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Authority of Scripture

The Bible which is a called, “The Book” is more than just a collection of writings.  Believers weather new or established Christians knows it is a more unusual book.

God used 39 (possibly 40) different authors over a span of 1500 years to write this living book.  Even though God used human authors to write Scripture, it is still the living, abiding Word of God.

Because it is inspired or “God-Breathed,” it is God’s own love letter to us.  To live the Christian life effectively, one must accept the Authority of Scripture.  This is different than just accepting it as “an authority” in your life.  It must be the sole or only authority in your life.  Many people who claim to be Christians never grow in their walk because they fail to believe and exercise this principle.

The Evidence of Scripture

External Evidence:

* Archaeological discoveries * Scientific research * Changed lives * Actually, the external evidence only points toward the internal evidence of the authority of Scripture.

Internal Evidence:

* II Timothy 3:16-Scripture is God Breathed

* II Peter 1:19-21- Scripture is without error because of the Holy Spirit‘s part in producing the Word of God.

* I Peter 1:22-25- Scripture has an eternal quality.

* Hebrews 4:12- Scripture is alive and active because of it’s “link” to the Holy Spirit.

The Denial of the Sole Authority of Scripture

* Some declare other authorities such as religious groups, church leadership, creeds, traditions, constitutions and practices.

* Others even claim religious experience as equal to, or even above, the authority of the Scriptures.

* many profession believers are led astray by the slightly twisted statement about the Word of God.  it is” “The Bible contains the Word of God.”

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Morning

Compassionate Lord,

Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day,

Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, increase in knowledge, ripen for spiritual harvest.

Let me this day know thee as thou art, love thee supremely, serve thee wholly, admire thee fully.

Through grace let my will respond to thee,

Knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that thy free love alone enables me to serve thee.

Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with thy choicest gifts;

Here is my blind understanding, chase away its mists of ignorance.

O ever watchful Shepherd, lead, guide, tend me this day;

Without thy restraining rod I err and stray;

Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure, and drink tis poisonous streams;

Direct my feet that I be not entangled in Satan‘s secret snares, nor fall into his hidden traps.

Defend me from assailing foes, from evil circumstances, from myself.

My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature;

They cling to me as my very skin;

I cannot escape their contact.

In my raising up and sitting down they barnacle me;

They entice with constant baits;

My enemy is within the citadel;

Come with almighty power and cast him out, pierce him to death, and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.

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Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassion they fail not:  Thou has been -forever will Be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see;  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided–Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,  Join with all nature in manifold witness - To Thy faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see;  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided–Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow-blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by norming new mercies I see;  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided–Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

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• Horoscopes

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A Believer’s Response

By faith, a believer must accept totally the Word of God as inerrant, the standard for all truth and the soul authority for all belief and practice.

Our entire existence depends upon the “Authority of Scripture”

Result: Proper Priorities

As we come to submit toe the authority of the Word of God, one of the first areas that you will notice being impacted is your priorities.

Most people who believe have good motives and really do set out to please the Lord.  However, they may have not yet become convinced of a biblical priority system.  Because of this they are continually pressured by other people and circumstances to follow demands that are contrary to good, sound living.

Remember: priorities are established by our commitment to that priority, not necessarily how much time we spend doing it.

The greatest violations seem to com in two areas.  One is the family and our job outside the home.

Priorities:

GOD

MATE

FAMILY

MINISTRY

JOB

PRIORITY # 1- YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Your relationship to God affects all other priorities.  (Acts 20:28, I Timothy 4:16, II Peter 1:3-10)

PRIORITY # 2- YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR MATE

Your marriage is the ultimate illustration of Christ and His bride to be on earth.  (Ephesians 5:32-33) 

Quote by Martin Luther: The husband should hate to leave the home-The wife should hate to see him go.          

PRIORITY #3- YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR FAMILY

Rules must be understood and obeyed. (I Timothy 3:4-5 and 5:14, Ephesians 6:1-4)

PRIORITY #4- YOUR MINISTRY TO THE BODY OF CHRIST

We truly serve God by ministering to His people.  (Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, I Cor. 12:13)

PRIORITY #5- YOUR JOB OUTSIDE THE HOME

Eternal matters always precede earthly matters. (Colossians 3:2, Matthew 6:33)

Event:                   Old Testament                New Testament

The birth of Abram—Gen.11:26                                

God’s call of Abram—Gen. 12:1-3                    Heb. 11:8

The entry into Canaan—Gen. 12:4-9

Abram in Egypt—Gen. 12:10-20

Lot separates from Abram—Gen. 13:1-18               Heb. 7:1-10

God’s covenant with Abraham—Gen. 15:1-21          Rom. 4:1-25, Gal. 3:6-25,Heb. 6:13-20

The birth of Ishmael—Gen . 16:1-16

Abraham promised a son by Sarah—Gen. 17:1-27         Rom. 4:18-25, Heb 11:11-12

Abraham intercedes for Sodom—Gen. 18:16-33

Lot saved and Sodom Destroyed—Gen. 19:1-38

The birth of Isaac—Gen. 21:1-7

Hagar and Ismael sent away—Gen. 21:8-21                 Gal. 4:21-31

Abraham Challenged to offer Isaac as sacrifice—Gen. 22:1-19        Heb.  11:17-19, Jas 2:20-24

The death of Sara—Gen. 23:1-20

The death of Abraham—Gen. 25:1-11

 Abram rescues Lot—Gen. !4:1-17

Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek—Gen. 14:18-24

Abram rescues Lot—Gen.

Abram in Egypt—Gen.

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Commemoration of Albrecht Durer, artise, 1528.

Oh God in heaven, have mercy on us! Lord Jesus Christ, interecede for your people, deliver us at the opportune time, perserve in us the true genuine Christian Faith, collect your scattered sheep with your voice, your divine Word as Holy Writ calls it.  Help us to recognize your voice, help us not to be allured by the madness of the world, so that we may never fall away from you, O Lord Jesus Christ.  Author: Albrecht Durer.

Albrecht Durer, the great German artist of the Northern Renaissance and friend of Erasmus and Martin Luther, was sympathetic toward the Reformation.  His realistic style reveals an evident appreciation of the Scriptures.  Although he was a master painter, he achieved popularity in his lifetime for his engravings.  many believe that his engravings are his greatest contributions to Western art.  Prints were made from these engravings, and for the first time in history men and women of ordinary means were able to purchase these prints and have great art in their own homes.

1707-1788–English clergyman, poet and hymn writer

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

At all the times you can

To all the people you can!”

“Best of all is, God is with us.”

“You have nothing to do but to save souls; therefore spend and be spent in this work.”

“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities.  I wxact more from myself and less from others.”

“Christ the Lord is risen to-day,” –Sons of men and angels say.–Ranise your joys and triumphs high;–Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.  (Easter)a

“Hark the herald angels sing,–Glory to the new-born king.”–Peace on earth, and mercy mild,–God and sinners reconciled.!  (Christmas)

Lo! on narrow neck of land,–’Twixt two unbounded seas, I stand.–Secure, insensible  (Life)

A charge to keep I have,–A god to glorify:–A never-dying sould to save,–And fit it for the sky.  (soul)

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“So that you may approve the things that are excellent.”  Phillppians 1:10

1. Will it be spiritually profitable? (1 Cor. 6:12a)

2. Will it bring me into bondage? (1 Cor. 6:12b)

3. Will it build me up? (1 Cor. 10:23)

4. Will it build others up? (Rom. 14:19)

5. Will it help me be more like Christ? (1Jn. 2:6)

6. Will it help other Christians by its example? (1Cor. 8:9)

7. Will it slow me down in the race? (Heb. 12:1)

8. Will it draw me away from God‘s people? (Heb. 10:24-25)

9. Will it hypocritically cover my sin? (1 Pet. 2:16)

10. Will it glorify God? (1Cor. 10:31)

(Adapted from: Making the Hard Decisions Easy)

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*in the last 20 years, Type 2 diabetes has increased 10-fold

*over 8 million children have asthma, up 232% in the last 40 years

*7% of school age children are diagnosed as ADHD

*less than 7% of children and adolescents comsume the recommended 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables per day

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I was strolling through Costco one day and happened upon my favorite table.  You guess it, the book table.  This book that we are going to talk about caught my eye.  I read the comments on the front and back covers which were written by respected Christians and I decided to buy it.  I did not do any research on the author before the purchase and had known no one who had read it.  Come to find out I had friends at church who had read it when if first came out in hardcover.

Since that time, I have come to learn more about the controversy surrounding the book and attended a bible study at my own church on it also.  I want to present the information I have learned and also some scripture for you to ponder and look up for yourself.  After doing my homework I have reached my own conclusions about this book based on the truth of the bible.  What do you think?  Along with the book I am going to also add some information on two other Post Modern “spiritual” trends that have been very popular.

The Truth: 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:19-2:1

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.  but know this first of all that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy spirit spoke from God.  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

THE SHACK’S “NEW” TEACHING:

The Warning-Mack gets a note seemingly from God.

In Seminary(Mac) had been taught that God had completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow sacred Scripture, properly interpreted, of course.  God’s voice had been reduced to paper, and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects…Nobody want God in a box, just in a book.  Especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guilt edges?” (pg 65)

How to find Truth–”You will learn to hear my thoughts in yours,” says Sarayu (the Holy Spirit in the book who is a “small, distinctly Asian woman-pg 84).  “Of course you will make mistakes; everyone makes mistakes, but you will begin to better recognize my voice as we continue to grow our relationship.”  And where will we fing the Spirit?  “You might see me in a piece of art, or music, or silence or through people or in Creation, or in your joy and sorrow.  My ability to communicate is limitless, living and transforming, and it will always be tuned to Papa’s goodness and love. (Papa is God in the story who is a “large, beaming African American woman (pg 82).  And you will hear and see me in the Bible in fresh ways.  Just don’t look for rules and principles; look for relationship-a way of coming to be with us” (pg 197-198)  (God the Son in the story appears to be middle eastern-pg 84).

Transition:

A New Earth, Awakening Your Inner Purpose: Book by Eckhart Tolle.  “…only the present moment can make us free.  That realization is the awakening…A new heaven and a new earth are arising within you at this moment…” (pg 308)

“There exists only the present instant…a Now which always and without end is itself new.: Meister Eckhart, from website.

“The Now is also central to the teaching of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam.  Sufis have a saying: ‘The Sufi is the son of time present.’  And Rumi, the great poet and teacher of Sufism, declares: ‘Past and future veil God from our sight; burn up both of them with fire.’ Meister Eckhart, the thirteenth-century spiritual teacher, summed it all up beautifully: ‘Time is what keeps the light from reaching us.  There is no greater obstacle to God than Time.” (pg 38)- from The Power of Now.

SALVATION:

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Matthew 24:4-5

The Shack:

Jesus-”Those who love me come from every system that exits.  They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists, or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don’t vote or are not part of any Sunday morning ro religious institutions.  I have followers who were murderers and many who were self righteous.  Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians.  I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation in to sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved.”  “Does that mean,” asked Mack, “that all reads will lead to you?”  “Not al all,” smiled Jesus as he reached for the door handle to the shop. “Most roads don’t lead anywhere.  What it does mean is that i will travel any road to find you.” (pg 182)

OPRAH: “I am a Christian who believes that there are literally more paths to God other than Christianity.”

ECKHART TOLLE: “This book’s main purpose is to bring about a shift in consciousness…that’s the peace of God the ultimate truth of who you are is not I AM this (religion) or that but, I AM.” (pg 56-57)

“The esoteric spiritual traditions-whether Christian mystics, Hebrew Kabbalists, Zen Buddhists, Islamic Sufis, or Hindu yogis- all have specific practices to help individuals overcome this great ‘illusion of seperation’ and to experience the One True Self, which is in us all.” (pg 149)- A Course in Miracles.

SIN:

Romans 3:23 “For all have sined and fall short of the glory of God.”   also: Romans 6:23

“A Course in Miracles”

Sin is insanity–Sin is the home of all illusion–There is no sin

“The Shack”

“I’m not a bully, not some self-centered demanding little deity insisting on my own way.  I am good, and I desire only what is best for you.  you cannot find that through guilt or comdemnation . . .”(pg126)

“You don’t need me at all to create your list of good and evil.  But you do need me if you have any desire to stop such an insane lust for independence. . . Mackenzie, evil is a work we (the Godhead) use to describe the absence of Light. . . evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not have any actual existence.” (pg 136)

“Authority, as you usually think of it, is merely the excuse the strong use to make others conform to what they want. . .We carefully respect your choices. . . “(pg 123)

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!  For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it . . .”  Luke 10:23,24

God, open my eyes so I may see

And feel Your Presence close to me.

Give me strength for my stumbling feet

As I battle the crowd on life’s busy street,

And widen the vision of my unseeing eyes

So in passing Faces, I’ll recognize

Not just a stranger, unloved and unknown,

But a friend with a heart that is much like my own.

Give me perception to make me aware

That scattered profusely on life’s thoroughfare

Are the best gifts of God that we daily pass by

As we look at the world with an unseeing eye.

Helen Steiner Rice

Heavenly Father, help me to look for and find You in others.  Permit me to live my life in such a fashion that others may look for and fine You in me.

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Oranges:  contains every class of cancer-inhibitor known; rich in vitamin C and beta carotene, may help ward-off asthma attacks, bronchitis, breast/stomach cancer, and gum diseases.

Pineapples:  contains Bromelain; aid digestion; good for joints and muscles; reduce swelling; high Manganese, which is good for preventing osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Cranberries:  been shown to be beneficial in preventing and treating urinary tract infections.

Peaches:  contain boron, aids in calcium absorption; rich in antioxidants (Beta Carotene and  Vitamin C).

Acerola Cherries:  source of Vitamin C, helpful in minimizing symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Papaya:  source of vitamin A; helps digestions.

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