Thursday, June 30, 2011

No Complaints


Days of Praise
No Complaints
 
"And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp." (Numbers 11:1)
 
The Lord is not pleased when we complain about our circumstances, no matter how grievous they may seem to us. Our example is Christ, always. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
 
The children of Israel complained once too much. Forgetting all of God's blessings in miraculously freeing them from slavery and providing all their needs, they repeatedly complained about their lot, one thing after another. "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. . . . Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 10).
 
God may not deal with a complaining Christian as severely as He did with His chosen people, Israel, but we can be sure He is displeased when we, who have received the blessing of eternal salvation by His gracious gift through Christ, forget His benefits and complain about His testing. "Do all things without mumurings and disputings," He has commanded (Philippians 2:14)--that is, without complaining and arguing about our treatment.
 
We can be confident that He is allowing these difficulties for some good purpose in preparing us for our service for Him in eternity. We should not forget what happened to the complainers in ancient Israel. "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition" (1 Corinthians 10:11). HMM
 
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING THANKFUL

PSALM 100:4

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WE AREN’T THANKFUL BY NATURE

Anything we have to be taught to do is NOT part of our nature. Fish swim because it is their nature to do so.

1. Belief in God is Inherent, Thankfulness is Not [Romans 1:21]

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2. Heaven is Thankful that God is God, Earth is Not [Rev. 11:16-18]

3. Unthankfulness is a Characteristic of the Last Days [2nd Timothy 3:1-5]

A woman gave a boy some cake to which he replied, “Thank you very much.“ She said, “I like to hear little boys say thank-you.“ He said, “If you give me some ice cream to go with the cake I’ll say it again.“

II. THANKFULNESS INVOLVES RECOGNITION

1. God’s Kindness is Not Always Realized [Luke 6:35]

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

2. God’s Kindness is Not Always Remembered [Ps. 103:1-2]

3. God’s Kindness is Not Always Recognized [James 1:17]

III. THANKFULNESS IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE

1. The Power [Eph. 5:18-20]

2. The Potential [Rm. 8:28]

3. The Pattern [Ps. 116:12-19]

Matthew Henry was once robbed of his wallet- he wrote in his journal that he was thankful for 4 things. “I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed.”

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Quotes of the Week

Dr. Faulkner used to tell me, "Don't ever pass a water fountain up." - Bob Circeo

A wise man listening to a fool will learn more than a fool listening to a wise man. -Woodrow Kroll

It is the fear of man that enslaves us. It is the fear of God that frees us. - Pastor John Weaver

Don't let your learning lead to knowledge; let your learning lead to action. - Jim Rohn

The most powerful things on the earth can kill; the Bible is so powerful that it can give life! - Evangelist Troy Carlson

Our standing before God is not based on our performance; it is based on our position in Christ. - Evangelist Chris Miller

You cannot ignore your heart and expect to have fellowship with God. - Evangelist Billy Ingram

God didn't make you, only then to lose interest in you. - Evangelist Richard Coyle

Monday, June 27, 2011

SIN’S SECRETS

I KINGS 3:16-28

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE SAD STORY OF SIN [v. 16-22]

1. It is a Story of Degradation [v. 16-18]

God never intended humans to have to live in sin.

2. It is a Story of Disaster [v. 19, Rm. 5:12]

3. It is a Story of Deception [v. 20-22]

II. THE SELFISHNESS OF SIN

1. Willing to Steal [v. 20]

2. Willing to Lie [v. 22]

3. Willing to Murder [v. 26]

III. THE SOVEREIGN SOLUTION TO SIN [v. 23-28]

1. The Sword of Justice [v. 23-25,Proverbs 5:3-4]

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

2. The Revelation of the Hearts [v. 26-27, Hebrews 4:12]

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. The Testimony of the Believer [v. 28, Acts 4:13]

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

ISRAEL, GOD, & AMERICA

HOSEA 4

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GOD’S CONTROVERSY WITH THE LAND [v. 1-2]

1. No Truth [look at the laws being passed]

Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

2. No Mercy [think of the millions aborted] Hosea 6:6

3. No Knowledge of God [ the proliferation of cults, isms, and heresies] Hosea 6:6

Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

II. SIN’S CONSEQUENCES TO THE LAND [v. 3-19]

1. Languishing [v. 3-5, Isaiah 24:4]

The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

2. Rejection [v. 6-11, 9:17, 1 Samuel 15:23]

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
2 Kings 17:15, 20 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

3. Shame [v. 12-19, 10:6, Zephaniah 3:11]

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

III. GOD’S PERSONAL & NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION [5:15]

1. Acknowledgement of Sin [Confession] Proverbs 28:13

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

2. Forsaking the Sin [2 Chronicles 7:14]

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

3. Seek The Lord [Isaiah 34:16]

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Fred Afman speaks out on the question of the day...

Dr. Fred Afman, one of my seminary professors, told us once, "Anyone who thinks Genesis 1-3 is Hebrew poetry doesn't know Hebrew and doesn't know poetry."

Question of the Week: Was Genesis written as poetry?


Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesi
Answers Weekly

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us
June 25, 2011

a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

top leftIn this issue . . .

Q: Was Genesis written as poetry?

A: The Framework Hypothesis is essentially an attempt to reclassify the genre of Genesis 1 as being something other than historical narrative. Proponents have attempted to identify figurative language or semi-poetic devices in the text. Thinking they have successfully shown that the Bible's first chapter is not to be taken in its plain sense, they make the claim that Genesis 1 simply reveals that God created everything and that He made man in His own image, but it gives us no information about how or when He did this.
The leading promoter of the Framework Hypothesis pulled no punches when explaining his goal in promoting it. "To rebut the literalist interpretation of the Genesis creation week propounded by the young-earth theorists is a central concern of this article. . . . The conclusion is that as far as the time frame is concerned, with respect to both the duration and sequence of events, the scientist is left free of biblical constraints in hypothesizing about cosmic origins."
Modern scientific opinion has seemingly been elevated to the status of being equal or superior to biblical revelation. Many nonliteral interpreters refer to "science's" opinion as general revelation. And with its elevation "scientific opinion" has become a presupposition that influences many evangelicals to jettison the literal interpretation of Genesis 1:1–2:3 in favor of a nonliteral view, such as the Framework. It is simply the latest in a long line of failed attempts to reinterpret the unchanging word of God to fit man's ever-changing opinions and should be rejected by all Bible-believing Christians.

Continue reading the full explanation of why the Framework Hypothesis is not a sound interpretation of Genesis.

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Friday, June 24, 2011

Don't Bother!


 
Bill Rice Ranch - First Light Devotionals 

I Kings 22:8  "And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. . . ."

 

There is a big difference between asking God for advice and asking God for help.  Folks nowadays ask "Dear Abby" for advice and "Dear Lord" for help.  "This is what I'm going to do; God, please bless it" is their attitude.  I'm not against asking for help, but wouldn't it make better sense to ask for advice before asking for help?  It should not be so much a matter of God being on your side as it is you being on God's side!

 

King Ahab had no desire to ask God's advice about joining forces with Jehoshaphat in order to conquer Syria.  Ahab got Jehoshaphat's approval but decided to ask God to "certify" their efforts.  In the story of Ahab in I Kings 22, we can learn three truths about asking God.

 

First, don't bother asking if you don't want an answer!  Ahab didn't really want to know God's mind on this matter; he was simply "humoring" God by asking.  This reminds me of when I was a kid.  I used to ask the kind of questions kids are famous for.  I would say, "Dad, how does an engine work?" or, "Dad, why is the sky blue?"  My dad's favorite answer was, "Well, do you really want to know?"  If I did, he could take the next four hours to answer my brilliant questions in detail.  Don't ask if you don't want the answer!

 

Second, don't bother asking if you will not accept the answer!  Ahab knew a prophet of the Lord who would give him a straight answer from the Lord.  If you really want to know the answer, be willing to accept the answer.  There is a huge difference between curiosity and willingness when it comes to asking!  If you are not willing to hear "no" and say "yes," you are not ready to ask.

 

Third, don't bother asking if you will not act on the answer!  In the story, Micaiah the prophet said, "Don't do it or you'll die."  And what did Ahab do?  He took his men and marched down to do what he wanted to do!  He didn't want an answer, and he certainly wasn't going to act on the answer!

 

Don't be like Ahab and come to God if you don't want an answer, will not accept the answer, and will not act on the answer He gives.  Do you find yourself asking God when you don't want an answer or you're not willing to accept or act on the answer?  Don't bother asking if you don't want to hear or heed the answer!

 

 

 

Camp Quotes...

"Our standing before God is not based on our performance; it is based on our position in Christ."

-Evangelist Chris Miller



 

Prayer Requests: 

1. Salvation of day campers this week

2. Safety for staff and campers

3. Campers traveling to camp this weekend from Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Arizona, Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, and Louisiana.

4. A special word from Brother Rice about summer staff needs...

 

 

 

 Looking for more devotionals? Visit the archives here 

 

 

 
 
Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Fed or Fed Up?

 
Bill Rice Ranch - First Light Devotionals 

I Kings 19:4  "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

 

"That's enough!"  Have you ever had a day like Elijah was having in I Kings 19?  After he received some scathing threats from Jezebel, he sat down under a juniper tree and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life. . . ."  You may have not felt quite that bad, but I must admit that some days, I have thought the life of a bird sounded pretty good.  I could put up with a steady diet of worms for the chance to fly away!

 

Elijah was fed up and stressed out.  To top it off, an angel woke him up and provided a meal for him because "the journey is too great for thee."  Elijah was fed up with where he had been, and where he was going was more than he could handle.  In his mind, he was overwhelmed and outnumbered!

 

If you find yourself discouraged like Elijah, don't forget the hand of God in your life.  Elijah was lonely, on the run, hungry, and hiding precisely because he was doing right!  God sustained Elijah in a number of ways, and He used birds, a widow woman, and an angel to feed him.  Truthfully, God had led him, protected him, and fed him all the way, and He can do the same for you!  You can't replicate receiving provision directly from the hand of God with anything else.

 

Like Elijah, you may be discouraged this morning while you are reading this.  If not, your time is probably right around the corner!  Whether you are discouraged by the wicked or by other believers, don't forget the hand of God in your life.  When you are doing right but finding discouragement on every side, instead of getting fed up, remember from Whose hand you've been fed!

 

 

 

 

Camp Quotes...

"Grace does not mean I'm free to do what's wrong; it means I have the power to do what's right."

-Evangelist Bill Rice III 



 

Prayer Requests: 

1. Campers traveling home tonight and tomorrow

2. Day Camp outreach for Middle Tennessee children next week

3. A special word from Brother Rice about summer staff needs...

 

 

 

 Looking for more devotionals? Visit the archives here 

 

 

 
 
Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

GOD CHANGETH NOT

JAMES 1:17

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WHAT IT MEANS TODAY

1. Every Good Gift is from God [James 1:17, Matthew 5:45]

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
“There is a benevolence is this world that proves there is an ever watching and unfailing God Who gives and gives, and loves to give, and never quits giving!”
Blessings do not accidentally happen. Rain, wind, health, life, etc.

2. Every Perfect Gift is from God [Jn. 3:16, Psalm 19:7]

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

3. Everything Good in our Lives is from God [James 1:17]

“When God looks down at me and blesses me He says in effect, “I knew him before he was born, he’s surrendered to preach. I have too much invested in him to quit now.” When God sees a Christian He is saying in effect, “That’s my child. I want them to be like Jesus. I will send things in their life to help mould them into the image of My dear Son.”
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
2 Corinthians 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.

II. WHAT IT MEANS YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW

1. We All Fall [I Jn. 1:8, 10]

Man, Without a Sin Nature & in a Perfect Environment Fell

2. Most Things Fall [Rev. 16:18-19]

Businesses, institutions, local churches, cities, nations, buildings, trees, giants…

3. God has not Failed, Does not Fail, and Will Not Fail [Malachi 3:6]

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

III. WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR LIVES

1. Ingratitude Does Not Cause God’s Kindness to Vary [Luke 6:35]

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Jesus continued healing even after 9 out of 10 lepers He healed did not thank Him.

2. Our Unprofitableness Does Not Cause God to Vary or Change [Lk. 17:10]

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
God’s mercy does not depend on man- God’s mercy depends on God.
Like the woman who said, “You don’t have to hold the door for me just because I am a lady.” and got the reply, “I didn’t hold the door for you because you are a lady. I held it for you because I am a gentleman.”

3. Hard Times Cannot Affect God’s Abundant Unvarying Care [Philippians 4:19]

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
During many of the plagues in Egypt the Israelites could continue their daily lives. God’s grace never fails.
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid . How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Living for Herbs

 
Bill Rice Ranch - First Light Devotionals 

I Kings 21:4  "And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him . . . And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread."

King Ahab was a beggar that did not know how to be full.  In I Kings 21, his priorities were completely out of whack!  Ahab's neighbor, Naboth, had a vineyard that backed up to the king's palace.  Ahab wanted it for an herb garden, and he made an offer of a replacement vineyard or the value of the vineyard.  In the king's mind, there was nothing special about Naboth or the vineyard, but Naboth called it "the inheritance of my fathers."  Jezebel then framed Naboth and had him killed-all for a silly vineyard!

What is important to you?  What is your highest priority in life right now?  You don't have to answer; it's obvious to everyone around you!  People know your priorities by what keeps you awake at night, what energizes you during the day, what you have passion for, what you will pay for, and what you pursue.  Ahab wanted herbs, so he offered money and eventually took a life!  The Bible says of Ahab, "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up."  A person who pursues "low level" priorities sells himself cheaply.  Much of what consumes our day is low on the scale of importance.  Sometimes herbs aren't worth the price you must pay!

Ahab sold his life cheaply because he pursued cheap things.  He was a beggar in a king's palace!  It is amazing how much energy and resources we can put into things that don't amount to much.  Don't pursue after "herbs" when there is so much more to life.  Perspective for your priorities will help you live for the highest priority.  As Matthew 6:25 reminds us, "Is not life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?" 

 

Camp Quotes...

"You cannot ignore your heart and expect to have fellowship with God."

-Evangelist Billy Ingram



 

Prayer Requests: 

1. Salvation of day campers this week

2. Safety for staff and campers

3. A special word from Brother Rice about summer staff needs...

 

 

 

 Looking for more devotionals? Visit the archives here 

 

 

 
 
Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

Monday, June 20, 2011

Quotes of the Week

In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell. - Salvation Army Founder, William Booth

When God does the searching, He knocks all the brag out. Not one iota of brag is left when one has been searched of God. When He turns His truth into our black hearts, we come out, not bragging about what we are, how good we are, but with a cry for the mercy of God. - Evangelist Fred Brown

If you are living against the Word of God- you are out of the will of God. - John Reynolds

The Word of God is the Book that is divine yet is very human. It is the book that reveals the thoughts of God in the language of men. We do not say that the Bible contains the Word of God -the Bible IS the Word of God. There are 66 books in the Bible - 39 in the OT and 27 in the NT - but the Bible is one Book, and God is the Author! - Lee Roberson

In the hour when your heart is broken, you are not concerned about philosophies of Dale Carnegie or Norman Vincent Peale. You want the Word of God and to know that He is by your side. - Roberson

This is a book of white and black. There are no gray spots in the Word of God. There are no shades of compromise. It is a book setting forth that which is right and that which is wrong. It is a book of salvation or damnation. It is a Book of Heaven or Hell. - Roberson

The message of the Bible has not changed from the first century to the twenty-first. Many have been the efforts of man to “update” the Bible. This is the day of multitudes of translations and new versions. Bibles are written omitting certain portions. What foolishness! You cannot change the Word of God. This is God’s eternal Word, and it remains the same. - Roberson

When nations set themselves against God they are destroyed. When nations ignore God, they soon come to weakness. Strong warnings need to be given to this nation of ours. The leaders of this nation have turned away from God. When we defy God and turn away from these plain teachings, then we are courting difficulties. This nation has been blessed of God because of one reason- the Lord has been recognized; but when the nation turns away from God, our sins will not be overlooked. We will suffer. - Roberson

The Bible is tough on sin. The Bible plays no favorites. The Bible pictures man exactly as he is. There are many people who hate the Bible because of this. But you see, the Bible is tough!
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and gave them words which many say were unkind. But Jesus was and is the Truth. He spoke to them the words they had to hear. He called them “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” “serpents,” “a generation of vipers.” When you read a portion like this, you begin to see how tough the Bible is.
The Bible is the voice of God, and the Bible calls men to repent and believe and be saved! - Roberson

A lawyer said, “Before I was saved, I used to think that if I ever became a Christian it would have to be in some great center of learning where all my questions would be answered. But instead, I was saved in a rescue mission as I knelt at the front with human derelicts all around me. When I knelt, I had all my questions. When I arose, they were all gone. God didn’t answer them. He removed them.”
He will remove your questions. He will save your soul. Simply come to Him in faith believing. - Roberson

Sunday, June 19, 2011

FATHER ADAM’S FOLLY

Genesis 3:1-20

Pastor Rick Jackson

Adam and Eve found knowledge that clouded their minds, broke their hearts, and changed their nature.

I. CLOUDED THEIR MINDS [v. 7-10]

1. Clouded their Understanding of God & His Grace [2 Corinthians 3:14]

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them

2. Clouded their Understanding of What is Important [all of Ecclesiastes, esp. 12:13]

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

3. Clouded their Understanding of Truth [John 18:38, 17:17, 14:6]

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all

II. BROKE THEIR HEARTS [v. 16-17]

1. By Inducing Separation from God [v. 24, Is. 59:2]

2. By Introducing Sorrow -guilt, the results of physical death

3. By Involving Sorrow in Labor -change of pregnancy labor and manual labor]

III. CHANGED THEIR NATURE [Gn. 3, Eph. 2, Rm.]

1. Their World was Changed [Eph. 2:2 “course of this world”, Romans 8:22]

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

2. Their Master was Changed [Eph. 2:2]

“according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”

3. Their Persons were Changed [v. 22, Eph. 3:3]

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Question of the Week: What does the Bible say about unicorns?


Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

 

Answers Weekly

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us
June 18, 2011

a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

top leftIn this issue . . .

Q: What does the Bible say about unicorns?

A: Recent publicity about the Ark Encounter project has unleashed a good deal of ridicule claiming that the ark will feature fanciful unicorns. But the unicorns mentioned in the Bible—not only in English King James Version but also in other languages—are not the fairy tale creatures many people think of nowadays, but real creatures familiar to the people living in those ancient times.
The biblical unicorn was a real animal, not an imaginary horse-like creature. The nine Old Testament verses which refer to unicorns do so in the context of familiar animals—peacocks and eagles, lambs and lions, bullocks and goats, donkeys and horses, dogs and calves. Furthermore, the biblical unicorns also behave like ordinary animals—skipping like calves (Psalm 29:6) and bleeding when they die (Isaiah 34:7).
God reminded Job of the characteristics of a variety of impressive animals He had created, showing Job that God was far above man in power, strength, and understanding. Speaking of the unicorn, God told Job that the unicorn had great strength but could not be tamed for agricultural labor (Job 39:9–12). If God had used an imaginary creature to make His point, Job would have learned nothing.

Continue reading to learn more about unicorns in the Bible and what real creature this might be.

News to Note Quick Look

Molecular clock off-line: The first direct measurement of human mutation rates ever done, published in Nature Genetics, contains surprises which call molecular clock assumptions into question and prompt some re-thinking of our genetic understanding. Read more.

Priesthood of science: Ever since Louisiana passed a law allowing teachers to "use supplemental textbooks . . . to help students critique and review scientific theories," those who fear such academic freedom have clamored for its repeal. The latest attack has come in response to Congresswoman Michele Bachman's public support for her state's legislation. Read more.

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