On just such husks do the religious swine feed

(Arthur W. Pink)

"Take heed what you hear." Mark 4:24

The word hear obviously includes what is read, for
that which is written or printed is addressed to the
ears of our intellect. Few people today realize the
urgent need for 'taking heed' unto what they read.
Just as the natural food which is eaten either helps
or hinders the body; so the mental food we receive
either benefits or injures the mind, and that, in turn,
affects the heart. Now just as it is harmful to listen
to the rubbish and poison which is being served from
the great majority of present-day pulpits, so it is
exceedingly injurious to the soul to read most of
what is now being published. Take heed what you
hear--and read!

"Those who are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh" (Romans 8:5), and are charmed with
oratorical eloquence, catchy sayings, witty allusions,
and jocular displays. On just such husks do the
religious swine feed; but the penitent prodigal
can find no nutriment therein!

Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul,
cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless,
unctionless, powerless--no matter what prominent or
popular name is attached thereto. Life is too short
to waste valuable time on that which profits not.

Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books,
booklets, and magazines now being published, are not
worth the paper on which they are printed! Take heed
what you hear--and read!

 

 

I had to punish him

I had to punish him

(Arthur Pink)

"We are being disciplined so that we will not be
condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:32

"Is not Israel still My son, My darling child? I had to
punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and
surely will have mercy on him." Jeremiah 31:20

O the bitterness of provoking Him to punish us, our
best Friend; that One who poured out His life's blood
for us; who endured the sharpest inflictions of justice
to screen us; Him whose heart is love, and on the sense
of whose love all our happiness depends! Yet, we forfeit
all, and compel Him to restrain His lovely smile, put on
instead a frown, take the rod in His hand, and chasten
us for our folly! Then we cannot escape: smite He will.
How long and how much, we must leave to Him. We are
completely in His hands; His power over us is supreme,
entire; resistance is vain, and will certainly increase the
affliction. There is nothing to be done, but humbly to lie
down before Him, and submit to His will. He may punish
severely; often He does. He may punish long; and there
is no promise that it shall not be so. The suffering child
has but one resource, but one door of hope; it is love,
the exquisite, surpassing love of Him who is chastening.
On that he throws himself. Yes, there is none other. He
who inflicts the pain can withdraw His hand; He who has
wounded, can bind up; He who has laid us in the dust by
His frown, can raise up by His smile. Yes, He can forgive,
He can restore; He can heal.

This, this is a mercy, an infinite mercy, that we are in
the hands of One so tender, so loving, who does not like
to put us to pain, who does it unwillingly, and longs to
restore us to favor.

"Is not Israel still My son, My darling child? I had to
punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and
surely will have mercy on him." Jeremiah 31:20

 

 

 

Will you do it for me?

So, we all have those people in our lives.  The ones that rub us the wrong way, that we don’t like, that don’t like us that have been unkind to us.  Our instinct is to cut them off, not be kind to them, not treat them well, ignore them, avoid them. He hurt me, she said this about me, and she was mean to me.  Why should I be nice to her? Why should I be the one? Why me? Why me? Why do I have to change?

 

Oh how we resist! I don’t want to! I don’t want to be nice! That person drives me crazy. I can’t stand her.  Do you know what she did to me? Do you know what she said? He hurt my feelings. He treated me wrong. He got me in trouble with my boss…it goes on and on.

 

Why can’t we just forgive? Why can’t we repay evil with good? Why do we want to act the same way they do? Aren’t we different? Isn’t Jesus Lord of our lives? Do we not have the Holy Spirit living in us?

 

I can see Jesus. He says, ‘I know you don’t want to. I know you don’t feel like it, but will you do it for ME? For Me? ‘ He holds out His scarred hand to me, He has such love on His face, He says, “Will you do it for Me?” 

 

How can I deny Him? How can I say no to the ONE who gave everything? I know it was for HIS Glory. But what price He paid that I might live.

And I know I should.  But I don’t want to, so maybe I won’t.  What is wrong with me? Why? Why? What is it in me that would refuse Him?

 

God, help me! I need so much more of You and so much less of me.

 

Lord, be Lord of my life, I must lay it down.  I need You to change me. Transform my mind, my heart, my spirit, into the Image of YOU.  Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. I am rebellious. Lord, forgive me.  Why am I disobedient? Why? I hate it! I want to do Your Will! Why do I run from You? What makes it so hard for me? It’s me. That is it. My self.  My pride.

 

Please Brothers, Please Sisters, pray for me.

 

 

Jesus' Birthday

When was Jesus born?

 

Introduction

Most Christians don’t speculate about the date of Jesus’ birth, but celebrate it on 25 December, even though they may suspect there is no Biblical basis for choosing that date. However, in Israel at that time of the year, it's usually much too cold for shepherds to have their sheep out at night, and there's a widespread belief that Jesus was actually born around late September to early October.

In fact if we know what to look for in the Bible, the true date of Jesus’ birth is quite easy to identify.

Conception of John the Baptist

John’s father Zacharias was a priest, a descendant of Abijah (Luke 1:5). The priests of Abijah ministered in the temple during the eighth week of the Hebrew year (1 Chr 24:10). The eighth week begins near the end of the second Hebrew month (Iyar), and continues into the third Hebrew month (Sivan). This is the anchor point for discovering Jesus’ birth date.

Luke 1:24 tells us that when this week ended and Zacharias went home, his wife Elizabeth conceived. This was likely to be Shavuot or the Feast of Pentecost, which is in the second week of Sivan.

Conception of Jesus

Six months later, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26). It was now near the end of the ninth Hebrew month of Kislev.

Mary immediately went to visit her relative Elizabeth (Luke 1:39), which is estimated at about three days travel. When she arrived, Elizabeth called her “the mother of my Lord”, confirming that Mary was now pregnant (Luke 1:43).

Because Jesus is "the light that has come into the world" (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46), it is likely He was conceived on 25 Kislev, which is the first day of the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah). We need to remember that God did not pick random dates for the feasts, but positioned them carefully in the Hebrew calendar some 1500 years earlier, to help identify the coming Messiah.

Birth of John the Baptist

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months (Luke 1:56), until the birth of John the Baptist. Since a full pregnancy term is 41 weeks, by counting the weeks we discover he was born around the middle of Nisan, when Passover is observed.

According to the law, John would have been circumcised on the eighth day. Therefore it is likely he was born on the first day of Passover (15 Nisan), and circumcised on the eighth day (Feast of Unleavened Bread).

Birth of Jesus

Jesus was born six months later, around the middle of Tishri (the seventh Hebrew month), which coincides with the Feast of Tabernacles. Luke 2:21 tells us He was circumcised on the eighth day.

As this feast also runs for eight days, it is likely He was born on the first day of the feast (15 Tishri), and circumcised on the last day of the feast. In 2006, 15 Tishri falls on Saturday 7 October. (To find the date in other years, go to http://www.hebcal.com/converter/).

The year is less certain, but commonly believed to be around 3 or 4 BC. The actual year is not significant here.

Only Two Feasts are 8 Days long

God provided two feasts that were exactly eight days long, the first corresponding to the birth of John the Baptist, and the second corresponding to the birth of Jesus. In both cases, the eight days corresponds to the time between birth and circumcision. All other Biblical feasts are of shorter duration.

One of these Feasts is Very Special

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain...” (Zech 14:16)

When Jesus returns, and the nations are expected to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles each year, is it coincidence that this will “just happen” to coincide with His birthday, and even allow for a temporary period of living away from one's normal home (Lev 23:42)?

Conclusion

Many nations commemorate the birthday of their head of state, even having a national holiday in their honor. How much more worthy is the King of Kings to have His birthday honored, on the day set by Him?

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” (Isaiah 9:6)

This season of Tabernacles, may we give the honor due to Jesus, who (because of His great love toward us) came into this world to give His life in exchange for ours, that we might be saved and live forever with Him!