Compassion- a short devotional thought from 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:29-31:"29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.30 And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awakened."Compassion is a first-person narrative. Elisha had been provided without food and lodging by this family many times- they even built him his own living quarters! He undoubtedly cared for them.In order to truly help those we love, we have to do all we personally can to help them. It's not enough to supervise from the sidelines.The difference came when Elisha was willing to go and do something about it. Of course, the true power was in God. But Elisha first had to make himself available. I love how Elijah performed the miracle in verses 32-35. He put his whole body into the work of God. True compassion is putting yourself on the line.Compassion is a first-person narrative.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

  If anyone on the face of this planet said to me that their life was better than mine, I would challenge them. If you think that your life is better than mine, then you are wrong:) I love my life. And I'm confident that you won't find a happier man on the face of the planet!
   I would rather do good than do bad. I would rather serve God than serve myself. I would rather minister the Gospel and than minister discord. I love doing what I'm doing. I love living here. I love ministering to these people. I love my life!
   I love being a Christian. I love the Spirit of God. I love His bearing upon my conscience. I love the forgiveness of sins. I love the new life in Christ. I love that God is MY God. I love that heaven is MY heaven.
   I love my family. I love my wife. I love her affection. I love her constructive rebukes :) I love my children. I love their silliness. I love their sweetness. I love their hugs. I love my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world!
   You often hear people say things like, "Too much of even a good thing is bad." Is that true? Can there really be too much of a good thing?
   It is not possible for God to give us too many blessings. He, being sovereign and omniscient, gives us exactly what we need to give Him the glory due to His name. But sometimes we aren't the best at juggling those blessings.
   In a typical week, I put in about 60 hours of study time. On top of that, I teach a teens and university-age Sunday school class every Sunday morning, preach in the evening, teach a three-hour Hermeneutics class on Monday night, do discipleship on Tuesday mornings, occasionally teach Bible study on Tuesday nights, disciple another on Thursday afternoons, teach a two-hour Personal Evangelism class on Saturday mornings, and teach a teens and twenties Bible study on Saturday nights. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do! But I'm not the greatest multitasker (one task at a time is difficult enough). With so many blessings and opportunities for service, it is sometimes very difficult (seemingly impossible) to juggle them all.
   For every genuine problem that the servant of God faces, there is a solution in God's Word. As I read in Proverbs 11, verse 1 really shines forth: "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight." To be balanced: this is missing element. It's what I've been in search of.
   When I read this verse I thought, "How can I learn to multitask like that?" How does a person become balanced? I think the key is found in the words of the Lord Jesus:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6.33)
   This is exactly what I need! This is the great lesson of multitasking the various blessings/opportunities that the servant of the Lord receives. My first and foremost obligation is to God, Himself. How can I really be involved in the work of God if I am not seeking to know God in a greater way? I think the answer is, I can't. You see, if my "service" is mere work and not an act of worship to Him, then how could I call it the work of God? Why should I call it the work of God? The truth is, when I am concentrating on the work (itself) I am not doing the work of God- I am doing the work of man- I am doing my own work.
I want to get back to the basics. I want to seek the righteous God and His kingdom first. I want to do the work of God. 

Praying for Others

"Intercession! Would not one say that this is the very holiest exercise of our boldness as God's children." (Andrew Murray)
   I love read Murray on prayer! He makes it sound so desirous- as it should be. Intercessory prayer is one of the most selfless acts that the Christian may perform. It is one of few things that we can do for other, and still take no credit for. I mean it is one thing to pray for ourselves and things that we desire for ourselves (like a McLaren P1...), as well as things that we know we need. But to pray for the benefit of others is a different animal altogether.
   Do you ever have moments like me? Often when I pray for others, I cannot quite think of what I should actually be asking for them. I mean, I try to pray for friends, family, and even fellow ministers and their families. But how should I be praying for them?
I think a Paul gives us a good answer is Ephesians 1.15-20- "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us- ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places..."
   What strikes me the most about Paul's prayer is the focal point of His prayer. His prayer is so God-centered! Yes, He prayed for wisdom, revelation, understanding, and remembrance to be bestowed on them. But all the while he is also mentioning "the Father of glory", "the hope of his calling", "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints", "the exceeding greatness of his power", "the working of his mighty power", Christ's resurrection and Christ's ascension. So Paul wanted good for the Ephesians, but only as their blessing would exalt God.
   I'm not saying not to pray for the healing of the sick or the family with the dad that's lost his job. I'm not saying not to pray for the persecuted Christians in other countries. But the question is, "Why should I ultimately pray for them?" Murray said of prayer, " It is the highest privilege and enjoyment connected to our COMMUNION WITH GOD." (Emphasis added by me) Ultimately, prayer is an act of worship and communion with God. In everything (prayer not excluded), we should be seeking the benefit of God, Himself. I want sick people to get well. I want jobs for families. I want to see Pastor Saeed freed. But what I want more than that is for God to be glorified. I want to pray more like that. I want to live a God-centered life.

Sunday Devotional

   I've been going through 1 Thessalonians devotionally. This morning I came across verse 11:
"As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children."
   These Thessalonians believers were the converts of Paul, Timothy and Silvanus. As a result, they were responsible for the nurture of their spiritual children "as a father does his children." Of course I would have expected Paul (the apostle) to "exhort" and "charge" them. After all, he held an ecclesiastical office of authority- he was an apostle. But to "comfort" them was to go beyond his apostolic duty and care for them as individuals.
   I wonder if I am sometimes so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good. Though I always hope to keep eternity in view, to focus on heavenly things to the neglect of those with earthly needs is both hypocritical and counterproductive. Comforting is just as much a responsibility of a minister as exhortation and instruction are. After all, the Bible calls God, "the God of all Comfort." Being heavenly minded and being earthly good: both of these are good things. There must be a medium between the two.
   Human beings have the tendency to study and talk about God without truly being focused upon  Him. The truth is, if I am truly focusing on God and becoming more like Him then I will, by default, care more for those in need of comfort.
Let's forget about ourselves and concentrate on Him and worship Him.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH (PART 1- HIS NATURE)

The study of the Holy Spirit is known as PNEUMATOLOGY. "Pneuma" is the Greek word for "spirit." "Ology" means "the study of." Thus, Pneumatology is the study of the Holy Spirit.

John 14.16-17- "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

   What a title is given to the One who is subject to such controversy: the Spirit of Truth! There are so many different ideas and concepts about who or what the Holy Spirit truly is. I find it ironic (though I don't believe in irony) that the point of this teaching all about finding the truth concerning the One who referred to as the Spirit of Truth.... Nonetheless, let us begin our study.

I. THE NATURE OF THE SPIRIT

What is nature? When we talk about the nature of someone or something, we are talking about "the essential characteristics and qualities of a person or thing." (Bancroft) It is the fundamental character or disposition of a person or thing. The Bible has a lot to say about the Holy Spirit. Jesus, Himself, told us much about the the Spirit. In the pages of the Bible, we begin to see certain characteristics and qualities of the Spirit. We are able to behold His nature.

The first way we can understand the Holy Spirit's nature is by understanding:

A. The Personality of the Spirit

   In speaking of the personality of the Spirit, we are referring His possession of the elements of personal existence (as opposed to impersonal existence- like animal life). Defining everything about a Divine Being is impossible.

Romans 11.33- "O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

   As we study this great subject of the Holy Spirit, we are praying that God would open our eyes concerning who He is. But we must bear in mind that FINITE MINDS CANNOT FULLY COMPREHEND INFINITE TRUTH. We can study and determine several definite truths concerning the Spirit. But we must remember that God cannot be measure by human standards. Man was made in the image of God- God certainly was not made in the image of God. Don't forget: Only God has perfect personality.

Emery H. Bancroft- "Personality may be said to exist when there is found intelligence, emotion, and volition, or self-consciousness and self- determination, in a single individual. When a being possesses the attributes, properties, and qualities of personality, then personality may be unquestionably predicated."

Example: When we talk about the three Persons of the Trinity, rather than referring to different organisms we are actually referring to personal distinctions.

   Have you ever wondered why so many people get mixed up on who the Holy Spirit truly is? Though they are not excused from seeking out the truth, there are several reasons why so many either confused or deceived into believing apostasy concerning the Holy Spirit:

    1. Reasons for apostasy concerning the Spirit's personality:

- When compared with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit seem impersonal to some.

The carnal minds says: 'The Father has spent the past 6,000 years communicating with through His Creation- so we know He is personal.'

The carnal mind says: 'The incarnation is sufficient evidence that the Son is personal.'

'But the Spirit', the carnal mind says, 'has not revealed personality through these types of means.

- The natural elements associated with the Holy Spirit may seem impersonal: breath, power, wind, water, fire and oil.

This is one of the reasons that so many cults are hung up on the Spirit. The Spirit is so often associated with things like wind, fire, power and water that some think the Spirit to be nothing more than an impersonal force.

Let's look at a few of those instances in Scripture:

John 3.5-8- "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Acts 2.1-4- "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

- The Spirit is not always listed with the Father and the Son in certain salutations in Scripture.

1 Thess. 3.11- "Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you."

- The Greek word or name for Spirit (pneuma) is neuter in its Greek original form.

"Father"- masculine

"Son"- masculine

"Spirit"- neuter

        2. Proof of the Holy Spirit's personality:

- Masculine pronouns

Though "Spirit" is always neuter in its Greek form, it is accompanied by a masculine pronoun- so as to leave no doubt to the reader that the Holy Spirit is deity.

John 14.16-17- "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that HE may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; WHOM the world cannot receive, because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM:but ye know HIM; for HE dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 14.26-"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, WHOM the Father will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 15.26- "But when the Comforter is come, WHOM I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, HE shall testify of me"

John 16.7-13- "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when HE is come, HE will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth:for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak:and HE will shew you things to come."

   The Jehovah's Witnesses (as much as I hate to call them that) would contest that the Spirit is nothing more than a force or currency of power- thus, reducing the Holy Spirit to the equivalent of electricity. 

   But we must bear in mind that the verses we just read are statements from the lips of our Lord, Himself! The Holy Spirit is personal in nature and is referred to by Jesus as "Whom, Him and He." If we can trust Jesus to be deity then we can trust His Word- because God cannot lie. If Jesus referred to the Holy Ghost as a person, then there should be no doubt in our minds.

- Ascribed Titles

   Not only does Christ refer to the Spirit as "He, Whom, and Him", He also refers to the Spirit by a very interest word/title in several different verses...

John 14.16- "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another COMFORTER, that He may abide with you for ever"

John 14.26-"But theCOMFORTER, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 15.26- "But when theCOMFORTER is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me"

John 16.7- "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

The English word "Comforter" is a translation of the Greek word, "parakletos." It means "to come to one's side and pleads one's cause before the judge." It is "a pleader, a defense counsellor, a legal assistant; an advocate."

1 John 2.1- "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"

   Here we find The Lord Jesus Christ referred to as our "advocate." And truly He is our Advocate- as He stands between God and man for us. Any guesses as to what Greek word "advocate comes from? You guessed it: parakletos! It is the same word that Jesus used in reference to the Holy Ghost. This means that the Holy Spirit and Jesus are equal in existence and in working.

    Surely this would convince the naysayers, right? Well even with some... it is still not enough. They would say, "what about the word 'another' in John 14.16?" Jesus said that He would give "another Comforter." If He is "another" Comforter, then He and Jesus must be two separate Beings, right?

   "Another" comes from the Greek word "allos", which doesn't just mean another. It means "another of the same kind/sort." He is as equally divine as Jesus, Himself. He is the same kind of Comforter that Christ was- He is an advocate.

- Divine characteristics

"By characteristics we do not mean hands, feet, or eyes... But qualities such as knowledge, feeling, and will, which denote personality." (Bancroft)

Here are several examples:

          a. Intelligence

1 Corinthians 2.10-11- "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."

How can a non-personal force reveal, search or know something? "The Holy Spirit is not merely an illuminating power or influence, but is a Person possessed of intellect." (Bancroft)

          b. Will

1 Corinthians 12.11- "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

"An 'it,' that which is impersonal, is not possessed of volition." (Bancroft)

          c. Love

Romans 15.30- "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;"

Emery H. Bancroft said, "It may be said that we owe our salvation just truly to the love of the Spirit as we do to the love of the Father and Son."

          d. Grief

Ephesians 4.30- "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

   You cannot grieve electricity. Grief is something reserved for an actual PERSON with an actual personality. You cannot cause a force to mourn. But you can cause a PERSON grief.
   So the Spirit thinks, desires, loves, is good, and He grieves. I think it is obvious that the Holy Spirit is not a force or currency of power. He is a real Person with personality.

- Personal acts

          a. He searches

1 Corinthians 2.10- "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

          b. He speaks

Revelation 2.7- "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

   Eight times in the book of Revelation it is mentioned that the Spirit says something. In Revelation 22.17, the Spirit beckons us to "come" to God.

          c. He cries out

Galatians 4.6- "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

          d. He testifies

John 15.26- "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

          e. He makes intercession

Romans 8.26- "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Intercession- "entugchano". Definition- "to light upon a person or place; to go to meet a person for conversation"

Only a person can do this.

          f. He teaches

John 14.26- "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Only a person can teach.

          g. He leads and guides

Romans 8.14- "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

         h. He calls and commissions

Acts 13.2- "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."

A force can neither call nor commission someone- only a person can.

By observing the personal acts that the Holy Spirit performs, it become clear that these acts can only be attributed to a personal agent.

- Personal treatment received

         a. He is rebelled against

Isaiah 63.10- "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit:

therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them."

One cannot rebel against an impersonal force- neither can a force be grieved.

          b. He is lied to

Acts 5.3- "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

          c. He is blasphemed

Matthew 12.31-32- "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

   Through personal pronouns, personal characteristics, personal acts, and personal treatment, we can conclude and contend from God's Word that the Holy Spirit is an actual person.

2 Cor. 13.14- "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

"Theoretically, we may believe this. Do we in our real thought of Him, or in our practical attitude toward Him, treat Him as a person? Do we regard Him as indeed as real a person as Jesus Christ- as loving, wise and strong, as worthy of our confidence and love and surrender, as He? He came to be to the disciples, and to us, what Christ had been to them during the days of His personal companionship with them (John 14.16-17). Do we know 'the communion and fellowship of the Holy Ghost'? (2 Corinthians 13.14)" (R. A. Torrey, What the Bible Teaches)

B. The Deity of the Holy Spirit

Deity- to be one with God and one with Godhead; to be co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent with the Father and the Son.

          1. Divine names given to Him

- He is called "God"

Acts 5.3-4- "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

Vs 3- "lie to the Holy Ghost"

Vs. 4- "lied not unto men, but GOD."

- He is called "Lord"

2 Cor. 3.18- "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

"Of The Lord"

"By the Spirit of The Lord"

          2. Divine Attributes

God's attributes belong to Him alone.

- Eternity

Hebrews 9.14- "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

- Omnipresence

Psalm 139.7-10- "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.

 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me."

- Omnipotence

Luke 1.35- "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

"the power of the Highest"

- Omniscience

1Corinthians 2.10-11- "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."

          3. Divine works

-Creation

Job 33.4- "The Spirit of God hath made me,

and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

Genesis 1.2b- "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

- Impartation of life

Romans 8.11- "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Emery Bancroft- "The Holy Spirit is author of both physical life and spiritual life."

- Prophetical authorship

2 Peter 1.21- "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

          4. Name associations

- In the Great Commission

Matthew 28.19- "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

- In the apostolic benediction

2 Corinthians 13.14- "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

"In many unmistakable ways, God, in His Word, distinctly proclaims that the Holy Spirit is not ONLY a person, but a DIVINE person." (Bancroft)

How to find God in an evil world...

   We live in a day when evil runs rampant. Wars, child abuse, murder and death- it seems to be getting worse every day! With so much evil in the world, how could there possibly be a God? And why would He send such disorder into His creation? To find the answers to these questions, one must first understand the cause of these questions.

Cause and Effect

Every effect has a cause. God is not the reason for death. With God all things are pure, lovely, holy, and righteous. In His presence there is a continuous source of purity. The evil we see does not originate with God.

   Then what is the cause of evil? Death and evil is a result of our evil deeds (what the Bible calls “sin”).

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6.23)

So the evil exists because of us.

But what is sin?

“…Sin is transgression of the Law.” (1 John 3.4)

   God’s Law gives commandment not to lie, murder, steal, commit adultery, or desire what others have (as well as about 600 other commandments). The evil that is seen in this world is a result of breaking these commandments.

   Not only does sin cause evil in this world, but it restricts us from being in God’s perfect home in heaven. By willfully sinning, a separation is formed between sinful mankind and sinless God- leaving one option: hell.

It’s logical- cause and effect.

   For this cause, we are lost. We need to find God. But how?

Compass Direction

      When in need of navigation, it pays to have a compass- something to show us the way.   When God became a man, Jesus of Nazareth, He came to provide a way to Him.   Jesus lived 33 years without sinning once- never causing any evil. He died upon a cross and gave His life for mankind. Our sin was placed on His shoulders.

“He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53.4)

He died in our place, was buried and rose again. He is now in heaven. Jesus’ cross has bridged the gap between God and man! Because of Jesus Christ, we now know the way to God. Jesus said, “I am the way.” He died to forgive our sins and bring us to Him.   

Jesus came to us. But in order for His gift to be ours, we must come to Him and receive it.

 “For by grace are you saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” (Romans 3.8)

It is by faith that one may come to God.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10.9)

By confessing you are a sinner and believing in Jesus Christ as Saviour, you may find God today! 

You can know God today! Call upon Him to save you!

Foolish Claims

   Have you ever watched the movie "Religulous?" It is a movie about Bill Maher travelling all over the world interviewing different religious leaders and editing different words and moments throughout the segment to make them seem foolish and unstable. The interviews are incredibly misleading. Do yourself a favour and do not watch it!
   So (against my better judgment) I just watched "Religulous"- trying to get some background on things that I've been hearing non-Christians say about the movie regarding Christianity. Bill Maher absolutely butcher a massive bit of religious history. He mentions the Egyptian god, Horus. He says that Horus, who supposedly lived (those some would contest that this account is entirely mythological) hundreds of years before Christ. Bill Maher claims that Horus was the son of Osiris (an Egyptian god), was born of a virgin and that he rose from the grave. All three of these events are different in almost every account. But Mr. Maher would lie to you just to attack the validity of the Bible. For example, in many accounts Osiris is listed as Horus' brother- not his father. This, in itself, debunks Maher's suggestion. Horus could not have been the son of a god who was his brother. Second, Horus' mother, Isis (who was a goddess herself), was not a virgin. Neither was Horus' birth a virgin birth- but rather the product magic from his goddess mother. (And if you want to learn how Isis "conceived" Horus in an immoral way- which I will not mention now- look it up of Wikipedia) Third, according my understanding of the accounts, Horus wasn't so much "resurrected" as he just began indwelling future Pharaohs.
   Well God the Father was actually Jesus' Father. Jesus was actually born of a virgin. And He actually did rise from the grave- not just reincarnate Himself into future rulers. No matter how foolish (though seemingly intellectual) these men may be in trying to suggest that the Gospel message is nothing more than a summary of other religious accounts, their efforts fall drastically short. And when consider in light of the actual facts, these supposedly "intellectual" men look rather foolish.