Paul the aged tells Timothy, his son in the faith, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season." The word of God, Hebrews 4:12 tells us, is quick and powerful. "Quick" means it is living. The Constitution of the United States is not a living, breathing document, but the word of God is. The King James Bible, the word of God in the English language, has been accused of being outdated. Really? I look and see the number of people living together, engaging in sexual activity outside marriage. This is called fornication. The Bible declares that fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9, 10). The Bible is extremely up-to-date. I see the advancement of the homosexual agenda. Then, I read Romans 1:26 where such practices are AGAINST NATURE. I read in Genesis 19 where God destroyed Sodom for such practices. Then I read in I Corinthians 6:9 and 10 where "abusers of themselves with mankind" and "the effeminate" shall not inherit the kingdom of God. I look around and see so many divorcing and remarrying. Regardless of the culture, Jesus still said in Luke 16:18 - "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery." Again, the Bible is right on the money, writing to us concerning the sins of 2010. It is extremely updated, and that is why it is hated so much. The word of God is powerful, putting its finger on the sins of our day. Those who are stooped in such sin can't stand to hear this Bible preached. I will insert here that the King James Bible has underwent five revisions since 1611. These revisions were not to change words and meanings, but rather printing errors and spelling updates(many English words changed their spelling from 1611 to the last revision in 1769). Since 1769, not even spelling changes have been made! Please understand this - not one great revival has occurred in the United States under the leadership of the New International Version, or any other perversion of the word of God. When I say "great revival," I am talking about a "Charles Finney" type revival. I'm talking about revivals where entire cities changed for the glory of God, shutting down the local liquor industry, dance halls, and other amusements as people began seeking God. America has seen revivals on this scale, but not since the NIV and other perversions have become prominent. If the New International Version is so accurate (more than the King James, some say), why then is there another revision yet in the making for 2011? The King James Version, which hasn't been touched since 1769, will be as powerful in 2011 as it ever was. It is up-to-date, as is.
The Bible, God's holy Word, is not only "quick," or "living," but it is also "powerful." It is powerful just the way it is. In my previous blog post, I stated how some continue to try to set dates for the coming of the Lord. Others try to name the antichrist. This has done more damage than good. After I received the Holy Ghost in 1995, there was church with which I visited from time to time. In this church, there was a couple who attended. The lady prayed at the altar at the end of every service. I thought she was just praying to the Lord concerning the message she had just heard. Someone then told me different. I was told that she got in church as a result of fear. She had been taught that the Gulf War in the early 90s and other world events were happening because the Lord was going to come at any time. Well, she was very much afraid. However, when world events didn't pan out as she was told, she quit going to church. Listen carefully, preachers. Before you get up and declare that this war or that war is a fulfilment of Bible prophecy, you'd better be careful. I don't care how sincere you are, or how strong your convictions are. If you give an outline of recent events, claiming that they are leading us to the end, you are really on dangerous territory. If just one detail of your account ends up being wrong, those that you have scared into praying will leave the church, and we may never get them back in. Instead of turning to prophetic passages in the Bible and trying to interpret them all, why not PREACH THE WORD? Instead of preaching something that can be interpreted more than one way, why not preach what we know for sure? I know for sure that Jesus Christ is coming to judge the quick and the dead. I know positively that we will all stand before God, and the books will be opened. I know without a trace of doubt that there is a real place called hell, where those who have rejected Jesus Christ will exist for eternity in torment. Let's preach the Bible. The Bible does not declare who the antichrist is. The Bible does not tell which nation is the NORTH and which is the SOUTH in Daniel 11. If you have an opinion about these things, or even if you feel like God gave you some insight on these things, why not do what Mary did when the angel of the Lord showed her some things? She "pondered these things in her heart." She kept it to herself. When Paul the apostle told about a man who was "caught up to the third heaven," Paul said that he "saw things unlawful for a man to utter." Whatever this man saw, God didn't permit him to tell about it. He kept it to himself. Preach the word! Preach what the Bible declares definitely. We don't preach our feelings; we don't preach our opinions. We preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The word of God will get the job done, without adding anything to it.
The Bible, God's holy Word, is not only "quick," or "living," but it is also "powerful." It is powerful just the way it is. In my previous blog post, I stated how some continue to try to set dates for the coming of the Lord. Others try to name the antichrist. This has done more damage than good. After I received the Holy Ghost in 1995, there was church with which I visited from time to time. In this church, there was a couple who attended. The lady prayed at the altar at the end of every service. I thought she was just praying to the Lord concerning the message she had just heard. Someone then told me different. I was told that she got in church as a result of fear. She had been taught that the Gulf War in the early 90s and other world events were happening because the Lord was going to come at any time. Well, she was very much afraid. However, when world events didn't pan out as she was told, she quit going to church. Listen carefully, preachers. Before you get up and declare that this war or that war is a fulfilment of Bible prophecy, you'd better be careful. I don't care how sincere you are, or how strong your convictions are. If you give an outline of recent events, claiming that they are leading us to the end, you are really on dangerous territory. If just one detail of your account ends up being wrong, those that you have scared into praying will leave the church, and we may never get them back in. Instead of turning to prophetic passages in the Bible and trying to interpret them all, why not PREACH THE WORD? Instead of preaching something that can be interpreted more than one way, why not preach what we know for sure? I know for sure that Jesus Christ is coming to judge the quick and the dead. I know positively that we will all stand before God, and the books will be opened. I know without a trace of doubt that there is a real place called hell, where those who have rejected Jesus Christ will exist for eternity in torment. Let's preach the Bible. The Bible does not declare who the antichrist is. The Bible does not tell which nation is the NORTH and which is the SOUTH in Daniel 11. If you have an opinion about these things, or even if you feel like God gave you some insight on these things, why not do what Mary did when the angel of the Lord showed her some things? She "pondered these things in her heart." She kept it to herself. When Paul the apostle told about a man who was "caught up to the third heaven," Paul said that he "saw things unlawful for a man to utter." Whatever this man saw, God didn't permit him to tell about it. He kept it to himself. Preach the word! Preach what the Bible declares definitely. We don't preach our feelings; we don't preach our opinions. We preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The word of God will get the job done, without adding anything to it.
