Law of Liberty

Afraid of the dark?

2012-02-18T15:28:00.000-06:00

“Hewho believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemnedalready, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son ofGod. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, andmen loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John3:18-19).

This is an interestingstatement, “men loved darkness ratherthan light” because when we think about darkness and light, it seems asthough it should be the other way around. Physically, people in general areafraid of the dark or uncomfortable in it. There are many that are nervousabout even sleeping in the complete darkness and prefer a nightlight. It makessense that someone would prefer light over darkness because we need light to doour everyday activities like fix lunch, read a book, drive, etc. All of this requiresthat we have some kind of light source.

There is one exceptionto men preferring physical light over darkness. This is how you tie in the ideaof spiritual darkness and light mentioned in John 3. A person who has justrobbed a jewelry store or committed a murder is not going to look for physicallight. Instead, he will avoid it at all costs so he won't be exposed because ofhis wicked deed. This is what Jesus was talking about with spiritual darkness.Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Sin not onlyoffers a person pleasure, but it also offers a person a hiding place if theycontinue to remain in it. The reason so many people shy away from Jesus isbecause, since He is the light, He will expose them for who they truly are.This is why so many shy away from the Bible because it does the same. It willtell them that they are in sin and they need to change their life. It is a wisechoice to come to the light because one day there will be no darkness left inwhich to hide. Jesus said in Luke 12:2-5, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden thatwill not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heardin the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will beproclaimed on the housetops. And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid ofthose who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But Iwill show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, haspower to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

JonathanGlaesemann

"I am"

2012-02-14T10:18:00.002-06:00

In Romans 1:14-17, Paul wrote, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” There are three great “I am” statements from which we would benefit.

First, Paul said, “I am debtor.” He had certainly tasted the grace of God (1 Corinthians 9:13-18), and as he was called to be an apostle, he knew he was indebted to the accomplish the task. All of us are saved by the grace of God (Titus 3:1-7). None of could save ourselves without God. Because of this, there is no place for pride and arrogance in serving Christ. Our debt is to live for the Lord and try to spread His gospel.

Second, Paul said, “I am eager.” Every Christian should have a willingness or attitude to work. This takes training and preparation, study and reading (2 Timothy 2:15). Because of the preparation, we are ready to face whatever comes our way. The scriptures will lead us to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15-17). It will allow us to walk worthy of the Lord (Ephesians 4:1). Other people watch our behavior (1 Peter 2:11-12), so we must be a light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

Third, Paul said, “I am not ashamed.” We cannot live in quietness -- we need to preach. Matthew 10:33 states a solemn punishment for people who refuse to confess Him. Denial of Christ or hypocrisy will lead to judgment (Hebrews 10:36-39). It will all come down to will. There are two wills: the will or Christ and your will. Which “will” will you follow? If we are ashamed of the gospel, people will be lost (Romans 10:13-15, 17). Standing up for Christ does take courage, but not as much as hanging on a cross! If you are ashamed, think of what the Lord did for you.

Kyle Campbell

Doing something good

2012-02-07T08:47:00.001-06:00

Part of living your new life as a “new man” (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10) is putting others first (Philippians 2:3). A good way to do this to work for or serve others. Jesus said, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

Doing good to others not only helps us to take the focus off ourselves (and the problems we face), but it also helps us mimic the good that the Lord did when He gave us His Son (John 3:16). Just as God was pleased with the sacrifice of His Son (Isaiah 53:11), He is pleased with our sacrifice: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

The next time that your problems weigh you down, try not to be overwhelmed by them; rather, do something good for someone else. It will pull your thoughts away from difficulties, and satisfy your heart by doing God’s will: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Kyle Campbell

A summary of the gospel

2012-02-01T09:09:00.002-06:00

The Bible says the gospel saves (Acts 11:14) because it has begetting power (James 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). But, of what is the gospel comprised? As one might imagine, it is simple to deduce and teach. For our lesson today, we will examine a simple summary of the gospel (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

First, there are facts to believe. God exists and He sent His Son to earth (Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16). Jesus was born (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). He died on the cross (Matthew 27:45-54; Mark 15:33-39; Luke 23:44-48; John 19:28-30). He was buried (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-16:1; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). He made multiple appearances after His resurrection, proving Himself to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4). The purpose of His death was for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:22-24). He is presently at the right hand of God, making intercession for us (Hebrews 1:3; 4:15-16; 7:25).

Second, there are commands to obey. Jesus Himself was under command from God (John 12:49-50). Therefore, it is not illogical to believe that we are under commandment as well (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10, 14). The apostle John proclaimed that those who do God’s commands would be blessed (Revelation 22:14). Therefore, someone must “receive” or obey the gospel (1 Corinthians 11:23; Galatians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Jesus and the apostles consistently proclaimed the requirements for salvation. A quick summary of the book of Acts will show several examples of what people did to be saved: Those at Pentecost (Acts 2:38, 41), the Samaritans (Acts 8:12), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38), Saul (Acts 9:17-18), Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:31-33), the Corinthians (Acts 18:8), and the Ephesians (Acts 19:4-5). Application of these soul-saving truths has to be made (Matthew 7:21-24; Acts 20:32; James 1:21).

Third, there are promises to receive. When being obedient to the gospel, we receive promises (2 Peter 1:3-4). Some had believed that God was slack concerning them, but He is merely being gracious for all who want to obey (2 Peter 3:9). When we leave the world and follow Christ, we receive great material blessings (Matthew 19:28-29; Mark 10:28-30; Luke 18:29-30). Although we may sacrifice some earthly friendships on the altar of love to Christ, we will be rewarded with the reconstruction of relationships with God’s people. Our Lord was Himself the first to exemplify this new adjustment in His own relationships (Matthew 12:46-50). We also have all spiritual blessings now in Christ (Ephesians 1:3; [redemption-Titus 2:14; justification-Romans 3:24; forgiveness-Ephesians 1:7; access to God-Hebrews 4:14]), but the greatest spiritual blessing we will ultimately receive is eternal life (1 John 2:25; 5:11). God cannot lie, therefore this establishes hope for the fulfillment of these promises (Romans 8:24-25; Titus 1:1-2; Hebrews 6:18-20).

James Russell Lowell said, “The greatest homage we can pay to truth, is to use it.” Will you obey the gospel today? In order to receive these wonderful blessings, you must continue in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:2, 58; Colossians 1:23; 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:12; 2 Timothy 3:4-15; 1:13; James 1:25). Will you repent and come back to God if you have failed to follow God’s commands (Acts 8:22)?

Kyle Campbell

First century church problems

2012-01-28T10:10:00.001-06:00

We sometimes think that we are the only ones who have problems. If we are not so naive as to think that we are not the only ones who have problems, then we are confident that our problems are so much worse than others.

But in this short space, we are going to consider, from concrete examples, some of the problems in the first century church. I believe you will find that they were plagued by the same types of problems that churches have now. Study and meditate upon the following examples: lying (Acts 5:1-11), hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-14), forsaken duty (Acts 6:1-6), factionalism (1 Corinthians 1:10-17), false teachers (2 Timothy 2:16-18), immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-13), unfaithful preachers (2 Timothy 4:10) and indifference (Revelation 3:15-17).

So we see that churches had their own problems in the first century. How did they overcome them? By heeding Paul’s instructions: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). Churches can also overcome sin by heeding the Lord’s words: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5). Do not think we are unique when we have to deal with sin and wickedness. Churches throughout the ages will continually deal with these problems until the Lord comes again. Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41).

Kyle Campbell

Aliens on planet Earth

2012-01-25T11:58:00.001-06:00

As mankind haslooked about our galaxy and even the universe, with telescopes and other aidssuch as space ships, one question has always remained and is still unansweredtoday: “Are there aliens or other kinds of beings on other planets?” If thereare, the Bible doesn’t have anything to say about life existence on otherplanets or other worlds like our own. However, the Bible does from time to timeuse the word aliens, not to describe other life forms on other planets, but todescribe certain types of people on this earth.

The word “alien”,used in the Bible, is not what we would think of at all about the word, butrather is used to describe someone belonging to another race or kind: beingoutside. This is used in a physical sense in Lamentation 5:2: “Our inheritancehas been turned over to aliens, and our houses to foreigners.” The word “alien”used here describes those of another race of people, being foreigners. TheBible also uses the word in a spiritual sense in Ephesians 2:11-12, “Thereforeremember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcisionby what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -- that at thattime you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel andstrangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in theworld.” The word here is used by Paul, when speaking to the Ephesians, abouthow they were once aliens in a spiritual sense, being without God. He goes onto say in vs. 13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have beenbrought near by the blood of Christ.” We see here the transformation that theseindividuals had gone through, but not only here but also in vs. 19, “Now,therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens withthe saints and members of the household of God.” We see here that theseindividuals were not aliens or foreigners anymore because they are now said tobe members of the household of God, which would have reference to the church.

Sadly, noteveryone is in this condition today, in fact, most of the people in this worldaren’t members of the church. They are aliens and outsiders who need to beconverted and added to the church. Our duty as Christians is not to beconcerned with aliens on other planets, but to be concerned about the aliens onour own planet, looking for opportunities to teach them the gospel and convertthem (Mark 16:15)!

JonathanGlaesemann

Scorning God's commandments

2012-01-23T09:07:00.000-06:00

Malachi 1:13 says, “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.”

The people of Malachi’s day looked at God’s commands and felt that it was appropriate to simply turn away from them. “Snuff” is translated in other versions as “sniff,” “snort,” “scorn,” “sneer,” and “turn your nose up.” Do Christians treat God’s commands like this today? Will we treat Bible classes like this? Gospel meetings? Sunday and Wednesday evening assemblies? Will you reject them if you don’t like them? I pray that no one ever looks at the privilege to serve God and revel in His grace as “weariness.”

Kyle Campbell

The religion of no religion

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

As we look aroundabout us in today’s world and consider all the evil in this world today, we mayask ourselves why everything is the way it is. I think if you summed it all upinto one reason things are the way they are, that reason would be what issometimes called the religion of no religion: atheism.

We live in a worldwhere, since people do not believe in God, they have no rules except for theones they make up. Since they do not believe in God, they think, “Well, there’sno reason why I can’t cheat on my wife or husband, or even have to spend therest of my life with them for that matter; there is no reason for me not to goout and have a good time and do whatever it takes for me to have a good time;there’s no reason for why I can’t be the worst person that ever was.”

Not every atheistis like this and, as a matter of fact, there are atheists that do believe ingood morals. These are the kind of people who teach our teenager’s scienceclass, and tell them that we are descendants of apelike creatures. These arethe kind of people that are in our political offices influencing laws likeabortion. These are the kind of people that make an influence on the wholeworld!

How do we dealwith this? I think the best answer to this is to just be the godliest personyou can be, pray for strength, and do what Paul told the Thessalonians to do in1 Thessalonians 5:22: “Abstain from every form of evil.” Since we live in awicked world of unbelief, we must be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Bestrong and never give up because there is a fight worth fighting, there is aHeaven worth hoping for, and there is a God worth living for!

JonathanGlaesemann

The element of surprise: Satan’s special weapon

2012-01-05T07:07:00.000-06:00

“Be sober; bevigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The Devil isdescribed in 1 Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion that walks about seeking whom he maydevourer. What a better way to describe Satan than a lion? A lion is cunningand sneaky; he stalks his prey from nearby, lurking in the shadows. Then, whenhe feels that his prey is least expecting it, he strikes. The prey is mostoften baffled and confused, mainly because it never expected the lion to bethere bearing down on him at that moment in time. Because of this, the prey willnot likely get away in time, and will become dinner for the hungry lion or itscubs.

Satan, in a way,is just like this in that he can strike at a moment when we are least expectingit. The solution is to always be ready and watchful for whenever he may strikeus with temptation. This is why Peter tells us to be sober and vigilant,because the Devil walks about like a roaring lion that can strike at a momentwhen you least expect it.

JonathanGlaesemann

Which do you love more?

2012-01-01T21:47:00.001-06:00

A recent Facebook post asked the question, “Which Do You Love More: God Or Obedience?” I believe this makes a false dichotomy between love and obedience. I will admit that I love God, and that I want to obey God. But if I love God, then obedience will follow (John 14:15; 1 John 3:22-24).

The scriptures place great emphasis on obedience, but the religious world tends to deemphasize it. The grace of God in Christ motivates and instructs my whole-hearted obedient faith (Titus 2:11-14). The love of Christ constrains me (2 Corinthians 5:14), and duty obligates me (Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:33; 17:10). Jesus died for me, and I live for Him by faith which requires a genuine heart of obedience (Micah 6:8; Romans 16:25-26; Hebrews 5:8-9). By my obedience, I do not make void the grace of God (Galatians 2:20-21).

It’s not a question of which you love more. No one, that I know of, “loves obedience.” All the people that I call brethren and that I have the opportunity to worship with love God and want to obey Him.

Kyle Campbell

Superheroes

2011-12-28T09:59:00.000-06:00

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine made an interesting comparison to superheroes. I thought I would use the opportunity to present his analysis; so what does it take to be a superhero?

First, it takes an alter-ego (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus, the glorious Son of God, took on the form of a servant and revealed Himself to us in the flesh. Second, it takes an arch enemy (cf. Matthew 4:1-10; 2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and fights against the forces of righteousness. Third, it takes superpowers (John 1:1-3). Christ has ultimate power in everything. Fourth, it takes a sidekick (cf. Philippians 2:13). We can be used to spread the gospel. Finally, in the end of the movie, there is guaranteed success (cf. John 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 20:1-4). The devil will be defeated and his power over us in death will be destroyed.

Who is the ultimate superhero? Jesus Christ! Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Jesus is the only one who is real (not a “make believe” character), and He is alive! He can save you from eternal torment if you will only obey Him!

Kyle Campbell

The death, burial, and resurrection of baptism

2011-12-26T22:00:00.000-06:00

“Ordo you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus werebaptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism intodeath, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). In thispassage, we notice three facts about what happens to us when we are baptized.

First, we are buried withChrist in the waters of baptism. In this burial, we take the old man of sin andbury him, becoming submissive and obedient to the authority of Christ.

Secondly, we become dead tosin. This means that when the old man of sin is buried in the waters ofbaptism, he is destroyed and we become dead to sin. Therefore all of our sinsno longer live in us; our slate is wiped clean.

Finally, we are resurrected,arising out of the waters of baptism, having become a new person. The old manof sin is completely gone and in his place is the new man. At this point theperson who is baptized has a new beginning.

Sadly, too many people chooseto put the old man of sin right back on again and live as though nothing hadhappened. The significance of becoming a new person is that you have a newpurpose or a new goal in life. That goal is not to put the old man back onafter you have been made anew, but to start over and live a godly life so thatit can truly be said that you were born again (John 3:3, 5).

Jonathan Glaesemann

Go to the ant, you sluggard!

2011-12-24T09:04:00.000-06:00

“Go to the ant, you sluggard!Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. Howlong will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A littlesleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep, so shall yourpoverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man” (Proverbs6:6-11).

Have you ever taken the time to sitdown and watch a line of ants, hard at work? Sure, you have swatted them offyour leg or arm from time to time, but have you ever considered what an amazingcreature the ant really is? Consider how ants are always hard at work, tryingto gather food for themselves and the queen. Proverbs 6 describes ants as veryhard workers that provide their supplies in the summer and gather their food inthe harvest, even though they have no overseer to tell them what to do. Eventhough ants do have a queen, they still do not have someone sitting over theirshoulders, telling them what to do. They simply do what they were made to do --and that is work.

Proverbs 6 is a call to the sluggardto wake up out of sleep, to consider the ant’s ways, and learn to imitate themso that he can be a strong worker for the Lord. The Christian also needs toconsider the ant and its ways so that he can be the best worker that he can bein God’s kingdom. There will come a day when we will no longer be able to work.The point is, don’t get caught taking a nap! Be the worker you need to be sothat should Jesus return, He will find you a faithful servant laboringdiligently in His service.

JonathanGlaesemann

Your spiritual service: conclusion

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

As we conclude our series on Romans 12:1-2, we need to remember that sacrifices must cost something (2 Samuel 24:24). Simon the sorcerer gave up his livelihood (Acts 8:5-24). Saul gave up his way of life (Philippians 3:3-11). A transformed mind produces a transformed will, by which we become eager and able to lay aside our own plans and accept God’s, no matter what the cost.

Out of gratitude for God’s mercies, we no longer love the world and what is contained therein. We must hate the world and the garments spotted by the flesh (1 John 2:15; Jude 23). Christ’s inner divine nature and glory were, for a brief time and to a limited degree, manifested outwardly, but in our daily living, that nature should be manifested as completely and continually as possible (2 Corinthians 3:18). Are you striving to do what the apostle has told you to do?

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: the mind

2011-12-12T10:14:00.000-06:00

Christians have been delivered from this present evil world, which has Satan for its god (Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Our heavenly calling includes residence in this world, among sinful people, where we must show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

“Conformed” refers to an outward expression that does not reflect what is within.

The word is used of masquerading, or putting on an act, specifically by following a prescribed pattern or scheme. It also carries the idea of being transitory and unstable.

This phrase has been translated as, “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” We are to stop allowing ourselves to be fashioned after the present evil world in which we live.

Regrettably, it is not uncommon for Christians to wear the world’s masks. They want to enjoy the world’s entertainment, the world’s fashions, the world’s vocabulary and many of the world’s attitudes -- even when those clearly do not conform to the standards of God’s word. The Greek word translated “transformed” is translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2-3. The Christian is solely responsible for this transformation, and it can be brought about only by renewing the mind, the inward man, day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).

“Renewing” means “the adjustment of our thinking to the mind of God.” The outward transformation is effected by an inner change in the mind, and the Spirit’s means of accomplishing this is the word (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 1:28). This word teaches us how to live and glorify God (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Ephesians 4:17-32; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 2:1-5).

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: the will

2011-12-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

The next element of our spiritual service is the will. The construction of the original language teaches that, when a Christian’s mind is transformed, his thinking ability, moral reasoning, and spiritual understanding are able to properly assess (prove, discern) everything and accept only what conforms to the will of God. A heart in love with the world is ill-fitted to appreciate the benefits of living according to the gospel. The reason why the heart is renewed is so we can do the will of God; it is best fitted to appreciate and understand His will (John 7:17).

Three terms are used to describe the will of God. “Good” is what is pleasant in its character or constitution and beneficial in its effect (cf. Luke 10:42; 2 Corinthians 5:10). “Acceptable” again borrows from Old Testament sacrificial language to describe the kind of holy living that God approves, a “living sacrifice” that is morally and spiritually spotless and without blemish (Leviticus 22:20). “Perfect” has the idea of being complete or mature; of something’s being everything it should be.

Our will should desire only what God desires and lead us to do only what He wants us to do in the way He wants us to do it (Isaiah 55:7-8). Our imperfect will must always be subject to His perfect will (Matthew 26:39, 42). Dedication leads to discernment and discernment leads to delight in God’s will. An intimate connection between discerning the will of God and making oneself a living sacrifice is shown by the use of “acceptable” in each case (cf. Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16).

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: the body

2011-11-29T09:06:00.001-06:00

The first consideration of our spiritual service is our body. In the Septuagint, “present” was often used as a technical term for a priest’s placing an offering on the altar. It therefore carried the general idea of surrendering or yielding up. Before a priest in Israel could minister on behalf of others, he had to present himself in a consecrated state and the sacrifices he offered were to be without blemish (Exodus 29:1-46; Malachi 1:8-13).

As members of God’s present “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5), Christians are here exhorted to perform what is essentially a priestly act of worship. Because the verb is in the imperative, the exhortation carries the weight of a command. The body is dead to sin (Romans 8:11). Our bodies, once dead in sin, are now made alive in the service to God; they are to be presented to God as living, active instruments in His service (Romans 6:11-13).

The term “holy” is first used in the Bible as a verb in Genesis 2:3 and as a noun in Exodus 3:5. Anything taken out of common use and devoted to God is holy (Psalm 24:3-4). Our bodies are therefore important; in fact, no command can be obeyed and no kind of service to God can be rendered without the body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Genesis 17:1). There can be no sanctification, no holy living, apart from our bodies (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Peter 1:14-16).

The living sacrifice we are to offer to the Lord who died for us is the willingness to surrender to Him all our hopes, plans and everything that is precious to us, all that is humanly important to us, all that we find fulfilling (1 Corinthians 15:31; Philippians 1:21; 2:17). This sacrifice is to be everywhere: church, home, work, school and neighborhood (Psalm 139:7-12). The main idea of “spiritual service” is that the sacrifice we render to God is intelligent and deliberate, in contrast to the sacrifices of the Jewish worship in which the animals had no part in determining what was to be done with them.

“Worship” in the newer versions is perhaps too narrow a translation, for in the strict sense worship is adoration of God, which does not fit well with the concept of “bodies.” The term “service” is better since it covers the entire range of a Christian’s life and activity (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12).

Kyle Campbell

Your spiritual service: introduction

2011-11-28T11:32:00.001-06:00

Having concluded eleven chapters of profound and stirring teaching about what God has given Christians, Paul now charges those Christians with what they need to give God. A distinct break in the train of thought occurs as Paul moves from 11:36 to 12:1.

Eight chapters have been spent in establishing and developing the theme of the letter (Romans 1:16). Then, three chapters deal with how that theme applied to fleshly Israel, God’s once chosen nation. Paul’s thankfulness for God’s mercies, his awe of the depth of riches of God’s wisdom are his conclusion to his discussion of Israel.

That having been concluded, practical advice was needed and thus given to all Christians to illustrate how they were to live in various aspects of life. These two verses set forth the fundamental obligations we must meet before being prepared to face the challenge of living as Christians in this world. This blog will examine three ways in which we should give ourselves to God over the next several days.

Kyle Campbell

Are you thankful?

2011-11-17T10:22:00.001-06:00

With Thanksgiving comingup, I would like to share some thoughts I had on the subject of being thankful.No doubt, come Thanksgiving, we will all sit around a table with family andfriends with a huge meal set before us and thank God for how He has so richlyblessed us. We will come to realize how truly blessed we are to have what wehave. The question is, “Will this be the only day we truly realize this? Willthis be the only day that we truly thank God for everything He has done for us?”

As Christians we areblessed beyond measure every day of our lives with things such as food,clothing, salvation and everything in between. What a pity that so many peopleonly realize this come Thanksgiving. Not to run down the holiday Thanksgivingby any means, but what makes us think we are only obligated to truly bethankful on Thanksgiving? What about the other three hundred and sixty-fourdays of the year that God has blessed us? We are to pray without ceasing givingthanks to God in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Since giving thanks isone of the most important parts of prayer, we should give thanks withoutceasing!

Instead of makingThanksgiving the only day to be thankful, take the gratitude and thethankfulness that you have on Thanksgiving and make that the model for the restof your life! Never forget how truly blessed you are and never forget to showhow truly grateful you are of those blessings in your prayers to God each andevery day!

Jonathan Glaesemann

Be like Bubba

2011-11-16T09:57:00.001-06:00

Bubba Smith, who died back in August, was a football player in the 1960s and 1970s who had a beer commercial with an “easy-open” can. He had a lucrative contract, but he later saw inebriated people who were mocking him about the “easy-open” can and he realized that he did not want his name attached to that kind of behavior. Smith said he quit the beer campaign because he felt it sent the “wrong message to kids.”

Are we involved in something that affects our influence? John wrote, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). You need to make sure that you are righteous. Seek the rest of heaven and don’t ruin your influence. We need to be like Bubba, not in the sense that we endorse what’s evil, but in that we can see the affect of bad decisions and decide to do something better and renounce them.

Kyle Campbell

Time moves fast

2011-11-08T21:53:00.002-06:00

It never fails. Every year I’m so surprised that the year goes by so quickly. In light of this, Paul's words in Ephesians 5:15-16 seem especially appropriate. He wrote, “Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

How can we redeem the time? We can learn more about God’s will. Time spent developing yourself spiritually is never time wasted (2 Timothy 3:15). We can worship God with His saints (Psalm 133:1). Another good use is to provide benevolent help to others (Galatians 6:10). People find our times that we live in to be difficult, so aid is very needed. We can teach people the gospel, and thereby help in converting them (Mark 16:15). The greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of learning the gospel.

What will you do with your time? Before you can turn around, it will be tomorrow. Make the best use of it by concentrating on what is spiritual.

Kyle Campbell

Almost persuaded

2011-11-01T10:21:00.001-05:00

“You almost persuademe to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). These were the sad words spoken to Paulby King Agrippa after Paul had given Agrippa the account of his conversion. Bygiving Agrippa the account of his conversion he is able to show Agrippa how hebecame a Christian, thus showing Agrippa how to become one as well. Paul makes afinal statement in Acts 26:27: “Do you believe the prophets, I know you do believe.”This came close to persuading Agrippa to become a Christian, but still failed.It wasn’t because Paul just didn’t do a good enough job of persuading Agrippa;it was because Agrippa refused to obey the gospel like most people in thisworld do. Although Agrippa came close, he was still lost!

There are so manypeople in today’s world just like Agrippa that are almost persuaded, butbecause of their love for this world and the things in it, they refuse to obeythe gospel. We may believe as Agrippa did, but if we refuse to followeverything else God has commanded us to do, we will still be lost. This is whyif we are convinced the gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,we must not refuse to obey the gospel as Agrippa did. We cannot wait! We mustdo as Paul did, when he was told by Ananias to arise and be baptized and washaway his sins. Do it immediately as Paul did (Acts 9:18). If you are not aChristian, and you believe, do not refuse as Agrippa did. Be fully persuaded andbecome a Christian today, or you may have to suffer the consequences. Almost …but lost!

JonathanGlaesemann

The work of priests

2011-10-31T21:56:00.001-05:00

Malachi 2:7-8 says, “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.” Several hundred years before Christ, the priests of Israel would not tell the people what they needed to hear, which incurred the wrath of God.

In 1 Peter 2:5, it says, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Christians function as priests, and we have the responsibility to spread the word too. Jesus charged His disciples to spread the word before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). The priests of old wouldn’t tell people what they needed to hear. Have we caused any to stumble because we refuse to do the same? “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Kyle Campbell

Are ghosts real?

2011-10-26T09:47:00.003-05:00

With the time of year, increased activity in thoughts about ghosts is natural. Also feeding these feelings are several networks shows about ghosts and ghost hunting, along with feature films, such as “Paranormal Activity 3,” which all claim that ghosts are real.

Disembodied spirits of the dead who return to haunt the living do not exist. The classic case in the Bible is Saul and the witch at Endor. Needing encouragement about the confrontation with the Philistines, Saul went to the witch to “conjure” up Samuel. First Samuel 28:11-12 says, “Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.” The woman was clearly surprised, not anticipating one who clearly came back from the dead. This was a special circumstance which God used to communicate Saul’s impending death. In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the Lord taught that spirits go to the Hadean realm, and do not come back to earth to “haunt” or “warn” others (Luke 16:27-31; cf. Hebrews 9:27).

Furthermore, as much as people may want it, the shows and movies which depict hauntings are clearly inconclusive at best and completely make believe at worst. Anecdotal evidence is not a real answer. The Bible declares that communication with the dead, either in a positive or negative way, is not possible.

Kyle Campbell

Lead me in the truth

2011-10-26T08:29:00.002-05:00

In Psalm 25:5, David wrote, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” This appeal is similar to Isaiah 2:2: “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” The Lord teaches us through the scriptures. That is why Christians emphasize the Bible so much.

Jesus said, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). If you want to know more about the Lord, don’t wait for some kind of “enlightenment,” pick up your Bible and really study by comparing texts to come to an understanding of God’s will. You can be lead in the truth, but you have to take the initiative with the scriptures

Kyle Campbell

The word of the Lord endures forever

2011-10-18T11:54:00.001-05:00

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truththrough the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another ferventlywith a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed butincorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because allflesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. Thegrass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord enduresforever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:22-25). In spite ofwhat this passage says, there are those who have tried to do away with God’sword.

In the days of Jeremiah(36:21-23), we find that King Jehoiakim cut the scroll containing God’s word,and cast it into the fire. This, of course, did not keep God’s word from comingto pass. Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity just as God’s word hadpredicted (vss. 28-32).

During the DarkAges, the Catholic Church arose and tried to do away with the word of God. Theytried to keep it from the common people, punishing anyone who tried to read itor translate it. But the word of Lord still endured.

We still havepeople today who try to do away with God’s word. Laws have been passed aboutkeeping the Bible out of public schools, trying to get the kids to think froman atheistic point of view. Laws have also been passed to keep the TenCommandments from being displayed on government property.

There are manyother attempts to do away with God’s word, but it still remains, and willalways remain throughout the end of time, on into eternity. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My wordswill by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

JonathanGlaesemann

Jonah couldn't hide

2011-10-07T19:22:00.002-05:00

The narrative of Jonah in chapter 1 is normally reserved for children, but it is a pretty good account for adults too. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but he did not want to because the Assyrians were the hated enemies of the Israelites.

Instead, he decided to get on a ship bound for Tarshish, but Jonah was about to learn that he could not get away from God. God brought a great storm which eventually drove the sailors to throw Jonah overboard, where he was swallowed by a large fish and vomited on the shore.

Just like Jonah, we cannot hide our works from God. Psalm 139:7-8 says, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” God knows us and will judge us: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Because no one can hide in the judgment, decide to follow the scriptures. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Kyle Campbell

The rich man and Lazarus

2011-10-01T08:50:00.002-05:00

One sober lesson from Luke 16 is that the rich man’s actions were not acceptable to God. The rich man learned about the finality of the grave and the nature of torment.

As much as one may be in torment, the status of the grave cannot be changed. Ecclesiastes 9:5 says, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Sadly, false teachers say you can go back and forth across the gulf -- with enough money.

On the other hand, Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom. Paul wrote, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Our time to make decisions and choices is now: “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t delay or put it off -- and perhaps find yourself in the position of the rich man.

Kyle Campbell

Why am I here?

2011-09-29T10:05:00.002-05:00

What is the most fundamental question that any person faces? Would it not be, “Why do I exist on the earth?” This one question has perplexed so many through history, but there is no good reason for it because the Bible reveals the appropriate answer.

Two common, but misguided, reasons are often given for the existence of man on earth. The first is physical wealth John 12:4-8 says, “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Judas clearly cared about money, but it is equally clear from Jesus that this was not the reason for man’s existence. The second is physical lives, which would include work, family, etc. However, Jesus again shows us the importance of this when He said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” As good and appropriate as these can be, they are not the reason for our existence.

The true answers is stated by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” God is our main priority! Again, Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:33-34). You are here to serve God and seek His kingdom! Are you ready to do it?

Kyle Campbell

The desires of our heart: where evil begins

2011-09-27T09:09:00.001-05:00

Before we start to live in sin, forsaking God to live like the world, something happens to us, something deep and on the inside. James 1:13-15 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” The scripture plainly states that the desires of our heart are where it all begins.

We are first drawn away by our own desires and enticed. Satan is looking for that desire, any weakness he can find. This mean, that the desires of our heart are the keys that unlock the door to sin.

The wrong desires are even sinful within themselves. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Here we have a certain desire of a man, for a woman, plainly being stated as sin! Second John 2:15-16 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world.” If our desires fall into any of these three categories, the lust if the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they should be done away with immediately!

Jonathan Glaesemann

Are you sure?

2011-09-21T09:57:00.001-05:00

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am already beingpoured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I havefought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but alsoto all who have loved His appearing.” In these three verses, Paul trulyexpresses how certain he is about making it to Heaven. Although we remember howbad of a person he was in his past, being a persecutor of Christians, it is allbehind him. He is sure he will make it to heaven. The question is, “Are you ascertain as Paul was about making it to Heaven?”

You may ask somebody today if they think they are goingto make it to Heaven. They may say something like, “I think so.” Everybodywants to go to Heaven, but all aren’t as certain about it as Paul was. Peoplemay say, “I wish I could be as confident as Paul was.” The fact of the matteris that we can be if we are living a faithful life unto God. Not being sure ofyourself shows that there may be something wrong in your life that needschanging. If so, get right with God today, and quit being the kind of personthat can only “think so.” Become a Christian that knows so!

Jonathan Glaesemann

The frailty of life

2011-09-13T12:50:00.003-05:00

Psalm 39:4-7 says, “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”

In the depth of his heart, David realizes the frailty of his life. Life is quick, and much of people’s lives are lived futilely. The apostle Peter, when talking about the word of God, knew that life is frail. He wrote, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:23-25).

We don’t know what will happen to us in the future, and this frankly scares us, makes us uneasy. One day, you will die and your body will return to dust (Ecclesiastes 12:7). That’s how frail life can be. In the end, like your life, the earth will go away (2 Peter 3:10). Will you be ready?

Kyle Campbell

Fear the "flame"

2011-09-07T12:31:00.003-05:00

East Texas is burning. With hundreds of homes destroyed and thousands of acres singed, people are rightfully afraid. As I write this, the smell is wafting in the air, reminding all of us in the area that danger is near. If that fateful day ever comes, we know that we could lose most (if not all) our earthly possessions, and maybe even lose our lives. In short, that is why people fear the flame.

There is another, more consuming fire coming, though. Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). The fire of the final judgment is the one that should be feared!

Are you prepared for it? Does it strike fear in your heart? “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-12). Your fear of the “flame” should make you turn to God, repent of your sins, confess His Son, and be baptized. If you will then live faithfully, you will survive the “flame” and receive a glorious resurrection.

Kyle Campbell

The mercy of God

2011-09-01T09:45:00.003-05:00

The psalms are perhaps the finest place to investigate the character of God. One good example of this is in Psalm 103. There are five sections in this scripture that are especially encouraging.

First, Psalm 103:1-5 says that God provides many benefits. He loves us and abundantly blesses us, even when we don’t regard Him as we should (Matthew 6:25-26).

Second, Psalm 103:6-10 teaches that God is merciful, patient, and longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9). Although Israel turned away from Him, He still cared for them.

Third, Psalm 103:11-14 declares that God has removed our iniquities from us. After we realize we are sinners, we can obey the gospel and God will remember our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12). None of us are worthy of this sacrifice.

Fourth, Psalm 103:15-18 reminds us of our mortality. Like the grass, we pass away. However, God’s mercy endures forever. As long as man is on the earth, he can have transgressions removed through Jesus.

Fifth, Psalm 103:19-22 assures us that God is in control. He kingdom rules over all. The only appropriate reaction to that is to “bless the Lord”!

Truly, these psalms fulfill the statement in Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Kyle Campbell

Three characteristics of the blessed man

2011-08-30T08:31:00.001-05:00

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

There are three characteristics that are pointed out in this passage about the blessed man. Three of which is necessary for the Christian today!

The first characteristic is that the blessed man does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. He does not walk in sin. He abhors it! Paul says in Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” It is necessary for the Christian to be a godly person, abstaining from every form of evil.

Secondly, he meditates on God’s law day and night. It is his life and what he lives by. Even though the law of God is different now that we have the New Testament, the need to study God’s word is essential in a Christian’s everyday life. The more time we spend in the world, away from the Bible, the weaker we get. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Third and finally, the blessed man prospers in whatever he does. We all should all be like a tree planted by rivers of water. For if we abhor what is evil, read and study every day, applying what we learn to our lives, we will be that tree, firmly planted on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Glaesemann

You are not alone

2011-08-23T18:26:00.002-05:00

In 1 Kings 19:1-3, one of God’s most faithful servants, Elijah, had his life threatened by the wicked Jezebel. After Elijah fled to the region of Mt. Sinai, far away from Jezebel, he said this to God: “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14). His situation would have certainly been disheartening, but God, when Elijah felt like he was all alone, did not let His servant stay discouraged, for He said, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).

Sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones left who are moral and faithful, but we’re not alone. God wants us to know that He is there, watching over us and helping us. He wants us to succeed and be faithful. Put your trust in Him, and He will never let you down. “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1).

Kyle Campbell

Things we need to consider before we sin

2011-08-16T08:21:00.000-05:00

Many people get caught up in sin and realize they need to turn back to God. In the process many encounter hardships and give up or get caught back up in the pleasures of this world. All the while they wish they hadn’t got entangled in sin in the first place. They wonder what they could have done differently and ponder over this for a long time, making the answer really harder than it is. When it all boils down to it, they would have been a lot better off if they had simply said “no” in the first place. The following are some things to consider before we decide to sin and get caught up in the world.

First, we need to realize that we are going to be hurt by sin, not only in this life but in the life to come if we don’t repent of that sin.

Second, we need to realize we not only hurt ourselves, but we hurt others as well. We remember David’s sin with Bathsheba, in which David ended up putting Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, in front of the battle line so he would get killed and leave his wife for David to take as his own. David repents of his sin and is forgiven but still faces the consequences of his sin: a child that God struck dead.

Finally, we need to realize what we are giving up. If we choose to sin, we give up all that Christ died and shed his blood for, and that is the forgiveness of sin so that we may have eternal life in Heaven when this life is over.

Consider these things when you’re faced with temptation and ask yourself, “Is this truly worth it?”

Jonathan Glaesemann

Will Bert and Ernie get married?

2011-08-14T16:42:00.004-05:00

An online push is under way to pressure the producers of “Sesame Street” into having Bert and Ernie get married. I can remember discussions occurring for a long time debating the sexuality of Bert and Ernie, who live together on the show.

Homosexuality is clearly condemned in the Bible. It is first mentioned surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:4-5 says, “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” God destroyed the cities because of their immorality. Recounting the incident, Jude wrote, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Moving forward in time, in the Old Law, homosexuality was condemned. Leviticus 18:22 says, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 follows up in this way: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

God’s feelings toward “alternative lifestyles” did not change under the New Covenant. Paul, in showing that all men are under sin, wrote, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26-27). In perhaps the clearest statement of them all, Paul said, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind … shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:8-10). The term “effeminate” means the passive partner in a homosexual relationship, and the term “abusers of themselves with mankind” indicates the active partner in a homosexual relationship. These people will not inherit the kingdom of God; i.e., they cannot go to heaven!

No one will doubt that society will do what society will do, but it is against God’s will to promote a sinful “lifestyle.” Children are impressionable, and they should not be exposed to evil in any form, whether it be homosexual marriage, profanity, violence, etc. Protect their hearts, and do not encourage and endorse what is sinful.

Kyle Campbell

Faith in the middle of turmoil

2011-08-10T21:48:00.003-05:00

With the stock market dropping 635 points and going up the next day, only to drop sharply today, peace and serenity are hard to come by. Add to that the problems with our economy, such as inflation and unemployment, and the situation looks very bleak. Worldwide, the situation is not much better. Looting in London and terrorism in Norway simply but sadly demonstrates that, at least for now, our world is in turmoil.

What is a Christian to do? I will admit that 24-hour news is great, but it allows a lot time for the mind to dwell on all the negatives in the world (which news tends to present out of balance anyway). It is best to turn to the Bible. In Isaiah 43:5, God says, “Fear not: for I am with thee …” We can always remember that God is with us and cares for us. We have the assurance God can calm the spirit and salve the soul.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” As difficult as the world can become, the turmoil does, in the end, remind us that there is something better stored up in the future for us.

Kyle Campbell

The legacy of Louis Pasteur

2011-08-01T07:12:00.002-05:00

In 1885, Louis Pasteur, a French chemist and biologist, successfully tested his rabies vaccine on a human subject. He began closely studying bacteria while investigating the cause of souring in milk and other beverages. This led him to develop the process of pasteurization, where a liquid is boiled and then cooled to kill the bacteria that cause the souring.

Pasteur moved on into a more thorough study of bacteria, enabling him to prove that these microscopic organisms occurred naturally in the environment and did not simply appear spontaneously, as was then generally believed.

Pasteur lived at a time when thousands of people died each year of rabies. Pasteur had worked for years on a vaccine. Just as he was about to experiment on himself, a 9-year-old, Joseph Meister, was bitten by a rabid dog. The boy’s mother begged Pasteur to experiment on her son. Pasteur injected Joseph for ten days -- and the boy lived. Decades later, of all the statements Pasteur could have had etched on his headstone, he asked for three words: Joseph Meister Lived.

Sin is a disease (Jeremiah 8:22; 14:19; 30:12; Hosea 5:13; Micah 1:9; Mark 2:17). Christ offers complete forgiveness of sin, cleansing of the conscience, and eternal life, and today is your day to accept it. Prepare yourself for the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

Kyle Campbell

Why you need baptism

2011-07-29T08:24:00.001-05:00

I don’t really know why baptism is so controversial in the religious world, but an investigation in the Bible will show why baptism is so important. Why should you be baptized?

To obey Christ (Matthew 28:19)
To be saved (1 Peter 3:21)
To enter the kingdom (John 3:3, 5)
To have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
To wash away sins (Acts 22:16)
To walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)
To be in the one body (1 Corinthians 12:13)
To put on Christ (Galatians 3:27)

Seeing how all these verses establish its importance, why would anyone want to fight against being baptized? It is clearly needed for someone to go to heaven!

Kyle Campbell

Transubstantiation

2011-07-25T08:43:00.002-05:00

In John 6:48, we find the words of the Lord, “I am the bread of life.” The Lord adds the remark to the Jews, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.” It had power to perpetuate life only for a short time; but He continues, “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die” (vs. 50).

It will be noticed that His flesh did not come down from heaven, and that bread which came down from heaven is that of which if a man shall eat, he shall not die. Then He follows with the remark, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread (which came down from heaven) he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Here he uses the flesh, as that which they saw and dealt with in crucifying Him, metonymically, or a part for the whole. The Jews, however, understood Him to mean His flesh literally, and so does the Roman church, and the Jews inquired, “How can this man give us flesh to eat?” The Lord did not explain the matter to them, but added, “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (vs. 53).

They were looking at it in the literal sense, and did not see how they could eat His flesh, or how the eating of it could give life. The doctrine of transubstantiation had not yet been born, and the idea of the bread and wine being changed, in the ceremony of consecration, into the real flesh and blood, so that they could eat the flesh and drink his blood in the communion, had not yet entered into the minds of men. Nor did our Lord mean any such thing, but He Himself, who came down from heaven, is that bread of life which if a man shall eat, he shall never die. But the eating is not literal any more than the bread is literal or the flesh. We partake of that bread, or of Him who came down from heaven, by hearing of Him, believing on Him, and being united with Him. In becoming His disciples, learning of Him and following Him in all things, we eat or partake of that bread, or of Him who is the way, and the truth and the life.

He proceeds: “He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (vs. 54). He who believes on Him, receives Him, follows Him, loves Him and obeys Him, in the sense He intended, eats His flesh and drinks His blood; but not in the communion any more than in the other part of His teaching, or other appointments. In coming to Christ, and becoming His disciples, we are made partakers of Him, of “the divine nature” and our salvation is in Him.

“My flesh is food indeed,” says he, “and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.” Following Him a little further on, verse 57, He says, “As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he who eats this bread shall live forever." The eating is partaking of Christ, the bread that came down from heaven; this is done by faith, in receiving, following and obeying Him; doing His commandments, that we may enter by the gates into the city and have a right to the tree of life.

Benjamin Franklin

When I preach

2011-07-22T01:48:00.001-05:00

I’ve been storing this article on my computer for several years, and I thought it might be time to post it on this blog. The author is unknown to me, but it does accurately represent the kind of thoughts a preacher of the gospel feels. Preachers cannot be obligated to men. If they are, they cannot preach the gospel with the kind of boldness that is often needed. Let this short poem encourage you as a preacher, or give you insight into what your own preacher constantly faces.

When I preach, there are some who say,

They could listen to me all day.

Others think I preach too long,

And some think I go about it wrong.

Some say my sermon is much too deep,

To others, it’s shallow and they go to sleep.

Some report I hold them spell bound,

While others squirm and look around.

Some speak of me as an orator,

But others feel I’m a perfect bore.

Some believe I have no light,

And others think I preach just right.

Some affirm that I’m too bold,

Others wink and say I’m cold.

Some used to say I was much too young,

But others declare my spring has sprung!

Some folks tell I have met success,

Others think my work is a mess.

Some have said my pay is too low,

When they discover the pace I go.

Still others say it is above the peak,

“Why he only works three hours a week.”

From all this, ‘tis plain to see,

That as a preacher, I’m up a tree.

Condemned if I do, condemned if I don’t;

Criticized if I will, criticized if I won’t.

I can’t please men of such discord,

So I’ll just keep trying to please the Lord.

Kyle Campbell

The importance of obedience

2011-07-13T18:42:00.001-05:00

James 1:22-25 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

We should want to be a doer of the word. The Bible is not for display, analysis, or contemplation. It exists to be obeyed! So important is it to be obeyed that James later says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). The “whole law” in vs. 10 is the “royal law” in vs. 8. This is the law of Christ.

We can’t pick and choose what we want to do. As we learn our responsibilities to God, we have to put what we learn into practice. James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” If you would like a good role model, use the Bereans who would “search the scriptures daily” to see how to measure up to God’s standard (Acts 17:11). If you are failing, then repent and obey they way you should -- the way God wants you to!

Kyle Campbell

Being deceived

2011-07-08T02:57:00.004-05:00

The phrase, “Be not deceived,” is found in three places in the New Testament. The first occurrence is in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” The second is in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” The third occurrence is in Galatians 6:7, where Paul writes, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

One of the purposes of the Bible is to keep us from falling into evil. This is the reason that we have warnings such as the three listed above. If we are tempted to fall, we cannot blame God for the temptation (James 1:13). James 1:16-17 says, “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

People often try to justify what they do, but do not be deceived. Do not believe in Calvinism, Premillennialism, Catholicism, changes in the teachings of salvation, alterations of the doctrine of the church, compromises in morality (dancing, smoking, drinking, gambling, immodest apparel) etc. All of these are “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1), and will cause you to be lost if you believe in them and follow them.

Kyle Campbell

Who is greater?

2011-07-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

Jesus said in Luke 22:27, “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. The world idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, the athletic, and even the immoral. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God’s kingdom completely rejects the world’s measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly and without complaint is greatly appreciated in the kingdom of God.

When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1-15). Christians like to consider themselves servants, but are content to be treated as servants? We are tempted to adopt the world’s evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.

The world will regard your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving.

Kyle Campbell

Are you the “antichrist”?

2011-06-29T22:04:00.002-05:00

John is the only writer of the New Testament who uses the term “antichrist,” and he uses the term just five times (1 John 2:18, twice; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7). The Greek word from which our English word “antichrist” is translated is very simple to understand. We use the same compound word every day. We have people who are “anti-smoking,” “anti-hunting,” “anti-Semitic” or “anti-abortion”. There really is no big mystery as to what the word means: “antichrist” is anyone who opposes Christ.

It is interesting to note that in some sense the antichrist was already present, but unfortunately John’s words have been taken to suggest that an individual “Antichrist” was yet to appear. The term is commonly used today by premillennialists to refer to one individual, who is supposed to appear in the end of time. Connections between the “Antichrist” and the “Man of Sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11 are often made with the visions of Daniel concerning the “king of the South” (Daniel 11:36-45) and the “beast of the sea” (Revelation 13:1-9). Premillennialists believe that Daniel foresaw a human leader, satanically energized, who would come to Jerusalem, enforce his will, exalt himself above all other people and gods, and wreck havoc and slaughter. They claim he will be so convincing as an ally and deliverer that Israel will sign a pact with him to be her protector. He will then turn against the nation and occupy the throne in the sanctuary of the rebuilt temple, which for Israel will still symbolize the presence of God, and blasphemously present himself to the world as if he were God.

There have been many who have been suggested as the “Antichrist.” Chrysostom held that it was the resurrected Nero. Some Catholics held that it would be an apostate priest or even the Pope. Speculations about who the “Antichrist” is have included about every U.S. President and world leader (such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler). Some have even said that he will be a demon-possessed, super intelligent human clone!

“Antichrists” are a very real problem for us. While there may not be many professing Christians who deny that Jesus is the Christ, or that He came in the flesh, there are many who reject the authority of the apostles by rejecting the scriptures! Are you an “antichrist”? Do you actively teach or simply believe that Jesus Christ never walked the earth, but was a mythological figure? Do you actively teach or simply believe there was a man named Jesus Christ, but He did not actually rise from the dead? Do you actively speak out against or simply believe that the Christian religion is a false religion? Are you an atheist or agnostic who is indifferent and non-religious? Then you too are an “antichrist”!

The “antichrist” has no horns or red glowing eyes. Neither is the “antichrist” some demon-possessed, super intelligent human clone. Rather, the “antichrist” is that sweet elderly lady living next door who openly teaches the neighborhood kids that Jesus just was a myth. We must “continue in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). Remember, we are living in the last hour, and Christ may come at any time and judge us for our unbelief!

Kyle Campbell

Horoscopes

2011-06-27T17:33:00.002-05:00

I honestly haven’t thought about horoscopes in a long time, until I joined Facebook. One of the popular applications that some of my friends use is a daily horoscope. A horoscope is a forecast of a person’s future, typically including a delineation of character and circumstances, based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of that person’s birth.

Some people may use a horoscope for “fun,” but the existence of horoscopes go against the direction of God’s will. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Lord promises to be with us and guide us with the scriptures, not with some made up speculation about the future. No studies have shown any scientific support for the accuracy of horoscopes. Would you not rather put your trust in the all powerful God? Matthew 6:34 says, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” You may think they are “fun,” but they direct your confidence away from the Lord. There’s no “fun” in that!

Kyle Campbell

To please or be pleased

2011-06-20T19:39:00.000-05:00

Although the 80s were considered the “Me Generation,” selfishness has always been in fashion. When someone thinks about “pleasing,” which means to be agreeable, or to accommodate, they usually think about pleasing themselves, but there are some better alternatives that someone needs to please.

First, we must please God. Colossians 1:10 says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (cf. Colossians 3:20; 1 John 3:22; Hebrews 13:21). Second, we are to please our employees. Titus 2:9-10 says, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” We should not be argumentative with our bosses, even when they are overbearing.

Third, we please our neighbors. Paul wrote, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24; cf. Matthew 22:39; Romans 15:2). Finally, we please all that they may be saved. “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:33; 9:19-23; 1 Peter 3:15). This scripture is not a license to do what we want, though. Some people may be in need of a bold denunciation of sin.

Pleasing as we should takes effort. Pleasing ourselves should not be our number one priority (Philippians 2:4-5, 21; Matthew 16:24). A lot of us want to seek our own, but Christ is the ultimate answer for selfishness.

Kyle Campbell

Noah walked with God

2011-06-15T06:42:00.002-05:00

Genesis 6:8-9 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Noah lived in perhaps the most wicked age in history. No one worshiped God. All the people worshiped idols and pursued their own sinful pleasures. Noah’s neighbors were evil; every person he associated with in the marketplace, or along the street, or in public gatherings, ridiculed the very thought of being faithful to God. Every temptation imaginable was abundantly available to Noah. How oppressive such an environment would have been to a righteous person (cf. 2 Peter 2:5)!

The people of Noah’s day were so wicked that God planned the most complete and drastic act of judgment recorded in scripture. Nevertheless, Noah was not lost to God in the crowd of sinners. God noticed every act of Noah’s righteousness. Noah had chosen to live uprightly before God despite what everyone around him was doing, and God had watched him. There may have been times when Noah wondered if it mattered if he lived a righteous life, since no one else was. Yet he continued, and his persistence in righteousness saved his life and the lives of his family members.

Are you constantly surrounded by evil? Do you struggle at times to live righteously when those with which you associate have no concern for God? Find assurance in the life of Noah. God watches you, even as He observed Noah. Paul wrote, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his …” (2 Timothy 2:19). Noah proved it!

Kyle Campbell

Enjoy It!

2011-06-09T22:25:00.003-05:00

Most of the time, it seems as if we are writing against and warning of the dangers of money and covetousness. They are, of course, very dangerous, but we need to make sure that we keep a proper perspective on possessions and riches.

Solomon wrote, “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).

God wants us to enjoy His blessings! It is good to be blessed! Use what you have, and be thankful for it. The Lord has given us wonderful material blessings, so glorify Him for them (James 1:17).

Kyle Campbell

Evaluation day

2011-06-01T11:34:00.000-05:00

If you work for a company that does employee evaluations, you may not always be comfortable! Hopefully you’ve done enough to get a good review. Did you realize that we are moving toward the greatest of all evaluation days?

Romans 14:10-12 says, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ … So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” How will you be evaluated?Admittedly, it is unfair to evaluate someone without them knowing the parameters of their performance. The New Testament tells us what we have to watch in order to be evaluated and have an eternal home.

In the day of judgment, we will be evaluated by our words (Matthew 12:37), our deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10), our thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28), what we see (Matthew 6:22-23), what we hear (Revelation 2:7), our liberality (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), and by what we fail to do in God’s service (James 4:17).

Children of God are new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). They have to live up to the expectations of a gracious God who has forgiven them of their sins. Are you ready to perform so you can be evaluated and judged righteous in the last day?

Kyle Campbell

A good exhortation

2011-05-27T04:44:00.000-05:00

Hopefully, you love good exhortations, and 1 Corinthians 15:58 is one of the best. In it, Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” This is a fantastic exhortation with which to end a glorious chapter.

Being “steadfast” means “firmly established in one’s position or opinions.” They were to be strong. “Unmoveable” means “not being readily shaken in one’s opinions or beliefs.” He wanted the Corinthians to be unmoved by the denials of false teachers. “Abounding” means “to be or exist in abundance, with the implication of being considerably more than what would be expected.” Nominal growth and service just wouldn’t do for them.

If you can keep this good exhortation, then you can know that your labor will not be in vain in the Lord -- your deep conviction can be that your labor will be rewarded. This certainty provided an impetus to faithful service. Paul further wrote, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:8). Also, Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

I once met a preacher that quoted this verse every time he finished a meeting preaching the gospel. It’s a great one to remember occasionally, for it produces a remarkable hope for the future through hard work for the Lord.

Kyle Campbell

Kinds of worship

2011-05-23T09:08:00.002-05:00

Matthew 15:8-9 says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” In these two verses, two kinds of worship are discussed.

The first is vain worship. Jesus said the people were hypocrites. Vain worship exalts the wisdom of man above God; it is will worship (Colossians 2:20-23). In 2 Samuel 7:1-6, David wanted to build God a temple. Was this a noble cause? Yes, but it was against God’s will. In Malachi 1:6-10, the Israelites were offering sub-standard sacrifices which did not make God happy, but they thought they were okay. None of us can ever do what we want and think that God will love and accept it. This is simply worshiping God in ignorance (Acts 17:22-23), and satisfying the desires of the flesh. There must be a better way.

The second is true worship. Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” True worship includes spirit, heart, and attitude; it is not based on man’s wisdom. Offering true worship means that someone loves God and keeps His law (John 14:15). While it may appear as if we constantly emphasize only actions, God wanted His law written in the heart, penetrating deep within man’s will, emotions, and intellect (Hebrews 8:10). Now, having said that, attitude is not the most important. When God tells us to do something to honor Him, we must be accurate, for this only will please Him (cf. Acts 2:42-47).

God wants worshipers who are convicted and knowledgable. We should want to grow up together in truth and love (Ephesians 4:15). Worship is not for our entertainment. It is respect that is paid to God, so please treat it appropriately!

Kyle Campbell

Religious confusion

2011-05-20T06:54:00.000-05:00

One of the first problems that you run into when teaching others is the fact of religious confusion. There are many churches now that offer entertainment, wealth seminars, family fun days, etc. When men decide to leave the God’s pattern, they make their own rules. The Proverb writer says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

In Leviticus 10:1-2, Moses recorded a sad occasion when two priests decided to go their own way: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” It was a stiff penalty that was paid for violating God’s holy will.

Uzzah was another one who, although extremely sincere, died because he violated the command of God. In 2 Samuel 6, David was transporting the ark of the covenant improperly when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady it. God struck him dead because he violated the command to not touch it (vs. 6). It’s not that God loves killing people, but that He wants men to live by His word (Ezekiel 33:11; Matthew 4:4).

Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:1-2). We appreciate and applaud the zeal of anyone who wants to please God, but zeal for God cannot overcome ignorance of God. Confusion exists because people either honestly don’t know God or they willfully don’t want to know Him. Either way, it will be judged in the end of time. Don’t be one who will come short at the judgment (Romans 14:11-12).

Kyle Campbell

Jesus in John

2011-05-17T22:22:00.002-05:00

The gospel of John is very different than Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John’s purpose is to present Jesus as God, deserving of glory and honor. John’s mission is to reveal the Lord’s purpose on the earth, while Matthew, Mark, and Luke focus on His earthly life.

Jesus reveals many elements of His work in John’s gospel. For example, in John 8:12, He is the light of the world. In John 10:9, He is the door of salvation. In John 11:25, He is the resurrection and the life. In John 14:6, He is the way, the truth, and the life. In John 15:1-8, He is the true vine.

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us (John 10:15; 15:13). John wrote, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:10-12). Because Jesus is the door of salvation, He appeals to us to open the door of our hearts. The Laodicean church received the sharpest criticism and the tenderest appeal of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation. To them, Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20-21). Jesus will not force entry, He will only ask and knock. The end of Revelation says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Will you obey Him as He knocks at your heart? If you would, please contact us for further study.

Kyle Campbell

Can you rejoice?

2011-05-10T20:04:00.002-05:00

When Peter was writing to Christians in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1), he was encouraging them to stand strong in trials and persecutions. He said, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).

Honestly, our trials can’t even compare with the early Christians, but that doesn’t matter. God has promised His “abundant mercy” (vs. 3), to all Christians, no matter what their situation. In our times of financial uncertainty, the price of gold and silver have gone through the roof. Both of them look like stellar investments. But what about investing in something spiritual? Peter wrote, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Can you rejoice? There’s so much power in His grace to take care of us, but we have to take hold of the grace through obedience (Ephesians 2:8-10). Look at your suffering as an opportunity to grow, and for your faith to develop more and more. In this you can really rejoice.

Kyle Campbell

Graduation

2011-05-01T22:53:00.001-05:00

With graduation coming up this month, a lot of anxious high and college seniors will be anticipating their new lives. It’s certainly exciting, but seniors need to remember their God as they enter the next phase of their lives. It can be wonderful, but only if they remember their priorities.

Paul said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). Seniors, use your time wisely, and remember your God. If you will, your life will be blessed.

Kyle Campbell

What are you doing on May 21st?

2011-04-28T16:51:00.002-05:00

False prophet Harold Camping last predicted the end of the world in 1994. Camping is now predicting May 21, 2011 at exactly 6pm (sunset in Jerusalem). Men setting dates for the end of the world are misleading the ignorant masses for higher TV ratings and merchandise sales! An untold number of people have tried to predict the Lord’s return by using elaborate time tables. In fact, there have been dozens of failed predictions over the last 20 years.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:35-36). Paul added, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4). Absolutely no one can know when the end of the world will occur. Anyone who tells you they can predict it is lying. Do not be deceived!

Kyle Campbell

Will He find us watching?

2011-04-26T20:47:00.001-05:00

Matthew 24:37-44 says, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

When the Son of Man comes, will we be doing what we always do? Think about what you have said or done today. What would happen if He came while you were saying or thinking or doing something ungodly? You had better be watching!

There is no doubt that the Lord will come back. Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:9-10). The Flood occurred first and destroyed the world. The fire will do it at the end. Now is not the time to put off obedience to the gospel. Be a Christian, and have no fear of eternal condemnation (Romans 8:1)!

Kyle Campbell

The falling apple

2011-04-16T09:16:00.001-05:00

Isaac Newton was 83 when he told a biographer the tale of observing an apple fall at age 23. He relates the story about how an apple falling in his garden prompted him to develop his law of universal gravitation. “Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground?”, thought he to himself. “Why should it not go sideways or upwards, but constantly to the earth’s center?”

Newton’s breakthrough was not that objects fell down, but that the force that made them fall extended upward infinitely (reduced by the square of the distance), that the force exists between any two masses, and that the same force that makes an apple fall holds the moon and planets in their courses.

Science allows us to make successful predictions about certain future states. For example, if I mix chemical A with chemical B, I expect to get result C because it has always been that way in the past. This happens the same way every time: if the conditions are the same, I will get the same result. The law of gravity, and science in general, is based on an underlying uniformity in nature. But why should there be such uniformity in nature? And how do we know about it?

With great precision astronomers are able to calculate years in advance the positions of planets, the timing of eclipses, and so on -- only because the universe operates in such a consistent way. We all know that (in basic ways) the universe will behave in the future as it has in the past. Science would be impossible without this critical principle. But what is the foundation for this principle?

The Bible provides that foundation. According to the biblical worldview, God has chosen to uphold the universe in a consistent way for our benefit. He has promised us in places such as Genesis 8:22 that the basic cycles of nature will continue to be in the future as they have been in the past. Although specific circumstances change, the basic laws of nature (such as gravity) will continue to work in the future as they have in the past.

Interestingly, only God is in a position to tell us on His own authority that this will be true. According to the Bible, God is beyond time, and so only He knows what the future will be. But we are within time and have not experienced the future. The only way we could know the future will be (in certain ways) like the past is because God has told us in His word that it will be. Apart from the Bible, is there any way we could know that the future will be like the past? So far, no one has been able to show how such a belief would make sense apart from scripture. The only nonbiblical explanations offered have turned out to be faulty. This turns out to be a very good reason to believe the Bible is true.

Kyle Campbell

God, the greatest encouragement

2011-04-14T06:31:00.002-05:00

When was the last time you felt like you needed someone to talk to? Sometimes you need an open ear. The greatest encouragement we have is the greatest listener, which is God. The way that God listens is through our prayers. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The confidence of hope is expressed by John: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Jesus said the same when He remarked, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7–8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

God hears the contrite and humble in heart: “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words” (Daniel 10:12). Conversely, God will not hear an ungodly person. Proverbs 28:9 says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” God is not some distant Being in the heavens, but someone who loves us wants to be close to His obedient children. He wants you to be in contact with Him through prayer. Do you want to pray to Him and receive the benefits of answered prayer? Then obey His gospel and “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:14).

Kyle Campbell

The unseen realm

2011-04-08T01:29:00.001-05:00

A couple of passages in the prophet Daniel give us very interesting insight into the workings of our Creator. Daniel 10:13 says, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Similar to that verse, Daniel 12:1 says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

The subject under consideration to which Daniel is becoming privy to through visions is the battle of good and evil occurring in the spiritual realm. It is a battle between God and Satan for the allegiance of mankind. Other glimpses have previously occurred in the Old Testament. For example, in 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria was pursing the prophet Elisha and surrounded him and his servant at Dothan. Elisha’s servant was afraid and asked Elisha, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). At that moment, Elisha prayed to God his servant could see the help the Lord was ready to provide. Second Kings 6:17 reads, “And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” There was help in the spiritual realm ready to fight against evil!

The book of Revelation also gives us a glimpse beyond the bright blue of this physical realm. In Revelation 12:1-3, John writes, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” John is recounting his vision of Christ battling the Roman Empire, who was persecuting Christians and demanding that they renounce their allegiance to Christ and worship the emperor as deity. The battle raged between God and Satan, and it ended with Satan being bound and eventually cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10).

You can rest assured that as you gird yourself and wage your spiritual battle on earth (Galatians 6:10-17), there is a God in heaven who is fighting for you!

Kyle Campbell

"Truth is the mother of all hatred"

2011-04-01T06:17:00.000-05:00

The ancient Latin poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius (A.D. 310-395) wrote, “Truth is the mother of all hatred.” Think about it. What gets you in more trouble today than anything you can do other than breaking the law? What you say; and if it happens to be true, or violates political correctness, or offends people’s religious sensibilities, what are you? You are hated!

Christians will be hated because of their stand for the truth. Matthew 10:22 says, ““And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” He said further in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 17:14 adds, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Every person who wants to be accepted by God has to love the truth, even if it means they will be hated. Love and truth cannot be separated. The apostle John demonstrates this in his letters. He wrote in 2 John 1, “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” The third verse of the same letter says, “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” Finally, the first verse of the third letter reads, “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” If you are hated, first make sure that you are hated because you stubbornly adhere to the truth, and secondly, rejoice that you have done the will of God!

Kyle Campbell

The nature of verbal inspiration

2011-03-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, Paul wrote, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Understanding the nature of verbal inspiration is important because it directly affects how well someone can believe in the Bible. Verbal inspiration literally means that God inspired every word of the Bible. From the above passage, Paul said the words were chosen by the Holy Spirit. This is also confirmed in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 18:18 says, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Jesus told His disciples, “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matthew 10:19-21). God directed the apostles in “what” and “how” to speak; He chose every word that was written.

Some have a hard time accepting this truth because they see different styles of writings in the scriptures. But acknowledging this fact does not remove the truth that our God knows man better than man knows himself and it is no problem for the Spirit to dictate His words in the words or styles characteristic of the prophet through whom He spoke.

Kyle Campbell

Are you spiritually strong?

2011-03-28T09:23:00.000-05:00

In Colossians 1:9-11, Paul wrote, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, 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; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; …”

Paul wanted spiritual strength for his beloved brethren, but strength does not come easy. Spiritual growth requires food and exercise. In the physical realm, our bodies will not function without them. The reward of growth is in vs. 12 -- we can be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”

A Christian grows by attending worship to God, by the company of fellow Christians, and by private study of the scriptures. If you will continue your study with diligence and patience (2 Timothy 2:15), then you can be a partaker if you will obey the gospel by having faith, confessing Christ, repenting of your sins, and being baptized into Christ. Please contact us further if you would like to study further.

Kyle Campbell

God's tool chest

2011-03-21T11:33:00.000-05:00

If we were in charge of a effort to preach the gospel, we would probably assemble the most eloquent preacher with the nicest voice, the most ornate and beautiful building, the largest circulation of newspaper, radio and television coverage, and the brightest thinkers among Christians.

But this is not what it takes to do God’s will. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that God uses what is foolish to shame the wise and what is weak to shame the strong. There is no doubt that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:7-9), and it is interesting and encouraging to see how God can accomplish something great with something so seemingly insignificant and irrelevant.

In Exodus 4:1-5, God used a simple staff to show His power to Pharaoh. In Judges 15:14-17, Samson used a jawbone to kill the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 17:38-40, 48-51, David used five smooth stones to kill Goliath, the Philistine giant. In 1 Kings 17:8-16, Elisha used a handful of flour and a little oil to prove to the woman of Zarephath that God would provide for her during the drought. In John 6:5-14, Jesus used five barley loaves and two fishes to work a great miracle and show the glory of God.

God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1), Moses (Exodus 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:14), Elisha (1 Kings 19:19), and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8). God called fishermen and tax collectors (John 15:18-19) and he chose a tentmaker who was a fierce opponent (Acts 9:15; 26:15-18). If God can call all these people, He can call us to do His will. The wisdom of men want to use persuasiveness of speech and human wisdom to do the will of God, but He uses what is simple: the cross of Jesus Christ and the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Christ truly has “no hands but our hands, no feet but our feet.”

Kyle Campbell

A lust for vengeance

2011-03-09T08:15:00.000-06:00

A story published March 8, 2011 says that the father of a 5-year-old boy allegedly eaten in 1975 says he will murder his son’s killer if he’s released from jail. “I do intend, if this man is released anywhere in my vicinity, or if I can find him after the fact, I do intend to kill this man,” John Foreman told WPRO-AM radio.

Michael Woodmansee, 16-years-old at the time, kidnapped and killed Jason Foreman in 1975 in Rhode Island. Foreman was presumed to be missing until 1982 when Woodmansee tried to lure another boy into his home. The boy escaped and police began to question Woodmansee about Foreman’s disappearance. They found Jason Foreman’s skull and bones on Woodmansee's dresser along with a journal which detailed the gruesome killing.

A parent can understand the desire for vengeance. However, the Bible says that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Furthermore, vengeance is not for us. God will recompense every evildoer (Luke 18:7-8; Romans 12:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:30; Revelation 6:10). It would feel like your heart was being ripped out to see a situation like Mr. Foreman’s, but all we can do is trust in a wise, all-knowing God, and know that Jesus is our greatest example: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).

Kyle Campbell

To the praise of God

2011-03-07T23:14:00.000-06:00

One of the most fundamental tasks of a Christian is to praise God. Peter wrote, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

A lot of the psalms concentrate on the proper praise of God. One in particulate is Psalm 71. Four times in this psalm the writer declares his desire to praise God:

Psalms 71:6: “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.”

Psalms 71:8: “Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.”

Psalms 71:14: “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.”

Psalms 71:22: “I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.”

Just like the psalm says, you need to keep praising God. He has been so wonderful to us. We praise those who have done good; therefore, it is right to praise God. The Hebrew writer said, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Kyle Campbell

Archaeology: The Erastus inscription

2011-03-01T07:56:00.000-06:00

In 1929 archaeologists found a paving stone near the theater of Corinth in Greece that contains the name of Erastus, and notes that he was indeed a Roman public official in Corinth.

Writing from Corinth, the apostle Paul passed along greetings from several Corinthian Christians, including Erastus, the city treasurer or chamberlain (Romans 16:23). This find, with seven inch high letters, verifies the existence of Erastus as a public official in Corinth just as the Bible says.

Kyle Campbell

Compasses and bearings

2011-02-26T09:25:00.000-06:00

My son is really interested in his compass. We bought him the official Boy Scout model. I’ve tried to show him how it is used it for determining one’s bearing.

In a way, this is not unlike the Bible. Samuel, in his address to the nation, said, “If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 12:14). Someone who is going to please God will do so by walking in a direction that agrees with God.

Proverbs 15:19 says, “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.” In short, you need to stay on the right path. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Satan will try to pull you away; will you give in? Use the scriptures daily to find your true bearings.

Kyle Campbell

Paul before Felix

2011-02-23T08:30:00.001-06:00

We don’t know much about Felix when he was mentioned in Acts 24:25, other than he was afraid. He wanted to wait until he had a convenient time. There are a lot of reasons why people wait to obey the gospel. They may, like Felix, want to wait. Others may think they are really good people, therefore they do not need God and the remission of their sins. Some may be nervous, thinking that they cannot handle the responsibility of living righteously. Finally, some may want to wait until they are an adult because they want to live immorally first before repenting.

But the apostle Peter warned that the end of the world was coming. Because of this, people needed to live righteously (2 Peter 3:10-14). People who want to go to heaven will take the charge to set their minds on what is above seriously (Colossians 3:1-2). It is glorious and encouraging to see the people on Pentecost happy to hear the word of God instead of being fearful (Acts 2:38, 41). Don't be a Felix! Obey the word of God from the heart, without fear, and be faithful in your allegiance to God (Romans 6:17-18).

Kyle Campbell

Called to repent

2011-02-17T08:21:00.000-06:00

In Luke 13:1-5, the Jews had asked Jesus about a past event which involved Pontius Pilate. Jesus asked them, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5). From the answer of Jesus, it appears that the Jews were negatively inferring about the character of those men, and that they supposed the Galileans deserved their bad treatment by Pilate. The answer of Jesus is a reproof of their habit of quickly judging the character of others.

Were the Galileans worse sinners? No. Time and chance happened to them and they met their Creator. Everyone has to be ready and watchful. In the previous chapter, Jesus said, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:35-40). Everyone needs to examine and test themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Will Christ find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8)? We are called to endure. Paul lived his life, and at the end could write, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). If you cannot say this, then you are called to repent and obey.

Kyle Campbell

Running the race

2011-02-15T09:42:00.000-06:00

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Exertion. Stamina. Endurance. This is what running the race takes. Being a child of God is a long-term proposition. You can’t just be baptized and then quit.

In trying to bolster Christians, Jesus said, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). You’ve got to run! Can you? Will you endure until the end? If you can, you will enjoy a crown of life! That sure is worth running until the end.

Kyle Campbell

Abraham

2011-02-08T12:04:00.001-06:00

Abraham was a remarkable man. In reality, when one reaches Genesis 12, the entire Bible changes with the story of Abraham. Abraham was the father of the faithful (Romans 4:16). Although God told Abraham to offer Isaac on an altar, in Hebrews 11:17-19 Abraham believed God could raise him from the dead.

The pattern of Isaac and Abraham is seen in us. We sin and God gives us the chance to be forgiven (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Jesus is the “Lamb of God” which is offered for all of us (John 1:29; 3:16; 15:13). Revelation 5:9 tells us that Christ has redeemed us from “every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” He was raised from the dead (Acts 2:24, 32). It is our purpose to preach the “everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth” (Revelation 14:6). Just like Abraham did not withhold his son from God, God did not withhold His Son from us. He was willing to lift him up for our forgiveness (John 3:14).

Kyle Campbell

Archaeology: The Dead Sea scrolls

2011-02-01T07:01:00.000-06:00

The Dead Sea Scrolls are actually hundreds of scrolls and scraps that date between 300 B.C. and A.D. 70. The first of them was found in 1947 in caves of the Qumran area near the Dead Sea about seven miles south of Jericho.

Some of the scrolls were found in jars. About one-third of the scrolls contain copies of portions of Old Testament books (every book but Esther). These copies are over 1,000 years older than most of the manuscripts scholars previously had available for study and translation.

This is one of the most important finds in history because it shows that the Old Testament was copied very accurately over the centuries. When the scrolls were compared with the oldest Masoretic text, on which most modern translations are based, only insignificant differences were found. Therefore we can be confident that our current translations are faithful to the original.

Kyle Campbell

Can adversity be a blessing?

2011-01-28T07:55:00.000-06:00

Most of the time, we think that adversity is, well, adversity. No one likes to feel the “hard knocks” of life, and most of us honestly want to avoid adversity as much as possible. But the Bible says that adversity can be useful. James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Adversity shows our mettle; it shows what we are made of. Athletes train for years to build their skills. Their intensive training allows them to get knocked down and be able to pick themselves up. Peter wrote, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ …” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Trials help someone to develop their faith. Because of this, adversity can be a blessing. Do not despair when difficult times come upon you -- rejoice that you have the opportunity to be made better. Falling down does not make you a failure, but staying down does!

Kyle Campbell