy when it is met with genuine repentance and faith. What is true repentance? Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It is a change of heart that leads to a change of direction. Turn from sin. Turn toward Jesus Christ. Confess Him as Lord. Walk daily in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” — Acts 3:19 A Prayer of Urgent Repentance Heavenly Father, I come before You with humility and reverence. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. I cannot save myself. Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You died on the Cross for my sins and rose again in victory. Have mercy upon me. Wash me in Your precious blood and make me a new creation. Holy Spirit, break every chain of sin. Remove my hardened heart and give me a heart that loves righteousness. Help me forgive others, walk in holiness, and live each day ready to meet my King. Teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Let my life glorify Jesus until my final breath. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. The Call “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15 Do not wait for a better season. Do not assume tomorrow belongs to you. Repent today. Believe the Gospel today. Follow Jesus today. For Christ is ready to forgive all who come to Him with a sincere and repentant heart. BE READY TO DIE ANY TIME, WE LIVE MINUTE BY MINUTE. BE EVER READY TO MEET GOD! 2 CHOICES, JESUS EQUALS HEAVEN. REJECTION OF JESUS EQUALS ETERNAL DAMNATION BE READY TO DIE AT ANY TIME We Live Minute by Minute — Be Ever Ready to Meet God “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12 Every heartbeat is a gift. Every breath is sustained by the mercy of God. None of us knows whether we have fifty years remaining—or five minutes. The Bible calls us not to live in terror, but in readiness. Jesus repeatedly urged His disciples: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” — Matthew 25:13 The Two Eternal Choices According to the Christian Gospel, every person must respond to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ The Way to Eternal Life John 14:6 • John 3:16 Repent. Believe. Follow Him. Forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the hope of eternal life through Christ alone. Reject Christ Remain Separated from God John 3:18 • Revelation 20:15 The warning is real. The New Testament warns that rejecting God's offer of salvation has eternal consequences. Don't Wait Until Tomorrow The greatest deception is believing there will always be another opportunity. The healthy can die suddenly. The wealthy cannot buy one more heartbeat. The young are not guaranteed old age. Death respects no calendar. “Now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2 God is not trying to frighten you away from Him. He is calling you toward Him. His warnings flow from His love, and His invitation remains open today. Jesus Is the Only Savior Jesus declared: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6 The apostles proclaimed: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12 Our good works cannot erase our sins. Religion cannot save us. Only the crucified and risen Son of God can reconcile us to the Father. A Prayer: Ready to Meet God Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that my life is in Your hands. I confess that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I repent of my sin and turn to You. Be my Lord, my Savior, and my King. Wash me in Your precious blood. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, and teach me to live in holiness, love, and obedience. Help me to be ready—not living in fear, but living in faithful expectation of seeing You face to face. Let every day of my life bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. The Final Appeal “Choose this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15 Life is brief. Eternity is forever. Choose Jesus Christ. Walk with Him. Be ready to meet God.

‎CETM COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY ‎Benin City-Nigeria ‎... Raising Godly Leaders ‎Website: www.cetmedu.ng ‎Email: dregberase[cetmedu].ng ‎ ‎Are you a passionate church leader? clergy Or a teacher of God's word? And you want to understand the rudiments of Theology, Christian Philosophy, Church Accounting, Leadership Education & Ministry! ‎ ‎CETM COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY Is Currently Offering Provisional Admission to Students Into the Various Vocational & Research Programs for SPRING 2027 INTAKE: ‎•Professional Advanced Diploma in Leadership & Ministry ‎•Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min) In Church Accounting ‎•Master of Theology (M.Th) ‎•Master in Christian Philosophy (M.Cp) ‎•Doctor of Theology (Th.D) ‎•Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Christian Philosophy ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Comparative & Humanities Studies (Gender & Christian Literature) ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Christian Leadership Education ‎ ‎To Apply, click the registration link: https://cetm-portal.ng/admission ‎ ‎For Admission Equiries, WhatsApp The College President, Professor Chukwuemeka Egberase on +2347054229303 ‎ ‎Signed: ‎Rev (Dr) Kenneth Kabba, ‎College Provost

‎CETM COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY ‎Benin City-Nigeria ‎... Raising Godly Leaders ‎Website: www.cetmedu.ng ‎Email: dregberase[cetmedu].ng ‎ ‎Are you a passionate church leader? clergy Or a teacher of God's word? And you want to understand the rudiments of Theology, Christian Philosophy, Church Accounting, Leadership Education & Ministry! ‎ ‎CETM COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY Is Currently Offering Provisional Admission to Students Into the Various Vocational & Research Programs for SPRING 2027 INTAKE: ‎•Professional Advanced Diploma in Leadership & Ministry ‎•Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min) In Church Accounting ‎•Master of Theology (M.Th) ‎•Master in Christian Philosophy (M.Cp) ‎•Doctor of Theology (Th.D) ‎•Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Christian Philosophy ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Comparative & Humanities Studies (Gender & Christian Literature) ‎•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Christian Leadership Education ‎ ‎To Apply, click the registration link: https://cetm-portal.ng/admission ‎ ‎For Admission Equiries, WhatsApp The College President, Professor Chukwuemeka Egberase on +2347054229303 ‎ ‎Signed: ‎Rev (Dr) Kenneth Kabba, ‎College Provost

⭐ I'm grateful to share that Mateo and the Secrets of the Eternal Word has received a Highly Recommended editorial review from La Biblioteca de Nehemías, a Spanish-language Catholic website dedicated to reviewing children's and young adult literature. Reviewer Jaime Blanch Queralt wrote: "The novel is highly recommended." He also praised the novel's emphasis on family, friendship, humility, solidarity, and faith, calling it a meaningful read for young readers and families. Thank you, Jaime, for your thoughtful review and for introducing Mateo to your readers. Read Jaime's complete review: https://labibliotecadenehemias.wordpress.com/2026/08/03/mateo-y-los-secretos-de-la-palabra-eterna/#more-7753

Amazing Facts. Daily Devotionals Dead For A Year August 5th, 2026 In February 2007, police in Hampton Bays, New York, received a call to investigate a report of a home with burst pipes. Upon entering the home they were stunned to find the partially mummified body of a man who had been dead for more than a year. He was found alone in the house, sitting in a chair in front of his television, which was still on. The Suffolk County medical examiner said Vincenzo Ricardo, 70, apparently died of natural causes. A local morgue assistant said evidently the home’s dry air had helped to preserve his remains. Ricardo’s wife died years earlier, and he lived alone. He had diabetes and had gone blind, but he was still very independent. The amazing thing is that he hadn’t been heard from in over a year and nobody sounded the alarm. Evidently he had his bills set up to be paid automatically. Still, you would have thought someone would have observed the lights never went off and the TV was constantly blaring. In addition, his mailbox was overflowing and yet no one seemed to notice even though it could be clearly seen by others. Neighbors said they just never thought to check on him. They had assumed Ricardo was in a hospital or nursing home. It seems that the Bible’s teaching about caring for our neighbor has become a forgotten moral. A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). When Jesus asked what the law taught, the man responded by quoting the Old Testament, including the injunction to love your neighbor. But then he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” In this context, Christ told the story of the good Samaritan. In essence, the story points out, “Our neighbor is anyone around us in need.” How often has the Holy Spirit whispered to your heart to “check on your neighbor”? You might need to see if your neighbors are doing well physically, but don’t neglect to be sensitive to their spiritual well-being. Share literature with people around you. Offer to pray for hurting people you come into contact with. Reach out. Don’t assume everything is fine. They may be dying right next door to you. Key Bible Texts And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30 KJV)

God's Creation, 100 / evolution, 0 WAS THE BIBLE COPIED CORRECTLY? One of the most common objections to Christianity is that the Bible has been copied so many times that we can no longer know what it originally said. At first, that sounds reasonable. After all, if a document has been copied by hand for centuries, wouldn't mistakes accumulate until the original message was lost? The problem is that this objection ignores the evidence. The New Testament is the most well-attested document from the ancient world. Today, scholars have access to more than 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, over 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and thousands more in other ancient languages. In total, there are over 24,000 manuscript copies and portions of the New Testament available for comparison. To appreciate how remarkable that is, consider other famous ancient works. The writings of Julius Caesar survive in about 10 manuscripts. The historian Tacitus is preserved in just a handful of copies. Yet few people question whether we know what those authors originally wrote. Not only do we have an enormous number of manuscripts, but many of them are very early. Portions of the New Testament can be dated within decades of the original writings. Complete manuscripts appear far closer to the originals than those available for most ancient literature. Because we possess so many copies from different regions and centuries, copyist mistakes are often easy to identify. If a scribe accidentally omitted a word, misspelled a name, or skipped a line, scholars can compare thousands of manuscripts and detect the error. Think of it this way. If there were only one surviving manuscript, mistakes would be difficult to identify. But when thousands of manuscripts agree with one another, they function as checks and balances. Critics often point to the existence of textual variants. However, the overwhelming majority are minor differences involving spelling, word order, or grammar. In Greek, changing the order of words often does not change the meaning of the sentence. Most variants are so insignificant that Bible translators simply note them in the footnotes. Even skeptical textual scholars acknowledge that no major Christian doctrine depends on a disputed passage. Then there are the Dead Sea Scrolls. Discovered beginning in 1947 near the Dead Sea, these manuscripts included portions of every Old Testament book except Esther. Some of them were over 1,000 years older than the oldest Hebrew manuscripts previously available. Critics expected significant corruption of the text over time. Instead, they found remarkable consistency. The book of Isaiah, for example, was found to be substantially the same despite being copied over many centuries. The differences that existed were overwhelmingly minor and did not affect the message of the text. The Bible was not preserved because people copied it perfectly. It was preserved because so many copies were made that mistakes became detectable. In fact, the manuscript evidence for the Bible is so extensive that scholars can compare copies from different countries, centuries, and language families to reconstruct the original text with a very high degree of confidence. Every ancient document was copied. The question is whether it was copied reliably. When judged by the same standards historians use for every other ancient work, the Bible stands in a category of its own.

Scripture is literature indwelt by the Spirit of God. - BILLY GRAHAM

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