Divine Design and the Pine Tree by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1557

Divine Design and the Pine Tree

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The naturalistic explanation given by evolutionists for the existence of the created order cannot meet the dictates of logic that characterize the unencumbered, unprejudiced human mind. The more one investigates the intricacies and complexities of the natural realm, the more self-evident it is that a grand and great Designer is responsible for the existence of the Universe. In fact, the evidence is overwhelming and decisive.

Take, for example, the pine tree. Some 120 species and subspecies of the pine tree exist worldwide (“What Are...?,” n.d.). The Ponderosa pine tree (pinus ponderosa) is one of America’s abundant tree species, covering approximately 27 million acres of land (“Ponderosa Pine,” 1995). A young Ponderosa pine has brownish-black bark that changes to a distinctive orange-brown color as the tree grows older. The bark is segmented into large plate-like structures whose appearance has been likened to a jigsaw puzzle. This unusual design has a purpose. If the tree catches fire, these plates pop off as the bark burns. The tree, in effect, sheds its burning bark! This design, along with the great thickness of the bark, allows the tree to be very resistant to low intensity fires (“Ponderosa Pine,” n.d.). Since design demands a designer, who is responsible for this intricate design?

Ponderosa bark Courtesy sxc.hu and Jesse Adams

Another species of pine tree is the Lodgepole Pine (pinus contorta), so named since Native Americans used Lodgepole pine for the “lodge poles” in their tepees. This amazing pine tree grows cones that are slightly smaller than a golf ball, are tan when fresh, but turn gray with age. These serotinous cones remain closed until the heat of a forest fire causes them to open. After the fire, the cones open and reseed the forest. The species thus regenerates itself—even though the forest fire kills the tree itself (“Lodgepole Pine,” n.d.). Since such design demands a designer, who is responsible for this ingenious design?

Yet another species of pine tree is the Whitebark Pine (pinus albicaulis). This tree possesses a symbiotic relationship with a bird species known as the Clark’s Nutcracker. The tree is dependent on this bird for reproduction, while the seed of the tree is a major source of food for the bird. This mutualistic relationship is further seen in the fact that Whitebark pinecones do not open and cast seed when they are ripe. The cones remain closed until the Nutcracker comes along, pries the cone open with its bill, and stores the seed within a pouch beneath its tongue. The bird then caches the seed to be used later as a food supply. Some of these seed caches are forgotten, or are not needed, thus enabling the tree to reproduce (“Whitebark Pine,” n.d.). Such amazing design—with no Mind behind it? Illogical!

Ponderosa pine tree Courtesy bigstockphotos.com and Angela McElroy

The interdependent, interconnected, interpenetrating features of God’s Creation are beyond the capability of man to trace out—let alone to “manage” or “assist.” Neither a pine tree nor a pinecone is sentient. They have no thinking capacity or consciousness. They possess no personhood, soul, or spirit. Pine trees did not get together and discuss the threat of forest fires to their future survival, and then decide to produce pinecones that would remain closed during a fire only to open afterwards. The standard explanations by evolutionists for such wonders of creation are incoherent and nonsensical. Elihu reminded Job: “Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a teacher like Him? Who has appointed Him His way, and who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sung. All men have seen it; man beholds from afar” (Job 36:22-25—NASB).

Indeed, the realm of nature literally shouts forth the reality of the all-powerful Maker Who alone accounts for the intelligent design of the created order. As the psalmist so eloquently affirmed: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.... There is no speech, nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). Indeed, “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20). Only a foolish person would conclude there is no God (Psalm 14:1).

REFERENCES

“Lodgepole Pine” (no date), USDA Forest Service, [On-line], URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena/resources/trees/LodgepolePine.shtml.

“Ponderosa Pine” (no date), USDA Forest Service, [On-line], URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena/resources/trees/PonderosaPine.shtml.

“Ponderosa Pine” (1995), Western Wood Products Association, [On-line], URL: http://www.wwpa.org/ppine.htm.

“What Are Pine Trees?” (no date), The Lovett Pinetum Charitable Foundation, [On-line], URL: http://www.lovett-pinetum.org/1whatare.htm.

“Whitebark Pine” (no date), USDA Forest Service, [On-line], URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena/resources/trees/WhitebarkPine.shtml.

Closing Words Befitting A Grand Epistle (13:18-25) by Mark Copeland

Closing Words Befitting A Grand Epistle (13:18-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. We now come to the closing words of what is truly "a grand epistle"...
   a. One that has been described as:
      1) Beginning like an essay
      2) Progressing like a sermon
      3) Ending like a letter
   b. In which we noted systematic arguments upholding:
      1) The superiority of Jesus Christ
      2) The superiority of the New Covenant dedicated by His blood
   c. Where we have been exhorted to:
      1) Draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith
      2) Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering
      3) Consider one another in order to stir up love and good works
      4) Run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus as we do so
      5) Purse peace with all men and holiness
      6) Heed the voice of Him who speaks from heaven
      7) Serve God with reverence and godly fear
      8) Love the brethren, display hospitality to strangers, and remember the prisoners
      9) Uphold the sanctity of marriage and avoid covetousness
     10) Avoid various and strange doctrines, obeying those who rule over us in the Lord

2. With the last eight verses, we find:
   a. A request for prayer in behalf of the author - He 13:18-19
   b. A benediction offered in behalf of the readers - He 13:20-21
   c. A final exhortation, comment and farewell - He 13:22-25

3. I am suggesting that these verses serve as "Closing Words Befitting A Grand Epistle"...
   a. For they touch upon themes developed earlier in the epistle
   b. Therefore serving as a close worthy of such an epistle as we have studied

[As we take this opportunity to reflect upon these closing words, we 
first observe the author's...]

I. REQUEST FOR PRAYER (18-19)

   A. ONE REASON FOR HIS REQUEST...
      1. He is confident of "a good conscience", desiring to live honorably
         a. The mention of a good conscience brings to mind several 
            verses - He 9:9,14; 10:22
         b. Through the blood of Christ, his conscience has made clean  to serve God
      2. Certainly their prayers in his behalf would be for a good purpose...
         a. To bless a man whose has been cleansed by the blood of Christ!
         b. To bless a man who desires to live honorably!

   B. ANOTHER REASON FOR HIS REQUEST...
      1. To be restored to them sooner
      2. Thus he expresses his intention to come them

[Having requested their prayers, the author reciprocates with a prayer his own...]

II. BENEDICTION OFFERED IN THEIR BEHALF (20-21)

   A. MAY GOD...
      1. Described as "the God of peace"
         a. A description found often in Paul's letters - Ro 15:33; 
            16:20; 1Th 5:23; Php 4:9
         b. He is the source of peace (note the salutations in most epistles)
      2. "who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead"
         a. This is the only explicit reference to Jesus' resurrection in the epistle
         b. Though it is assumed in passages which speak of Christ at
            the right hand of God - cf. He 1:3; 4:14; 9:24 10:12; 12:2
      3. Jesus is described as "that great Shepherd of the sheep" - cf. Jn 10:11,14

   B. MAKE YOU COMPLETE...
      1. "in every good work to do His will"
         a. The author wants them to be complete in doing God's will
         b. Yet he recognizes that they cannot do it on their own, they will need God's help!
      2. How will God make them complete in every good work to do His will?
         a. "through the blood of the everlasting covenant"
            1) This refers, of course, to the blood of Jesus
               a) Which is able to purge our conscience from dead works - He 9:14
               b) By which Jesus has become the Mediator of the New Covenant - He 9:15
            2) By this blood Jesus has "perfected forever those who are being sanctified" - He 10:10,14
            -- Through the blood of Jesus, then, God is able to make us
               complete in every good work to do His will
         b. "working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ"
            1) Not only are we cleansed by the blood of Jesus, but God
               works in us to do what pleases Him!
               a) This is reminiscent of Paul's comments in Php 2:12-13
               b) That as we "work out" our salvation, God "works in" us!
            2) Instrumental in God working in us is the role of His Spirit...
               a) We are strengthened by God's Spirit in the inner man  - Ep 3:16
               b) It is by the Spirit we can put to death the deeds of  the body - Ro 8:13
            -- It is by both the blood of Jesus and the work of the 
               Spirit that we are truly "washed", "justified" and "sanctified" - 1Co 6:11; Tit 3:5-7

[While we are admonished throughout this epistle to be steadfast, this
closing prayer reminds that we are not alone.  In His grace and mercy,
God aids in our desires and efforts to do His will!

And now at last, we notice...]

III. A FINAL EXHORTATION, COMMENT, AND FAREWELL (22-25)

   A. HIS FINAL EXHORTATION (22)
      1. To "bear with the word of exhortation"
         a. This epistle has truly been one of exhorting them; we have exhortations against...
            1) Drifting from what they have heard - He 2:1-4
            2) Departing from the living God - He 3:12-15
            3) Disobedience to His Word - He 4:11-13
            4) Dullness of hearing - He 5:11-6:6
            5) Despising God's grace - He 10:26-39
            6) Defying Him who now speaks from heaven - He 12:14-29
         b. While at times he has written rather strongly, he
            encourages them to bear with it
      2. While one of the longer epistles in the New Testament, it was
         still "written to you in few words" (compare it with some of
         the writings of the "church fathers"!)

   B. A COMMENT REGARDING TIMOTHY (23)
      1. "Our brother Timothy" - most likely he who was Paul's constant companion
      2. Evidently just released from prison, and likely to join the author in coming to them

   C. GREETINGS AND FAREWELL (24-25)
      1. Greetings from the author...
         a. To "all those who rule over you", i.e., their elders (cf. He 13:7,17)
         b. To "all the saints", i.e., the rest of the Christian
      2. Greetings from "those from Italy"; this suggests two possibilities...
         a. The author was writing from Italy, passing along greetings from those present
         b. The author was writing to Italy, sending greetings from 
            those with him who were from there
      3. A simple farewell:  "Grace be with you all. Amen"

CONCLUSION

1. So ends "the word of exhortation", that grand epistle known simply 
   as "The Epistle To The Hebrews" (or "To The Hebrews")

2. Though written to Jewish Christians, with their particular need in mind...
   a. It is of great value to all Christians
   b. It tells us more about the intercessory work of our Lord as High
      Priest than any other book of the New Testament
   c. Its warnings and exhortations are needed just as much today by
      Christians who are being tempted to leave Christ and go back into the world

Especially these words found in Hebrews 10:19-25...

   "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the
   blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for 
   us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest
   over the house of God,"

   "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
   having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
   washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our
   hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let
   us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
   not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the
   manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more
   as you see the Day approaching."

I pray that our study has served the same purpose, to encourage us all
to "draw near" to God, to "hold fast" the hope we confess, and to stir
up "love and good works".

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

Safe at last by Gary Rose

Thirty years ago, I worked in a laboratory in Sayreville, New Jersey. The building was a newer one and great place to work. But, we had one problem – someone liked to steal lunches out of the refrigerator in the lunch room. After awhile, I stopped putting food in the fridge and just brought things to eat that I could keep in my desk. We never did find out who the culprit was but after all these years, it is not really important anymore.

Still, no one likes having their food stolen (or anything else for that matter). And the “Anti-Theft Lunch Bags” would have been a nice solution to an irritating problem. Now, I know that nothing ever seems to last- things rust, break, become obsolete, get misplaced or even worse, stolen. But, what if you could have something that could NEVER be changed? The apostle Paul writes…

Romans 8 ( World English Bible )

Rom 8:35, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36, Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Rom 8:37, No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Rom 8:38, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Rom 8:39, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And the answer is… The love of Christ! Nothing can separate us from Jesus’ love; absolutely NOTHING! This is NOT A TRICK (like that Anti-Theft Bag). Jesus’ love trumps EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE! Jesus never changes his decision to love us; we can decide not to follow him anymore, but Jesus’ decision towards us will never, ever change.

Accept it, appreciate it and love him back. You will be eternally glad you did!

Bible Reading March 11, 12 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading March 11, 12 

World  English  Bible

Mar. 11

Exodus 21

Exo 21:1 "Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them.

Exo 21:2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything.

Exo 21:3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him.

Exo 21:4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

Exo 21:5 But if the servant shall plainly say, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;'

Exo 21:6 then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.

Exo 21:7 "If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do.

Exo 21:8 If she doesn't please her master, who has married her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her.

Exo 21:9 If he marries her to his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

Exo 21:10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marital rights.

Exo 21:11 If he doesn't do these three things for her, she may go free without paying any money.

Exo 21:12 "One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death,

Exo 21:13 but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.

Exo 21:14 If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Exo 21:15 "Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.

Exo 21:16 "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Exo 21:17 "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

Exo 21:18 "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn't die, but is confined to bed;

Exo 21:19 if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.

Exo 21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.

Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his property.

Exo 21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow.

Exo 21:23 But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life,

Exo 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Exo 21:25 burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.

Exo 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.

Exo 21:27 If he strikes out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.

Exo 21:28 "If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not be held responsible.

Exo 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death.

Exo 21:30 If a ransom is laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is laid on him.

Exo 21:31 Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him.

Exo 21:32 If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver shall be given to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.

Exo 21:33 "If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn't cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it,

Exo 21:34 the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his.

Exo 21:35 "If one man's bull injures another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live bull, and divide its price; and they shall also divide the dead animal.

Exo 21:36 Or if it is known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall surely pay bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.

Mar. 12

Exodus 22

Exo 22:1 "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

Exo 22:2 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

Exo 22:3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt of bloodshed for him; he shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

Exo 22:4 If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

Exo 22:5 "If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten, and lets his animal loose, and it grazes in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard.

Exo 22:6 "If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Exo 22:7 "If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.

Exo 22:8 If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.

Exo 22:9 For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, 'This is mine,' the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

Exo 22:10 "If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it;

Exo 22:11 the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, whether he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

Exo 22:12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

Exo 22:13 If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.

Exo 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.

Exo 22:15 If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.

Exo 22:16 "If a man entices a virgin who isn't pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.

Exo 22:17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Exo 22:18 "You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

Exo 22:19 "Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.

Exo 22:20 "He who sacrifices to any god, except to Yahweh only, shall be utterly destroyed.

Exo 22:21 "You shall not wrong an alien, neither shall you oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Exo 22:22 "You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

Exo 22:23 If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;

Exo 22:24 and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

Exo 22:25 "If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor; neither shall you charge him interest.

Exo 22:26 If you take your neighbor's garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,

Exo 22:27 for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

Exo 22:28 "You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

Exo 22:29 "You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. "You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.

Exo 22:30 You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with its mother, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

Exo 22:31 "You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs. 

  

Mar. 11, 12

Mark 8

Mar 8:1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,

Mar 8:2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.

Mar 8:3 If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way."

Mar 8:4 His disciples answered him, "From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?"

Mar 8:5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."

Mar 8:6 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.

Mar 8:7 They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.

Mar 8:8 They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

Mar 8:9 Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away.

Mar 8:10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha.

Mar 8:11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.

Mar 8:12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."

Mar 8:13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.

Mar 8:14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

Mar 8:15 He warned them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

Mar 8:16 They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread."

Mar 8:17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?

Mar 8:18 Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?

Mar 8:19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Twelve."

Mar 8:20 "When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Seven."

Mar 8:21 He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"

Mar 8:22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.

Mar 8:23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.

Mar 8:24 He looked up, and said, "I see men; for I see them like trees walking."

Mar 8:25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.

Mar 8:26 He sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village."

Mar 8:27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"

Mar 8:28 They told him, "John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets."

Mar 8:29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Mar 8:30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.

Mar 8:31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mar 8:32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Mar 8:33 But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men."

Mar 8:34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mar 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.

Mar 8:36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

Mar 8:37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life?

Mar 8:38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Prove All Things by T. Pierce Brown

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/allthing.html

Prove All Things

In the Lord's church, as in all other groups, there is a tendency to take the word of someone of whom we think highly instead of studying the word of God for ourselves. Although it is very dangerous, there may be some value in this, for each of us is ignorant of many things. For example, although I have been reading the Bible for over 60 years, there are some subjects I have not studied as deeply as I might have. If I discover that Foy Wallace, Gus Nichols, Guy N. Woods and N. B. Hardeman expressed the same specific view of the subject, I confess that until I have had a chance to study the subject in more detail, I would probably adopt their view as the most probable one. I am neither ashamed nor proud of that, but am stating what I think is a valid attitude. A child generally should accept what his parent believes and teaches him until he has a chance to examine the evidence for himself. The danger comes when one has an opportunity to study God's word in depth on some subject, but relies instead on one or more scholars for their conclusions.

The subject of this article was suggested to me as I was reading in some scholarly book by a premillenial author about how to interpret prophecy. He suggested that there are only two methods: the allegorical and the literal. He properly points out some dangers in the allegorical method. He defines the literal method as "that which gives each word the same exact basic meaning it would have in normal, ordinary customary usage." Then he makes this statement, "When the Old Testament is used in the New it is used only in the literal sense. No prophecy which has been completely fulfilled has been fulfilled any way but literally." He admits, "figures of speech are used as a means of revealing literal truth," but does not properly apply that knowledge in his interpretation of prophecy. Since the whole of his 633-page book is built on that assumption, I decided to test it, for Paul says, "Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).

Let us notice a few of the prophetic passages that are plainly taught as fulfilled in specific cases in the New Testament. First, note Isaiah 40:3-4, "The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain." Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:3, Mark 1:3 and Luke 3:4-6 that this had reference to John the Immerser. In the light of the assertion made by this author, J. Dwight Pentecost on page 10 of "Things to Come" let us ask the question: Did John literally exalt every valley, and literally make every hill low? Was John operating a bulldozer to prepare a way for a king? Of course figurative language reveals a literal truth. The questions are, "What is the literal truth to which this prophecy pointed? Were the words used in a figurative sense, or did John literally fill up a valley, move a mountain, and make a straight road for the King?" One does not need to be a scholar or write a doctoral dissertation to answer that.

In Matthew 12:18-20 there is the following statement of a prophecy from Isaiah 42, "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles hope." Who is so blind that they cannot see that if Jesus had literally broken a bruised reed this would not have meant the prophecy did not come to pass? It is plainly not true, as the author asserted, that the language of the prophecy had to be fulfilled by Jesus literally failing to break a bruised reed or put out smoking flax.

In Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17 we find a quotation of a prophecy from Psalm 118:22, "The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner." Surely one does not have to be a scholar to realize that Jesus was not speaking of a literal stone, or literal builders. To say that the prophetic language of the Old Testament is used in the New only in a literal sense is utter nonsense. Yet this is the very basis of the whole book of J.D. Pentecost and the premillenial concept which he is attempting to uphold.

The question, "Are the prophecies to be interpreted literally or figuratively?" implies something that the Bible shows is not so. The answer to the question of how the prophecies are to be interpreted is, "As Jesus and the inspired apostles showed they were to be interpreted." Some are literal; some are figurative. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, he was literally fulfilling Zechariah 9:9-10, but he did not literally "cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem" as verse 10 says. To say that it was not fulfilled any way but literally is the height of absurdity. It is a mark of wisdom to interpret it as Jesus did.

If one reads Zechariah 13:7-10, which begins with, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered," he could not possibly know whether that prophecy was to be fulfilled in a literal or figurative way if he did not read Matthew 26:31 or Mark 14:27. In fact, he would not even know that it was a prophecy if Jesus had not revealed and interpreted it for us.

The fact that the Jews rejected Jesus because they had a false notion of the meaning of prophecy should make us aware that anyone who interprets the scriptures as they did is wrong. Jesus plainly tells his disciples, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" and a few verses later in Luke 24:44-45 we find, "These are my words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures."

Paul emphasizes the same thought in Ephesians 3:3-5, "how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit." Anyone who reads the New Testament with even the most elementary understanding can see that the Jews in general, including the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8, and the Apostles before they received the Holy Spirit, did not properly understand the prophets. If all their language was to be understood literally, this could not have been so.

We should not reject some truth we may learn from someone just because he is premillenial, or because he belongs to some denomination. Truth is truth, from whatever source it may come. However, we should recognize a very important principle. That is, rat poison may be 98% corn or peanuts. It is the 2% that does the damage. If one habitually drinks from contaminated wells, the chances are very high that he will suffer damage. This means that we should be very careful as we study the writings of any person, denominational or otherwise. If we know the basic premise on which he operates, it may help us to discern the falsity of his doctrine more easily. We need to continue to "Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good" and never be afraid to re-examine any doctrine we have been taught, regardless of who taught it.
T. Pierce Brown

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

What We Are – SHEEP (part 4b) by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1543

What We Are – SHEEP (part 4b)

What We Are – SHEEP (part 4b)

In the first part of this lesson on sheep, I began to share how we have been compared to them over and over in the Bible.

Not to insult anyone’s intelligence, but humans like sheep at times aren’t the smartest beings in all creation. Even though we have acquired a tremendous amount of facts, knowledge, and wisdom, part of the definition of intelligence is, applying that knowledge to our life. And many times that’s where we fall short. .

As I began to talk about sheep last week, I also mention the fact that they can become a bit restless at times. Some will just wander off not only from their food source and water, but also from the rest of the flock. Sometimes they will even lead others astray with them. (Does that sound like anyone you know?)

This is dangerous because #1, sheep have no sense of direction and will get lost easy, and #2, because they are totally defenseless they are easy prey to their predators.

In Isaiah 53, it states that, “we like sheep have all gone astray”.

My two favorite discourses concerning us being like sheep are seen in Psalm 23, which is written by David who was a shepherd before he became a king, and Jesus’ discourse in John chapter 10.

These two accounts not only address us as sheep, but more importantly they speak of our relationship with a good Shepherd, our Lord.

Recently I read this story: ‘Two men were called in a large classroom, to recite the 23rd Psalm, one was an orator trained in speech Technique, and drama. He repeated the Psalm in a powerful way. When he finished the audience cheered and asked for an encore that they might hear his wonderful voice again.

The other man repeated the same words, “the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” But when he finished, no sound came from the class. Instead, people sat in a mood of deep devotion and prayer.

Then the first man stood to his feet. “I have a confession to make,” he said, “the difference between what you have just heard from my friend, and what you heard from me, is this: I know the Psalm, but my friend here knows the Shepherd.”

Of all the things that Jesus could have called Himself, ‘the King of kings’, ‘the Almighty God,’ ‘the Lord of Lords,’ He simply calls Himself the Shepherd here – the good Shepherd. And we are his flock, his people, in his pasture.

 Read:  John 10:1–18   (Click on verse to read)                                                                                    

Two caretakers are mentioned here in this text, the hired hand, and good Shepherd. The hired hand has no real connection with the sheep, he is just a hired laborer. It’s just a job for him. And then there’s the good Shepherd. More than likely he is the one that owns the sheep. He has a special a relationship with them. Most owners did not have a lot of sheep. A flock of 100 sheep was considered huge number. Most flocks were no larger than 25 sheep.

Sheep were more like valued pets. Do you remember the when Nathan went to David and told him the story how this man had a lamb and how they treated that lamb like a part of the family, bring it into their home. But then how a rich neighbor who owned many sheep, came and took this lamb, and butchered it to serve a visiting guest. That story infuriated David and he was ready to kill that rich man. You see David knew exactly how important that lamb was to that family. But then David was floored and shocked into repentance when Nathan told him that he was the culprit when he took Bathsheba away from her husband having many wives of his own already.

Most of the time sheep were precious and prized possessions to the owners. They were important and they had a lot invested in them. It is said that of all farm animals sheep require the most care and attention. Jesus, our good Shepherd, paid a big price for us as well on the cross. Therefore we are very precious to Him. So He’s going to continue to watch over and take care of us. Just as the a shepherd knows what his sheep needs to flourish, our Shepherd knows what we need.

So let’s look at a few more facts about sheep:

In the last lesson I mentioned the fact first of all that – they are not very smart. – They can also be a bit stubborn – they get restless and will wander – they get lost easy because they have no sense of direction. – and they are weak and totally defenseless against any predators.

Here’s something else I did not know: When their fur or wool gets thick and heavy, they can get a bit top heavy making them clumsy on their feet. As a matter of fact, if they fall down they might not even be able to get up by themselves. They just lay on the ground with your feet up kicking and squirming around and they need the help of the Shepherd to put them back on all fours. If they don’t get help, they can die like that. Sometimes they will stumble and fall into pits or off cliffs. That is why the Shepherd has a staff with a hook, so he can reach down into a pit and pull them out.

It amazes me how we as Christians can also become overburdened and stumble about. We get so burdened by things in our life, many times we crash and fall and we need a Savior to get us back up on our feet. Thank goodness we have Jesus. You may not even realize how much you need Him until you are there and you feel so lost and hopeless.

Initially, He did not save us with a hooked staff but rather with a wooden cross, and He continues to help us over and over. I believe that is why its important to appoint good shepherds in the local church; they are to be the Lord’s hands in the field.

In Matt 11:28ff Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” God does not want to burden us. We do that to our self.

Sheep also need plenty of water and green grass. I would imagine in arid areas, like the holy lands, and considering how warm that wool coat must be, sheep probably need plenty of water. I also read that they have a very hard time drinking out of fast running water because the water would shoot up their nostrils. That is why a good Shepherd will lead them to still waters.

A good Shepherd also goes out of his way to lead his sheep to places that had the greenest pastures for his sheep to graze. But sheep cannot stay in the same pasture for an extended period of time to graze. Otherwise they would consume parasites which were left behind in their own stools would cling to the remaining grasses. A good Shepherd will move his sheep and not return to that pasture where they’ve been for at least 60 days so that they will not get sick. But he will return to that pasture because that the manure will make its grass even greener.

The analogy for us may be that we need to go to the green pastures to feed God’s Word is the richest places we can feed ourselves spiritually. But we also have to be careful not to focus and feed on only one doctrine or listen only to one teacher or preacher because that could cause us to fall into spiritual error if they are in error. I think it’s important to examine all of God’s word for our self and not just focus on some parts or hang on to one man’s words..Time and time again we need to go back to the Bible and reread it because certain verses may even be more nutritious for us at a later time.

Green pastures, and green grass is living food and not stale, dry, or dead. And like many other animals, sheep prefer fresh grass. And likewise we need to feed on fresh spiritual food as Christians. If we do we will keep coming back to the pasture for more. That’s why I like to preach new, original lessons, and not the same old ones that are preached over and over in churches. That is why it is also good to read and listen to new spiritual material to enrich your life. Otherwise all this church stuff can get a little stale.

In Psalm 23:2, it states that the good Shepherd will make his sheep lie down in green pastures. Sheep are ruminants – they have four stomachs and they chew their cud. They do not have teeth like we do. They have bottom teeth that tear the grass up and then they grind it against their hard palate.

Initially the food is only lightly chewed and combined with saliva to form a small ball or bolus of food which they swallow and it enters their first stomach. Then later they regurgitate the food (or cud) into their mouth and chew it very thoroughly and then swallowed again. Chewing this cud takes place off and on throughout the day and takes about six hours to accomplish. After that the food passes through the next three stomachs which break it down even more. Because of this process, sheep can digest cellulose that humans cannot. The good Shepherd gives them time to relax digest their food.

The analogy here is that after we feed on spiritual food (God’s Word or a good lesson), it is good if people take time to meditate on what they’ve taken in so that they can properly digest it. Many claim that this is achieved better in a smaller setting, like in home churches rather than in a big congregation where people simply hear lessons and run out the door after church and go to lunch. Taking time to talk or discuss a subject in Bible study or after church is very beneficial and something that good Shepherd’s should provide.

Sheep were not only companions, they were used for sacrifice, and for their meat and milk. Sheep skins and their wool were considered their cash crops. But it did not come without cost. A lot of time, energy, and care go into raising sheep. Sheep skin is full of oil called lanolin. The lanolin comes through the skin and coats the coat of wool to condition the wool so that the animal is protected from the elements, especially cold weather. But this oily wool is also a very effective dirt magnet. Every time they lie down, or brush against something they get covered with grass, burrs, dirt, dust, and everything else including dung. If you even seen sheep out in the pasture they are not fluffy white puff balls, rather their coat looks clumpy and dirty. And they do not have any way to clean themselves like a cat or other animals. A good shepherd will clean his animals and make sure no parasites are no them as well.

And sheep do not shed their own fur, or wool. They have to be sheared to be freed from that heavy burden. This all kind of reminds me of how Jesus, our Shepherd, cleanses us and removes our burden of sin. There is nothing we can do about it on our own, so He does it for us. I don’t care how dirty you are or what you’ve gotten in to, He can clean you up.

Here in John 10, Jesus uses the metaphor of being the Shepherd as he attempts to teach his followers and the Pharisees as to His role in their lives, as well as his future with them.

Verses 1-10 Jesus refers to himself as the gate that separates the sheep from danger. During this time in history there were different kinds of sheep pens some actually had walls. But here Jesus was letting them know that He was the gate and no one was going to get to His sheep unless they came through Him.

He is the good shepherd and he loves his sheep and He goes on to say in verses 11 – 18, that He is different than hired workers because He was willingly to lay his life down for his sheep. He is not like the hired man who would simply run away at the first sign of danger.

When it came close to His time and He knew He was on His way to the cross, Jesus could have turned and ran. He could have headed for the hills. But no, He goes right into Jerusalem and laid down His life for His sheep.

He also tells them here in this text, that He has other sheep that are not of that sheep pen. He said that one day He will bring them into His fold, and it will be one flock with one Shepherd over them all.

I believe he is referring to all of us, from different nations, of different nationalities, over the generations that would hear His voice calling and who respond in faith to Him as their Lord and Savior.

He goes on to say that He would lay His life down for all of us, but would take it up again, I believe, to lead us on to even greener pasture in the Glory land of Heaven.

I believe these discourses on us being sheep are less about our weaknesses as humans, as it is about the fact that we are precious to Him. We are like that coveted baby lamb that He loves and want to care for.

I would like to encourage you to find peace and solace in this fact. He want you clean you up and remove those things that burden you; because if you remember, there in John 10 He said that He came so that you can have life, and life to the full, not onte that stinky and burdened.

We are so blessed to have a a God who care for us so.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com